RAVE talks to OLIVER MANN about Tin Power, the first a line of 7-inch singles he’s calling the Rock N Roll series.

RAVE: How did you come to work with Andy Ramsay from Stereolab to record the current Tin Power 7-inch?

OLIVER MANN: I bumped into him one night at a concert at the Arts Center in Melbourne. Stereolab were out here in Australia doing the Laneway shows and had a night off. I was out seeing Dawn Upshaw sing and he knew one of the horn players in the ACO [Australian Chamber Orchestra], in fact, the horn player used to play in Stereolab. I recognised Andy because I am an all-time fan of Stereolab and he has played drums in the band for 18 years. We hung out over some beers after the show and got to talking.

R: Coming from an opera and classical background, how different is the satisfaction or reward you derive from performing solo in a more ‘pop’ capacity?

OM: It’s the same. I always aim to communicate and set that as a benchmark as a performer. Sure, it’s noted that the context is often different, but it all boils down to the common denominator – did I tell that story/create that space/open those wounds/make that person want to go home and sing in the shower?

R: You seem to have garnered a very positive critical reception from the UK. As a performer how do you value acclaim from international quarters in comparison to local Australian reviews? Do you believe there’s a premium attached to being appreciated overseas?

OM: Yes, the UK reception has been nice, but you should have read one of the latest reviews in the UK – set a blow-torch to the album. And that’s the nature of critical reception – it’s fickle. If people come to see me sing and then come back again another time then that is highly valued by me. If I can play to an audience of 100 in Pisa then that’s better for me than playing to 10 people in Adelaide. Distance and travel and being away from home is the trade-off though.

OLIVER MANN plays at Browning Street Studios on Friday Oct 9 with Carry Nation.

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