Waterhouse, like a fish out of water
In any cultural biosphere there will be anomalies, talents that defy their formative space, and if you're looking for a great fish out of water story, Nick Waterhouse is your guy.
Growing up in California's Huntington Beach among pro skaters, punk rockers and as he recalls, swathes of heroic looking Aussie surf imports, the young Waterhouse was counter-culture in a counter-culture.
From the get go, Waterhouse was vibrating on a different level.
As his friends pined over Limp Bizkit and AFI, Waterhouse was deconstructing Van Morrison and Chuck Berry, tapping the veins and getting high on new old sounds.
The chase paid off; his immersion in classic American rhythm and blues imbued Waterhouses gin-joint rock 'n' roll with a legit swagger that is impossible to fake.
But when you work in a genre that peaked half a century ago, it's easy for people to confuse the genuine evolution of a style for pastiche, and it's something Waterhouse has to clarify all too often.
"I feel like I have an identity, I write songs that have their own thing going on," explains Waterhouse.
"I don't play straight twelve bar blues songs, that kind of stuff is for people that are living in a genre."
"I'm not trying to relive anything at all; it's like talking to a painter or a country singer, don't f…ing ask a country singer 'so, you really wish you lived in cowboy land don't ya?".
Misunderstood or not, Waterhouse is getting it done.
His gritty take on blues, rock and soul has propelled him around the world and back again.
Between tours, Waterhouse is currently based at the iconic Sound City studios, as made famous by the Dave Grohl documentary of the same name.
"I made my last album there, Holly. The owner of it, his name is Kevin Augunas, he offered me a small office to work and write… I'm pretty sure I'm in Mick Fleetwood's cocaine closet," Waterhouse laughs.
On paper, things are looking pretty good for the well spoken singer.
We get around to discussing possible mainstream success and if commercial reward is on his radar.
"Not at all," he says. "Any success I've had is accidental, and even though I have people working on me as a business, everyday I am doubtful of that; I'm like, 'you realise who you're working for right guys?"
"People presume that success for one person is the equivalent to another, it's like talking to a postman who has twenty years in a great job compared to a stock trader who has twenty years in a great job you know?
"I'm the postman in this situation."
Nick Waterhouse will be playing the Chevron Festival Gardens as part of the Perth International Arts Festival on March 7.
Tickets are available via perthfestival.com.au.
