Wayne Paul Connolly is an Australian music producer, audio engineer and musician. From 1991 to 1997 Connolly played lead guitar and sang in guitar group The Welcome Mat and released two studio albums. Since 1994, he has played in Knievel with Tracy Ellis and Nick Kennedy. Knievel have released four studio albums and a compilation of B-sides and rarities.

Career

Musician

Connolly formed The Welcome Mat in 1990 with Cory Messenger on vocals and guitar, Pete Bennett on drums (ex-Fiction Romance) and Dave Moss on bass guitar. Leo Mullins (of The Benedicts) replaced Moss on bass guitar in 1991. They released two albums ''Gram'' (1993) and ''Lap of Honour'' (1996) before disbanding in 1997. Australian musicologist,

Ian McFarlane Ian McFarlane (born 1959) is an Australian music journalist, music historian and author, whose best known publication is the ''Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop'' (1999), which was updated for a second edition in 2017. As a journalist ...

says, " heystarted out as a chirpy, jangly guitar pop outfit before heading in a tougher, though still melodic and harmony-laced, power pop direction." In 1994 Connolly formed Knievel on lead guitar and vocals with Tracy Ellis (ex-Oliver) on bass guitar and Nick Kennedy (ex-Templebears, Big Heavy Stuff) on drums. The group have issued four studio albums, ''We Fear Change'' (1995), ''Steep Hill Climb'' (1997), Note: shows US release year. ''The Name Rings a Bell That Drowns out Your Voice'' (2000) Note: shows US release year and ''Emerald City'' (2012) as well as a B-sides and demos compilation ''No One's Going to Understand in My Way''. Knievel achieved rotation on national youth radio

Triple J Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...

with several singles, toured locally and internationally, and supported bands such as

Luna Luna commonly refers to: * Earth's Moon, named "Luna" in Latin, Spanish and other languages * Luna (goddess) In Sabine and ancient Roman religion and myth, Luna is the divine embodiment of the Moon (Latin ''Lūna'' ). She is often presented as t ...

Teenage Fanclub Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1989. The group were founded by Norman Blake (Scottish musician), Norman Blake (vocals, guitar), Raymond McGinley (vocals, lead guitar) and Gerard Love (vocals, bass), al ...

, and

Death Cab for Cutie Death Cab for Cutie (commonly abbreviated to DCFC or Death Cab) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington, in 1997. Death Cab for Cutie's music has been classified as indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock. The ...

Production and audio engineering

Connolly has balanced playing music with a varied and successful career as a producer and engineer for some of Australia's most respected artists, including

Josh Pyke Joshua Jon Pyke (born 18 December 1977) is an Australian singer-songwriter, producer, musician and children's book author. Music career 2003–2004: Early EPs and Night Hour Josh Pyke was in his first band by age 12 and played his first perform ...

, The Vines,

Boy & Bear Boy & Bear are an Australian indie folk band formed in 2009, consisting of David Hosking (vocals and guitar), Killian Gavin (vocals and guitar), Tim Hart (drums, vocals, banjo, mandolin), Jonathan Hart (keys, synths, vocals), and David Symes ( ...

Paul Dempsey Paul Anthony Dempsey (born 25 May 1976) is an Australian musician. He is best known as the lead singer, guitarist and principal lyricist of rock group Something for Kate. Dempsey released his debut solo album, '' Everything Is True'', on 20 A ...

Youth Group Youth Group is an Australian rock band based in Newtown, New South Wales. Built around the vocals of singer Toby Martin and production of Wayne Connolly, the sound of Youth Group is reminiscent of indie rock artists such as Teenage Fanclub, ...

Underground Lovers Underground Lovers (sometimes stylised as undergroundLOVERS) are an Australian pop-rock band whose sound encompasses elements of indie rock, electronic and shoegaze. Founding members Glenn Bennie (guitar, vocals) and Vincent Giarrusso (vocals, ...

Died Pretty Died Pretty, sometimes The Died Pretty, were an Australian alternative rock band founded by mainstays Ron Peno (lead singer) and Brett Myers (lead guitarist and backing vocalist) in Sydney in 1983. Their music started from a base of early elec ...

Hoodoo Gurus Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1981 by Dave Faulkner (songwriter, lead singer and guitarist) and later joined by Richard Grossman (bass), Mark Kingsmill (drums), and Brad Shepherd (guitar, vocals, harmonica). Th ...

and

You Am I You Am I are an Australian power pop band, fronted by its lead singer-songwriter and guitarist, Tim Rogers. They formed in December 1989 and are the first Australian band to have released three successive albums that have each debuted at the ...

. In the early 1990s he took a job managing Paradise Studios for

rooART rooArt was an Australian independent record label, founded in 1988 by INXS's then-manager, Chris Murphy, label owner Sebastian Chase and Murphy's former employee, Justin Van Stom. The label's roster included several well-known Australian ban ...

, which put him in touch with emerging artists providing songs for the Youngblood compilation series. Among these were

, Glide, and

Custard Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on sweetened milk, cheese, or cream cooked with Eggs as food, egg or egg yolk to thicken it, and sometimes also flour, corn starch, or gelatin. Depending on the recipe, custard may vary in con ...

, all of whom formed working relationships with the producer. Production credits from the 1990s include ''Wahooti Fandango'' by

, ''Fill Yourself With Music'' by Screamfeeder, ''The Young Need Discipline'', ''Lazy Highways'' and ''Future Spa'' by The Fauves, ''

In Your Bright Ray ''In Your Bright Ray'' is the fourth and final solo album, released in 1997, by Grant McLennan. The album features Brett Myers of Died Pretty and Wayne Connolly of Knievel on guitars, Maurice Argiro of Underground Lovers on bass, and Tim Po ...

'' by The Go-Betweens'

Grant McLennan Grant William McLennan (12 February 19586 May 2006) was an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter-guitarist. He co-founded the Go-Betweens (1977–89, 2000–06) with Robert Forster in Brisbane in 1977 and issued four solo albums: '' Wat ...

, and ''Sold'' by

. Since the early 2000s, Connolly has also worked with

Neil Finn Neil Mullane Finn (born 27 May 1958) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being a principal member of Split Enz and for being the lead singer of Crowded House. He was also a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 ...

, Cloud Control, Dallas Crane, Sarah Blasko,

Silverchair Silverchair was an Australian Rock music, rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Newcastle, New South Wales, with Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars, Ben Gillies on drums, and Chris Joannou on bass guitar. The group got thei ...

Jimmy Barnes James Dixon Barnes ( Swan; born 28 April 1956) is an Australian rock singer. His career, both as a solo performer and as the lead vocalist with the rock band Cold Chisel, has made him one of the most popular and best-selling Australian music a ...

The Living End The Living End is an Australian punk rock band from Melbourne, formed in 1994. Since 2002, the line-up consists of Chris Cheney (vocals, guitar), Scott Owen (double bass, vocals), and Andy Strachan (drums). The band rose to fame in 1997 after ...

Grinspoon Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales, which formed in 1995 by Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar, Kristian Hopes on drums and frontman Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar. Also in that year, Grinspoon ...

Powderfinger Powderfinger were an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their break-up in 2010, the line-up consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins ...

The Veronicas The Veronicas are an Australian pop music, pop duo from Brisbane. The group was formed in 2004 by identical twin sisters Lisa Origliasso, Lisa and Jessica Origliasso. In 2005, the Veronicas released their debut studio album, titled ''The Secr ...

, Midnight Oil's

Jim Moginie James 'Jim' Moginie (born 18 May 1956) is an Australian musician. He is best known for his work with Midnight Oil, of which he is a founding member, guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter. Career In addition to Midnight Oil, Moginie ha ...

, Halfway, Dappled Cities, Old Man River,

The Grates The Grates were an Australian indie rock band, which formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 2002 with Patience Hodgson on lead vocals, John Patterson on guitars and backing vocals and Alana Skyring on drums. Their first two albums, '' Gravity Won't ...

, Turnstyle and many more. Recent credits include albums for

The Apartments The Apartments are an Australian indie music, indie band formed in 1978 in Brisbane, Queensland. The band split up in 1979 but reformed in 1984 and continued until 1997, with a new version of the band forming in 2007. Based in Sydney, New South ...

, Community Radio,

All Our Exes Live in Texas All Our Exes Live in Texas were an Australian folk group, consisting of Hannah Crofts (vocals & ukulele), Georgia Mooney (vocals & mandolin), Elana Stone (vocals & accordion) and Katie Wighton (vocals & guitar). The four artists combined at a ...

Husky Husky is a general term for a type of dog used in the polar regions, primarily and specifically for work as sled dogs. It refers to a traditional northern type, notable for its cold-weather tolerance and overall hardiness. Modern racing huskies ...

Hungry Kids of Hungary Hungry Kids of Hungary (often shortened to HKOH) were an Australian four-piece indie pop band from Brisbane, Queensland. The band consisted of Dean McGrath (lead vocals, guitar), Kane Mazlin (lead vocals, keys), Ben Dalton (bass guitar, vocals ...

, Knievel, Sounds Like Sunset, Babe Rainbow, Tim Hart, Perry Keyes and The Paper Kites.

Film and television

In addition to his work in the music recording industry, Connolly has produced work for film and television. His credits include '' Friday On My Mind'', '' The Kettering Incident'', '' Love Child'', '' The Black Balloon'', ''

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...

'', '' Little Fish'', '' Monkey Puzzle'', '' Mullet'', ''Willful'' and '' Dirty Deeds''. The track, "When We Get There", produced for ''The Black Balloon'', won best song at the 2008 AGSC/ APRA awards.

Studios

From 2007 to 2015, Connolly worked largely from his own studio within the Albert Music premises in Sydney where he housed his restored Neve 8026 desk. Since 2016 he has worked extensively at Hercules Street Studios in Sydney and at the newly-refurbished Music Farm Studios in

Byron Bay Byron Bay ( Minjungbal: ''Cavvanbah'') is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of New South Wales, Australia (in Bundjalung Country). It is located north of Sydney and south of Brisbane. Cape Byron, a headland adjac ...

Selected credits

Credits: Note: incorrectly gives composer credit for US folk group, Beers Family's ''Season of Peace'' (1971). It is a different Wayne Connolly. *1992: :'' Leaves Me Blind'' by

*1993: :''

Coprolalia Coprolalia ( ) is involuntary swearing or the involuntary utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. The word comes from the Ancient Greek language, Greek (), meaning "dung, feces", and () "speech", from () "to ...

'' by

:'' Sound as Ever'' by

*1994: :'' Dream It Down'' by

:'' Wahooti Fandango'' by Custard :'' The Young Need Discipline'' by The Fauves *1995: :'' Hi Fi Way'' by

(selected tracks) :''Higher Up the Firetrails'' by Bluebottle Kiss :'' Sold'' by

*1996: :'' Hourly Daily'' by

:'' Rushall Station'' by

:''Disappear Here'' by Glide :'' Future Spa'' by The Fauves *1997: :''

'' by

:''Steep Hill Climb'' by Knievel *1998: :'' Lazy Highways'' by The Fauves :'' Using My Gills as a Roadmap'' by

*1999: :'' Sweeter Than the Radio'' by Icecream Hands :''King Autumn'' by Hoolahan *2000: :'' Everydaydream'' by

:'' Urban & Eastern'' by

:''The Name Rings a Bell that Drowns out your Voice'' by Knievel *2001: :''Size of the Ocean'' by Big Heavy Stuff :''First Translated in 1965'' by Ides of Space : ''Griffith Sunset'' EP by

Evan Dando Evan Griffith Dando (born March 4, 1967) is an American musician and the frontman of the rock band the Lemonheads. He has also embarked on a solo career and collaborated on songs with various artists. In December 2015, Dando was inducted into t ...

*2002: :''Drag (EP)'' by Drag :''We Got This!'' by New Christs *2004: :'' Dallas Crane'' by Dallas Crane :'' Skeleton Jar'' by

:''The Truth About Love'' by David McCormack & The Polaroids :''Dear Friends and Enemies'' by Big Heavy Stuff :''Farewell to the Fainthearted'' by Halfway *2006: :'' Forever Young'' by

:'' Factory Girls'' by Dallas Crane :'' Casino Twilight Dogs'' by

:'' Vision Valley'' by The Vines :'' Nervous Flashlights'' by The Fauves :'' Flame Trees'' by Sarah Blasko :''Remember The River'' by Halfway *2007: :'' The Bells Line'' by 78 Saab :'' Memories & Dust'' by

*2008: :'' When Good Times Go Good'' by The Fauves :'' Chimney's Afire'' by

:''Easy Fever: A Tribute to the Easybeats and

Stevie Wright Stephen Carlton Wright (20 December 1947 – 27 December 2015) was an Australian singer, songwriter, and musician. Called Australia's first international pop star, he is best known for being the lead singer of the Easybeats, who are widely rega ...

'' by Various Artists (including

and Iva Davies) *2009: :'' Zounds'' by Dappled Cities :'' Everything Is True'' by

:''

Ragged & Ecstatic ''Ragged & Ecstatic'' is the debut and only studio album of Australian indie rock band Yves Klein Blue. It was released on 7 July 2009 by Dew Process. It was produced by Kevin Augunas and Caleb James, and recorded the album at Airlock Studios in ...

'' (select tracks) by

Yves Klein Blue Yves Klein Blue was an Australian indie rock band from Brisbane, which formed in 2005 and disbanded in 2010. The line-up included Chris Banham on Drum Kit, drums and percussion, Sean Cook on bass guitar, Charles Sale on lead guitar and Keyboard ...

*2010: :''An Outpost of Promise'' by Halfway *2012: :''Young North'' by The Paper Kites :''Serious Magic'' by Community Radio :''Emerald City/Through the Rainbow Dark'' by Knievel *2013: :'' Harlequin Dream'' by

:'' You're A Shadow'' by

:''

States State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

'' by The Paper Kites :''Lemons'' by Woodlock *2014: :''Labour of Love'' by Woodlock :''Echoes in the Aviary'' by Jane Tyrell :''Broken Lines'' by Patrick James :''We Could Leave Tonight'' by Sounds Like Sunset *2015: :''Baby Blue'' by Noire :''No Song, No Spell, No Madrigal'' by

*2016: :''Look Now You're Cursed'' by Community Radio :'' When We Fall'' by

:''Zone'' by Cloud Control *2018: :'' Jim Salmon's Lament'' by Perry Keyes :''The Narrow Corner'' by Tim Hart *2021: :''Changing Colours'' by Babe Rainbow :'' To Find Happiness'' by

(selected tracks) *2022: :'' Chariot of the Gods'' by

*2023: :''Treats'' by Victoria (selected tracks)

Awards and nominations

In 1992, Connolly produced the Underground Lovers album, ''Leaves Me Blind'', and subsequently received

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

magazine's Best Australian Record award. The following year he engineered

's fourth EP ''Coprolalia'' and their debut album ''Sound As Ever'', alongside

Lee Ranaldo Lee Mark Ranaldo (born February 3, 1956) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a co-founder of the rock band Sonic Youth. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked Ranaldo at number 33 on its "Greatest Guitarists of All Time" li ...

Sonic Youth Sonic Youth were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1981. Founding members Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar), Thurston Moore (lead guitar, vocals) and Lee Ranaldo (rhythm guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of ...

. This album went on to win the 1993

ARIA In music, an aria (, ; : , ; ''arias'' in common usage; diminutive form: arietta, ; : ariette; in English simply air (music), air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrument (music), instrumental or orchestral accompan ...

for Best Alternative Release. He has received numerous ARIA nominations and awards for his work, including

Producer of the Year The Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical is an honor presented to record producers for quality non-classical music at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in ...

for his work on Josh Pyke's ''Memories and Dust'' in 2007, Note: User may be required to access archived information by selecting 'The History', then 'By Award', 'Producer of the Year' and 'Option Show Nominations'. and Engineer of the Year for his work on Paul Dempsey's "Fast Friends" in 2010. *1996 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for You Am I, ''Hourly Daily'' *2007 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for Josh Pyke, ''Memories and Dust'' *2007 –

ARIA Award for Producer of the Year The ARIA Music Award for Producer of the Year, is an award presented within the Artisan Awards at the annual ARIA Music Awards. The ARIA Awards recognise "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", and have been given by ...

for Josh Pyke, ''Memories and Dust'' *2010 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for Paul Dempsey, "Fast Friends" Nominations *2006 – ARIA Producer of the Year for Youth Group, ''Casino Twilight Dogs'' *2006 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for The Vines, ''Vision Valley'' *2009 – ARIA Producer of the Year for Paul Dempsey, "Everything is True" *2023 – ARIA Engineer of the Year for The Teskey Brothers, "The Winding Way"

References

External links

*
Alberts Music

Knievel's Facebook page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Connolly, Wayne ARIA Award winners Australian musicians Year of birth missing (living people) Living people