Frequently Asked Questions
Why Butterfly Music?
Why "Butterfly Music"? This is a question I'm often asked so I'd like to explain. As our daughter Belinda was lying in her hospital bed in February 2000, someone gave her a butterfly to hang over her bed. Within days, the netting above her head was filled with butterflies of all sizes and colours. For Belinda, the butterfly was a powerful image, an image of transformation from one life to another. As her body was failing, her spirit soared and touched many in the days and months before her death on February 16th, 2000. In the days and weeks that followed, our garden at home was graced by many visits from butterflies.
As Christians, the butterfly offers that powerful image of new life. As teachers we often use the caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly to teach that concept. Jesus was placed in a tomb that could not hold him, and he emerged to the brightest of new lives, just as the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.
So when it came time to choose a name for our business, my wife suggested "Butterfly Music". So there's the story behind Butterfly Music!
What did you do before Butterfly Music?
For almost twenty years I was a teacher in and around Sydney. I've taught every grade from Kindergarten to Year 6. I taught at five schools: St Mary's, Liverpool (now called All Saints), St Francis Xavier's, Lurnea; St Peter Chanel, Regents Park; Good Shepherd, Hoxton Park; and St Joseph's, Moorebank. I was an Assistant Principal and a Religious Education Co-ordinator for quite a while.
Do you have a family?
I have a wife called Bernadette who was a nurse but is now a full time mum and works for me. I have two grown-up daughters, Nicole and Kylie. And we also have Eleanor, who was born in 2001. We also have five granddaughters called Georgia, Bella, Amelia, Eden and Cecilia, and a grandson called Xavier. And of course we had another daughter, Belinda, who died in February 2000, when she was 15. She had cancer. If you have the CD 'These Hands' you can hear her voice on the last song 'The Face of God'. She had the voice of an angel.
What's your favourite song that you have written?
I have a few favourites for different reasons.
'With You in the Morning' because it was inspired by my favourite scripture, Matthew 28:16-20 and because Belinda sang it so well (as did Monica Aguinaldo on the CD); 'Come Dance With Me' because of the powerful words of Bishop Robinson that inspired the song; 'God of All Hearts' because of the bagpipes; 'Together As One' because it was the first; “A Cross of Stars” because I am amazed by what Mary MacKillop was able to do for others in a lifetime. She managed to provide for the needs of many thousands of students in the past and present, without the aid of modern technology. “In the Beginning” because of how the other musicians made it grow and it’s such great fun to perform live- it’s my wife’s absolute favourite!
On "Many Roads, One Journey", I have two favourites. One is called "May God Be In My Heart". It was inspired by a beautiful story told to me by a lady called Marcia Hortle and is a gentle blessing song based on the Sign of the Cross. The other is called "I Am the River" and was inspired by the rivers, oceans and mountains of New Zealand and Tasmania.
"Let Your Light Shine" has a couple of favourites. "You Are My Rock" is a song based on my favourite saint, St Peter, and was written for one of my favourite schools, St Peter's at Coleambally (where I was once very nearly principal!). What I love about St Peter was that he was brave, he made some mistakes but learnt from them to become what Jesus and God called him to be, the "rock of our church". I really like how "I Am The Way" starts and finishes with those harmonies. It reminds me a bit of an Australian band called the Seekers.
And 'These Hands' because it opened a whole new world for me.
Who are your favourite singers?
I loved John Denver's music because of its simple and strong message. I loved the way he talked to people through his music. My favourite music though is Australian music, with my favourites being Peter Kearney and the Australian folk/rock group "Weddings, Parties, Anything". I also love to listen to music by people who write religious music for children as well: John Burland, Jim Cosgrove, Monica Brown, Kevin Bates, Trish Watts and Michael Mangan.
How do you write a song?
No simple answer really. I do find walking in the morning to be pretty helpful. It's a beautiful time of day, when I think God's creation is at its finest. Sometimes the words will come like a chant and the tune comes next- that was how 'This Day' happened. Sometimes someone will say we need a song for this and tell me to do it! That happened with two songs, 'When We Eat This Bread' and 'People of God'.
And some of the ones are inspired by talking to children about what they believe. On 'Wherever I Go' there are a couple of songs like that: 'The Rainbow Song' where three schools helped me write it- Christ the King, Deception Bay, in Queensland, St Joseph's, Warragul, in Victoria, and St Joseph's, Te Aroha, in New Zealand.
And in May 2003 I wrote a song with the teachers and children from St Anthony's, Wanniassa, in the ACT, called 'Tell the Good News'. We sat down for an hour and the school parliament came up with some great ideas. At the end of the day when I sang the song to them (it was nearly finished), they clapped and asked me to sign their copy. I said I'd only sign it if they all did because they truly co-wrote it. And I've kept my copy!
INTERVIEW WITH ST PETER’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
In May 2008, I was interviewed by one of my favourite schools in New Zealand, St Peter’s Catholic School in Cambridge for their School Magazine. I liked the questions that their reporters, Dylan and Ben, gave me so much that I though I’d put the interview here for people to read.
1. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
I was at St Thomas More, Mt Maunganui, in the middle of a song, in the middle of a concert, when a little girl about two years old walked over and turned off the power so all the sound went off.
2. What's the weirdest/best thing you have eaten?
When I was 8 and 9 we lived in Canada and I fell in love with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I still love eating chocolate with peanut butter.
3. How do you choose your album names?
I try to choose the name of a song that captures the feel of the whole album. By the time I recorded "Wherever I Go", I'd been to many, many schools so it seemed right. I usually like the title track to be a pretty strong one as well. I always knew These Hands was the catchiest song on that album so it became the title track and the first track. Originally that album was going to be called "With You In The Morning", my favourite song on the album.
4. What do you think you're going to name your next album and why?
We just decided that about two weeks ago. It's going to be called "Let Your Light Shine". It's a great song with lots of good drums and brass. It's all about letting your God given talents shine. The CD is going to have a guitar, a poem and some butterflies on the cover.
5. What's the scariest thing you have done?
Probably leaving teaching behind to do what I do now. It scared me when my wife and I made the decision because it was a huge step, a leap of faith, but once I started I knew I'd done the right thing.
6. What are you afraid of and why?
Roller coasters and any kind of scary ride. Enough scary things happen in life so I figure why go chasing them.
7. What's your favourite holiday destination and why?
Two places, home and New Zealand. Home sounds funny but I travel a lot of the year so when the holidays come I like to be at home. I love New Zealand. My favourite places there are Kaikoura, Wellington, and of course, Cambridge! I think Melbourne and Perth are the best cities in Australia.
8. If you could relive any moment in your life again what would it be?
I loved the big Mass we had at Mystery Creek and here at home I've just been part of two huge events in Ballarat and Mittagong when the Cross and Icon came. These are probably my career highlights.
9. If you could go back in time and change something in your life what would
it be?
Great question… When my daughter Belinda was first very sick in hospital we left her by herself with the nurses one night while we went home to get organised for the months ahead. I wish I'd have stayed with her. It was the only night she ever had to spend alone in hospital but I wish she hadn't.
10. What's the naughtiest thing you have done in your life?
When I was in year 11 I got caught hitch-hiking at the school cross country carnival!
11. Have you ever forgotten the lyrics to one of your songs before?
Many, many times. What I usually do is sing any verse and hope that no-one notices.
12. What was the best moment of your life and why?
Although it was the saddest time of our lives, during Belinda's illness we became a very close and loving family. There were many beautiful moments of love in that time.
13.What's your all time favourite song from another musician?
A few:
"For A Short Time" by Weddings, Parties, Anything
"Resurrection" by Peter Kearney
"Lord of the Dance" by Sydney Carter
"Love Never Runs On Time" by Paul Kelly
"Welcome Home" by Dave Dobbyn
14. Have you forgotten to show up to a show before?
I once mixed up dates and by the time I remembered I ended up being over an hour late
15. What's your favourite thing in Australia?
My home town, Bowral in NSW
Melbourne and Perth
The Great Ocean Road in Victoria
Mangoes and Macadamias
16. What animal do you most identify with and why?
Dogs. They're loving and trusting and loyal.