Since working across the Perth music scene with past bands Skin Inc and CrashPit, music has become a non-stop world for Corey Hodgetts. Following the break up of CrashPit, Corey has taken on more projects than he could ever have anticipated.
So in the midst of working on projects like YOUTH MUSIC ZONE, WEST OF OCTOBER and SUPERMODIFIED, Corey decided to revisit some past work he had been wanting to release for some time... and that material was reworked and redeveloped, and when combined with some brand new rock, became CONTAGIOUS II.
CONTAGIOUS II, the follow-up to his first solo EP, CONTAGIOUS - Demos, is a showcase of Corey's determined attitude amidst the Perth music scene. The new release provided him with the opportunity to put out some previously unreleased, recently reworked and brand new material.
With the new album hitting the streets on Tuesday, November 23, Corey took some time out to tell us about the return of CONTAGIOUS.
So, first off, tell us, "why a second Contagious"? What prompted you to record CONTAGIOUS II?
When I did the first Contagious CD, it was me proving to myself that I could do it.... write some songs, hang out with some of my good muzo friends and create something that I could be proud of. Before that I had been in Skin Inc for nearly 3 years and even before then I hadn't played in a band since Fortissimo in 1996. So I had built myself up for recording CONTAGIOUS for over 5 years or so. The reason CONTAGIOUS II came about was because I had recorded so much stuff with so many different people (including Crash/CrashPit) since the first CD that I thought, "Well, why not?" CII is a lot different from the first due to that reason alone.
CONTAGIOUS II was the first time you'd worked with Geoff Lewis for some time. How was it getting back into the studio with Geoff?
We recorded Love's Run Out On You, which is a song that Geoff wrote about 12 years before. We had played it with Fortissimo. He had already started the demo before he asked me to sing and play guitar on it. It took ages to get that song down because of the way Geoff likes to work in the studio (when he's awake). But it turned out great. It's a great song. Geoff also played bass on Your Mama Won't Like Me. To be honest, we frustrate the hell out of each other and every time we finish a recording we don't want to see each other! (Laughs)
One of the songs on the new CD, This Side, has an interesting history... Tell us a bit about that.
It's amazing what you find when you don't look for it (laughs). I played around on my PC one night and turned Otherside backwards and found a better riff. I liked it so much I wrote on the song and learnt it backwards... I ended up turning the new version into This Side but it is a lot shorter and heavier. The storyline is very true and its about me and someone who... Check it out for yourself.
I love that song and have done so since I can remember. It brings back a lot of memories from when I was real young because my mother loved Suzi Q. I have wanted to cover it since about 1991 when I found a copy of the album and I thought, "Someday, somehow, I will re-do this". But because she's a chick it wasn't really a song for me to sing. So I got my good friend Bec Darlington to sing it for CONTAGIOUS II. Bec played in Joob when Skin Inc was going, and I loved Joob, (laughs) I loved Bec also! Still do! She rocks very hard and is one of the coolest people I know. Love ya, Becsta
Who else was involved on the recording of CONTAGIOUS II?
The next project up your sleeve is SUPERMODIFIED. Tell us what we can expect with this 2005 release.
This is all me. I am playing drums, bass, vocals, guitars, effects and keyboards. I'm not sure what people expect, but I feel I can handle the duties on all these songs and that's not saying I feel I'm overly great on all instruments... I'm more than likely not, but this is a special deal for me. I have demoed most of it already and I'm now having a small break before going in for the real deal. The songs are something else. It is a heavier, groovier sound and every song has its place. Only a small handful of people have heard any of it so far because I want to get that full reaction that you don't usually get just because you play your demos to everyone. Most of these songs came about over 2 days while trying out new recording software... Again, it's amazing what you find when you don't look for it... This album WILL be my finest moment.
One of the biggest projects you worked on for a while was a new band called WEST OF OCTOBER. However, things fell apart and for a time there it seemed like it was over for the band. But now, WEST OF OCTOBER is becoming a reality again. Tell us about the band. What happened with the break-up? And how are things looking for the future of WEST OF OCTOBER?
What can I say? Okay, the first line up was good, but we got to a point were it just stopped evolving. We lost focus and drive, so we split. Then Kris Falconer (ex-Kin) and myself started with some new guys. At this point we are seeking a drummer but I'm really not sure what will happen... it's in the hands of the Gods (laughs). Whatever happens, the name, West of October, is mine and it will be used for something - whether it is for this band or another future project..
Can we expect a WEST OF OCTOBER web site?
I think once CII is out, I will change the site over to West Of October and I will use that as my title. It is all depending on what happens to the band.
These past few months have been very busy for you, with CONTAGIOUS II, SUPERMODIFIED and WEST OF OCTOBER. What else have you been getting into?
Running my business, YOUTH MUSIC ZONE, which is about helping kids understand the music industry and providing them with writing and recording workshops. They get to do a performance and record CDs, so they love it. I also work in a music shop; PK's MUSIC, teaching guitar and I also have my full time job as a Youth Worker at a high school. Apart from that I try and hang with my son Jayden as much as possible... he just turned 4 and I got him a full size drum kit so we can jam out.
With the three big projects you've been working on (C2, SUPERMODIFIED and OCTOBER), what music has been influencing your work?
I try not to look for influences on my own stuff, even though it's hard not to be influenced by music you listen to. I listen to so much stuff that its hard to keep count. I am full blown addicted to music; it's my drug. I have been getting into Zeromancer, Kidney Thieves, Advocate, Astral Project, Soilwork, and AFI... Shit, I could go on forever. Lots of Black Metal, Trance, some dance stuff and no I'm not gay.
Can we expect a CONTAGIOUS III?
No. I have no plans of doing anything solo after CII and Supermodified at this point. I really want to get out on the front lines again and play some gigs. So my focus is to be doing that next year also. If it's with West of October, that's great. If it's another band, that's great too. But I love playing live more than almost anything else and I'm glad I've been too busy to really miss it this year.
Anything else you'd like to say to visitors at the CONTAGIOUS web site?
I feel that I only have a few years of ball busting left, so depending on
the situation it will be time for me to get a little cover band together for fun and put all my efforts into racing Speedway again, because that's another drug that I can't kick (laughs). I want to be up and racing in time for Jayden to race Junior Sedans when he's 10. That's my long-term plan. I still have 6 years at least to kick ass in a rockin band... then after that its out on the dirt for this dude (laughs).
Still do! She rocks very hard and is one of the coolest people I know. Love ya, Becsta 
