Granite Island Discs: Will Everest

Local artist, producer and music mentor Will Everest talks about his favourite songs, number one album and favourite music-related memories.

What five songs would you take to a desert island?

1. Frankie and the Witch Fingers – ‘Empire’

DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON FRANKIE AGRHAGRAHJRGA. Such an incredible fusion of heavy psychedelic rock with groovy funky rhythms. All seven minutes of it is incredible. Also the horn section is an unexpected delight!! Manifesting a 2026 Australian Frankie tour...

2. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ‘Robot Stop (Live In San Francisco ‘16)’

It HAS to be the live version!!!! It’s such an incredibly energetic song, it makes me jump and twitch and FREAK OUT!!!!!! “NONAGON INFINITY OPENS THE DOOR, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.”

3. Rush – ‘Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres’

Eighteen minutes of incredible prog-rock sci-fi LORE!!! Tells the story of Apollo and Dionysus fighting for control over humanity; logic and reason versus emotion and passion. But then some guy flies into a black hole and gets reincarnated into the God of Balance and humanity lives happily ever after!!! RIP Neil Peart!

4. King Crimson – ‘The Sheltering Sky’

This song makes me levitate. If I was abandoned on a desert (granite) island, I wouldn’t mind laying down in the sand, closing my eyes and slowly drifting off into an endless slumber to this song.

5. Thee Oh Sees – ‘Nite Expo’

I’d like to believe that by listening to Thee Oh Sees, I would be inspired by their work ethic and I figure out how to write an album on a desert island using only rocks, sticks and sea shells. ALSO, I love singing along to the synth in this song!! “Mew mew mew mew mew mew mewmewmew

If you could only pick one, what would it be?

It’s incredibly difficult to only pick one “forever” song because what music I like fluctuates according to my mood. That being said, I think ‘Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres’ would be my pick because it’s a massively diverse song.

What’s your favourite album?

All-time classic, no contest, it’s either Interpol’s Turn On The Bright Lights or Massive Attack’s Mezzanine. Don’t make me choose. Flip a coin.

What’s your favourite song by an SA artist or band?

These are some of the HARDEST questions I’ve ever had to answer, what do you mean “favourite song” SINGULAR?!?!?!!! HmmMmMmMm... I think my favourite would have to be ‘Chief Wiggum’ by The Effends. They are one of the few South Australian bands I never got the chance to see live, as they seemed to stop playing gigs around the time I started getting into the live music scene, which is a shame because their Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 EPs are so inspirational. I don’t know what their deal is, if they’ve officially broken up. Or maybe just biding their time… waiting for the psych rock revival to sweep through South Australia.

Favourite music-related memory?

Hyde and Seek Festival last year! It was SO awesome to see so many people come out of the woods to show their support for some of South Australia’s BEST bands.