John Laidler

Curriculum vitae: John Laidler

Music, songwriting, recording

Early 1980’s: member of several punk/underground bands, producer of fanzines and recordings (e.g. two cassette albums released by Xerox Dreamflesh group) (writing, performing, recording)

1986: founding member of Okapi Guitar Band (writing, performing)

1991: Okapi Guitar Band debut CD (performing)

1994: formed Okapi Guitars (writing, performing)

1994 - 2008: released six Okapi Guitars CDs http://www.okapiguitars.com (writing, performing, recording)

1994: Opened Rat Shed Studio (personal recording studio) (recording)

2004: Conversations exhibition (performing, recording, cd production)

The Conversations exhibition was shown at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, from 26 June to 17 July 2004. It involved different kinds of creative dialogue between five artists and five writers. A background soundscape was recorded and played continuously.

2005: Opened Cut Snake Studio (personal recording studio)

Awards

2003 and 2004: Okapi Guitars selected as finalists in MusicOz World Music category http://www.musicoz.org/

2006: Finalist, Australian Songwriters Association National Songwriting Contest, Folk/Acoustic category

Film and TV

1998: Kizungu by Okapi Guitars included in feature film Dance Me To My Song (Rolf de Heer)

2007: Two songs by Okapi Guitars used in PBS series Roadtrip Nation