Geordie Little Music

My name is Geordie Little and I am a percussive acoustic guitarist originally from Australia.

What brings you to Germany?

I came to Berlin for a holiday at the end of 2011 and was supposed to go back to Australia to finish Uni. But while I was here I fell in love with the city and with a girl in it, and decided I wanted to be a musician and that I wanted to stay.

So I quit uni and started playing guitar for a living and I’ve never really looked back.

When did you start playing?

I started playing guitar when I was 7. I learnt classical and jazz and played in school rock bands and things, but I never wanted to do it professionally. Only when I came to Berlin did I think seriously about doing it for a living, and started developing my own style.

Have you always wanted to become a musician? Are you from a family of musicians?

No and no. My mum had a guitar when I was a kid, which is why I started playing, but it was definitely not a family of musicians. And when I did have to play concerts growing up I hated it. I would get so nervous and couldn’t stop shaking. It was only when I started busking on the street that I got over my nerves and started to enjoy performing.

How does your typical day look like? 😉

I get up, have a shower, make my girlfriend a coffee and take it back to bed. Then I do a couple of hours of admin, head to my studio/practice room and do a couple of hours of practice, then head out to the streets to busk for a couple of hours. Then if I have a gig then I’ll go to soundcheck, play, and finally fall into bed ready to do it all again.

Does a musician need to know German to play his music in Germany?

Honestly no, but it does help sometimes. It helps when talking to fans and also helps when talking to police on the street! But the music industry is very much international so most things are done in English, especially the bigger gigs. I do like talking german when I play though, and I think the audience reacts well to it.

I think it has been influenced greatly just by being here. My entire outlook on life has changed since being here, in a good way, and a large part of that comes from the people I’ve met and the principles German people have.

I feel like home here now and I’m sure my experiences rub off onto my writing and playing. It must!

What projects are you currently working on?

My new album is coming out in a couple of months, so I’ve been working pretty hard on that, and organising a release concert. I’m also doing some touring this year to different festivals and working on a new show with some amazing Acrobats in Sweden. And I’m also working with another Berlin guitarist to organise the Berlin Acoustic Guitar Nights. I keep quite busy!

For musician how important is the concept of national identity?

I think personal identity is everything. For me that doesn’t really involve much national Identity. Of course, I am Australian and that has shaped the way I grew up and the morals and things that I have, but I don’t consider that all of who I am. Now I live in Germany and that rubs off. I have friends from all over the world and they influence me too. I think National Identity lets you know where you came from but I don’t think it should limit where you are going.

What does 2016 look like for you?

Busy! Travelling to Switzerland, Austria, England, France, Slovakia, Sweden, and Australia for gigs. Lot’s in Berlin too. And I’m getting married. It’s going to be a good year!