September Morning 3031 2021
(S.O’Mara)
“It’s always entertaining and productive working with Shane. He is a schooled musician across a wide range of styles, but plays instinctively and with passion.” Paul Kelly
Shane O’Mara occupies a unique space in Australian music: a virtuoso guitarist, ARIA-winning composer and a highly sought-after studio engineer and record producer with a reputation for capturing the warmth and purity of live performance. Shane’s distinctive feel and dexterous technique as a guitarist began weaving an unmistakable seam through Australian music more than 30 years ago. His role as Stephen Cummings’ accompanist, co-writer and studio accomplice would eventually span ten albums. His charged concert recording with the late blues giant Chris Wilson, Live at the Continental, is regarded as a milestone in the illustrious history of Melbourne music. His ARIA Award-winning soundtrack to the classic Australian feature film Lantana is among four albums co-crafted with Paul Kelly, with whom he has toured extensively. “Shane can be as nimble as a city street cat or as summer languid as a porch dog… He’s listening all the time and always giving a song so much flavour and intrigue.” Tim Rogers Forming Rebecca’s Empire with singer and co-writer Rebecca Barnard, Shane tasted mainstream pop success with a pair of albums in the late ’90s, leading to ARIA nominations, festival runs and two Triple J Hottest 100 hits. His dual role as empathetic live accompanist and accomplished studio technician has been key to many and varied artists, not least Lisa Miller, Tim Rogers, Rob Snarski, and cinematic Melbourne band Pony Face. As a touring guitarist, he has been the sideman of choice for American singer-songwriter/ producer Joe Henry and English pop-punk icon Edwyn Collins. “Shane’s guitar playing shows technical brilliance and most significantly, musical sensitivity… His ability to grasp the essential qualities in a piece has always been crucial to me.” film composer Cezary Skubiszewski A graduate of classical guitar from the Victorian College of the Arts, Shane’s film music includes the score for the Australian/ British miniseries Tripping Over and numerous soundtracks by Cezary Skubiszewski (The Dressmaker, Red Dog, True Blue, Two Hands) and Bryony Marks (Please Like Me, Barracuda). Shane’s prolific production work at his own Yikesville Studio in Melbourne’s west is responsible for a wealth of riches by most of the artists abovenamed, as well as Raised by Eagles, Charles Jenkins, Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel, Tracy McNeil & the Good Life, Suzannah Espie and multi-award winners, The Audreys. His latest projects include instrumental interpretive ensemble The Plagiarists and co-creating the new album by Scottish traditional artist Fiona Ross, [Sunwise Turn]
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