What’s your name and role within the band?
My names Ben and I’m the bass player for Ava Kaydo. I also played drums for the recording of our debut single ‘Lucid’.
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
We are currently based in Yeppoon/Rockhampton of Central Queensland. The music scene in this area is fairly lacking, with only a few original bands out and about. Being a rural area, cover bands are much more prominent.
What’s been happening recently?
Well we’ve just released our first ever single which feels so relieving. We’ve been holding onto this one for a few years now, and after recording it we could finally show everyone what we’ve been working on.
Your first single ‘Lucid’ has just been released, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
The sound itself was just naturally inspired by our influences I suppose. At the time we had Ocean Alley’s album ‘Chiaroscuro’ on heavy rotation, and we were also taking notes from DMA’s newest material. But the song was pure improv and wasn’t really methodically written.
How did you go about writing Lucid?
The process for writing ‘Lucid’ was very natural and spontaneous. It was one of those songs that came out of thin air. Sparked by an overwhelming moment of creativity, Jeremy our guitarist just started playing the main riff of the song and we just all started joining in. Within a matter of minutes the meat of the song was there and we we’re stoked with it. Maddy, our singer, layered her spacey vocals over the top and that was that.
The lyrics we’re written after Maddy had a bad sleep paralysis experience. Using the concept of ‘Lucid’ dreaming, Maddy used the words to turn the song into a positive retelling of what happened. A sort of therapy I suppose.
Where and when did you record/produce and who with?
We recorded the track on October of 2019 in Brisbane. We worked with Paradox Audio Productions; a studio based out of our friend’s house. Blake and Rob really worked well with us and understood our vision. It really opened our eyes to how fun the recording process can be.
What programs/instruments did you use?
We used guitar, bass, drums and vocals. And for programs we used the ol’ trusty pro tools.
Being from a rural area ‘Yeppoon’ what challenges do you face as a band?
It’s hard to make connections with the industry, and we often need to travel to record and play gigs. It’s why we believe there needs to be more attention given to original live music in rural communities in towns such as Yeppoon. The live music community in our area has definitely improved over the last couple of years. However, the biggest challenge is definitely the isolation from the music industry.
What do you like to do away from music?
If we aren’t playing music, we are usually listening to it over a couple of margaritas.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
We are massive DMA’s fans and they are always playing when we are hanging out together. I myself have been obsessed with Pond’s ‘Hobo Rocket’ album recently. I’m also loving local Brisbane band Sunbather’s debut song ‘Softly Spoken’. It’s been on repeat for the last few days.
What’s planned for 2020?
2020 is the year we get our shit together. With our first single out, we’re looking towards an EP in the near future. So, keep an eye out for new music.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
We have a cheeky obsession with KFC. When we have a break from band practise it is usually our ritual to get ‘The Colonel’ for lunch. Favourite place to hang out is the beach.
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![Praise for Deceiver “‘Deceiver’ is an unbridled pleasure” - Pitchfork “A success as both an artistic statement and a mea culpa” - Q Magazine, ★★★★ “It sounds clearer, more focussed, and with a distinct, continuous sonic palette” - DIY, ★★★★ “‘Deceiver’ packs some seriously heavy riffs, sliding between monster rockers (the scything, fist-swinging ‘Blankenship’) and moon-eyed grunge ballads (opener ‘Horsehead’, for instance) that wouldn’t sound too out of place on an early Smashing Pumpkins record” - NME, ★★★★ “DIIV’s most full-bodied album to date” - Loud & Quiet, 8/10 Following the release of their highly anticipated third full-length album Deceiver, NYC's DIIV today announce their Australian return with a five-date national tour. Kicking off on Wednesday 22 April, the band will bring their enthralling new live show to fans in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth & Hobart. Full run of dates below. Rebirth takes place when everything falls apart. On Deceiver, DIIV crafts the soundtrack to personal resurrection under the heavyweight of metallic catharsis, upheld by robust guitars and vocal tension that almost snaps, but never quite… The new album from Zachary Cole Smith [lead vocals, guitar], Andrew Bailey [guitar], Colin Caulfield [vocals, bass], and Ben Newman [drums] was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Sonny Diperri (Protomartyr, Trent Reznor), marking the first time the band has worked with an outside producer. The album features the crystalized, darkly propulsive lead single 'Skin Game,' magnetically melancholic 'Taker' and searing, frenetic track 'Blankenship'. Deceiver is preceded by 2012’s Oshin and 2016’s critical and fan favourite Is the Is Are. NME ranked it in the Top 10 among the Albums of the Year and Pitchfork’s audience voted Is the Is Are one of the Top 50 Albums of 2016 as the outlet dubbed it, “gorgeous.” Don't miss your chance to see DIIV live in Australia this April. Tickets on sale now via Mistletone.](https://thepartae.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Announce-Australian-tour-for-April-2020-1170x936.jpg "Announce Australian tour for April 2020")
![Loveland Festival has just announced a massive lineup for 2020. On August 8th and 9th the Amsterdam-based festival will once set up camp at the stunning Sloterpark. For their 25th anniversary Loveland plans a 4-star hotel takeover with exclusive afterparties, rooftop BBQ, hangover breakfast and more. Over 75 artists will make their way to Amsterdam in August for what is shaping up to be a huge 25th anniversary year for the long-running promoter. Since day one the stunning Sloterpark in the Dutch capital serves as a stunning backdrop for the 2-day festival weekender. Ever since 1995, the driving force behind the Loveland organisation has been the endless love for quality house and techno music. In 2020 this still serves as a guiding principle when it comes to the artist lineup. The well-balanced lineup features leading global artists such as Diynamic head honcho Solomun, Afterlife founders Tale Of Us, Detroit legend Jeff Mills and the highly praised Dixon. Making his comeback at Loveland Festival is the illustrious Eric Prydz. Joining the list of headliners are UK-ace Jamie Jones, widely respected duo Adriatique, seasoned veteran Richie Hawtin, the charismatic Loco Dice and hard hitters like Chris Liebing, Rødhåd and Dave Clarke. Fans of a more melodic, progressive sound can indulge themselves with the return of Hernan Cattaneo, Sasha, Guy J, Guy Mantzur together with Dutchies Miss Melera and Olivier Weiter. There is no shortage of Dutch powerhouses with pioneers Speedy J, Joris Voorn and Secret Cinema. Representing the new generation are Egbert, VNTM and Ferro. Fueled by the love for music, the festival has a long history of quality live performances. Stephan Bodzin, Agents of Time, Mathew Jonson, Kollektiv Turmstrasse and Booka Shade will be on live act duties in 2020. To top it all off Kevin Saunderson’s Inner City will take the stage for some big fun with a special live performance. Over the 25-year history, many artists grew to be long-time fan favorites at Loveland. The likes of Sébastien Léger, Aril Brikha, Arjuna Schiks, Remy, Dimitri, Michel de Hey, Melon, Vince Watson and Benny Rodrigues to name just a few. One stage will be dedicated to all of Loveland’s legacy artists. On Saturday this will be a live-only stage and on Sunday it’s strictly back-to-back sets. As a special surprise, Loveland announced this week that it will take over a 4-star hotel during the festival weekend. Nestled right in between the old Amsterdam city center and the festival grounds, overlooking the green oasis of Sloterpark, the hotel offers spacious rooms fitted with all modern conveniences, a rooftop Skybar with a panoramic view of Amsterdam. The hotel package offers an experience of Loveland Festival like never before. Visitors can add to the fun with alluring upgrades like a Rooftop BBQ, hangover breakfast and exclusive afterparties or really hit it out of the park with the all-in Golden Package including 2-day backstage access for the festival. Single day and Weekend tickets for the festival are on sale, as are the hotel packages. For the full lineup of Loveland Festival, tickets and more information, visit www.loveland.nl. General info Loveland Festival 2020 Date: 8 & 9 August Location: Sloterpark, Amsterdam Tickets: Weekend & day tickets + hotel packages are now available via www.loveland.nl Lineup Adriatique・Agents of Time [live]・Anfisa Letyago・Aril Brikha [live]・Arjuna Schiks [live]・Benny Rodrigues・Booka Shade [live]・Boris Werner・Butch・Chris Liebing・Cobyn・Dave Clarke・Dimitri・Dixon・Egbert [live]・Ellen Allien・Enrico Sangiuliano・Eric Prydz・Extrawelt [live]・Ferro・Gregor Tresher・Guy J・Guy Mantzur・Hernan Cattaneo・Inner City [live]・Jamie Jones・Jeff Mills・Jennifer Cardini・Johannes Brecht [live]・Joris Voorn・Joyhauser・Juan Sanchez・Karotte・Kevin de Vries・Klaudia Gawlas・Kollektiv Turmstrasse [live]・La Fleur・Lee Burridge・Lewski・Loco Dice・Luna Ludmila・Magdalena・Matador・Mathew Jonson [live]・Mathias Kaden・Melon・Michel de Hey・Milo Spykers・Miss Melera・Nick Warren・Nuno Dos Santos・Odette・Olivier Weiter・Paco Osuna・Pan-Pot・Patrice Bäumel・Petar Dundov [live]・Pleasurekraft・Ramon Tapia・Remy・Richie Hawtin・Rødhåd・SAMA・Sanja・Sasha・Sébastien Léger・Secret Cinema・Solomun・Speedy J・SQL [live]・Stephan Bodzin [live]・Tahko・Tale Of Us・Terry Francis・Vince Watson・VNTM [live]](https://thepartae.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/LOVELAND-FESTIVAL-UNVEILS-HUGE-LINEUP-FOR-25-YEAR-ANNIVERSARY-EDITION.jpg "LOVELAND FESTIVAL UNVEILS HUGE LINEUP FOR 25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION")
