Putting some growl into pop

Sydney Star Observer: Have you always wanted to be a musician?

Patrick Wolf: Yes. I was eight when I first started to play the violin, so I guess it all developed from there.

SSO: The Magic Position is your third album; did you expect it would be so successful?

PW: It’s going really good. It’s been a long trip so far as I started last November and I will continue till the end of the year. The album is very confident with a happy beat based around a love relationship. The Canadian artist Ingrid Z inspired it. She motivated the whole record, feeling and arrangement on the album- she was my girlfriend and potential wife at the time.

SSO: What’s your favourite song on the album?

PW: Stars – it’s a song that was written after my four grandparents died over a year period – it’s a tribute and remembrance to them.

SSO: The past year you’ve transgressed from a sombre looking character to this red-haired flamboyant performer, wearing leopard print shirts and make-up.

PW: With my music clips, I just wanted to make people happy because I wanted them to be exciting and colourful – I’m like a child. The new album is like a royal portrait of myself. I’m not living in sadness anymore. I’m 22 years old and I’ve achieved a lot.

SSO: You have such a large queer following. Do you enjoy your gay icon status?

PW: It’s fantastic – I grew up with a performance art collective called the Offset and many were from queer culture. I’m a believer in total equality for all human beings and am very anti-homophobia. I like that my music can be a beacon for kids that are being bullied at school or alone in the world. 

SSO: There are rumours flooding the internet about your sexuality, so are you straight?

PW: No, not at all. My sexuality is kind of liberal. I fall in love with men and women. I guess you would call me bisexual. I like to have sex and fall in love – I don’t like giving terminology for my sexuality.  

SSO: Have you preformed at gay venues? 

PW: Tons of times. When I was 14, I played at Heaven nightclub with a couple of drag queens. We were in a punk rock group called Toilet. In England you have more fun in a gay bar.

SSO: In 2004 you were arrested for stealing?

PW: It’s kind of true but it was a false arrest. The lady who accused me of stealing her family jewels was away. I was looking after her keys when the house was robbed. But at the same time I had an accident by falling through a window at my house. I was in hospital when the burglary took place.

SSO: What can your fans expect from your Australia show?

PW: The Australian tour is going to be very stripped down. It’s going to be one instrument and myself. You all have to come along.

Patrick Wolf is playing at The Basement on 6 July then The Factory Theatre on 7 July. His Myspace is www.myspace.com/officialpatrickwolf