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“‘God Made You Strange’ is about letting go of the trappings of social acceptance or the rejection that houses you! And when I say you, I also mean me! It’s about embracing all of those unique things that put you outside the box, the beauty of your authenticity and nature … and not hiding away.
“I started writing this song knowing, it could easily be a letter to my teenage self or to my son or just plain old anyone with shoes. High school to me, felt like I was walking down a broken escalator, in a busy mall while (for some reason) just in my underwear, as people all around me started coming over to point and laugh. I was super awkward and I was uncertain of my future. I was dropping out of school, failing my classes, pretending I needed to go to the bathroom just to breathe. God Made You Strange is a call out to anyone who needs to keep stepping out, a little bit of encouragement… it’s a personal anthem of some my story.”
Today’s release follows earlier songs ‘Once Upon A Hilltop’ and ‘Alone Together’, from Shacks & Palaces, two colourfully spirited tunes premiered at Billboard and Consequence of Sound respectively.
The Australian-born, Brooklyn-based artist creates buoyant, folk-informed indie pop, sparkling with likenesses to eclectic icons from Modest Mouse to Beach Boys, Dr. Dog to Hamilton Leithauser. The music ranges from infectious to truly exultant, a blissful blend of bouncing melodies, boomerang hooks and colourful production. Aherne’s voice — a jubilant, stony sort of roar — is recognisable from his contributions to the mid-aughts sensation, but here rings absolutely reckless with spirit.
LISTEN/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CX1LqXonRs
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Where are you currently based?
I’m currently living out of my car, so I guess kinda based nowhere atm. I’m on a road trip along the central coast from Sydney, completing my mixtape, stopping in towns along the way from Sydney to work with artists like Airports, Lovemedo, Doolie and more.
I started writing my own songs in 2013. I was selling handbags out of the back of my station wagon to ladies boutiques along the south coast and was listening to Bertie Blackman’s 2014 ‘The Dash’ album on repeat. When I couldn’t listen to it anymore, I started singing my own songs I’d make up on the drive and then record voice memos on my phone in motel rooms, using cutlery and plates to create beats. I posted an ad on gumtree and met Ben and started my first band, Bec and Ben. Ben was a music teacher so he taught me to play the drums and I converted my floor kit to stand up kit with my bass drum on legs and full body configuration so I could dance and sing whilst playing. Then I taught myself acoustic guitar on a cruise ship I went on with my brother (who bought a 21-day romantic cruise for him and his girlfriend, but then they broke up so he took me). From there I started RACKETT and moved towards the electric guitar and now I take my midilab and laptop with me everywhere.
At the start of covid, I conceptualised, cast and produced a digital TV series called ‘Loud n Queer TV’ in partnership and with Heaps Gay and Create or Die, which I just found out has been nominated for an FBI SMAC AWARD. It was focused on giving artists from LGBTQIA community a platform during venue foreclusore and I produced over 60+ artists on the show over 3 seasons. Once that wrapped in September I started making my mixtape. At first, it was just an opportunity to refocus on writing music, but I was exploding with melodies and lyrics and every session I did with a new artist would produce a song that felt ready to release. Over 8 weeks I’ve worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more. Covid gave me an opportunity to fully focus on what my life might look like as a full-time songwriter and cement my desire to make that happen.
Beks is an extension of myself personally. I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery through music, writing with producers and artists from all around the world. I’ve been writing so much music that has informed me more about who I am as an independent songwriter and what I can create with confidence in myself. I’ve chosen to adopt my new artist name Beks to signify a new era for me as a songwriter. A new beginning, one that will carry my new work cohesively into the future.
Stars in My Eyes is based on a personal confession or realisation I had the day before entering the studio. I’ve always struggled to balance my personal life with my music, the latter taking priority. Finding myself in a familiar cycle of imbalance, holding onto the threads of an unravelling relationship, revealed a phrase that felt symbolic of my fantastical obsession with music; ‘I’ve got stars in my eyes’. This phrase became the closing statement of the relationship and the beginning of the story told in the song. Sound wise, this song was really inspired by my playlist, its a mash-up of all these influences – https://open.spotify.com/
How did you go about writing ‘Stars in My Eyes’?
Tasker and I had never worked together so I wasn’t sure what would come out of the session. We both went into the studio in Marrickville with no pre-made ideas and walked out 4 hours later with ‘Stars in My Eyes’ completed top to bottom.
Expect full pop vibes.
I’ve worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more, both in person and over Zoom, to create my upcoming, 12 track mixtape set for release in 2021.
Everything I’m listing to is here, it’s a pretty rad playlist with mostly pop artists from Australia and some OS icons like Charli XCX, Dorian Electra, Caroline Polachek. https://open.
I love fashion and design and film so when I’m not actually making music, I’m working with local designers and filmmakers for visuals for my music, so umm, music. I have no balance, I work 7 days a week on my art, so it’s music or sleeping and going on the occasional date if I’m lucky.
I’m the road finishing off my mixtape. Writing a lot of KPOP songs for briefs for other artists OS and trying to have a love life/personal life to draw inspiration from. Generally doing my daily affirmations and trying to connect with more people through my music and sustain the indie grind.
Where are you currently based?
Right now I’m based between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
How did you first start playing music?
I started playing guitar first when I was 13. I use to be obsessed with the game guitar hero and wanted to try and see if I could actually play the songs on real a instrument. From there everything else progressed purely out of curiosity to learn more.
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?
Since I got back from America things have really slowed down as I’m sure they have for everyone. I have been very lucky during Covid to be living in Queensland as the virus hasn’t really affected our state as drastically as other states and certainly as it has other countries. I have mostly been working on new music here and there and unwinding from the past few years of being non stop in LA.
Your new single ‘Sick World’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I wrote Sick world in my first week of quarantine in Australia. I’d just gotten back to Brisbane from LA and everything was very raw and the world wide panic around Covid had only just started. It was a very uncertain time and still is of course . I wanted something musically that sounded sad but also had a feeling of hopelessness and disappointment . I wanted the song to not only be about how terrible the virus has affected so many lives but also how divided everyone has been about not only this but so many other important topics.
Where and when did you record/produce?
I wrote the song partly in my parents house and then in the studio with my mate Magnus Murphy. I had finished the song pretty much when I started it however when the George Floyd video came out I was so shocked by the video but inspired by the reaction of everyone standing up together. I went to a Black Lives Matter march in Brisbane a few days after the video came out and was so moved by how many people came out to support such an important issue. After that I had to mention the subject in the song. Me and Magnus then produced it from his home studio and in a few days it was finished.
Who did you work with during the recording/production/mastering of Sick World?
I worked with Producer and songwriter, Magnus Murphy who is also one of my best mates. We had been working on songs pretty much the second I got out of quarantine in Brisbane. He has a studio at his house so I would just drive to his place every day and work from there. I’ve had some of the most fun recording with him and the quality of music has only kept getting better and better. We wrote produced and mixed the track and then sent it to Sterling sound for mastering.
How did you approach the recording process?
I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Not get too tricky with what instruments I chose. Most of the core of this song is the vocal and telling the story so I didn’t want to over shadow that. If anything I try and highlight it. I’m a big believer in trying to take the feeling of what it sounds like to play the song live and bring that to the recording. So we kept it simple and used space to our advantage, by using ambient noises to highlight certain lyrics such as “sirens blazing through these streets” and even the intro we found noises of police and ambulance cars. Because when I was in La that’s all you would hear from your apartment. All in all I think the term “keep it simple stupid” could pretty much be applied to anything I make, just let the song talk.
What does Sick World Mean to you?
It reflects not only the struggle of the year that has almost passed but the struggle that still lies ahead. We need to really look at ourselves seriously and try and find some common ground with eachother. The world is so divided and not United. But I know that at the end of the day we still hold those traits of compassion and empathy we just need to find ways to show it to eachother and stop fighting and start listening. Hopefully 2021 won’t be as divisive.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
At the moment I’ve been listening to a lot of UK rock like Nothing but thieves and Sam fender. I also recently got into a local band Selfish Sons one of my mates Jordy sings for them his voice is insane.
What do you like to do away from music?
I recently got obsessed with Golf. Had a lot of down time while I’ve been back so I decided to pick it up and now I can’t stop. I’m usually like that when I get into a new hobby I get very obsessive and can’t focus on anything else. Maybe I’ll quit music and head to Augusta next year!
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
The plan is to focus on new releases and collaborating. I’ve been lucky enough to run into some really talented Aussie artists since I’ve been back and I’m super keen to get stuck into writing with them. As for me I’m not pumping the brakes it’s full steam ahead on new music out as soon as a possible and then touring!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I’m a sucker for grilld although since I moved to the goldy I’m pretty much down in Burleigh at the Pavilion every second day!
Where are you currently based?
Vancouver, BC.
How did you first start playing music?
We both started off with free writing and poetry. That eventually led to us writing our first songs together in our junior years of high school. It wasn’t until late 2016 that we formed Snotty Nose Rez Kids, but it felt like it was a long time coming.
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?
The 2020 experience has been a weird ride that has taken a lot of adjustments to say the least. We were originally slotted to perform our first headline US Tour in April and had plans of returning to Australia this fall, but 2020 had other plans for us and our tours were derailed. We are working on new singles and collaborations with artists that we have a growing relationship with like Drezus, Dj Shub, Electric Fields and Mo’Ju. We’ve been taking our time with our new album too, figuring out concepts, themes and sounds that we want to explore.
Your new single ‘Where They At’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
If you are just getting familiar with our music you’ll come to realize there is an “Atlanta Trap” influence when it comes to the beats we use. Our latest full length album “TRAPLINE” is the perfect example of this and artists that want to collaborate with us have taken notice of our sound and often come to us with beats that fit our vibe. This is one of those instances, Drezus came to us with the “Where They At” beat from Canadian producer “Pops” and as soon as it played through those studio monitors, shit popped off!!! A lot like our critically acclaimed “Snotty Nose Rez Kids” sound, our lyrics and songwriting have their own signature style. The majority of our catalog comes with thought provoking lyrics that are meant to either challenge or empower the listener. “Where They At” is the mood we felt coming off an extremely busy 2019 into what we thought was supposed to be “our year,” 2020!
How did you go about writing Where They At?
“Where They At” is pretty much a lil’ flex on a society we were forced to grow up in, that often looks at indigneous people as less than. A society that think indigneous people either come from poverty or come from casino and government money. We tell ‘em we’re doing just fine in this world we were forced to live in while letting our fans/youth know there are financial opportunities in the arts. This is a celebratory song where we raise a toast toast to indigenous people succeeding in a world that was built for us to die out. We understood there would be a bit of backlash from some of our fans that hold us to a certain standard but we also have come to realize that this is our artform and that not every song we put out is like this one.
Where and when did you record/produce?
We recorded this near the end of this summer (2020). Pops and K Notes produced the beat and we all got into Nova Studios, based in Vancouver, with Jamie Kuse, who engineered, mixed and mastered it.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
‘Say Wait’ by Willow
‘Baptize’ by Spillage Village
What do you like to do away from music?
Covid has made life away from music kind of difficult but usually we like to get in the gym and get a few runs in a week on the (basketball) court. We have a lot of homies here in Vancity that we make sure we see regularly and a lot of them are musicians so we grab some drinks and vibe out.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
We are finishing the year with a couple singles and videos. ‘Where They At’ is getting a video. We got a new track called ‘Screaming Indian’ out November 27th. We did that one with South Asian producer, Skinny Local, and the track blends Indigenous and South Asian cultures and sounds. We got a dope video for that one too. And, finally, we got a track with DJ Shub called ‘War Club’ dropping December 4th. The year has been rocky, but now we’re getting back into album mode and we’re eager to get more music out next year.
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STREAM ‘SOMETHING BEHIND ME’ HERE
FALLEN TREE 1HUNDRED
OSQUELLO – ‘SOMETHING BEHIND ME’ EP
North-London based rapper and producer Osquello today releases his ‘Something Behind Me’ EP, landing on Goldie’s newly launched imprint, Fallen Tree 1Hundred. The first single ‘Restless’ already receiving support from BBC Radio 1’s Charlie, Rickie & Melvin, Pete Tong and BBC Radio 1xtra’s Jamz Supernova & Emerald during her residency for the station, as well as Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music 1.
After high-profile collaborations with artists such as Clairo and Declan McKenna, Osquello’s 2019 debut release ‘Good Morning Simulation’ welcomed an artist to the furore, with limitless potential and an effortless ability to blend his deep-rooted influences from Jazz, Hip-Hop, Indie & beyond. Building upon an already impressive platform of success, 2020 saw his genre-challenging debut album ‘Osqstock’, released in the middle of the global lockdown; the LP showcased his dynamic lyricism and eclectic production. Receiving support from tastemakers such as NME via their ‘NME 100: 2019’ shortlist, as well as the likes of DIY, The FADER, BBC and also including being highly praised as having a ‘…fiercely intelligent worldview’ by Highsnobiety.
“My nostalgic love for garage and hip hop really shows in the new EP with Goldie and James Davidson titled “Something Behind Me” and gives listeners a deeper insight into the night time and darker side of Osquello’s life and views. All 3 songs keep a theme of night time living and atmosphere and I hope the listeners can lose themselves into the night, while the music drives them on that journey.” – Osquello
Something Behind Me’ is an EP born from Osquello’s love for Garage & Hip-Hop, genres which have been ever present in his life. From his father’s passion for House music as a DJ and producer, to free styling on carnival trucks, his experiences are engrained into this body of work. Produced alongside Goldie and James Davidson, Osquello’s raw energy is captured across 3 tracks that delve deep into his night-time activities and offer a glimpse at dark side that dwells beneath, that he’s yet to expose.
“There are originators and imitators, and Osquello is definitely an originator. He stands out amongst his peers from this new generation of artists. He’s got unique style — lyrically, musically, visually — and an effortless flow.” – Goldie
Goldie’s newest record label, Fallen Tree 1Hundred is a move away from D’n’B for the revolutionary producer. Having spent decades in the industry focusing on his Metalheadz label, the recently launched imprint offers a chance for Goldie to mentor and nurture artists from his ever-expanding horizon of musical interests. The label focuses on shining a light on artists of all genres who have strength and integrity in the craft of song writing and composition.
Tracklist:
- “Restless”
- “Sinking In The Wave” feat. Bawo
- “Mutant F”
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DRAB QUEEN Girls Of The Internet have been on an unstoppable trajectory over the last few years, with their brand of future facing house and soul music, today they release their sophomore album, ‘GIRLS FM’. The album follows Girls Of The Internet’s signature sound and individuality, with the singles and LP artwork featuring Drag-inspired paintings, by Girls Of The Internet’s main writer and producer, Tom. 2019 saw the group release their debut album ‘SYRUP’, to universal acclaim. Achieving the accolade of being included in BBC Radio 6’s ‘Albums Of The Year’ List, further radio support came from esteemed broadcasters such as Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs, Tom Ravenscroft, Mista Jam, Nemone, Lauren Laverne and more recently, Pete Tong. Playing at iconic venues around Europe, Girls Of The Internet has earned key stamps of approval across the board from The Blessed Madonna, Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada, Axel Boman, Nightmares On Wax, Joe Goddard, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Keinemusik, Mark Broom, Detroit Swindle, Tensnake, Horse Meat Disco and José Padilla (R.I.P). After releasing their debut single on Classic/Defected in 2017, Girls of the Internet made the decision to keep hold of their independence and the rights to their music, joining a long list of successful artists who are taking on the music industry on their own terms. Across 12 tracks, ‘Girls FM’ tackles the conventions of Disco and House music, dragging it kicking and screaming into the future. Live instrumentation and harmonies are at the core of Girls’ music, each track painstakingly created to evoke emotion and move the listener alongside the melody. Created mainly during 2020’s pandemic lockdown, the tracks have been produced as they were released – the challenge was set working with an array of musicians and vocalists remotely. Throughout the album, the group have woven a myriad of influences and reference-points into the tracks. Songs such as ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose You’, ‘On My Own’ and ‘Shelter Me From The Storm’ mix together a subtle blend of Garage and soulful R’n’B vocals, whereas ‘Familiar Place’ looks towards a deep rooted love for Smooth Jazz. ‘IDK’ switches up the pace, with a hissing Electronic Funk inflicted session. ‘Time’; another key album single, sees a Dub Techno backing layered with soothing vocals in true Girls’ style. ‘Infinite Harmony’ presents one of the only instrumental tracks on the release, with live piano harmonies centred around an eternal string piece. Latest single ‘Let Go’ is a heart-wrenching, fuzzy Soulful House ballad about getting over troubled times in your life. Further album songs, ‘By My Side’, ‘I Need Protection’, and ‘Falling Through’ all keep true to Girls’ vision of deliberately blurring the lines between electronic and live music. Breaking from the norm to push the band further than before, Girls of the Internet ultimately present their album as a sign of the times. Moving away from the “Sampling Culture” that has been built in modern electronic music and demonstrating that with you can play every instrument, you can write every song and sing every chord. In a world built on sampling others’, Girls’ proudly create their own sounds. Girls Of The Internet – ‘Girls FM’ – Tracklist:
Girls Of The Internet’s ‘Girls FM’ Is Available Now On All Platforms. |
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Following on from his critically acclaimed album ‘Fall To Pieces’, Tricky releases new EP, “Doorway”. The EP features two competition winning versions of album track ‘I’m In The Doorway’ from fans LOUISE and Mars Blackbird, and a new version from Tricky himself.
The ‘Doorway’ EP continues Tricky’s tradition of sourcing widely unknown artists to work alongside. Following a competition callout for fans to provide alternate vocals for the playlisted and acclaimed single, Tricky gravitated towards two of the artist submissions and went on to tailor the original instrumental track to fit with their vocals LOUISE, the singer born in the North East of Brazil in the city of Recife recorded her vocal take via phone. Mars Blackbird the other vocalist, real name Aristotelis Mavropoulos, is a songwriter born in Croydon and raised in Saint Mauritius.
Tricky might be over three decades deep into his music career but he’s currently on an especially prolific run. In the last year, he dropped the enchanting ‘20,20′ EP and put out his acclaimed autobiography, ‘Hell Is Round The Corner’. The next year will see Tricky tour across Europe in support of his album release.
Tracklist
1. Doorway (No More Mix) feat. LOUISE
2. Doorway (All The Way Mix) feat. Mars Blackbird
3. Doorway (Talking With Maxine Mix) feat. Oh Land
Watch Tricky’s Video for “Fall Please”
2021 Tour Dates
Feb. 2, 2021 – Copenhagen, DEN @ Hotel Cecil (SOLD OUT)
Feb. 3, 2021 – Oslo, NOR @ Parkteatret – TICKETS
Feb. 6, 2021 – Hamburg, GER @ Elbphilharmonie – TICKETS
Feb. 8, 2021 – Cologne, GER @ Gebäude 9 – TICKETS
Feb.9, 2021 – Berlin, GER @ Metropol – TICKETS
Feb. 16, 2021 – Warsaw, POL @ Praga Centrum – TICKETS
Feb. 17, 2021 – Poznan, POL @ TAMA – TICKETS
Feb. 18, 2021 – Krakow, POL @ Kwadrat – TICKETS
Feb. 19, 2021 – Cluj-Napoca, ROM @ Form Space – TICKETS
Feb. 20, 2021 – Bucharest, ROM @ Quantic Club Outdoors – TICKETS
Feb. 23, 2021 – Belgrade, SER @ Dom Omladine – TICKETS
Feb. 24, 2021 – Zagreb, CROA @ Močvara – TICKETS
Feb. 26, 2021 – Budapest, HUNG @ A38 – TICKETS
Feb. 27, 2021 – Milan, ITA @ Magazzini Generali – TICKETS
Mar. 1, 2021 – Amsterdam, NETH @ Paradiso – TICKETS
Mar. 3, 2021 – Bordeaux, FRA @ Le Rocher De Palmer – TICKETS
Mar. 9, 2021 – Paris, FRA @ Le Trianon – TICKETS
Mar. 10, 2021 – Strasbourg, FRA @ La Laiterie (Club) – TICKETS
Mar. 12, 2021 – Lyon, FRA @ Ninkasi Kafé – TICKETS
Mar. 13, 2021 – Tourcoing, FRA @ Le Grand Mix – TICKETS
Mar. 14, 2021 – Brussels, BEL @ Botanique Orangerie – TICKETS
Mar. 16, 2021 – Manchester, UK @ 02 Ritz – TICKETS
Mar. 17, 2021 – London, UK @ Electric Brixton – TICKETS
Mar. 23, 2021 – Helsinki, FIN @ Ääniwalli – TICKETS
Mar. 24, 2021 – St. Petersburg, Russia @ Kosmonavt – TICKETS
Mar. 26, 2021 – Yekaterinburg, Russia @Fabrika – TICKETS
Mar. 28, 2021 – Moscow, Russia @ GlavClub – TICKETS
Mar. 29, 2021 – Minsk, Belarus @ Re:Public Club
Mar. 30, 2021 – Kiev, Ukraine @ Atlas – TICKETS
Tricky’s ‘Doorway’ EP is available now via False Idols
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Today, AC/DC unleash their highly anticipated new album POWER UP, marking the legendary band’s first new music since 2014. POWER UP is available now HERE.
For their seventeenth full-length album, the band reunited with producer Brendan O’Brien who helmed BLACK ICE in 2008 and ROCK OR BUST in 2014. Charged up for the next decade, AC/DC cut twelve new tracks for the album, proudly maintaining their signature sound and all of its powerful hallmarks.
POWER UP is available in multiple configurations that will excite collectors and die-hard fans alike, including digital, CD, and deluxe versions. The limited edition, one-of-a-kind deluxe POWER UP box is the ultimate fan package. Hit the button on the side of the box and watch the flashing neon AC/DC logo light up while the opening bars of ‘Shot In The Dark’ blast out of the built-in speaker. Inside the box is the full CD package in a soft-pack with a 20-page booklet that features exclusive photos and USB charging cable allowing the box to remain powered up and on display. The vinyl LP is pressed on 180 gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket. Limited edition variants of the LP are available at select retailers nationwide, as well as the band’s online store. The album is available on all digital platforms.
The album has already received critical acclaim from The Age with Martin Boulton saying “Kick-started with scorching opener ‘Realize’, this first new music since 2014’s ROCK OR BUST album has all the hallmarks of classic AC/DC, a band that has defied death, hearing loss and the many rigours of life on the road, to not only endure, but continue thrilling their army of fans.”
He continues “AC/DC is not just a band to its fans, it’s a thoroughly reliable commitment to the power of guitars, of drums, of rock, and to never compromising. And ‘Realize’, like all 12 songs on POWER UP, is credited to Angus and Malcolm Young. Some things, it seems, truly never change.”
Check out the full tracklisting below!
AC/DC are back in 2020. POWER UP is out now.
TRACKLISTING: 1. Realize 2. Rejection 3. Shot In The Dark 4. Through The Mists Of Time 5. Kick You When You’re Down 6. Witch’s Spell 7. Demon Fire 8. Wild Reputation 9. No Man’s Land 10. Systems Down 11. Money Shot 12. Code Red |
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ABOUT AC/DC: AC/DC are one of the most influential rock bands in history with over 200 million albums sold worldwide and 71.5 million albums sold in the U.S. alone. The double-diamond BACK IN BLACK stands out as “bestselling album by any band ever” and “third bestselling album by any artist” with global sales of 50 million and counting. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® in 2003. The band also garnered their first GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Hard Rock Performance” for ‘War Machine’ during 2010. They continue to sell out stadiums on multiple continents, sell millions of albums annually, and generate streams in the billions. AC/DC return with POWER UP in 2020.
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Where are you currently based?
I’m currently based in Melbourne, Australia.
How did you first start playing music?
I’ve pretty much been singing ever since I was born. My parents have hours and hours of home videos to prove it. I have this really vivid memory of singing Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne at a school assembly when I was in Prep. I guess it all started from there.
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?
Lockdown was intense, not gonna lie. For a while there, we were really reconsidering whether or not 2020 was a good year to release a debut single. In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense for someone like me to launch an artist project in such a chaotic year. It’s also been really cool finding new ways to collaborate with people, using Zoom and Facebook. I guess, in short, my COVID experience has been like any other: challenging, but we’ll all be stronger for it.
Your new single ‘Matches’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I listen to a lot of Scandinavian music. My own music is heavily inspired by artists like Sigrid, NOTD, Boy In Space and SHY Martin – just to name a few. There’s still a stigma around pop music in Australia which needs to be addressed. That’s why I look overseas, particularly to Europe, for inspiration. Pop music there feels less inhibited.
How did you go about writing ‘Matches’?
It’s funny you ask. Matches is actually quite an old song. I remember coming up with the hook while catching the train to a writing session in Sydney back in 2018. It’s a song that kept evolving every time I revisited it. For that reason, I knew it deserved a release. I describe it as angsty pop with a drop. I’m a firm believer in that heartbreak is the secret formula to writing a good pop song.
Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with?
Matches was well underway by the time my first single Dopamine dropped. At the time, Melbourne was still in lockdown so most of the production came together remotely. Matches was produced by my mate Ben Field. He’s an absolute legend. We first started working together when I finished high school. Prior to that, he worked on a bunch of really cool projects, including Mallrat’s Uninvited – EP. Ben has produced all my material so far. I’m so lucky to be able to work with him.
How did you approach the recording process?
Most of the vocals for Matches were recorded at the start of 2020. By the time Ben started working on the song, all that was left for me to record were the harmonies and ad-libs. That’s my favourite part. That’s what really brings a song to life. Vocal production, in general, is so fascinating to me. It’s my favourite part of the production process.
How and why did your transition from songwriter to artist come about?
Truth be told, I never intended to release my own music. I was quite happy writing for other people. Slowly but surely, however, music bureaucracy started to wear me down. I had hundreds of songs piling up, looking like they’d never be released. Conversely, as I started to deal with more personal subject matter in my music, songwriting began to feel suffocating. It felt like I was bottling up feelings without a means for expressing them. I guess I needed a little extra breathing space. That’s how TRYHARD came to be.
Please tell us about your law degree and how you manage to juggle music and law:
My law studies were a huge consideration when it came to releasing my first single. I guess it also factored into why I got my start writing for others as opposed to writing for myself. I was under the impression that music and law were totally incompatible. That if I wanted to pursue one, I would have to give up on the other. To be honest, my reasoning there was totally flawed. I think the idea that a person can only be ONE thing is crap. I never want to stop learning. That’s a value my dad instilled in me from a very young age. If I want to be a lawyer/pop artist, you best believe I’m gonna do it!
How are you feeling about not being able to play or attend festivals?
It’s pretty depressing. Festivals are like therapy. They were also super formative in my development as an artist. I love the platform they give to new and emerging artists. There’s something so magical about the atmosphere festivals create. It’s the marriage of good music and good people. I miss sharing those moments with my friends 🙁
Please tell us about your European influences, especially that you write songs in French:
I grew up learning both French and Italian. I was lucky enough to spend a few months on exchange in Belgium towards the end of high school. Then, one of my best friends moved to Paris. Languages, French in particular, have opened a lot of doors for me, so releasing music in French is definitely on my to-do list. I’m really excited by that prospect, especially considering the demand for multilingual music in the streaming age.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’m obsessed with everything Kota Banks has released lately. Cheat Codes have also been dropping bop after bop. There’s so much exciting music coming out right now. It’s really made 2020 bearable.
What do you like to do away from music?
Away from music, I’m usually studying or hanging out with my mates. Going for long drives is also a vibe.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020, going into 2021?
I’ve got a lot of new music planned. And I mean A LOT. Hopefully as Melbourne starts opening back up, additional opportunities will present themselves too. There may also be a few collaborations and co-writes in the works…
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Ahhh, that’s hard. Either entrecôte or HSP haha. Fave place to hangout? Probs the local pub with my mates, otherwise anywhere picturesque late at night. I’m a sucker for a good aesthetic.
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.
Apple Music: https://music.apple.
Is really hard to be positive during this strange time, but music always makes me dream and always gives me good vibes.
A place that influences my sound so much is Hackney Wick. I have always lived in East London (Hackney Area) and I think it’s the right place for a musician.
I was born and raised near Naples, many artists have influenced my path starting from Lucio Battisti up to Four Tet. I think Bibio is the artist who influenced and still influences my productions, he is a genius for me. Check him out if you don’t know him!
Yeah it was hard to find the right vibes, during the first lockdown but after a while I started to feel a good sensation. 2016, La Magia Della Noia and my debut album (as Tia-Mellow), Memories, have all been created during this period. So a really fruitful period for me for sure!
Well, I actually study music and sound design, and I have learned a lot of new skills this year, especially the mixing part, which gave me a new perspective of my sound. I’m always learning!
Why do this new alias anonymously? What is the thinking behind that? Because I have another project which is more tech house and techno-focused, so I like being able to split the two projects. That’s it!
Yeah there is a big difference between this is more dark, more ambient with different vibes, the other is more for the dance floor, really another kind of music.
I use a lot of machines like Roland TR8S, moog minitaur but during this period i used a lot of the plug in with my computer I find some of them really useful and they give me a unique sound.
2016 is an up and down of emotion for me, was the first that I produced after I came back to London from Italy, all the background sound, the ambient part is totally registered in Naples near the Vesuvio vulcan.
Yeah I want to grow up with this new alias as much as I can, because this sound is part of me, and I want to share it with the world.
Is more for listening and less for dancefloor, is not for different audience, but I would love to do a live and play all the Tia-Mellow discography.
I think first of all is London, this city everyday spread to me a lot of good vibes and sensation, after artists like Four Tet, Bibio , Caribou.
Aside from music, can you tell us a bit about your inspirations?
I have always been very sensitive to sound in general, I have always had a passion for recording sounds and voices, since I was a child, in fact I have a childhood memory where using an old director of my father, I recorded my grandfather talking, and thanks to those recordings now we can still remember his voice.
It was not easy to create these tracks, because I had to face obstacles especially in looking for the right sound, but my experience has helped me a lot.
What else you got coming up/are you working on? I started a new album that I would like to release on some big label, let’s see the upcoming news 🙂
Tia-Mellow’s 2016 is out 27/11. Keep up with Tia Mellow on Facebook, Instagram and Soundcloud.
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In follow up to their most recent long player ‘Today’, North Coast cosmic conduits Babe Rainbow are back with their latest single ‘Zeitgeist’. The first of two new tracks to be released on the double A-side 7″ ‘Zeitgeist / The Wind’, out through Flightless Records on December 4th, 2020. |
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Written and recorded in Topanga, California; ‘Zeitgeist’ is about catching dreams from the clouds and growing up. It was premiered on 2020 with Richard Kingsmill last night. ‘The Wind’ is all forests mood, written and recorded for the wildlife in the midst of the Australian bushfire season. |
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Where are you both based?
We are both based in Glasgow.
Your latest EP Leatherbound – released on Soma Records – dropped at the beginning of this month, what influenced its sound?
Being forbidden from clubs and the absolute nick of 2020 has made a lot of producers ramp up the pace of techno and we think we went down a similar route with this release!
French producer Felicie is behind a huge remix of Leatherbound – how did this collaboration come about?
We were looking into a few different names around the time of making the EP – Felicie had not long released her debut on Soma and had been on our radar for quite some time before that. We both felt that her sound really matched what we were going for with the release, so it felt right to have her on board. She delivered an absolute stomper of a remix and we really couldn’t be happier with it.
When did you two start making records together?
In 2019 we got in the studio for the first time to produce a remix of a classic soma track by Equus. The workflow and idea’s we had were so similar it made sense to continue the journey of making tunes as a duo.
Do you have similar approaches to the way you produce music?
As we have a similar taste in music that kind of draws out our collective creativity when we produce together. We generally have an idea of what we want to create when we sit down in the studio and the process is very much 50/50. We always know what the track might need, or not, and generally work fairly quickly once we have an idea going. Two heads are definitely better than one in this case.
Once the world can dance together again, where are you each most excited to play?
We had a few gigs lined up before everything shut down so hopefully we’ll pick these back up. One particular one was with the Voxnox crew in Berlin and would be the first time we both play under the Animal Farm banner abroad together. We’re also looking forward to being back at our home in the Sub Club. We’ve missed the events in there loads during this pandemic and can’t wait to see the explosive energy of the Glasgow crowd once we return to the basement.
www.facebook.com/quailafr
www.facebook.com/aisha.gla
www.soundcloud.com/animal-farm
https://www.somarecords.com/artists/quailaisha/
https://www.beatport.com/release/leatherbound-ep/3159184
What is your name and role within The Kids?
In a therapeutic manner, I wrote punk songs that was blatantly directed at people and things I hated or was frustrated with.
When I then decided to take the song writing seriously, I surrounded myself with my band who were and are my best buddies still to this day and we haven’t stopped since.
It took us 2 days to record the whole song, we approached our parts aggressively but the process mostly inspired us all. We were heavily involved with the producing process this time round. Controlling the sounds direction, which is why the song sounds like organised chaos with a sense of tightness overlapped with a roomy sound. It’s a perfect mixture of a more developed old school hardcore song with a modern spin. The tone our guitarist William used ended up suiting the song perfectly.
Our bassist Tomas uses Warwick Basses, a TC Electronic amp and cab, spectraflex cables and pickguys picks, that’s what he has been paid to say by his endorsements.
And our guitarist William uses a blackstar ht50 amp for live shows and a diesel vh40 for recordings. And he has his beautiful Gibson Les Paul on his side all time like a wife.Oh and our singer has a Samson meteor usb studio microphone.
Well it’s funny you ask that, since I am in a crazy punk band people always assume I have a one dimensional music taste, but my taste expands to a bit of everything.
At the moment I’ve been listening to heaps of Glass Beach, Weatherday, LCD Soundsystem, Car Seat Headrest, IDLES, Have A Nice Life, Slowdive, Death Grips etc.
But my artist of the year that I can not get enough of is definitely Jeff Rosenstock, one of my all time musical heroes.And fun fact, my favourite album of all time is In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel.
We opened for Guttermouth at Frankies Pizza at the start of last year. We were also playing alongside Wolfpack Shred and Radolescent, shout out to those dudes.
It was are first gig of the year after being on some sort of hiatus and I had just spent two days with my singer/best mate Milan, doing nothing but staying up all night playing Call Of Duty and eating McDonalds.
With my stomach gurgling and not been placed into a gig setting for a little while, we start out our epic set to a sold out room at Frankies, which was one of the biggest crowds we played to at that time and it was going off.
We played a minor threat cover and it was one of our first ever moshes. I have always been the guy in the band that’s like the MC, in between every song I will talk and put on the whole stage act, and for years, Milan would go off stage for one song and we would do Killing in The Name with me singing at the kit. We don’t do it anymore because we’ve grown out of it and I hate singing while drumming.
At that point in the set, I’m half naked, out of breath, sweat leaking from every pore, and it was so humid in that room that all I was breathing was hot air. I could not get a clean breath in. Especially at the back of the stage at Frankies where the drummers spot is tucked away in its little air gap.
We begin the song, the crowd hears the first chord and immediately start going ape shit. The vibe is officially hectic. But as I start singing the first verse, my stomach has reached my throat, my mouth was dry, my breaths were short, there was vomit coming up.
A gross vomit splatters across the whole drum kit, and soaks both my legs.
But as a gift from the gods, my vulture father spots my struggles and douses me with some of the coldest and freshest water I’ve ever had in my life. I am instantly rehydrated. And I did not miss a beat, I continued to play the whole song and even sing a little, as a chunks of puke flew across the room.
We also did another 30 mins of our set, but I’ll tell you I don’t remember much. My head was spinning and It was a complete blur. Especially at the end for our last number where I repeatedly smacked my head into the snare drum. Great gig.
As a band, when we record at parliament we love walking up to charcoal charlies for a massive feed.
But as a hang out in general, this may not count but going up to Brisbane to just walk around and get up to stupid shit is just the best, we find ourselves always having the most awesome time in Brissy.
But for me personally, I always hang out at Red Eye Records. I am addicted to buying Vinyl and I’m almost there everyday flicking through records, buying albums and talking music with all the dudes there. And I love pasta. Cheers!