Lindsay McDougall discusses triple j’s $19k charity single

triple j’s tongue-in-cheek Christmas Number 1 charity single has raised $19,477.83 for the Red Cross.

What started as “a little idea, a flurry of phone calls and one crazy studio day”, spearheaded by the station’s Lindsay ‘The Doctor’ McDougall, lived up to its name on the iTunes charts in December, before a top ten debut on the ARIA Chart, peaking at #9 on December 22.

“I actually do love all that faux-sentimentality of charity singles, and turns out it’s surprisingly easy to bash a few chords together, throw in some lyrics about mistletoe and chimneys, and write one of the things,” McDougall told TMN last year. “I kinda wrote it and recorded the demo in two evenings after work.”

The proceeds will be used to aid local projects such as the Red Cross Save-A-Mate program, as well as support for the homeless, ‘at risk’ young people and Indigenous communities. Internationally the donation will contribute to aid suffering areas like the Philippines, which is recovering from last year’s Typhoon Haiyan.

The single features Phil Jamieson from Grinspoon, Elizabeth Rose, Thomas Rawle from Papa vs Pretty, Bertie Blackman, Tuka and Jeswon from Thundamentals, Joyride, Abbe May, Andy Bull, Laurence Pike from PVT, Touch Sensitive, Bree Tranter, Asta, Calum, James and Bryce from Lunatics on Pogo Sticks, B1 & B2 from Bananas in Pyjamas, Dr Karl and triple j presenters Tom & Alex, Linda Marigliano, Nina Las Vegas, Dom Alessio and Tom Tilley.

In light of this impressive result, TMN spoke to Lindsay McDougall again this morning.

Has the success of this project prompted you to think about what you might do in this vein next, if anything?
I would love to do more. Another Christmas single, a single for another season (would you buy an Easter song about rabbits?), a concert tour, a whole charity album? I love that triple j has such a rad relationship with the Australian music community that they wanted to come and hang out and make this happen.

What was your reaction when you found out how much money was raised?
WOO HOO! To think of all that sweet cash going to such a worthy cause, who have been doing so much for Australia and our neighbours, I get a little pang of stokedness right now thinking about it

Is there anyone you wanted to include in this one that couldn’t do it, and exactly how guilty should they be feeling right now?
We wanted everyone! But don’t feel guilty. We pulled it together so quickly, many people simply couldn’t get to the studio on the day we recorded. But really, who else did we need? We piled in so many talented musicians that there was literally no room left on the choir steps. And I reckon we got the perfect mix of Aussie music legends, up and coming artists and Bananas in Pajamas! Who else did we need?