About Self Tort

Self Tort is the performing and recording pseudonym of Brian Ralston. Live, Self Tort is a 'one man band' 

performing vocals and alternating between guitar and keyboard backing. In the studio, Brian plays guitar, 

keyboard and does all vocals, but is assisted with production and programming by Stewart Havill of Sound 

Dog Recording Studios, Artarmon.

Self Tort came into existence in 2000, although its alter ego, Brian Ralston, has been playing music for 30 

years, firstly with 'Sirrah' where he played lead guitar, and later with 'Mid Life Crisis' where he played 

keyboards and provided some lead and some backing vocals.

In 2000 Brian decided to go solo as a 'one man band' with a view to promoting his own original material, 

intermixed with covers. A chance opportunity arose for him to do 2 sets of three songs at the Mortdale Hotel 

in Sydney, Australia. After those set he was booked by the hotel as a resident performer and Self Tort was born. 

Self Tort continues that residency to this day.

The return to live performance inspired Self Tort to record his own material. In 2005 he commenced submitting 

his recorded material to various internet OMD sites, joining Mixposure in July, 2005. A number of his tracks 

have reached No 1 spot on the 'all genres' charts at Mixposure 

Mixposure

In less than a year Self Tort has risen to the position of No 10 in Mixposure's 'All Times/All Genres' Band Charts. 

At the time of writing, Self Tort's tracks have attracted over 5,350 plays on mixposure and have been the subject 

of in excess of 2,200 downloads. 

Self Tort's music has also been picked up by a number of internet radio stations including Bonneville's 

ichannelmusic and 

Night Grooves Radio hosted by his good buddy and mixposure colleague R S Cain.

Tracks from his CD have also been picked up by Radio Skid Row (RSR FM 88.9) and 2EARFM 107.5.

Self Tort was greatly influenced by the music of the 60s and early 70s and by artists such as Cream, 

Pete Townsend, Ray Davies, Joe Cocker and Van Morrison. But after 30 years there are a myriad of 

influences that he has absorbed. 

Self Tort's vocals have been likened to Joe Cocker, Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen at 

various times. 

Self Tort's music is not genre specific. Self Tort writes as he feels and accordingly his music can find 

itself in rock, pop, country, blues, jazz and funk. Self Tort has even written and recorded three songs for 

children.

In addition, over the last 6 months Self Tort has been involved in a number of 'internet collaborations' 

including two jazz instrumental tracks with brilliant Belgian saxophonist Alexis Van Eeckhout. 

Their collaboration 'Maianbar Sunrise' also reached No 1 in the 'all genres' Mixposure charts as did 

another collaboration between Self Tort, Japanese artist Shyonen, and Americans, 

lyricist and musician Don Shafer and sensational guitarist RedEyeC.

Self Tort's debut CD 'N.I.C' has recently been released and contains 15 original songs. 

The CD is an amalgam of rock, pop and funk, infused with powerful guitar and swirling keyboards, 

with a vocalist whose voice reflects a long-term smoking habit.  

Self Tort performs at the Mortdale Hotel on the first Friday of each month. The music is a combination

of original material and covers, ranging from the 'rock and roll' of the 50s to the present day. At the 

present time Self Tort's repertoire consists of over 1,000 songs. To have a look at, and hear samples 

of some of the covers go to the LIVE REPERTOIRE page. 

But Self Tort is not just a pub rocker. He can adapt to the particular needs of a function, providing 'dinner 

and background' music when required, catering for most requests, and on some occasions, with sufficient 

notice even writing, or adapting songs to suit a particular occasion. 

To book Self Tort, either click on the 'Contact Us' links on the site, email me at selftort@hotmail.com 

or telephone me on 0409-220683.