Ball Park Music (Sam Cromack and Dean Hanson) QandA

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

SAM: Before I had my heart set on being a musician I wanted to be a professional skateboarder. I still love skateboarding very much but sadly I didn’t have the skills.

DEAN: I have always wanted to be a musician. From the age of 11, me and my twin bro Dan (Drums) always wanted to be rockstars haha!

What was the first concert you went to?

SAM: My first serious concert was Incubus at the BEC. Some friends and I organised a bus to take us on the two-and-a-half hour drive from our home town. We were only fourteen! I had the best time.

DEAN: My first concert was supposed to be “The Steps” at Wembley Stadium back in 2000, but we messed up the date and missed the show by a day. Other than that It was “Taste Of Chaos” when I was a teenager.

What’s the last song you listened to?

SAM: My girlfriend and I went for a really long drive on the weekend and we finished up with Jimi Hendrix on the way home. I think the last track we heard was ‘Red House’, one of his great blues jams.

DEAN: Instant Crush - Daft Punk w/ Julian Casablancas

What are your favourite memories from touring?

SAM: I feel really lucky that I’ve been able to travel with my friends and play the music we love. It’s a true joy. Touring has also afforded some exciting non-musical opportunities too. I loved climbing to the peak of Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and riding scooters in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

DEAN: There is a long, long list. I appreciate seeing a lot of the country that I normally wouldn’t see if it wasn’t for touring. One day we climbed Cradle Mountain in Tasmania which was beautiful! And travelling down the Great Ocean Rd on the way to Falls Festival in Lorne is Breathtaking.

Who’s the biggest diva on tour?

SAM: Ha. I think we’re all fussy about particular things, but no one causes too much trouble. Jen and I have fiddly diets, especially Jen. Daniel is fussy about his equipment and also his sleeping arrangements. But we’re not too bad.

DEAN: Jen is the biggest diva by default. Everyone gets a bit cranky if we get sick. If everyone is tired we tend to all become a bit Diva.

What would be in your dream rider?

SAM: Sometimes you pay for your rider and sometimes you don’t. It depends on the type of event you’re doing. We try to keep ours fairly modest and healthy. Fresh salads and breads. Plenty of water and some wine/beer. If I could request some more ridiculous things, I’d love to have a nintendo wii with Mario Kart ready to go. Would help kill a lot of time.

DEAN: Old style Milo Bars (where can I get those suckers?) and also a labrador puppy would be incredible.

Favourite flavour of ice cream?

SAM: Hokey Pokey.

DEAN: Choc Mint

Favourite festival?

SAM: Splendour in the Grass or Falls Festival.

DEAN: Groovin the Moo, Splendour and Falls Festival are all incredible. To be honest most Australian festivals are extremely good

Fruit Loops or Cocopops?

SAM: Neither. Not for me anyway. Not a big sugar person. I’m sure the others would love both!

DEAN: Cocopops fo sho

Favourite colour?

SAM: I feel like colours work together and I can’t pick just one.

DEAN: I’ve always been a bit of a green fan

What bands have you been listening to lately?

SAM: Thundercat, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Vampire Weekend, Graham Coxon, The Shadows.

DEAN: I’m always listening to The Strokes, a bit of The Beatles and I’m also digging the new single by The Preatures, I almost went to see them last week but it was sold out :(

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

SAM: I’d like to continue to do what I love and what feels natural, and that’s to play music. I’d like to marry and have children too.

DEAN: On the cusp of releasing the 10th studio album by Ball Park Music, I’d love to still be making records with my friends and playing gigs all around the country with everyone singing along.

Of all your successes, what has been the best in your opinion?

SAM: Some things are more glamorous than others, but for me, nothing beats a simple text from a close friend telling you that they’ve enjoyed/appreciated/loved/admired some of your music. That’s the best feeling of all.

DEAN: Every time we stand on a stage and there is hundreds or thousands of people screaming the lyrics to one of our songs right back at us. That’s my definition of success for a musician

3 random facts about you?

SAM: My parents both have the same name.

I live with my girlfriend Ceridwen and her sister Myfanwy, plus two cats, Eric and Moscow.

I am extremely good at tetris.

DEAN: I hate flying, but have an overwhelming desire to fly planes one day. In the last year I took a liking to coffee, vegetables and beer. Aaaaaand my favourite movie ever is “Pretty Woman” with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

TOUR DATES:

Friday 28 June - The Tivoli, Brisbane

Friday 5 July - The Forum, Melbourne

Saturday 6 July - Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Thursday 11 July - HQ Adelaide

Friday 12 July - Metropolis, Fremantle

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