Carl Coleman may live in Denmark but Williamstown is still his home. 76243 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
FALLING in love with a Swedish girl in Barcelona and moving to Denmark was the start of something big for Carl Coleman.
The former Williamstown resident not only found love, he found his passion for music.
And three-and-half years later, Carl’s band, Sink Ships, have become the one to watch in Copenhagen’s underground music scene.
He popped back to town last week to spend five weeks with the family, soak up some Aussie sun and play a few solo gigs in Melbourne.
The band, which is made up of two Aussies, a Canadian, a Swede and a Dane, play original old country style songs – a very niche market in Denmark.
“We’ve garnered a bit of respect and a following in the underground scene,” he said.
He may be a full-time muso at heart but the former Footscray-based social worker still needs to pay the bills.
By day, Carl teaches English at an international pre-school and works at a backpacker’s hostel.
“It was hard to make the adjustment to a musician’s wage,” he joked.
The self-taught guitarist and song-writer, Carl said he doesn’t know what the future holds.
“I don’t really have a plan.”
“At the moment I’m really pushing the band – I want to see where it goes.
“I’m really blessed and stoked to have found my dream – it helped ground me.”
Carl said Australia plays a big role in his music.
“Distance is a real theme in our songs and homesickness and isolation.”
The band is now landing some big bookings and releasing an EP this year.
“I’m really proud of the fact that we’ve done so much.”
For more information about the band or to listen to their tunes visit www.myspace.com/sinkshipsdk or www.soundcloud.com/sink-ships
