For Tim Finn, the magic has been happening over a long period…across generations, beyond horizons and around the world. One of the new century’s great classicists, Finn has a formidable reputation as a singer and songwriter.
His lineage goes back to the group he co-founded in New Zealand in the early 1970′s, Split Enz. Alongside that is his praised solo work, as well as tenure with Crowded House (alongside brother Neil). Put simply Tim Finn is responsible for some of the most treasured and loved songs in modern music. From Six Months In A Leaky Boat, I See Red and Poor Boy to Persuasion, I Hope I Never, Made My Day and Fraction Too Much Friction. Then there’s the songs he co-wrote for the acclaimed Crowded House album Woodface. The timeless Weather With You, It’s Only Natural and Chocolate Cake.
Finn’s collaborative spirit and willingness to push his musical limits has seen his career now span some four decades, a rare achievement in an age of instant gratification and faceless, cookie-cutter pop. It has allowed him to tour the world countless times and work with some of the most recognisable names in contemporary music.
Tim Finn continues to challenge his own lofty expectations and creative boundaries. In recent years Finn has found solace in the world of theatre, writing and performing music for a number of major productions including Ladies In Black which recently enjoyed sold out seasons in Brisbane and Melbourne. Over the next 12-18 months he will also deliver music for new productions, The Fiery Maze and Star Navigator.
As a writer, Finn’s genius has been his gift of melody pitted against his novelist’s eye for detail. He sees the world at close range with a keen interest in the human condition. There’s something ethereal in the way he discusses his process, which stems from his widescreen universality.
With an inbuilt sense of sonic navigation, Finn seeks out material in his surroundings. Pressed on the matter, he produces a scrap of yellowed newspaper that he possibly trimmed from a New York newspaper two decades ago. The forgotten author writes in two sentences what could very well be applied to Finn’s process today.
“Redemption in art is not what happens after the story is over and the subject ends up strong or successful or sober or, in every simple and complicated sense of the word, happy. Redemption is the work itself (the book, the movie, the pop song, the painting, the poem, the Grecian urn) that finds beauty in its subject, no matter how terrible or how homely, and transmits that beauty, as well as truth… one and the same thing as the poet says.”
Like many of the great poets, Finn’s autobiography is in his set list which reads like the fine maturity lines on his stoic features and that enviable mop of silver hair. His current vantage point includes a young family and a life well lived. Still, there’s angst and yearning pitted against the bliss. Expect songs that document his life so far with an honesty and warmth that is irresistible. Finn is still hungry to create, perform and share his art with others. Enjoy…