Maclean up there with the Greats

Brendan Maclean.

'I think I actually broke down in tears," says bubbly Australian musician Brendan Maclean, as he recalls getting the news that he'd won a role in The Great Gatsby.

The flamboyant singer songwriter who has made a name for himself across the ditch with entertaining YouTube clips, and a stint as a radio J host, is clearly very grateful for the opportunity Baz Luhrmann gave him to play the role of Klipspringer, the splashy pianist who entertains Gatsby's many guests.

"I was very lucky that my first major acting role involved me doing what I love best, playing music. It was great. Baz had a piano on set, so I was playing away all the time, and they'd have to keep telling me to be quiet. But it was a joy."

That it was a film with visual aspirations not dissimilar to Maclean's own colourful style also helped. "It was totally my aesthetic. Perhaps because I grew up watching his films, I took it on board. But I play my own songs in pretty normal venues mostly, not theatres. I don't call myself cabaret, but I like to bring some of those elements into the show, and I like to create something larger than just me for the audience."

Indeed if you check out his YouTube channel and you'll note the effort that has gone into setting and costumes.

"My first song was called Practically Wasted, which was a big circus scene video clip. Then I did another called Cold and Happy where I got 30 people from an old folks' home to throw jelly at each other."

Of course his work on Gatsby took place some time ago, but rather fortuitously, the release of the film, and the attention Maclean has gained with it, has come on the back of what has already been a promising year - playing at the Sydney Opera House in May as part of the Vivid festival; raising more than A$21,000 ($24,584) through crowd funding for his debut album and releasing the single and video Stupid.

"The crowd funding was absolutely sensational. I almost cancelled it the day before we started because I was so nervous I wouldn't get a cent, and how embarrassing would that be."

After his fleeting visit to Auckland this week to launch a pop-up venue tonight, he's off to Melbourne to continue work on the new album.

"For me this album is about creating a brighter, fuller, produced sound, and the challenge is keeping my idiosyncrasies as part of that, especially in the lyrics. I've always been quite direct. I see myself kind of like a male Lily Allen in the way I write lyrics, quite literal, a bit biting, and so that's where I'm aiming."

Music profile

Who: Brendan Maclean

What: Aussie singer-songwriter and actor, with recently released single Stupid.

Where and when: Performing at the Rekorderlig Winter Lights opening tonight on Fields Lane, 51-53 Shortland St, Auckland

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