Chet Faker
Chet Faker
Nicholas James Murphy, better known by his stage name Chet Faker, is an Australian electronica musician. In 2012 he issued an extended play, Thinking in Textures and signed to Downtown Records in the United States. In October 2012 he won Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Thinking in Textures won Best Independent Single/EP at the Australian Independent Records Awards...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionDJ
Date of Birth23 June 1988
CityMelbourne, Australia
CountryAustralia
On my Instagram, lots of people tag me in photos of just dudes with beards, and they're like, 'Oh my God, I met Chet Faker' and I'm like, 'That doesn't even look like me.'
You can turn something into art just because of the way you tell people to look at it.
In my eyes, I think it's important that if you're doing something you're proud of and that is genuine and authentic, you have a responsibility to bring that to as many people as possible, just for the sheer reason that there are musicians out there who are manufacturing emotions that aren't genuine.
I have had a pretty hardcore crash course on living out of a suitcase. Some people take consistency in their lives for granted. When you have little to none, you discover it's kind of a nice thing.
I think that connection with humans is so important. Sometimes I'll do this monologue and talk to the crowd, like, 'Come on, let's really connect here.' I don't think a lot of people understand it's a two-way exchange. Some people go to a show and are like, 'Yeah, you make me feel.' That's not how it works.
I think a lot of artists get confused when people like their music; they think that means people know and like them. I'm sure there's an element of truth to that, but to me, the music I make is what I'm most proud of. I prefer to focus on that and for people to focus on the music, too.
I like a lot of independent brands - Melbourne's Kloke, Handsom and Neuw Denim, and Bassike in Sydney. It's easier to be proud of what you're wearing if you've met the people behind the brand and there's more of a personal story.
I second guess everything I do musically, and I often could spend hours on, say, one snare sound.
Rather than trying to create an audience, just try and create music that feels good to you.
Sometimes it feels like it's show after show after show - like it's 'Groundhog Day,' and you feel like you're lost in the system.
That's what helps me keep playing: the idea of giving something to others. Because personally, I've had my fill.
My biggest enemy for the longest time was my head. When I first became successful, it made me anxious because I was overthinking everything, and you hear so many 'fail' stories.
Most of my inspiration comes from mistakes, so every time I make a massive mistake, that usually affects me so much that I have to process that via song.
I studied audio engineering at university. The background I am from, music was never seen as a viable career; it was always a hobby.