Paul Furness is a keyboard player and multi-instrumentalist who serves as a founding member of Brisbane indie rock mainstays Ball Park Music. Since forming the group during a university class assignment in 2008, Paul has spent nearly two decades helping anchor their melodic and eclectic sound, layering essential synthesizer textures, piano, and occasional trombone across eight studio albums. From their acclaimed debut Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs to their latest release Like Love, his meticulous approach to parts and arrangement has been a constant thread in the band’s enduring catalog. We chat with Paul about how a college project evolved into a multi-decade career, his collaborative writing process, and the gear he relies on for the stage and the studio.

To listen / watch:

Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel

Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):

Paul’s past 12 months

Ball Park Music’s latest album Like Love

Ball Park music in action supporting Oasis last year

Playing a gig with Brisbane’s cheesiest band, The Pizzas

Approaching gigs supporting Oasis in stadiums

The first album – Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs – and working with Matt Redlich

The second album – Museum

Recording the fourth album, Every Night The Same Dream, to analog 4-track, 1/4-inch tape

The evolution of Paul’s keyboard rig and the UDO Super 6 as a central component

Creating and feeding energy to the audience when playing live

Paul’s role as Ball Park Music’s Keep of the Statistics

Ball Park Music – Hands Off My Body

Ball Park Music – Surrender

Plans and motivations for the future

Ball Park Music’s tour rehearsal process

A Vietnam-based challenging gig

Desert Island Discs: Night Train – Oscar Peterson, Morrison Hotel – The Doors, Whatever and Ever Amen – Ben Folds Five, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John, We Like It Here – Snarky Puppy

T-Shirt shout-out to The Rock and Roll Society of Edmonton

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise

Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!

Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.

The post Paul Furness, Ball Park Music appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.