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The Voice music director to share experiences with contemporary music students

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Words
Sharlene King
Published
4 July 2013

When Scott Aplin graduated with from Southern Cross University he never imagined becoming known to millions of Australians as the music director of the popular television reality talent show, The Voice.

Scott will return to the University’s Lismore campus today (4 July) to share insights about the music and television industries at an APRA Songwriters’ Workshop.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to give back to Southern Cross University because I always felt that doing the music course there was a big stepping stone in my career,” Scott said.

“During the workshop I’ll focus on the structure of songs and writing techniques. Across the two seasons of The Voice I worked on so many songs, around 200 each series, tearing them apart, cutting them for the television format and re-arranging them to suit the contestants and meet the coaches’ briefs.”

Since 2006 the APRA Songwriters’ Workshop series at SCU has delivered a steady stream of outstanding and prominent Australian talent to students of the contemporary music program.

Scott, a former Albury High student, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in contemporary music composition, from Southern Cross University in 1999.

He grew up in a musical family and started learning piano at the age of six. He completed all the classical grades as well as musicianship, and formed his first band at the age of 14.

On the set of The Voice Scott has the dual role of music director and playing keys in The Voice live band, performing with international music star coaches Delta Goodrem, Seal, Joel Madden, Keith Urban (series one) and Ricky Martin (series two), and the contestants.

“I always like to challenge myself and try new things. It was daunting when I stepped onto The Voice set for the first time a couple of years ago. My reaction was ‘This is going to be a little more scary than I thought’. It all worked out well, though,” he said.

“The show happens thanks to a big team effort from everyone. The coaches work with the contestants, making song choices for their team members. We work with the coaches to get the song arrangements right.

“There’s a lot of song material we go through and you have to be on you’re A-game to churn it out as quickly and professionally as you can. It’s challenging.”

Scott said as music director he worked with the contestants from the very start at the audition process and then The Voice band gets involved in learning 150 songs for the blind auditions.

“Our aim is always to make sure the contestants can deliver the best performance possible. The Voice band is a fantastic, world class band.”

Scott moved to Lismore from Albury in 1996 to study at SCU.

“I had always studied music in and outside of school and was keen to pursue it as a career. I saw a degree in music to be the next logical step in broadening my musical knowledge as well as a chance to meet and work with accomplished musicians.

“Southern Cross University’s contemporary music degree had a great reputation. I wanted a broader musical study experience rather than just focusing on one particular style. The studio facilities at the Lismore campus plus the interesting elective courses were also appealing.”

While based in Lismore, Scott did gigs with local musicians, formed a student band and performed on a cruise ship that toured the South Pacific, all in an effort to hone his skills.

After graduation he relocated to Sydney where he met and began working with Noiseworks bass guitarist Steve Balbi, as well as networking with other musicians and producers.

As an accomplished keyboard player on the Australian rock scene for more than a decade Scott has worked with Silverchair, Jimmy Barnes, Noiseworks and Delta Goodrem. He is also a songwriter. He has produced more than 70 albums for the ABC Kids label (with fellow SCU graduate Phil Barton), composed for film and television, and collaborated on many recordings for both independent and high profile artists.

“When I toured with Jimmy Barnes I was doing backing vocals only, which was a rather weird experience for me. I didn’t know what to do with my hands for that tour. That was good fun.”

Photo: Scott Aplin on the set of The Voice.