Performer Scene: Lyn Hinds – The Bounty Hunters

How did you get into playing the guitar/bass?

I started playing guitar at age 11. I played acoustic fingerstyle. I also played the tuba in my uni days! I played bass in an Irish/Celtic band called Drops O’ Brandy in ’80’s. We had a residency at the Sydney Hilton. That was my first pro bass gig. I started playing bass full time again in 2014 in Bounty Hunters Band.

What was your first good guitar/bass and how did you get it? (Do you still have it?)

My first good guitar was a Maton F10 acoustic that I saved up to buy myself, and I still have it. My first good bass was a Höfner Beatle Bass that David bought for me when I got back into playing bass, and I still have it too.

What were your early musical influences?

I first got into vocal acts like Joan Baez, The Seekers, The Beatles, Linda Ronstadt, etc. Later on my tastes got a bit heavier after hearing White Room by Cream and Wishing Well by Free. Paul Rodgers is my favourite singer.

Favourite piece of gear?

I have some beautiful basses, and I love them all. My custom made Rebel Custom Guitars Signature Cherry VM Bass is very special. It’s the only one in existence and was designed and built for me by Anestis Mantzouranis. David has a matching guitar. One piece of gear that I couldn’t be without is my Mesa Boogie bass rig. I call it The Fridge!

What gear that you still use today has been with you the longest?

That would have to be the Höfner Beatle Bass. I have some guitars that I’ve had for a longer time, but I’m playing bass full time these days.

What are your top 3 albums (or songs)?

Ooh! Too hard! OK, as far as songs go, they would have to be White Room and Wishing Well as I mentioned earlier, plus Linda Ronstadt’s You’re No Good.

What’s your latest release/recording?

Our latest release is the Bounty Hunters Band ‘Dyin’ To Live’ EP which we recorded with our drummer Mick O’Shea at Damien Gerard Studios last year. Since Covid hit David and I have been jamming and writing, and have recorded demos at home for two new songs – Flipside and Blues In My Brain.

Any upcoming live/streaming gigs?

Yes, we have a Bounty Hunters Duo live stream on Novo Lounge Sessions on Facebook on Friday, 16th October at 7.30pm. No live gigs booked at this stage, other than a few we have next year.

What’s YOUR scene?

My scene is writing, recording and performing our original music and jamming with my husband David, playing my bass, getting out in the fresh air and exploring our region, keeping as fit as possible, pottering in the garden, walking our little dog Remy, looking after our ageing cat Coco, reading, listening to our favourite CDs on our stereo, and enjoying our lovely home with David.

About Lyn Hinds

Lyn Hinds was born in Manly District Hospital and grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches. Her mother says that as a baby she used to hum little tunes crawling around the house before she could even walk!

Music has always played a major part in Lyn’s life, and in her school years she was in choirs and vocal groups, musical productions, and sang solo. She taught herself guitar to accompany herself on vocals.

In her university years she sang in rock bands, and also played the tuba in the uni orchestra, which sparked her interest in bass lines, something that would come in handy further down the track!

Upon graduating uni she worked in Sydney full time as a teacher, and also performed solo as Lady Lyn at the popular theatre restaurant, Bunratty Castle. At that time she also joined an Irish/Celtic band called Drops ‘O Brandy as vocalist. This was also her introduction to playing bass, which she did in that band at various venues around town, including a residency at the prestigious Sydney Hilton.

Following a move to Port Macquarie on the mid north coast of NSW, Lyn had been writing songs for years, and decided to record them. In 1990 she booked time in a studio run by her future husband, David Hinds. After producing her demos at David Hinds Recording Studio, she was also engaged to sing on sessions for advertising jingles at the studio. Lyn and David’s relationship evolved from a professional one to a romantic one, and they became a couple in 1995 and married in 1996. At that time they formed Balance Duo together and performed at venues all over Australia. They released a CD of original songs called From The Heart in 1997.

Lyn and David then formed a band – Balance Band – and kept performing live gigs with Lyn on lead vocals.

In 2006, Lyn and David had written a bunch of new original songs and decided to record them. They engaged the services of session musicians Chris Haigh on bass and Steve Sowerby on drums, and recorded the first, self titled, Bounty Hunters album at Impromptu Studio in Newcastle with Mark Tinson engineering and co-producing. Overdubs and mixing were done at Lyn and David’s Hindsong Studio in Port Macquarie. The album was distributed by MGM Distribution.

Bounty Hunters performed live in several different lineups over the next few years, until Lyn took over bass duties, as well as lead vocals, in 2014, and the band became a power trio, with husband David on guitar and vocals and Rob Lyons on drums.

This lineup recorded two more albums of original material – Rise in 2014 and Rollercoaster in 2016. Their song Crack Of The Whip from the Rollercoaster album won Best Rock Song and Best Live Performance at the Australian Songwriters Association Awards in 2016.

Lyn and David have won several songwriting awards internationally, and have had their songs remixed for the international dance market by top US producer Sam Michaels. They have also collaborated with celebrated LA songwriter Alan Roy Scott.

In 2017, top Sydney drummer Mick O’Shea joined Bounty Hunters Band full time, and that lineup has continued to perform at major venues and festivals all over Australia. Festival appearances include Sydney Blues & Roots Festival (2016 & 2017), Bay Of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival (NZ), Blues & BBQ Festival (Port Macquarie), Meatstock Sydney and Hot Fest II (Sydney & Melbourne).

In 2019 Bounty Hunters Band recorded a 4 track EP CD – Dyin’ To Live – at Damien Gerards Studios in Sydney. They were continuing a busy live gig schedule until March 2020, when Covid 19 hit.

Though live gigs have been non existent since March 2020, Lyn and David have been jamming, writing and recording in their home studio at Lake Macquarie near Newcastle NSW, and have recorded demos for two new songs, Flipside and Blues In My Brain. They have also been performing live streaming gigs on Facebook platforms Novo Lounge Sessions and The Pub With No Fear. Lyn and David are looking forward to reconvening with Mick as soon as live gigs are viable.