Greg's latest record is Chinese Whispers. "Its my fourth album. Its my first on a major label (EMI) since departing from Pagan Records. We recorded it in February over two weeks and then we mixed it over another two weeks in Sydney."
Greg recorded the album at Airforce Studios and found it a completely different experience from making his last album, Vine St Stories, which was recorded at his Auckland home. "It was a lot easier really than doing it at home. We were in it for a mission and we did it."
He also found this record easier because he produced it himself with Chris Van De Geer. "Its a strange thing to give someone else the reins at the last minute so I'd thought I'd try and hold on for the whole way for this one. Chris Van De Geer arranges really good and the rest of the guys are also incredible."
Chinese Whispers also differed from Vine St Stories, in that apart from long-time guitarist, Trevor Reekie, there was a whole new band. "Mark Hughes, Mark Bell, Wayne Bell and Trevor and myself. And it's by far the best band I've had, in terms of understanding what the songs are about. It just clicks, it's really easy. I'm looking forward to making another record with this band."
The album is packed with references to stars, comets, flying and space. And space is definitely something which inspires Greg. "I've been reading a lot about astronomy. And I'm really interested in space programmes and the meaning of life and that sort of stuff and I guess that comes out. I've been reading a lot of that and I spend a lot of time travelling and flying and staring into space..."
And yes, he does like to travel, with Asia being a favourite destination. That comes out in the album title. "Its basically the child's game, Chinese Whispers, say something, spread it around. But the Asian connection is fine for me, I like their culture a lot."
But surely he must get sick of answering that same old question? "Its been asked by everyone. But I think its quite a good title, I just like the ambiguity of it, the fact that Chinese Whispers is pretty much what a song is, someone just reinterprets a bunch of lyrics and makes what they will about it."
