My Place

Pic of musician Simon Reich. Photo by Damjan Janevski. 264383_02

Sarah Oliver

Eynesbury musician Simon Reich was born to play and write music, and has recently released a new track recorded from his home studio. He speaks with Sarah Oliver.

What is your connection to Eynesbury?

Due to my wife getting a job in the area, we shifted here a few years ago from a country Victorian town.

What do you love about the area?

Because I was born in rural Victoria and lived most of my life in small towns, I love the “village” aspect of Eynesbury and felt at home the first time I visited it. The sense of community is extremely strong and the Eynesbury Facebook page keeps us all connected and allows us to share possessions, information and support when needed.

What are your favourite local spots?

My favourite local spot is the homestead here in Eynesbury. It’s not only a place to have a meal or a casual drink but there are constant community activities planned throughout the year that are based around the homestead.

How long have you been a musician?

I’ve been a musician since I was five years old. That’s when I started to learn the piano under the insistence of my parents. But when I turned sixteen and discovered that I could play songs by ear and make up tunes, I suddenly realised how much joy I derived from music.

Why did you decide to make music?

This may sound strange, but I feel I was born with a gift of music already in me. Having known other people who have taken music lessons they sometimes quit or don’t pursue it as an adult, but in my case music seems to run through my veins and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t want to sit down and play.

You’ve recently released some new music recorded in your home studio – can you tell us a bit about that?

I have set up a recording studio in my home and I use it to create music for films, advertising and song writing. My most recent release is a duet between myself and a female singer and songwriter from England. Not only was the track recorded in my studio but half of the film clip was filmed in my garage. The final outcome is quite cinematic and you would never know it was created in a lowly shed.

What’s something people might find surprising about you?

I am a member of the Melton table tennis association and play games at the Cobblebank stadium every Tuesday night. It’s another layer of community and making friends in an area I knew nobody just three years ago.

Where can people find your music?

My music is available on all major streaming platforms like Spotify Apple Music and SoundCloud. I’m very proud of the fact that my SoundCloud page has had more than 1.5 million plays and my most popular track has been listened to by 267,000 people.