BRISBANE—Legendary US composer Van Dyke Parks, who has collaborated with everyone from the Beach Boys to Silverchair, says he wants to work with more Aussie artists because of their individuality.
Parks is in Australia for the Big Sound music conference in Brisbane, where he delivered the keynote address on Wednesday morning.
A musician, writer, arranger and composer, Parks co-wrote Smile with Brian Wilson, argued with Bob Dylan against going electric, produced the debut albums of Randy Newman and Ry Cooder, acted on screen with Grace Kelly and lunched with Walt Disney.
His life, he says, "has been one of great reflected glory".
But rather than reminiscing about the past, Parks is looking forward to new, exciting artists to work with, and he's checking out the talent in Australia.
"What I'm getting out of Australia, and New Zealand as well ... is so filled with invention, almost like people are not afraid of highly individual approach. I see that in the music," Parks told AAP.
"(Baz) Luhrmann's filmmaking was the first of many Australian features which seemed to have an edge that I enjoy, and (all the arts seem) a little more schiz-ish, mentally imbalanced, able to go nuts and then collect themselves for an artful conclusion."
Parks said he has been looking for new music and ideas further afield since becoming bored by the domination of American music and culture.
"I think America has exported a cultural tyranny. The American culture has made the world a very monotonous place, a Kentucky Friend state of mind," he said.
"So I look at Australia as a possible solution to that.
"I love it here and I love the attitude of the people - not self-reinventing, it seems to me inventing for the first time. I get a sense of novelty out of this place and it's very refreshing."
Parks declined to name names, but said he carries in his wallet a list of Australians he would like to work with or for.
