Wayne Connolly
Encyclopedia
Wayne Connolly is an Australian producer/engineer and musician. Throughout the 1990s Connolly played in Sydney band The Welcome Mat
, who released a series of critically acclaimed albums and EPs through Waterfront Records
and id/Mercury. In 1994 he formed Knievel with Tracy Ellis and Nick Kennedy, and the trio went on to release four albums and a series of singles on various labels in Australia, the United States and Japan. Knievel played locally and abroad alongside acts such as R.E.M.
, Luna
, Buffalo Tom
, Teenage Fanclub
and The Pernice Brothers
. In semi-retirement, Knievel’s sporadic live shows of late have seen them share the stage with Big Heavy Stuff
and Death Cab for Cutie
.
Connolly has balanced his career as a performer with work as a producer and engineer for some of Australia’s most successful and respected bands, including Josh Pyke
, The Vines
and Silverchair
. In the early 90s he took a job managing Paradise Studios for rooART Records, which put him in touch with emerging artists providing songs for the Youngblood compilation series. Among these were Underground Lovers
, Glide
, Custard
and Drop City
, all of whom formed working relationships with the producer. In 1992, the Connolly produced Underground Lovers album Leaves Me Blind received Rolling Stone
magazine’s the Best Australian Record award. The following year he engineered You Am I
’s fourth EP Coprolalia and their debut album Sound As Ever, alongside Lee Ranaldo
of Sonic Youth
. This album went on to win the 1993 ARIA
for Best Alternative Release. Other 90s credits include Wahooti Fandango by Custard, Fill Yourself With Music by Screamfeeder
, The Young Need Discipline by The Fauves
and Sold by Died Pretty
. Over the past decade Connolly has worked on projects of varying lengths with Neil Finn
, Silverchair
, Youth Group
, Jimmy Barnes
, The Living End
, Grinspoon
, Powderfinger
, The Veronicas
, Jim Moginie
and The Grates
. His most recent credits include albums for Dappled Cities, Old Man River
, Royal Chant, Something for Kate
’s Paul Dempsey
, The Seabellies
and Glass Towers
. He has received numerous ARIA nominations and awards for his work with these artists, including best producer and engineer for his work on Josh Pyke’s Memories and Dust in 2007.
In addition to his work in the music recording industry, Connolly has produced work for film and TV. Film credits include The Black Balloon
, Newcastle
, Little Fish
, Monkey Prize, Mullet
, Willful and Dirty Deeds
. The track When We Get There, produced for The Black Balloon won best song at the recent AGSC/APRA awards.
Connolly has built his own studio in Alberts Music premises in Sydney. The studio houses a legendary Neve 8026 desk, one of few in working condition today.
Nominations
The Welcome Mat
The Welcome Mat was a four-piece Australian indie rock group which formed in Sydney in 1989, and broke up in January, 1997. Throughout the early-to-mid-1990s, their songs "Last of the Great Letdowns", "Cake", "Landspeed", "10,000 People", "Hell Hoping", "Play Me" and "Hey! Illusion" topped the...
, who released a series of critically acclaimed albums and EPs through Waterfront Records
Waterfront Records
Waterfront Records was an independent record label based in Sydney, that released recordings by some of Australia's most influential bands of the 1980s and 1990s.-History:...
and id/Mercury. In 1994 he formed Knievel with Tracy Ellis and Nick Kennedy, and the trio went on to release four albums and a series of singles on various labels in Australia, the United States and Japan. Knievel played locally and abroad alongside acts such as R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, Luna
Luna (band)
Luna was a dream pop/indie pop band formed in 1991 by Dean Wareham after the breakup of Galaxie 500, with Stanley Demeski and Justin Harwood...
, Buffalo Tom
Buffalo Tom
Buffalo Tom is an alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis. The band's name is derived from the band Buffalo Springfield and the first name of the drummer.-Career:Dinosaur Jr...
, Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
and The Pernice Brothers
The Pernice Brothers
Pernice Brothers are an indie rock band. Formed by Joe Pernice in 1996 after the breakup of his old band, the Scud Mountain Boys, and including Joe's brother Bob Pernice , the band recorded their first album, Overcome by Happiness, for Sub Pop in 1998...
. In semi-retirement, Knievel’s sporadic live shows of late have seen them share the stage with Big Heavy Stuff
Big Heavy Stuff
- Overview :Big Heavy Stuff is a four-piece band, featuring Greg Atkinson , Carolyn Polley , Eliot Fish and Nick Kennedy . The band was established in 1990 and is with the recording label Redline Records...
and Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
.
Connolly has balanced his career as a performer with work as a producer and engineer for some of Australia’s most successful and respected bands, including Josh Pyke
Josh Pyke
Josh Pyke is an Australian singer-songwriting musician.-Beginnings and Feeding the Wolves :Josh Pyke was in his first band by age 12 and played his first performance in front of 650 parents and students at his primary school graduation. Playing guitar and initial song writing efforts came aged 14...
, The Vines
The Vines
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Special:LandingCheck?landing_page=L11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy_DDOptimised&utm_medium=sitenotice&utm_campaign=C11_1121_WMUK_DDvOneOff&utm_source=B11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy&language=en&country=GB...
and Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
. In the early 90s he took a job managing Paradise Studios for rooART Records, which put him in touch with emerging artists providing songs for the Youngblood compilation series. Among these were Underground Lovers
Underground Lovers
Underground Lovers are an Australian alternative rock band and one of the most lauded music acts in the country's alternative scene throughout the 1990s. While the band has experienced many lineup changes during its existence, the nucleus of the band since its inception has been Vincent M...
, Glide
Glide
Glide may refer to:* Glide , early 20th century American automobile company* Glide , to fly without thrust* Glide , synonym for semivowel* Glide, Oregon, census-designated place in the United States...
, Custard
Custard (band)
-Overview:The band were originally known as Custard Gun and featured David McCormack on vocals and guitar, Paul Medew on bass, James Straker on guitar and Shane Brunn on drums. After a few shows and line up changes Custard Gun morphed into Custard...
and Drop City
Drop City
Drop City was an artists' community that formed in southern Colorado in 1965. Abandoned by the early 1970s, it became known as the first rural "hippie commune".-Establishment:...
, all of whom formed working relationships with the producer. In 1992, the Connolly produced Underground Lovers album Leaves Me Blind received Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine’s the Best Australian Record award. The following year he engineered You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
’s fourth EP Coprolalia and their debut album Sound As Ever, alongside Lee Ranaldo
Lee Ranaldo
Lee M. Ranaldo is an American singer, guitarist, writer, record producer, and visual artist, best known as a co-founder of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth...
of Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
. This album went on to win the 1993 ARIA
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for Best Alternative Release. Other 90s credits include Wahooti Fandango by Custard, Fill Yourself With Music by Screamfeeder
Screamfeeder
Screamfeeder are a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.-Members and history:Screamfeeder began performing under that name in Brisbane, Australia in 1991. They formed out of the remains of Tim Steward and Tony Blade's band, The Madmen....
, The Young Need Discipline by The Fauves
The Fauves
The Fauves are an Australian rock band. Their album Future Spa was nominated for Best Alternative Album in the 1997 ARIA awards but lost to Spiderbait's Ivy and the Big Apples....
and Sold by Died Pretty
Died Pretty
Died Pretty, sometimes The Died Pretty, were an Australian alternative rock band founded by mainstays, Ron Peno as lead singer and Brett Myers as lead guitarist and backing vocalist, in Sydney in 1983 – briefly as Final Solution. Their music started from a base of early electric Bob Dylan with...
. Over the past decade Connolly has worked on projects of varying lengths with Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
, Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
, Youth Group
Youth Group
Youth Group are a rock band based in Newtown, Sydney, Australia signed to Ivy League Records.- Biography :Youth Group formed in Sydney in the late 1990s. They have released four albums in Australia, with the three most recent albums also gaining releases worldwide...
, Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
, The Living End
The Living End
The Living End are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 1994. The current lineup consists of Chris Cheney , Scott Owen and Andy Strachan...
, Grinspoon
Grinspoon
Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore,...
, Powderfinger
Powderfinger
Powderfinger was an Australian rock band that formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their breakup the band lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill....
, The Veronicas
The Veronicas
The Veronicas are an Australian electrorock, pop-punk and rock band. Twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso formed the band in 1999 in Brisbane. They have their own line of clothing which was released in 2007....
, Jim Moginie
Jim Moginie
James "Jim" Moginie is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he was a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter...
and The Grates
The Grates
The Grates are a two-piece band from Brisbane, Australia, comprising Patience Hodgson and John Patterson . They have been lauded for their catchy songs and enthusiastic and energetic live shows, as Patience spends much of the time bouncing around, even while singing...
. His most recent credits include albums for Dappled Cities, Old Man River
Old Man River (musician)
Old Man River is the stage name of Australian singer-songwriter Ohad Rein, and the name of his band. In 2009, "Sunshine", co-written by Old Man River, won the 'Blues & Roots Work of the Year' category at the Australasian Performing Right Association Awards.-History:Ohad Rein was born in Sydney,...
, Royal Chant, Something for Kate
Something for Kate
Something for Kate are a rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Members include songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Paul Dempsey, drummer Clint Hyndman and bassist Stephanie Ashworth...
’s Paul Dempsey
Paul Dempsey
Paul Dempsey is the lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter of Australian rock group Something for Kate. Paul was a founding member of the band, and in August 2009 released his first solo album, Everything Is True whilst continuing his work with Something for Kate...
, The Seabellies
The Seabellies
Seabellies are an Australian alternative rock band based in Sydney and Newcastle, New South Wales. Their live show is known for their variety of instrumentsation featuring electronica, strings, metallophone, melodica, horns and multi-percussive layering....
and Glass Towers
Glass Towers
Glass Towers are an Australian Indie band based in Sydney and Byron Bay, who formed when they met in their high school music class during 2008.-History:...
. He has received numerous ARIA nominations and awards for his work with these artists, including best producer and engineer for his work on Josh Pyke’s Memories and Dust in 2007.
In addition to his work in the music recording industry, Connolly has produced work for film and TV. Film credits include The Black Balloon
The Black Balloon (film)
The Black Balloon is a 2008 Australian|British AFI award-winning dramedy feature film which stars Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward as well as a cast of newcomers. It is directed by first time feature film director, Elissa Down.The film was released in Australian...
, Newcastle
Newcastle (film)
Newcastle is a 2008 Australian drama film set in the New South Wales city of Newcastle.-Plot:Young surfer Jesse has always been in the shadow of his older brother Victor, who tried to become a champion surfer and failed...
, Little Fish
Little Fish (film)
Little Fish is a 2005 Australian film directed by Rowan Woods and written by Jacquelin Perske. It was filmed in and around Sydney, in Cabramatta and in Fairfield...
, Monkey Prize, Mullet
Mullet (film)
Mullet is an Australian film released in 2001, written and directed by David Caesar, and starring Ben Mendelsohn, Susie Porter and Andrew Gilbert.-Plot summary:...
, Willful and Dirty Deeds
Dirty Deeds (2002 film)
Dirty Deeds is a 2002 film shot in Australia. It was directed by noted fringe director David Caesar and stars Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, Sam Neill, Sam Worthington and John Goodman and produced by Nine Films and Television, the film and television production arm of the Nine Network, owned by PBL...
. The track When We Get There, produced for The Black Balloon won best song at the recent AGSC/APRA awards.
Connolly has built his own studio in Alberts Music premises in Sydney. The studio houses a legendary Neve 8026 desk, one of few in working condition today.
Awards
- 1996 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for You Am I, Hourly Daily
- 2006 – ARIA Breakthrough Artist – Single for Youth Group, Forever Young
- 2007 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for Josh Pyke, Memories and Dust
- 2007 – ARIA Producer of the Year for Josh Pyke, Memories and Dust
Nominations
- 2006 – ARIA Producer of the Year for Youth Group, Casino Twighlight Dogs
- 2006 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for The Vines, Vision Valley
Select Production Credits
- 1991:
- Youngblood 3 by Various Artists
- 1992:
- Leaves Me Blind by Underground Lovers
- 1993:
- Copralalia by You Am I
- Sound as Ever by You Am I
- 1994:
- Wahooti Fandango by Custard
- The Young Need Discipline by The Fauves
- 1995:
- Hi Fi Way by You Am I (selected tracks)
- Higher Up The Firetrails by Bluebottle KissBluebottle Kiss-History:Formed in the mid '90s, Bluebottle Kiss took their influences from the late '80s American indie scene, which included artists such as Sonic Youth and the Afghan Whigs, singer-songwriters of the '70s, such as Neil Young and Van Morrison, as well as the very creative Australian independent...
- Sold by Died Pretty
- 1996:
- Hourly Daily by You Am I
- Disappear Here by Glide
- Future Spa by The Fauves
- 1997:
- In Your Bright Ray by Grant McLennanGrant McLennanGrant William McLennan was an Australian singer-songwriter with the alternative rock band The Go-Betweens, which he co-founded with Robert Forster in Brisbane, Australia in 1977...
- Steep Hill Climb by Knievel
- 1998:
- Lazy Highways by The Fauves
- Mud and Five Ways to Serve It by Flanders
- Using My Gills as a Roadmap by Died Pretty
- 1999:
- Sweeter than the Radio by Icecream HandsIcecream HandsIcecream Hands were a power pop band formed in Melbourne, Victoria in 1992 as Chuck Skatt and His Icecream Hands with Charles "Chuck Skatt" Jenkins as lead singer-songwriter and rhythm guitarist, Arturo "Arch" Larizza on bass guitar, his brother Dom "Benedictine III" Larizza on lead guitar and...
- King Autumn by Hoolahan
- 2000:
- Everydaydream by Died Pretty
- The Name Rings a Bell that Drowns out your Voice by Knievel
- 2001:
- Size Of The Ocean by Big Heavy StuffBig Heavy Stuff- Overview :Big Heavy Stuff is a four-piece band, featuring Greg Atkinson , Carolyn Polley , Eliot Fish and Nick Kennedy . The band was established in 1990 and is with the recording label Redline Records...
- First Translated in 1965 by Ides of Space
- 2002:
- Drag (EP) by DragDrag (band)Drag is an Australian rock band led by Darren Middleton, most known as the lead guitarist from highly successful Australian group Powderfinger.-History:...
- Live at the Brattle Theatre/Griffith Sunset by Evan DandoEvan DandoEvan Griffith Dando is an American musician, most famous for fronting the alternative rock band The Lemonheads. He is the only original member left in the current Lemonheads line-up, having served as lead singer since the band's original formation in 1986...
- 2003:
- Rarities by SilverchairSilverchairSilverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
- 2004:
- Dallas Crane by Dallas CraneDallas CraneDallas Crane is an Australian alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia.Dallas Crane was named after the father of a mate of the band.In January 2004, the band signed a recording and publishing deal with Albert Productions, the home of AC/DC. The band recorded an album with Wayne Connolly,...
- Skeleton Jar by Youth GroupYouth GroupYouth Group are a rock band based in Newtown, Sydney, Australia signed to Ivy League Records.- Biography :Youth Group formed in Sydney in the late 1990s. They have released four albums in Australia, with the three most recent albums also gaining releases worldwide...
- Dear Friends and Enemies by Big Heavy StuffBig Heavy Stuff- Overview :Big Heavy Stuff is a four-piece band, featuring Greg Atkinson , Carolyn Polley , Eliot Fish and Nick Kennedy . The band was established in 1990 and is with the recording label Redline Records...
- 2006:
- Factory Girls by Dallas Crane
- Casino Twilight Dogs by Youth Group
- Vision Valley by The VinesThe Vineshttps://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Special:LandingCheck?landing_page=L11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy_DDOptimised&utm_medium=sitenotice&utm_campaign=C11_1121_WMUK_DDvOneOff&utm_source=B11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy&language=en&country=GB...
- Nervous Flashlights by The Fauves
- Flame Trees by Sarah BlaskoSarah BlaskoSarah Elizabeth Blaskow , is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. After fronting Sydney-based band Acquiesce from the mid-1990s, Blasko developed her solo career from 2002. In 2007, she won the 'Best Pop Release' for What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have at the ARIA Music Awards, which...
- 2007:
- Intermission: The Best of the Solo Recordings 1990-1997 by Robert Forster and Grant McLennan
- The Bells Line by 78 Saab
- Memories & Dust by Josh PykeJosh PykeJosh Pyke is an Australian singer-songwriting musician.-Beginnings and Feeding the Wolves :Josh Pyke was in his first band by age 12 and played his first performance in front of 650 parents and students at his primary school graduation. Playing guitar and initial song writing efforts came aged 14...
- 2008:
- When Good Times Go Good by The Fauves
- Chimney's Afire by Josh Pyke
- Easy Fever: A Tribute to the Easybeats and Stevie Wright by Various Artists (including Neil FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
, Jimmy BarnesJimmy BarnesJames Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
and Iva DaviesIva DaviesIva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
)- 2009:
- Zounds by Dappled Cities
- Everything is True by Paul DempseyPaul DempseyPaul Dempsey is the lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter of Australian rock group Something for Kate. Paul was a founding member of the band, and in August 2009 released his first solo album, Everything Is True whilst continuing his work with Something for Kate...
- Ragged and Ecstatic (select tracks) by Yves Klein BlueYves Klein BlueYves Klein Blue was an Australian indie/rock band from Brisbane. The band are signed to Brisbane record label Dew Process, under which they re-released their debut EP Yves Klein Blue Draw Attention to Themselves...