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Music Interviews

Music InterviewsMusic News

Clinton Hutton

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
Wynyard North West Coast Tasmania.

How did you first start playing music?
I was in grade 8 when I really started getting into music, in particular Metallica, ACDC and all that good 80’s metal stuff. I fell in love with guitar then and it has been my passion ever since.

What’s been happening recently?
I am always playing music every weekend as a full time job but I have started to put a lot more time and energy into writing and recording my music of late. I’ve been working with other musicians on their music as a producer as well.

Your single ‘Can’t Handle Losing’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I really wanted to write an upbeat rock song that was catchy and fun to play. I love the crunchy guitar tones of Malcom Young from ACDC and the huge sounding gang vocals of Queen, it’s fair to say I’ve got a bit of these influences in this track for sure.

How did you go about writing Can’t Handle Losing?
For me, it all starts with a good riff or two and then the rest of the song just comes together. Most times it’s as simple as just getting that verse and chorus riff down. My biggest challenge has always been coming up with unique and interesting topics to sing about but thankfully, this song came together quite easily in the end. I’ve sat on many song ideas for literally years but this is one of those songs that was written quickly, probably because I was all inspired up at the time.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
I recorded the song from my home studio back in April 2022 when I was in Isolation with Covid. Thankfully I had very minimal symptoms so I got to use my time productively. I made all the decisions, played all the instruments, recorded, mixed and mastered the song from home during that week. It truely was an independent project.

How did you approach the recording process?
The best thing about having a decent recording setup at home is you can work when it suits you. Because I was in lock down and had a whole week to myself, the process was really enjoyable. I like to work in blocks of time and basically mix the song as I go. I’d record drums then take a break, come back later in the evening and then do Bass. Next morning I’d tweak anything if I needed to and then record all the guitars, take a break and then do vocals that night. The final mix and mastering stage takes the most time for me but my skills and confidence has got much better so I feel at ease doing it all solo these days.

Please tell us about your home studio setup?
My home recording setup is very simple but gets the job done. I have a good room that’s fairly well sound treated so I can record all instruments in that space as well as mix. I use minimal gear as possible, no outboard preamps or expensive microphones, just good computer and DAW with some nice plugins that gets me decent results.

Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Australian music from the late 90’s to the 2010’s of late. I’ve been enjoying revisiting classic bands like Powderfinger, Jet, Grinspoon, The Living End and Thirsty Merc but there are some ripper new comers I love such as Captives, Luca Brasi, Big Alcatraz and Verticoli.

What do you like to do away from music?
I love playing sports like Golf and Squash. I enjoy a good hike and just hanging with my family, that all keeps me happy.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
Lots of gigs, lots of writing and recording new music and lots of Golf!

Favourite food and place to hangout?
I can’t go past a green eggs breakfast from the coolest cafe “Bruces Cafe” in my hometown of Wynyard. I love hanging out in the wilderness of Cradle Mountain region, could spend all my days there no problems.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vzXjmIZP3eRcpxeEm3S4T

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Music InterviewsMusic News

Charlie Gradon

by the partae
written by the partae

How has this year felt for you as a creative: what has been inspiring to you the most, as an artist?

Ups & downs always. This year I was determined to start releasing music. However, I often find inspiration in procrastination. With music videos to make, budgets to stress about, and all the things that come with releasing music, I found myself demoing out the next record instead.

 Who are you listening to right now, that would be your top new music recommendation?

Blake Mills is a new one for me. I love his approach to producing and sound design. Andy Shauf is yet to miss and Julia Jacklin’s new record is spinning a lot at our place.

What has been exciting you about your music community this year?

During lockdowns I started doing remote recording sessions. I wrote and recorded songs with people in Melbourne, Sydney and even Sweden and released them. It was a great way to keep the juices flowing and work on something without that emotional pressure.

Let’s talk ‘Black & White’ – what significance does the song have for you now it has been some time since the writing and recording process has been completed?

‘Black & White’ is about witnessing the breakdown of a relationship, and how quickly we label each other good/bad or more to the point black/white when in reality there is so much more nuance to it. It often reminds me to step back and withhold the judgement of others.

Can you tell us a bit about the process, while we’re on it, what was the best part about working on this song and what did you learn about yourself as a creative, as a result?

It’s taught me that I tend to process most of my deeper thoughts and feelings about what’s happening around me by writing. Which is a wonderful outlet to have, albeit a crutch. It’s got a lot of visceral aggressive energy, which is not something I feel comfortable expressing in the day to day. When we play it on stage I feel like the strongest man in the universe.

Is ‘Black & White’ part of a larger Charlie Gradon project and if so, can you tell us more about your plans for it?

 It’s the first single off my debut album to come next year. It’s the first body of work that I’m truly proud of. I can’t wait to share it with the world (and get started on the next one).

Do you find ideas for new music and songs come easily to you, or do you have to be in the studio for the inspiration to hit?

The home studio is a big part of it. Catching inspiration with your digital hands is such a gift. But my phone is also clogged with notes and voice memos of song ideas while I’m out in the world.

What’s your favourite thing to do when you need to chill out?

Drink coffee and make things worse.

Your favourite food spot?

If I’m alone I’ll often forget to eat. I wouldn’t say I have a favourite spot, but when I eat I do it passionately and fast.

Official Website | Triple J Unearthed | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok

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Clinton Hutton Releases ‘Can’t Handle Losing’

by the partae
written by the partae

Tasmanian singer-songwriter Clinton Hutton is back with his new single “Can’t Handle Losing” which will be released on December 13. It’s a toe tapping, classic rock track that hits hard from the very first beat and never eases up until the end. Clinton’s songwriting and musical talent is undeniable and on full display in this song which features a clever arrangement, tasty guitar riffs and an incredibly infectious vocal performance that fully hooks the listener in. It’s a fun and relatable song about those super competitive people who love to win at everything, but just hate to lose!

Like all previous releases by Clinton, it’s another complete solo effort where he played all the instruments, recorded, mixed and mastered the song from his home studio. The catchy performance along with the professional production is outstanding and will make you hit repeat again and again. You can hear the influences of world class acts such as ACDC, Queen and the Foo Fighters in the track, but Clinton has his own vibe happening which is engaging and refreshing.

https://www.facebook.com/clintonhuttonmusic/

https://www.instagram.com/clintonhutton/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vzXjmIZP3eRcpxeEm3S4T

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrgILxs_9DyUD94XCK-z4JA

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Lucky Polo

by the partae
written by the partae

I’m originally from Sydney, Australia but moved to Irvine California so I could be closer to LA and pursue my hopes of working in a studio there with other great musicians I admire.

When I was 8 years old I began training in classical saxophone  through the school’s band program then coming into high school naturally I picked up guitar, bass, drums and keys etc. to fit into the music I was listening to such as The Moody Blues and Frank Zappa.

Recently it’s been an absolute whirlwind essentially picking up half my life and plonking it 15,000 kilometres away. I’ve been having a great time trying to set up new connections in California both within the scene and at university and trying to find new inspiration for writing. I finished a few singles a few months ago at Golden Retriever Studios in Marrickville so it’s exciting to be able to start releasing them. I’ve also started working on a longer length, more cohesive project also.

It’s only within the last couple of years that I’ve begun to explore electronic and sample based music such as Blank Banshee, Skrillex’s old EPs and J Dilla so I’ve been slowly harnessing my beat making skills. One thing that does stand out in Minimum Wage Dreamer is the use of that dirty spaghetti western style twangy guitar found in a lot of Ennio Morricone compositions. That sound is super untapped within mainstream music in my opinion and it really cuts through and contrasts nicely with the synths and 808 style drums. Honestly I’d just been watching a bunch of old westerns with my dad when I thought to myself that it could be a really great addition to the song.

Minimum Wage Dreamer was actually a joint effort between myself and childhood friend Heno. He’s a fantastic writer studying to become an English Teacher and wrote a great poem that he wanted me to use. I immediately got to work finding a melody I liked then from there built harmony and finally a catchy beat as foundation. Honestly it’s one of the quickest beats I’ve written because I just felt good that day.

I worked mostly with Antonia Gauci (from the band Gauci) at Golden Retriever Studios in Marrickville for engineering with up and coming artist Chloe Dadd as assistant engineer. It was then mastered by Simon Berckelman also at Golden Retriever. For the bass recordings on the record I had Charles Wilkinson and Dylan Catterall on drums in the outro who are both old friends of mine that I’ve known for years now.

The production was a lot of fun, and Antonia was great at suggesting new ways to push sounds further and make the record sound overall way more huge than I ever could have on my own. The synths, bass and 808s were relatively dry in terms of production, which made a lot of space especially for the vocals and double tracked guitars. The vocals had a bit of grit applied as well as some simple reverb and compression, most of the work was done with Antonia’s amazing Neumann microphone and preamp. The guitars had a fair bit done, they were double tracked through an old Fender Twin Reverb with the preamp cranked panned left and right, then we used a huge vintage spring reverb box to get that ‘drippy’ sound. We then had the signal compressed with a small amount of delay. The drums in the outro had a bunch of EQing and panning done to them just to help them sit better in the mix with the guitars.

This track truly means a lot to me. Firstly, it’s the first time I’ve had my vocals on a recording which was super exciting. It’s the first time I’d more or less written the majority of the song also. It was great to work with Heno and give his lyrics a medium to be heard. The song’s message itself however also resonates deeply with me. It’s about how we become so caught up in and pacified by social media, hype culture and consumerism that we forget to stop and smell the roses. We become so obsessed with an image of what we want to be, that when we return to reality we can’t seem to fully accept our own lives in comparison to someone we admire such as a rapper etc. and I want to question the legitimacy of that lifestyle.

Honestly I’ve felt a little bored lately with my music listening habits, so have been turning back to metal which I used to listen to in highschool as well as in my opinion the electronic equivalent that is dubstep. Bands such as Meshuggah have been great for helping me to reconsider the rhythmic choices I make within my own music and it would be incredibly interesting to see if that could be somewhat reflected in a more mainstream genre.

Away from music I love to skateboard, in a way it’s another form of self expression and a great way to stay fit. I also love fashion, reading and learning Japanese so there’s definitely a good mix of things to do. For the remainder of 2022, I’m hoping to finalise artwork and dates for my next two releases which should be the main focus of the first part of 2023. For 2023 specifically I’m looking to really start putting my head down and grinding to make contacts and meet as many people as possible within the industry. I’d also like to travel to other musical hotspots within the US such as New York, Chicago, Nashville etc.

I’ve got a pretty big sweet tooth to be honest, so a good pavlova is always welcome for me. Especially with extra meringue. As for favourite places to hang out, it has to be the cafeteria at my university. Not only are there heaps of skate spots close by, heaps of variety with the menu but there’s always a few of my buddies there to kick it and study with.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088454384520&is_tour_dismissed=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucky__polo/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucky__polo?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lachiepolo

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Yawdoesitall

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Currently based in Sydney, Australia

How did you first start playing music?

Music started at church as I played drums for years before transitioning into production.

What’s been happening recently?

Recently I’ve been resting and writing short films I’m planning to shoot in the future.

Your EP ‘Life I Chose’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

This ep was influenced by the drive to be a better artist. It shows a timeline of how music started for me and what it has become. From channeling my poems into songs to producing sounds that turn into beautiful music.

How did you go about writing the EP?

This ep is a reflection of my life so I drew from my life and placed it on this record. With my friend’s help, I was able to find my sound while improving my writing and performance.

Please tell us about the single ‘Hold On’ how it came about and what it means to you:

Hold on started as a motivational song I wrote for myself. I linked up with producer friend Finbar Stuart to create and we ended up with a part 1 version of this song that never came out. This song did well at shows but we wanted to better it and we had one more session while I was on tour and came up with this masterpiece. Hold on is basically a reminder to keep going and at this point in my life, I feel this message was needed a lot. It therefore means a lot to me and it’s beautiful seeing people resonate.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

I worked with Finbar Stuart at Elefant Traks studios in Sydney after I came back for a break during the tour with baker boy. Fin re produced the beat and I wrote to it. We recorded it there and finished it off at his house. He then mixed the song and I linked up with Lewis Mitchel to master the song. This was also the last song for my ep so it was amazing when we finished it.

How did you approach the recording process?

We recorded without a stand hence I held the mic like a dynamic mic and basically performed the whole song. This was finished at fins studio and we knew we had a great song.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m currently listening to JID, Amber Mark and Stormzy.

What do you like to do away from music?

I Love film. I’m mostly either watching or writing or working on pieces that I’m yet to put out.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

After a hectic year, I think it’s time to rest so I’ll be spending time with friends and socialising and visit my friends’ events and shows.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Favourite food is fried rice and favourite place to hangout is Milk beach in Vaucluse.

Triple J Unearthed | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Twitter

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We talk with Buffalo Paradise about their debut album The Kids Be Dancin’

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

BP: We’re a Bondi-based outfit, though we grew up in wide-ranging suburbs over Sydney and Singapore – probably contributing to our eclectic musical influences and personalities.

How did you first start playing music?

BP: Each of us came to music from just enjoying it so much growing up and taking the natural step into playing ourselves, not to mention Jack Black’s School Of Rock that had a profound effect on our frontman Lachie. Most of the band have played their respective instruments for well over a decade and then came together early 2021 to share our love of music!

What’s been happening recently?

BP: We’ve just released our debut album The Kids Be Dancin’ and had a great night launching the album with all friends, fans and family, selling out The Vanguard. We’ve also been busy recording a heap of follow up tunes to keep everyone’s ears flooded with Buffalo Paradise goodness.

Your album – The Kids Be Dancin’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

BP: The album kind of resonates all of our diverse music influences and covers a fair bit of musical territory. Someone could listen to the album and hear influences ranging from jazz, metal, modern day indie rock and anthemic rock songs. This greatly influenced the songwriting process, as the band relied heavily on taking a musical idea and fleshing it out in the rehearsal studio – culminating in the changing musical ideas throughout each of the songs.

How did you go about writing the album?

BP: A lot of the songwriting was shared by Lachie (vocalist) and Angus (lead guitar) in terms of coming up with an initial musical idea, then this was taken to the band as a whole, given a structure, seeing what we found to be the natural emphasis when we played it and adapted to make it complementary to the band as a whole. That being said, there are a lot of songs on the album that were truly a collaborative effort with the entire band bringing the idea to the final project – whether it be from a jam session, or just a semi complete idea becoming complete.

What does this album mean to you?

BP: This one means a lot to be honest. For many of the band members this represents our musical growth in a band setting with much of the experience being first time writing/recording/production, not to mention delays due to lockdowns etc. It’s a body of work we can all reflect on very fondly and see our progression as a band, and we all really value not only the music, but the bonding, process and experience we all shared together to get this album completed.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

BP: We recorded at Ralph Street Studios in Alexandria with Aria nominated and all round great guy Greg Stace. All of the recording, production and mastering was done there.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

BP: For the remainder of the year we have a bit of downtime from live shows, focusing on writing follow up music and hoping to be back in the studio by the end of January 2023. We’ve got about 5 songs already recorded and ready to go, but planning to get that number much higher in 2023 to get a heap more BP music out into the world! And in true Buffalo Paradise fashion, there will be a good few high energy, fun loving shows in 2023 for sure.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

BP: Again, the band has a pretty eclectic mix of influences. There’s definitely a very heavy emphasis on the indie rock bands in the Australian scene at the moment, as we love the work of all of our contemporaries (Pacific Avenue, Lime Cordial, Hockey Dad, Spacey Jane, Winston Surfshirt to name a few), but then there’s a whole range of other genres in there as well.

Please tell us about any upcoming shows:

BP: None official at the moment – but tentatively pencil in mid Feb. All our shows are promoted online via the various band socials, so they’re the best place to stay up to date with all our shows!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

We’re lucky to have had a good chunk of our shows in Newtown which has some pretty wicked cuisine… there’s definitely been some pretty iconic BP band dinners there in preparation for or after our live shows that we can all reflect back on as critical in the formation of our bond as a band.

We have a tradition that after each show we make a stop at Indian Home Diner in Paddington for a luscious butter chicken kebab as we make our way back to Bondi. As to where we like to hang out, the beach!!

Socials

https://linktr.ee/buffaloparadise

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Holly Alison

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Currently based on the NSW, Central Coast 

What’s the music scene like on the NSW Central Coast at the moment?

There are sooooo many emerging artists on the coast and everyone kind of rallies together to support each other, however, there isn’t a HUGE music scene as such in terms of performing at venues. Generally need to go to Sydney or Newcastle for that 🙂

How did you first start playing music?

I first started playing music when I began learning guitar. When I was younger, I used to create mini concerts with the songs that I had written (which by the way were terrible) in my living room and my brother was the lighting man, sound guy and ticket seller for my parents to come to viewings hahaha

What’s been happening recently?

I have been on a 3 year hiatus due to a few things. First reason, life can get very busy for me as I play semi-professional sport and am also a PE teacher. Second reason is that I wanted to spend time writing with some other people and really ensure that I honed my craft a little further. Now I have currently been recording a whole bunch of songs so I am prepared for a big 2023.

Your latest single ‘Doing Better’ Ft Ramzie and co-written with your friend Boy Soda is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The sound was influenced by pop, rnb, trap vibes. I am really loving artists like charlieonnafriday, KODE, Arizona Zervas and Justin Bieber so I wanted the sound to be somewhere within that zone. In terms of the songwriting, the inspiration came from a really shitty relationship that I was in that I had just got out of at the time. I always remember this one thing that they said to me which was “you will never do any better than me” so that is kind of where the idea came from. I could finally say look at me, I am doing much better hahahhaha

Please tell us about the songwriting process with Boy Soda:

The songwriting process with Boy Soda is always so EASY because he is an absolute freak songwriter. We basically felt out an instrumental and then began mumbling different melodies to it. As we mumble we start finding lyrics that fit both melodically and figuratively. We wrote 2 songs that day because we had a good flow with topics, melodies and lyrics. 

How did you come to work with Ramzie and how was the experience?

I came to work with RAMZIE due to Liam Quinn who produced, mixed and mastered the song. I basically had built the entire song but didn’t have a bridge and was unsure whether to leave an empty music space there, write my own bridge or get a rapper on it. Liam said he had contact with RAMZIE who is based in Atlana, US. He reached out and within a couple of days he had recorded a verse and sent it to me. It was awesome and fit super well so we used it 🙂

It was a super easy process because RAMZIE is so fast with the way he works.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

I recorded ‘Doing Better’ in 2019 as a demo initially with Boy Soda on the Central Coast. I then got it produced, mixed and mastered by Liam Quinn about a week later in his Sydney studio.

Liam Quinn (Peach PRC) produced the track, please tell us about how you came to work with Liam and the experience as a whole:

I reached out to Liam a while back because I had followed him on socials for a while and new his stuff was awesome!! My experience with Liam every single time we have worked has been amazing. I get along with him extremely well so it feels easy when we work together. There is a lot of trust in the process with him.

Please tell us about any artists from your area the we should keep an eye on:

ELASKIA is huge and always has been. She plays a lot of festivals and has her song on netflix TV shows including Dynasty as well as free to air TV like Home and Away. She is awesome and a great songwriter.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

My biggest influences at the moment are charlieonnafriday, The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber, KODE, Arizona Zervas, FLETCHER, Blackbear.

What do you like to do away from music?

Away from music I am an athlete and PE teacher. I am actually heading to Ireland next year to play Oztag for the Australian team so that is really exciting. Besides that I just love being around my friends, eating food and playing with my crazy dog haha.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

I will be finishing up some music projects and ensure that I am prepared for a huge 2023 filled with lots of different music.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Any food is amazing, however, if I was to choose a cuisine it would probably be Thai. If I am being super specific though I JUST LOVE POTATO. Cook me potato in any form and I will be absolutely living for it!! Haha

Place to hangout is generally with my friends by my pool OR I do love the beach in summer.

Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Twitter | Triple J Unearthed 

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Krumple Krink

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?

I’m living in Perth at the moment, gigging around the place and recording music where I can.

How did you first start playing music?

Since I was a young child, maybe about 7 years old, I had this dream. I had this goal in life that I wanted to achieve. I had this vision of becoming a doctor or a lawyer. However, my parents insisted that instead of pursuing law or medicine, that I should get a real job, and start playing music on the streets. So I began to busk in Perth. After finishing high school, I moved to London where I busked in cool spots like Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Busking there I met some amazing musicians, who really inspired me to pursue music and make something out of it.

What’s been happening recently?

During the summer, I like to return to the city of Perth and busk through the summer, so in between a few gigs here and there, that’s what I’ve mostly been up to recently. Other than that, I went down a YouTube rabbit hole the other day of free solo rock climbing, and the story of Alex Honnold. So I’ve been imagining how cool it would be to do that. But then I remember my crippling fear of heights, and my inability to rock climb, so I’ll stick to experiencing that through YouTube.

Your latest single ‘Connected To Disconnection’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The idea with this music was to start with a cool song and dress it up in a lot of sound layers to make something unique and out there. Imagine starting with a Margherita pizza (the main skeleton of the song) and then deciding to spice it up by putting spaghetti bolognese on top. Weird, yes. But probably delicious. That’s the kind of thinking that inspired this song, a weird combination of musical flavours all blending together to create ‘Connected To Disconnection’.

How did you go about writing Connected To Disconnection?

I started with the music, I can’t remember if the drums or the guitar came first. But I had that and at that point it had a bit of a RHCP feel in my opinion. I sat with the instrumental for a few listens and one of the themes that popped into my head was our societal addictions to our phones. I feel like most of my generation (myself included) have become very absorbed in this virtual world brought about by smartphones. At the same time, our phones are an amazing thing that give us tools that in the past could not be dreamed of. So they’re extremely harmful in some ways, but extremely helpful in other ways. That’s part of what I was trying to capture in the lyrics when writing the song. Funnily enough, I wrote the lyrics on my phone!

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

I recorded/produced the track at my home studios with the assistance of copious amounts of coffee. I did a lot of editing on the sound by myself and then I took the song to Rob Grant, at Poons Head Studios who mixed and mastered the song for me. He gave me a lot of guidance as well with the arrangement of the track, and making all the sounds blend in and stand out at the same time.

How did you approach the recording process?

I recorded everything several times (ALOT of takes) and then cut and pasted the best parts of each take to make the best possible take. I get carried away sometimes while recording and don’t take enough breaks, which is what I did while recording this song. I think that fatigue made me go into an almost zombie-like state of exhaustion, which I think added some of the vibe of the song. It’s meant to seem energetic and tired simultaneously. Like a zombie dancing erratically.

Please tell us about how the music video came about:

I wanted to express the music visually to go along with the song. I felt the best way to do this was with lights. I had two ideas for the music – fire flow artists or a cool lighting show. Me being my excessive self decided to go for both. I worked closely with the team to find a way to make this work and allow both aspects of the video to stand out.

Where and when did you film and who did you work with?

I filmed the video with Ward Media, I had Orion Audio Visual doing the lighting and laser show and finally the amazing Shelby Jewel and Charlotte Noonan as the flow artists for the video.

Who are you listening to at the moment?
DIET – Denzel Curry
New person, same old mistakes – Tame Impala
Take a Slice – Glass Animals
Body Paint – Arctic Monkeys
Goodbye Angels – RHCP

And much more!

What do you like to do away from music?

I don’t have much outside music, I usually shoot the breeze with friends and get up to whatever shenanigans arise. To me, who I’m with is more important than what I’m doing. I try to live my life surrounded by music as much as I can though, I want to dedicate my life to creating interesting and unique art, and sometimes that means sacrificing other fun adventures like travelling in order to hone in on my craft.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

The end of the year gets quite hectic with gigs so I’m busy riding that out. Once 2023 comes around I’m looking to record a new album early in the year. I’ve also got some more songs ready to be released coming out on my debut EP.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Favourite food would need to be sushi. During the summer I like to busk, and I’ll go into a cycle of eating nothing but sushi during this time. Shout out to Sushi Hub in Perth City for fuelling my busking season. Another favourite place to go is Yelo or Canteen in Trigg, great spots. I’m actually writing this at Yelo right now.

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Barley Passable Interview with The Partae

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?

We are currently both based in Sydney on the Northern beaches which are where we have our studio as well.

How did you first start playing music?

It’s different for both of us but generally, we both started playing instruments really young. Kai started playing Bass and Guitar at around 8 and Davy started with piano super young at 5. Our parents are all avid music listeners and encouraged us both to play.

What’s been happening recently?

We have just been working really hard! Right now we are in the car to Byron to do some shows for Schoolies which will be fun and just probably pretty rock n roll.  We also just got off shooting the music video for ‘Til I Say So with our close friend and director Jarad Travers and we are literally right now looking at some of the frames and we are so stoked. Just constantly trying to improve our productivity and shows to make it the best it can be and different for both listeners and us at every one.

Your latest single ‘Til I Say So ft Betty is out on November 28, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

We always pull from everything we are listening to and also our own individual backgrounds in music and this was no different with ‘Til I Say So. Davy was in isolation when he started the track so he spent lots of time just trying to find the right mood in that loop he made. Maybe that influenced the cruisey nature of the song by him being in isolation, we honestly haven’t really thought about it too much.

How did you go about writing ‘Til I Say So?

It started off with Davy making a loop that ended up being the verse/chorus section and we both came together and finished off the instrumental. In the past, we have done this and then spent ages almost inorganically adding the vocals but this time around we just had this feeling that someone else might be better suited to singing on this track. We had recently played with and seen Betty play so she was fresh on our minds she is just an incredible vocalist and friend so we knew it would work with her voice.

You worked with Betty on this track, how did this come about and why did you choose to work with Betty?

The Sydney crew is generally pretty damn small once you start playing shows so we knew her and know her band as well. We had played and been to one of her shows super recently and so she was just on our minds. her voice is silky smooth and has lots of souls so with the instrumental we knew they pair together nicely.

How was it working with Betty?

It was such a pleasure, it felt like the perfect collaboration experience – which is crazy considering it was our first one. The song came out in literally one session over a day and then it was done besides finishing off some of the vocal passes. She is an amazingly kind and generous person so just being in a room with someone like that, even if what your doing isn’t productive is always a treat, and this felt super productive.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

So we did all the recording and production from our home studio on the Northern Beaches. Mixing & Mastering are skills that we don’t have a clue about and feel like mystical arts so for those we sourced Matt and Riley who also happen to play in an awesome band called Ivey and for the master we had the wizard Wayne at Suture Mastering.

Please tell us about any upcoming gigs and the schoolie’s parties thus far:

So we are just on the way to the schoolie’s party, feels pretty funny when we mention playing at schoolies but it’s honestly such a fun crowd to play to, as we did it last year as well. We can’t wait to do two shows there at Byron Bay Beach Hotel as we are also staying in the area and doing some writing too. We then have Sunsets Festival on the Northern Beaches on the 3rd, a show with Ivey for their beautiful event called Adam’s Day in the Gold Coast on the 15th and our 2nd ever-headline show on the 23rd at Oxford Art Factory.

Who are you listening to at the moment?
As we are currently driving up to Byron let us just clue you in on what we literally have been listening to today:
— Warmduscher – at the Hotspot Remixed – EP
— Mac Demarco (we pretty much did it all, it’s so nice to drive to)
— Toro Y Moi – Outer Peace

— John Carpenter – Lost Themes album

You have an upcoming single launch at OAF Gallery in Sydney on Dec 23, what can we expect?

The usual level of high energy and some pretty crazy creative stuff. Every set we change it but since this show is special to us we are changing and redoing the whole thing. The way we play our set limits us in a good way so when we perform our songs it’s almost like a remix of the actual track. We have an awesome lineup of artists playing along with us so we really want to make it into a proper night. Also, we may or may not be making a plinth.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

So we are keeping ourselves pretty damn busy for the rest of the month with playing live and just getting out and amongst it through the summer season. Besides playing live we will be working on editing and finishing off the music video for ‘Til I Say So and having a bit of a viewing party/just party when that comes out too and everyone is invited to drink champagne and come hang <3

Favorite food and place to hang out?

We are absolute suckers for Japanese food, and honestly, we are pretty local to the amazing Jipang in manly. We constantly find ourselves getting the chicken cutlet curry from there, it’s the perfect studio food.

https://linktr.ee/Barley_Passable

https://www.barleypassable.com/about
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Chris Cuffaro

by the partae
written by the partae

You’re currently visiting from LA, how has your trip back been so far?

This trip to Australia is like ALL my trips to Australia… GREAT!  I love it here and have been coming here since 1988.  I love my friends, the city, the food, the fun and of course the banana bread. 

 

How did you originally get into photography?

That’s a long story, but here’s the short version… I saw the movie Funny Face when I was 10 years old.  I loved Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire.  I saw him playing a photographer and I said I want to do that for the rest of my life!  I fell in love with photography after I shot my first roil at 10 and started my business at 12.  Photography has given me the best life ever and I can prove it… I got the photos!

 

You’re launching your Greatest Hits exhibition next week at Room 205, 205 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney December 7 – 11, 2022 – what can we expect to see?

This is gonna be super fun.  This is my 3rd exhibition here in Sydney!!!  The first one was Greatest Hits: George Michael in 2018.  In 2019 I did Greatest Hits: Grunge and Greatest Hits: Michael Hutchence.  I love Australia and sharing my two biggest passions… music and photography.  This exhibition is ALL about 30+ years of Music Photography… it’s the best of my best covering ALL genres of music.  I want people to see that I’ve done it all and more.  Behind the Gallery and I have come up with some fun and entertaining events for the 5 days.  It’s more than an exhibition, it’s ALL about celebrating!

 

How and why did the Greatest Hits exhibition come about?

It’s been 3 years since I was in Sydney cuz of life and the world.  I wanted to get back ASAP and have some fun.  I felt it was the right time to share my “Best Of’s”!  I talked to my friends, asked for some help and started moving forward back in August to make Greatest Hits happen.

 

The exhibition is running over a few days, which music artists are performing and when are they playing?

The schedule is great!  The basics… 

 

SCHEDULE:

December 7th, Wednesday – Opening Night from 7-10pm

December 8th, Thursday – MMAD Performance night with Ella Powell and D Minor from 7pm to 8pm.

December 9th, Friday – Photo Talk hosted by photographer Peter Collie from 7pm to 9pm.

December 10th, Saturday – Artist Talk hosted by Michelle Grace Hunder & performance with Sam Baker from 1pm to 4pm.

December 11th, Sunday – Closing day.  12pm to 3pm

 

You worked with the late/great Michael Hutchence, what was that experience like?

I get asked this a lot in Australia.  Simply put… GREAT!  He was the best of the best.  We had a blast shooting the first time in 1988 and the second in 1993.  He was ALL that and more.  He made me look good.

 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

My favs these days are Lauren Ruth Ward, The Struts, Sam Baker, Siiickbrain, Grandson, Isabella Amarga and ALL my old High School music… which is 70’s R&B & funk!

 

What do you like to do away from photography?

Rest and sleep.  I’m a workaholic.  I’m blessed to do what I love and love what I do.  I’m not getting any younger and I have so much more that I need to do.  Creating is everything to me, not matter what the medium is.  Go big or go home!

 

What’s planned for 2023 and beyond?

Well, after Australia I leave for New Zealand and I’m having Greatest Hits in Auckland this February!!!  My first time ever in NZ and I’m SO excited.  I can NOT wait to share my passion with New Zealand.

 

Favourite food and place to hangout in Sydney?

This is tough!!!  First and foremost… Banana Bread at Gusto!  I always stay in Bondi Beach when I’m here.  It’s my home away from home.  The people, the food, the energy and course the beach!!!  I wish I lived here cuz I probably would live 10 years longer.  🙂

 

 

Socials – @chriscuffaro

Insta – @thecuffarophoto

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GEOFF ACHISON TALKS ABOUT DOUBLE FEATURE SHOW DEC 18 ZIGGY POPS WITH JIMI HOCKING FOR DOUBLE TROUBLE BLUES SESSIONS

by the partae
written by the partae

1 What’s it like as an established muso with his own distinctive style to pair up with an artist who likewise has his own profile and following?

Live music events can fill you with inspiration in all sorts of ways. If you’re a musician witnessing a great performance it pushes you to want to emulate the playing style, or to write music as good as what you’re hearing in that moment. For me I also get to feeling like I want to get in amongst it and be in that band, or to trade licks with that great player. Jimi is one of those players. He pushes me, kicks my arse to play the best I can. 

 

2 Is it possible to preserve your own artistic identity and flavour when playing with and alongside your `opposite number?’ Can we expect you to shed some of your unique recent experiences (Kings of Kings) in your solo set prior to the all-in jam?

One of the things you learn along the way is to always play it your way. This may be especially true when it comes to playing the blues. The whole aim is finding your own voice so there is never any point in trying to outplay another performer at their game. Yeah, I recently had the chance to share the stage with the great Dave Hole & Shane Pacey playing some classic blues songs. I had Dave Hole standing right next to me every night and I can tell you, those gigs were some of the best guitar lessons I’ve ever had… but whenever it comes my turn to play, I dig deep and do my thing the best I know how.

 

3 I’m guessing some friendly rivalry would play out as well in that shared space? Particularly with you both leading the jam. How do you expect to manage and lead Kaliopi & the Blues Messengers during the jam?

Jimi & I enjoy the bitchy banter we get into. It’s even funnier to us if anyone thinks we’re serious. It started when we were playing some of our first gigs together and you’d occasionally overhear comments along the lines of ‘Jimi’s gonna wipe the floor with him tonight’ or some such thing. We decided it was actually more fun to play up to that idea of us competing for some sort of guitarist supremacy and we started calling those gigs our ‘Guitar Showdown’. The music is always our focus – but be prepared for a battle of wits between songs. Oh, and the jam set? The best thing about those moments is that they are very loosely planned, if planned at all. I am careful not to think too hard about what might happen then lest we spoil the magic! 

 

4 You’ve been paired with each other before – how might your upcoming gig for Double Trouble Blues Sessions be different or similar? What can your followers expect or is it always a case of `expect the unexpected’?

This is a different format to our Showdown gigs. The difference is that we’ll each to showcasing our solo material which highlights our individual styles. The similarity is that we’ll end up on stage together with a cracking band backing us up and trading licks on electric guitars. Add Kaliopi to the mix and suddenly we shall have a triple guitar threat… but of course only one can reign supreme. Who shall it be? Whom shalt doff this coveted crown?

 

 

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Maggie Slater

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?
I’m split between Far North Queensland and Melbourne. I study a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Politics and Creative Writing) and a Diploma of Languages (French) at the University of Melbourne so I’m down here during the semester but always head home when I’m on break. I’m also about to leave for exchange in Montreal for 6-12 months.

What’s your thought’s of Melbourne after being in QLD?
The two biggest shifts have been the 1. the weather (I adore the cold, hence Montreal, so I love getting to layer up) which was honestly one of my main reasons for leaving, I love a lot about FNQ but I HATE constantly being sticky and 2. the energy, there’s just always something happening (particularly for a young queer person, options for things to do in Cairns at night are pretty limited). It’s pretty much the inverse to FNQ which is indefinitely on holiday-time. I do really miss swimming though, particularly in freshwater. It grounds me in a way like no other.

How did you first start playing music?
I was always interested in music growing up but it was around 15 that I started writing songs. I’d taken guitar and piano lessons on and off since I was like 8 or so but nothing really stuck and I just ended up teaching myself ukulele and then guitar in my room (the first songs I remember learning were Fifteen by Taylor Swift and I Won’t Say That I’m Okay by Front Porch Step). I’d gotten pretty big into writing poetry around this time and so songwriting came quite naturally. It really was hugely therapeutic for me when struggling with mental illness for the first time in my life and a really awesome creative outlet during the horrors of highschool.

What’s been happening recently?
I just put out a single! I recorded ‘Pulp’ back in May so it’s so surreal to finally have it out, I’ve never done a release like this before, it’s been such an intense and inspiring release process. I’m surrounded by the most incredible group of creatives in Melbourne and everybody put so much effort and love into helping me elevate the release with their own artforms. The music video, artwork and photography are so incredible and beautiful, I’m so proud of what we’ve all made together. I also recently recorded my next single with Mark Myers at Mountain Kauri Studios while I was back home for my little brother’s graduation. Outside of music I was just in a VCA grad film called Napalm Roses by Jyo Miyaji (which was such an exciting experience) and have been working on pieces for my university’s magazine Farrago where I’m a staff writer.

Your latest single ‘Pulp’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I was going back through old voice memos that other day and found a version of ‘Pulp’ I totally forgot had existed. The song had started in the second person, directed towards this loser one of my best friends was seeing, who treated her terribly and was completely blind to how lucky he was to be with her. It then morphed into being about me wanting to get over this incessant desire for another intense romantic relationship after a break-up. I think both of these versions created an important foundation for what the song came to be. The final version of the lyrics was written right after I’d spent two nights up til 4am reading Gone Girl so I was really channelling that imagery and energy into my own feelings about some of my first relationships.

The lyrics were the main thing that were in flux for a bit but the structure has been pretty similar from the get go. It was originally written in open D tuning (as were probably a few too many songs after it) but my lead guitarist Tom suggested we change it so we didn’t have to retune during the set. In hindsight I’m so glad we did this because as much as I love a twinkly open chord, this song needs power chords. The sound came about after tireless attempts at pushing myself to create a real rock song. Lyrics have always been my main focus and I think because of this it’s been hard for me in the past to really push things instrumentally to a place that’s more similar to the kind of music I usually listen to. WAAX was a huge inspiration for this. I actually saw them at Gilligan’s in Cairns in 2019 and got to briefly share the mic with Maz during ‘Labrador’. I truly think that unlocked something in me. I did still want to balance this side of things with delicacy and softness (which I think I was able to do in the verses) so ‘High’ by Slow Pulp was a really helpful framework for this. I’ve actually made a playlist of songs that inspired/go well alongside ‘Pulp’ which you can check out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6swB1kWg2FVLYxA6SEnDXD?si=2725e75a9e284dfe

How did you go about writing Pulp?
‘Pulp’ was written late at night on an acoustic guitar in my childhood bedroom that I was forced to return to during the first set of lockdowns in 2022. I could feel in the drive of the chorus that this was going to be a heavier song. When I brought it to the band room Tom and Noah helped me build it up instrumentally and we eventually recorded a Garageband demo that came to be the blueprint for the final recording.When it came to writing the music video it really started from a conversation I had with my housemate Ella Parkinson one night. She really related to the song after hearing it for the first time as she’d had a very similar experience to me in her first relationship. We were drinking tea and going over these shared experiences and vignettes, then things just kind of went from there. We really wanted to capture the ups and downs of these turbulent, chaotic, and toxic early relationships and their often very consuming, addictive and destructive nature and to capture the kind of innocent nuance of these dynamics that are often undiscussed.

What does this single mean to you?
The power and intensity of what ‘Pulp’ means to me has been building and changing ever since I wrote it. ‘Making space for feminine frustration’ has been thrown around a lot throughout the campaign so far but it’s so true. Seeing all my femme friends in the front row at the launch screaming the words and moshing as hard as they could really sealed this idea in for me. This single is about allowing ourselves to take up space, to be at the front, to yell, to move however we want, to be angry and sad and not have one invalidate the other. Without overexplaining anything, something we really wanted to capture in the music video was loss of self. ‘Pulp’ is about finding yourself again, grieving that loss, reorienting yourself, and feeling confident that next time you’ll know your worth and fight back as hard as you can.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
‘Pulp’ was produced by Jason Millhouse at Recordworks in Brisbane (such a cool studio, Jason has an insane amount of pinball machines) and mastered by Paul Blakey. My drummer from Cairns, Noah Gillespie, is currently studying at the Con in Brissy so he was able to come in and track drums for me which was brilliant. The music video was shot at home (and in the street) in Brunswick. It was a huge collaboration with all my best friends. Ella co-produced the video with me and our friend Hugo who’s studying Film and TV at VCA directed it. Ella also handmade all the miniatures of the band and I that you see at the start and end of the video. Nina Lengauer, Soph Fitzgerald and Clem McNabb also helped out with production design. Rose Freeman and Ruby Benedict did costuming for the band scenes. Reide Marshall, Finn Lohmann, Tige Sixel-Miller, MJ Kim and Thomas Strohfeldt performed alongside me and Lux Newman designed the absolutely beautiful animations.

How did you approach the recording process?
I’ve been insanely lucky to have been a part of the BIG SKY GIRLS (founded by Deb Suckling and Craig Spann) mentorship program which has pushed and supported me in ways that I never could have imagined, one of which was making ‘Pulp’. I was made aware of Jason’s work through Deb as he recorded her latest album. I loved the electricity and 90s feel that Deb’s album had and thought it was a perfect fit for what I wanted to do with ‘Pulp’. After a disheartening amount of rejection from arts grants BIG SKY GIRLS generously sponsored my recording with Jason.We recorded the track in a day, using the demo (for structure and arrangement – although Noah did whip out some cool new stuff on the spot that day like the pause in the second chorus and the tom work in the pre-chorus) and a recent live recording (for energy) to find our way to the final takes. Deb and Craig were a massive help in filling out the last choruses with powerful guitar noise and layers.

Who are your musical influences?
It’s honestly mostly just whoever I’ve been listening to most when I sit down to write but here’s a couple of key ones.

1. Wolf Alice: one of my all-time favourite bands. Their versatility is so incredible, and I will never not be in awe of the soundscapes they create. The things that Ellie Rowsell does with her voice and her use of vocal effects has been super inspiring to me.I actually had tickets to see them at the Forum in March but wrote the day down wrong in my diary. Heart shattering. I’m still trying to work up to listening through Blue Weekend without hating myself.

2. Phoebe Bridgers: I mean come on, the vulnerability, the sounds, the depth and care and thought put into every single line and sound, insane. Punisher is an absolute masterpiece. Arguably one of the best lyricists of our generation, that woman is on the pulse. I worship everything she does.

3. Soccer Mommy: An absolute comfort and anytime go to for me. Another super versatile artist, in writing these I think I’ve come to realise how impressed and inspired I am by artists who are constantly evolving and trying new things. I really feel like I’ve grown alongside Soccer Mommy, I think it’s partly because the timing of her different musical eras has really coincided with my own which has built this kind of intimacy in my brain. An incredible guitarist and builds such beautiful worlds within her songs. She’s also just so funny? Also, a huge reason (along with Wolf Alice) as to why I found a synth player for my band.

4. Snail Mail: Lush is such a memorable album for me, it was a real eye-opener to start thinking about guitars in a way that wasn’t just as a means to write a song but as a means for creativity and expression in their own right. One of the first queer artists who really resonated with me, and I was also just very in love with Lindsay Jordan as a 17-year-old (totally not the reason I got a Jag in the first place…)

5. Julia Jacklin: Australia’s angel. Saw her recently at a show in regional VIC with some of my closest female friends, we all took turns bawling our eyes out (mine was also so impressed, albeit it unsurprised) by how she had the entire audience memorized with just her guitar and voice. Her new album is so gorgeous. Constantly amazed by her ability to address such heavy themes in such a nuanced and beautiful way.

Favourite artists at the moment?
Right at this moment I’m listening to Car Seat Headrest. Lala Lala, my bloody valentine, Phoebe Bridgers (always), Djo, Soccer Mommy (her new album is amazing, so cut I won’t be around for the Aus tour), Wet Leg, Julia Jacklin, the 1975 (two more great new albums), Wolf Alice (another always), feeble little horse

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
At the moment I’m just trying to wind down from a really intense exam period. Other than another short film that I’m involved in next week and a couple of upcoming house party gigs I’m probably just going to take the next month before I leave as slow as possible and spend the rest of time in Melbourne enjoying the warmth and being around the people I love. As for 2023, I’ll be getting started on plans for the new single I’ve recorded and hopefully try and get some funding together to finish off a more complete body of work.

Favourite food and place to hangout?
God, so hard. A solid veggie burrito is such a fail safe but also nothing beats fresh sushi??? I can’t pick. As for hangout spots, if we’re not at our place or the pool, you’re most likely to find my friends and I at the Retreat Hotel. Best beer garden in Melbourne, so many fairy lights.

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The Crystal Method

by the partae
written by the partae

Scott, where are you currently based?

 I’m based out of Los Angeles, Ca.

How did you first start playing / performing music?

I first started performing in my living room when I was 10. By performing I mean playing air drums to Metallica & Motley Crue with a couple of sticks but still I was having fun. My first real performance was opening for Information Society by playing keyboards and guitar with a singer by the name of Greg Walsh in the early 90’s.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been touring the states and Canada this past year all while preparing for my return to Australia!

You’re heading to Australia for a tour in December 2022, you haven’t been to Australia since playing at the Big Day Out in 2007, what are you most looking forward to?

Some of my fondest memories have come from those Big Day Out tours. There’s so much… the people are wonderful and kind, the exquisite sights and of course the food and beer.

The Crystal Method are pioneers of the Big Beat genre and Electronica movement, you’ve played the biggest events and festivals across the planet, how has the scene changed since you started?

The Electronic movement has evolved and become more main street ie., EDM which has brought an entire new generation to the party which is a positive for sure. I definitely get a kick out of meeting the kids of our fans at shows especially when they show up together.

How would you describe your sound at this point?

Hmmm, a warm fuzzy kick in ass (-;

Who or what influences your sound and songwriting at the moment?

There are so many brilliant artists out there that I hear and think “How Do They Do That” or “Wow that’s so fucking cool” but I try not to get too caught up in analyzing and try to just absorb and enjoy it.

Where do you see the future of your sound going?

Hopefully not LOUDER.

Any advice for upcoming electronic acts?

Enjoy the process, find your own sound and don’t be afraid to fail.

How do you prepare for live shows?

I’d like to say hours in the gym and meditation but really it’s just a lot of starring at screens and listening to music.

What do you most enjoy about playing live?

Playing music for people and the adrenaline drop I get right before going on.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Preparing for the tour has me listening to way too much of The Crystal Method

What’s planned for 2023 and beyond?

Hopefully being productive and being a positive influence on others.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Great Beer and unhealthy food in a place full of happy people and great music.

Ticket link here: https://metropolistouring.com/the-crystal-method-2022/

https://thecrystalmethod.com/

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Justine Blanchet

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am currently based in Montreal but often travel to Nashville to continue working on my music.

How did you first start playing music?

I grew up in a musical family and learned a variety of instruments. I then went on to begin singing classical crossover at 11 years old. I moved on to singing country music when I was 15 and started to write my own songs as well.

What’s been happening recently?

A lot has been happening! I’m in the process to finishing the recording for my upcoming EP and filming more music videos.

Your latest single ‘Hard to Love’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

This song was written by Courtney Cole, Derrick Southerland, and Kelly Archer. This song was pitched to me in a playlist of about 12 songs, but I picked it because it was very personal to me.

What does this single mean to you and how did the writing process take place?

Even though I didn’t write this song, the lyrics and meaning still hold a lot of significance for me because I went through a toxic relationship with a partner that was very emotionally unavailable.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

I worked with Danick Dupelle in Nashville for this song! I recorded it back in Montreal and had the tracks sent to Danick for production and mastering.

How did you approach the recording process?

I was in Nashville when we started building the track. Because the song already had a good demo, we went ahead and used it as inspiration. The track begins with a simple acoustic guitar and synthetic drums, but we chose musicians to come into the studio and record the different instruments that we wanted on there.

Please tell us about your upcoming EP, the writing influences and what this EP means to you:

The EP is coming in the spring of 2023 and will be comprised of 5 songs all written by amazing people. I didn’t write any of the songs and that’s purely because we wanted the best of the best on the album while I keep developing my songwriting skills. This EP means a lot because it’s a three year long project and lots of money and time was poured into this creation. I hope it leads to great opportunities.

How’s the Nashville music scene at the moment?

The scene is great! There are a lot of people in Nashville but the town is small when you think about it. Everybody knows everybody and the community is tight knit and supportive of each other.

Please tell about living and recording in Nashville:

I love that the weather is so nice in the fall! I come from up north, where t-shirt weather doesn’t last very long. The neighboring cities are so pretty and there is so much scenery and history in Tennessee. There is always a concert or show somewhere in Nashville so it’s very hard to get bored in this town.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Lots of artists – namely Lainey Wilson, Morgan Evans, Bailey Zimmerman, Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, and The Lettermen. I really appreciate all kinds of genres.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

I’m in Nashville at the moment and then I will go home for the holidays and save up some more money to come back to Nashville in 2023.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I’m not a picky person but I love a good apple crisp especially at this time of year. I love the Elliston Place Soda Shop here in Nashville! Super cute little retro diner.


Instagram: @JustineBlanchetMusic                      

Facebook: @JustineBlanchetMusic                        

TikTok: @JustineBlanchetMusic         

Twitter: @JustineBlMusic

Spotify: tinyurl.com/justineblanchetspotify

YouTube: @JustineBlanchet

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Neav

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based? 

The Central Coast, NSW 

How did you first start playing music? 

Ever since I was super young, I’ve always sang and danced about making up little tunes but I think It wasn’t until my Mum took me to singing lessons that I started to properly play music. I played violin for a little while as a kid and then I moved to guitar and singing as my key instruments. I first started playing music live when I was about 11 or 12 and have done so ever since. 

What’s been happening recently?

I just released my debut EP “ELEGY” and had my launch at the Australian Institute of Music which was super fun. 

You’ve just released your debut EP ‘ELEGY’ at the ripe old age of 18, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I was experimenting with sound and what I want the production of my songs to sound like. When I was in the process of writing “Silence Song”, I realised I was really leaning towards alternate and dark pop sounds. I think thematically, the EP stems from a place of moving on to better things, transitioning into better places and having hope in moments of self-reflection. 

How did you go about writing the EP?

I wrote a lot of it solo however I also collaborated with a range of different producers and songwriters to create the songs that you now hear on the EP. Some of the writing process consisted of me just picking up a guitar and hitting records on my voice memos, while other times I collaborated online writing and recording bit by bit. 

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

I recorded in a couple different places and worked with a few different people for the creation of the EP. I got to work in Forbes Street Studios with Mario Spate, Studios 301 with Jess Deskovic, The Music Cellar with Rod McCormack, and The Nest Studios with Tristan Barton. I also recorded a few vocals in my home studio and worked with David Turley online recording and writing. 

How did you approach the recording process?

I make sure my vocals are feeling good, usually I will have a tea and make sure my voice is warmed up. I’ll then work with the producer I’m working with to record takes of the song. I love layering my vocals and creating beds of harmonies for my lead vocals to sit on. As for other instruments, a lot of it is synthesised or electronic but i love recording my favourite cole clark angel 2 model guitar. If I’m recording from home, I just go through the song chronologically and methodically and make sure I have heaps of takes and layers for the producer to work with. 

You worked with a talented bunch of producers to make this EP, how did these associations come about?

I’ve won a couple awards that have given me connections such as winning the Listen Up Music Songwriting Prize that got me connected with Jess Deskovic. As for other connections, they usually happen through my label or publishers. I’ve been really lucky to work with such talented and kind people.

Did music always seem to be the path you were meant to follow?

Music has always been a prominent feature of my life, however, I didn’t really realize it could be something I could pursue as a career until a few years ago. It just makes sense to me as music was always the one thing I felt comfort in when everything else seemed difficult or too much. 

How does it feel releasing your first EP?

It feels pretty surreal just because it has felt like such a long time coming in releasing singles and music videos and creating content for it to finally be out in the world. I am just overwhelmingly happy to have it out as my first body of work and feel that it’s a really special thing to have a physical thing that acts as almost an extension of yourself to add to your portfolio of stuff you’ve created. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I listen to a range of different stuff and that changes all the time, but I’m loving Kimbra’s new songs at the moment, BANKS, Dora Jar, Adele and Vera Blue. 

What do you like to do away from music?

When I’m not listening to, writing or performing music, I can usually be found spending time out with my favourite people and going out having fun with friends and family, whether that’s at concerts, events, the beach or just out for food and drinks. As a writer, I also really love reading and delving into imaginary worlds that people have built in their heads as I find that super inspiring and helpful for building vocab when I’m songwriting. I am a huge movie buff and could quote quite literally any disney or early 2000’s kids film. I also love trying new things, going to new places, adventuring, getting outside in the sun -not for too long cause i’ll burn as i’m super white-, and i also love just putting my creativity to the test in whatever way i can.  

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

I am going away on two trips in December this year, Thailand with my best friend and then I’m cruising around Vanuatu with my family for christmas. In and around then, I’m finishing off my diploma in music production and sound engineering and doing little solo gigs. Nothing is set in stone for next year music wise but we are planning to organise a band show to celebrate the EP early 2023. I’m also planning to get out there much more with my band, supporting other artists and touring as much as I can. I want to push myself to collaborate with more artists as well next year. 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love food and trying new foods so much but my favourite has got to be sushi and japanese style cuisine. I also love curry and south aisian style food too. I love sour patch kids and weird food combos as well like salt and vinegar chips with beetroot dip. There are a few nice restaurants and bars where I live that are great to hang out with friends but the beaches where I live are amazing too so I love to hangout there as well. 

Debut EP ‘Elegy’ is out now via Double Drummer.

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