In the Green Room: The Shadow Ministers
The Shadow Ministers are bringing rock ‘n’ roll back with their blues-stamped earworm of an album, Low Noise High Output. Guitarist/vocalist Paris Clark-Proud chats making music and ministerial duties.
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Congratulations on your self-recorded album, Low Noise High Output! Tell us about it…
The Shadow Ministers started in 2020 when Jason [Mannix] and I started recording a blues album. It quickly became less blues and more songs with choruses. ‘I’m in Love’ was the first song we wrote together [and] it sparked something – we kept going until we had ten tracks. Some of the songs are us not wearing headphones with a speaker in the background; the actual bed track for ‘345’ is recorded off my old iPhone 4.
What were you listening to at the time?
Stuff we’ve listened to our whole lives. ‘My Desire’ has some Stones and Lenny Kravitz, ‘Stressed Out’ is more Smashing Pumpkins, Dominos and Hendrix meets Gary Clark Jr. But our motto when recording the album was ‘What would J.J. Cale do?’. We love him so much.
You’re going on a tour to celebrate the record, playing in Adelaide June 16. How does Low Noise High Output translate to the stage?
The album is just two people, so we had to put a band together to play live. We decided to not just go with two guitars but to use three. It’s cool… everyone stays in their own lane and plays in their own style. It makes it more interesting because you all have to play differently.
So, you guys are The Shadow Ministers. What departments are you in charge of?
Yes, definitely! Jase is the Shadow Minister for the Environment because he’s a bit of a Greenie and a vegan. Sean Martin [drums] is the Shadow Minister for Aged Care because he loves helping that community. Kynan Duke [bass] is the Shadow Minister for the Arts because he’s a creative genius. Fazz [guitar] is the Shadow Minister for Health and Safety because I think it was something to do with his job. And I’m the Shadow Minister for Education because I’m a teacher.
Catch The Shadow Ministers at the Milledge’s Distillation Café & Venue June 16.
