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Music InterviewsMusic News

UFO Go

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

We’re based between North Melbourne and Footscray!

How did you first start playing music?
I started my music obsession when I was about three years old and refused to wear any outfit other than a yellow skivvy and black pants, mandating everyone who came to the house be subject to a performance of Big Red Car and Hot Potato. I graduated to a miniature electric guitar at seven, and my first actual proper guitar at twelve, being really loud and emotional ever since. The other two would have pretty similar stories, maybe different outfits though.
 
What’s been happening recently?
Piero and I moved house together, I bought a pink Telecaster, Dylan and I got carried around by two strong strangers from a Facebook group, my dad got my mum a drone for her birthday, just normal stuff.
 
Your latest single ‘Way Back When’ will be released on November 16, what or who influenced the sound and songwriting?
Way Back When is definitely influenced by mid-2000s emo and alt rock, with a big riff, a sad chorus you’re meant to loudly sing along with, and a bit of a synth situation in the middle. I was listening to a lot of Saosin when I wrote it, that’s why half the song is 9th chords. The synth bit is really just to hide the key change you’re not meant to notice, so that might be a bit Knights of Cydonia – I think there’s some Killers in there too.
 
How did you go about writing Way Back When?
It was written by me and my computer, I think in my old very hot bedroom in Glenroy, a few years ago now. I definitely started with the guitar riff and the drum pattern in the verse, and I think it was one of those songs that was completely done by the end of the day.
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
The whole album was written/recorded/mixed/produced/mastered by little old me, which hopefully you don’t immediately realise, but you probably do. We recorded the drums in a friend’s little garage studio that they built (shoutout the Reubmeister), and then the rest all in Piero’s and my living room in Coburg. I rented a white P-Bass, got my guitars set up real good and nice, and then we rocked our little hearts out.
 
How did you approach the recording process?
Whenever we get to recording, there’s already a pretty well produced demo, and we’re just recording good takes of everything with sounds that we’ve picked out. We’re not one of those bands that records all together, though I’d love to brag about something like that. We do one instrument at a time to a sound that goes BICK BOCK BOCK BOCK BICK BOCK BOCK BOCK and it’s strange but at the end it makes a song so that’s pretty good.
 
How did the concept for the music video come about?
Well let me tell you, there’s no formula for creating such genius ideas as “a car chase but it’s not cars it’s muscley guys carrying us around.” You get an idea like that, you just submit your application to MENSA and let the universe take over. I think my references were the chase from Bullitt and the Sabotage music video.
Where and when did you film and who did you work with?
We had a friend come and help us shoot the video earlier this year, around the industrial bit of Williamstown where you can run on the roads and there aren’t that many people to laugh at you. The script basically wrote itself, until one of the three guys that we hired off a Facebook actor’s group to carry us around couldn’t show up, and we had to improvise a Point Break style conclusion (I think it was for the best, really). Then I edited it together, now I expect the acclaim and trophies to start rolling in.
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’m absolutely fanging the new 1975 album, might be their best yet. Also keen on the new Paramore track, waiting for more to drop. Went to see my friend’s band, GOUTS, who were proper heavy with some evil riffs. I just found out about Pushin’ P also and it might be my new favourite song ever. Piero is obsessed with Lil Baby at the minute, for some reason. I got in the car with Dylan and I think I heard My Chem, Sum 41 and All American Rejects so that’s the go there.
 
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
We’ve got our single launch at the Workers Club on the 26th of November, mega keen for that. Dylan’s programmed a whole light show for it, so that’s gonna be pretty sweet. We’ve got one more gig in December supporting some friends’ new band, Trip to Paris. Early next year we’ll be keeping on dropping songs and videos from our new album, ‘May Fear Never Stop You’. I couldn’t be more excited to share those tracks, finally!!
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I gave Piero 3 seconds to answer and he took 8 and said Pizza. Dylan says burrito but he had no time limit. I’m typing this so I have all the time in the world, which is actually a nightmare for me. I’m eating sour worms right now, so right now it’s sour worms. Best place to hang out is a playground at night, all other answers are wrong.

UFO GO Single Launch – Matinee: Workers Club Fitzroy, Saturday November 26

Supports: The Stranded, More TBA Tickets 

 Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Triple J Unearthed

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Reno Pratma

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
Bali island, Indonesia.
 
What’s the music scene like in Bali / Indonesia at the moment?
The music scene in Bali and Indonesia is growing now after the pandemic. Music concerts and festivals have started again. I think its a good start after recovering from the pandemic.
 
Your latest single is out now, what’s it called?
Just dropped a new single in Bahasa Indonesian language called ‘Aku’ released by Extra Sensorial Productions London-Bali.
 
What influenced the sound and songwriting?
I think the influence comes from the 50s 60s music
 
How did you go about writing this track?
I started writing this song alone at first and then I showed it too my good Friend Dave Syauta the vocalist of the Paps Band Bandung and he really liked it and we finish it together.
 
You have an album coming out in early 2023, please tell us about the songwriting influences:
The influence on the new album is really different from my previous one. The new album is more personal to me and i wrote alot of the songs during the pandemic which have more emotional meaning.
 
Please tell us about the songwriting process for your new album:
Actually i started writing right before the pandemic while I was still in Melbourne city and then went back to Indonesia and continued writing throughout the pandemic.
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
I started recording in Stonedeaf music studio in Bali with my producer Cipta Gunawan and also recorded some songs in Sagala Rumah studio Jakarta shout out to Mang Xonad and all the crew. Also recorder some songs in House Records music studio in Renon Bali.
 
How did you approach the recording process?
I took my time over two years to record and just kept it fun as usual how music is supposed to be.
 
What programs/equipment did you use?
Different studios had different programs. Some we used protools some used logic pro and all the analog hardware.
 
Please tell us a little about what we can expect from this new album and how it’s different from your past releases:
There’s alot of surprises from the music arrangements and the lyrics. Alot more slower tempo songs on this album. Just wait and check it out! Haha
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Im not listening to alot of music at the moment because I’ve been focusing on recording my new album.
 
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
Writing and making alot more new music and skateboarding.
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?
My favorite food is Indonesian food for sure but depend where I’m at in the moment.

https://www.instagram.com/_renoreno_/

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Don’t Come Monday

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?
We’re based in Ulverstone, in north-west Tasmania.

How did the band form?
We started playing together in 2015 when Rob Rose (vocals, guitar) approached Grant Hearps (bass) and Fin McCullough (guitar) looking to form a band to focus predominantly on original music. Rick Lovell took up the throne behind the drums in 2019.

What’s been happening recently?
Since recording/shooting ‘Hangman’ we’ve been continuing to write new songs and playing a couple of gigs a month including at some new venues, which has been nice.

Your latest single ‘Hangman’ will be out on the 15th of November 2022, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
Hangman is probably the ‘heaviest’ tune we’ve written to date. We’re always striving to write songs that don’t sound like our other songs. This one came out as a gritty, dirty, raw blues rock tune.

How did you go about writing Hangman?
Rob (lyricist) and Fin devised a sketch of what became the ‘A part’ of the song during an acoustic songwriting session. Fin had tuned his guitar down to open D tuning to allow the vocals to be performed in a lower register. This sketch was tweaked and developed upon with the band, and we subsequently decided to make it a 2-part song with a more lively and riff-based outro with a repeated vocal hook as the ‘B part”.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
We recorded the track with co-producer Andrew Forth at Kindred Hall in NW Tassie in November ’21, and then recorded vocals/overdubs progressively over the months that followed. The track was then sent to Russell Pilling (AKA Russ T. Rokk) for mixing, and the mastering was done by William Bowden at King Willy Studios.

How did you approach the recording process?
As it’s a two-part song, we chose to record the two sections separately, allowing us to ensure we got the change in the tempo of the song exactly how we wanted it to be. Drums and bass were tracked first, then the different guitar parts were added, before harmonica (performed by Jack B. Harper) and final vocals were recorded.

What influenced the music video for Hangman?
We worked in conjunction with Jacob Boote (director) and Jala-loka Lewandowski (videographer/editor) for the video. Jacob wanted to go for a dark, medieval-ish look for the first part of the song, and a brighter, more modern looking live band shoot for the outro “B part”. Laura Mead created some props to assist us, including the “hangman” headpiece. We started shooting at about 2pm and finished by about 8 on a rainy, windy day in Forth Tasmania. The whole process was great fun – Jacob and Jala-loka were excellent to work with and many laughs were had along the way.

Any upcoming shows?
We’re at Shearwater Resort Tavern on 02/12/22, Island State Brewing – The Pier (Ulverstone) on 23/12/22 and 20/01/23, and MONA Museum (Hobart) on 05/02/23

Who are you listening to at the moment?
Lately we’ve been listening to plenty of Tasmanian artists, including new releases from Big Alcatraz, Marcus Wynwood, Tessa Lee, Raccoon Dog, and The True Champions of Breakfast, as well as some old favourites by the likes of The Bad Dad Orchestra, Pete Cornelius, The Sheyana Band, Avargo Groove, and The Smooth C***s.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
We plan to continue writing new songs, giging, and to release another five or six track EP of songs recorded during the same sessions as “Hangman” at some stage in 2023.

Favourite food and place to hangout?
A good burger by the Leven River! We can’t wait for Island State Brewing – The Pier to open up in the former location of the ever-popular Buttons Brew Pub. You can’t beat a beer/food/live music joint perched above the river of your hometown!

https://www.facebook.com/DontComeMoonday

https://www.instagram.com/dontcomemonday/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_qNdLeb-hzg1UwQZkSsbTQ

https://musictasmania.org/connect/artists/dont-come-monday

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Jovi Skyler

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Earth. But to be specific about it, I would say, Sydney, Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

I was encouraged into it at first, but gave up quickly after six months or so. Then one night, I saw the music video for Nirvana’s – Smells Like Teen Spirit on Rage. I realised I had a cheap electric guitar and crappy amplifier, covered in dust, that I could use tomorrow to express my angst.

What’s been happening recently?

Not much I guess. I’m kind of a recluse, but I want to record some new songs soon.

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

I suppose my sound is punk, alternative rock with an early ’90s spirit and a twist of psychedelia. A lot of my influences come from all the grunge bands of that time. If I could find a time machine on eBay, I would prefer to go back then.

How did you go about writing Evergreen?

It was my first love and it was a tumultuous relationship. So, that’s what inspired me. I focused on that. Dug deep down into my memories and created Evergreen. For me at least, a song comes from the gut. It flows out from my veins, it hurts a little. Hopefully, the listener can feel the sincerity in it. I didn’t think too hard about the lyrics or the music. I just channeled my energy into my emotions, then everything spewed out from me. It’s a weird sort of meditation, but it works for me.

What does this single mean to you?

Evergreen deals with being in a tumultuous relationship and how it can drain you with its ups and downs. So, it is something deeply personal and means a lot to me, as the song is autobiographical.

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

I recorded Evergreen in a friend’s studio basement. It was cold, rainy, and a miserable day. I recorded the song within half a day. The guitar parts were done first, then the drums, and then lastly I did two vocal takes. I produced Evergreen myself. It was mixed and mastered on the same day. I slightly remastered the track one night just over a month ago, because originally there was a guitar solo at the beginning of the track, but I decided to cut it out for the single, in order to make it more marketable for radio.  

How did you approach the recording/production process?

I will practise the songs I want to record repeatedly, usually till I’m nauseated by the tracks. Songs are 100-percent complete when I decide to record them. It’s pretty simple, if you know the songs so much that it makes you nauseous. Oh yeah, lots of lollies and fizzy drinks help.

Please tell us about how you filmed and edited the music video:

Footage was self-filmed, taken from the past. I tried to give it good vibes, full of youthful fervour and fun punk-rock energy, but also a dark and chaotic visual to acknowledge the roller-coaster ride of it. I edited it using iMovie. I overlaid the videos and changed the colours. I think it was a bit unhealthy for me to revisit. It has a strong dose of purity though.

Where and when did you learn to film and edit?

I learnt it during the start of the pandemic in Sydney, but I guess it started a bit earlier than that, probably with my first single off of my debut EP, Gia , a song I wrote about Gia Carangi. It just grew after that, in regards to my skill in editing. Self-filming is pretty easy or filming itself, it is more about deciding what parts to use, I feel is the key in expressing the song visually and then combining it together with other components as a whole. Covid, lockdowns, and restrictions, gave me the reason and motivation to make my own music videos. So, filming and editing was self-taught.

How did the concept for the music video come about?

I just wanted to make it autobiographical, so, it’s a two minute glimpse into my own hazy memory and a true visual representation of the song itself.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

No one in particular at the moment. I don’t have Spotify, so mostly my old CD collection that is on my phone. Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Hole, Pixies,The Breeders, Iggy Pop, Ramones. I feel the days of buying a CD because of a single you like are done and dusted. It’s basically for free out there on the interweb, which makes it hard as a songwriter, it doesn’t feel as special for me as it used to.

What do you like to do away from music?

I like to spend time with my cats. I used to paint, expressionism sort of stuff, but stopped once I made the decision to focus on songwriting instead, however, I use a lot of old paintings for my singles cover artwork now. I sometimes like to play video games, but I haven’t played anything for a long time. The last thing I played was The Quarry.

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

I hate looking too far ahead, but there will be more songs to come and I should start touring.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food right now would be nachos or Violet Crumble. Any cafe that has a nice view for me to stare out the window and daydream.

JOVI SKYLER – EVERGREEN (official music video) 

https://www.facebook.com/joviskylermusic/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Y1D9UVorlSvpN0fMROBkV

https://joviskyler.bandcamp.com

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NTH RD

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based? 

Billy: We are currently based in Melbourne, Victoria!  

How did you first start playing music? 

Billy: Lucas and I first started playing together in 2015 after meeting in high school.  We quickly got talking about metal and rock bands that we liked and spent the next  year or so writing songs together. In late 2016, we met John – I’d only met him briefly  before, but heard he was a crazy good drummer that loved bands like Metallica and  Slipknot. We all clicked instantly and began jamming along to Metallica songs. We  started performing around late 2017, when we were all still underage, so we didn’t  tell the venue how old we were so we could actually play shows! 

Jordan joined on vocals in 2018 after we played at a friend’s party together, and just  had instant chemistry as a group. I feel like that’s when the band as it is now really  begun.  

What’s been happening recently? 

John: We’ve been super busy, just having come off a run of shows to promote our  debut EP, Panic, which dropped in late July. That was a blast, and we got to play with  a bunch of really cool bands. We also just dropped our favourite song yet and have  been super busy behind the scenes recording our new project, which has been sick  as!  

Your latest single ‘I Watched You Fade Away’ is out now, what influenced the  sound and song writing? 

Jordan: I think we were all really falling in love with Deftones at the time, while that  influence probably didn’t come out a lot in the final song, it definitely informed a lot  of our stylistic choices. I really tried to be as candid as possible with the lyrics,  drawing from personal experiences I was going through at the time regarding the  symbolic loss of somebody close to me. I really used this track as catharsis for those  feelings. 

How did you go about writing ‘I Watched You Fade Away’? 

Lucas: While ‘I Watched You Fade Away’ was recorded at the same time as ‘Panic’, it  tells a different story, and in many ways, was the song that solidified our creative  vision, and the direction we wanted to take musically. This was the first song we 

wrote together after having spent years apart from each other due to COVID-19  lockdowns. Having already written the bulk of ‘Panic’ before COVID, we weren’t sure  how we would go writing together after so long. 

When we went in to record it with Chris Vernon, it occurred to us that this song that  didn’t quite fit the theme and story we were hoping to tell with our debut EP. So, we  decided to rewrite the song with Chris, and give it an independent release, to allow  ourselves to explore a different narrative, delve into a more straight-forward  approach to song writing, and narrow in on certain elements of our sound that we  wanted to emphasise: 

When and where did you record and who did you work with? 

Jordan: We recorded the song at the same time as the rest of the EP. As it was  written after the bulk of the EP, we wanted to release it separately, to present it as  somewhat of an epilogue or a companion piece to the EP. Chris Vernon really helped  us shape it towards the sounds we were experimenting with at the time, like a next  progression to our sound and narrative. 

How did you approach the recording process? 

John: This song was the first one we wrote all together after the lockdowns here in  Victoria. By that point, most of the EP had already been written, and it was the first  song we’d written together in so long. When we were in the studio, we rewrote the  

song with Chris Vernon, keeping the original chorus and bridge and adjusting a  couple of sections to make it the best song it could be.  

You’re playing at Stay Gold in Melbourne on the 18th of November, what can we  expect? 

Lucas: We’ll be giving ‘I Watched You Fade Away’ it’s official live debut, so if you’ve  been loving the song so far, this will be a must. The show is celebrating the release of  Suspyria’s new album; we’re super excited to play with those guys, we’ve been good  mates with them for a while and they always put on a great show. We’ll also be  playing alongside Ransom Revue and Harroway, which will be our first time playing  with both those bands!  

How do you prepare for shows? 

Billy: We have a routine of catching up, planning, discussing our upcoming week, and  playing together at least twice a week. That way, we feel confident and eager to get  back on the stage each time. 

Who are you listening to at the moment? 

Jordan: Personally, I’ve been listening to a lot of Kacey Musgraves, Uyama Hiroto and  Between Friends. On the metal/rock side of things, I’ve been listening to Movements  pretty religiously. All of us have been loving Bad Omens, Holding Absence and the  new Dayseeker album. 

What do you like to do away from music? 

Jordan: I try and go to the gym as much as possible, I love making beats and working  on other music projects. My whole life really has something to do with music in some  regard, so when I’m not doing music as a career I’m doing it as a hobby. 

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

Lucas: We’ll be continuing to promote the new single, and playing a few yet-to-be announced shows! We’ve got plenty up our sleeve for next year, with even more  new music on the horizon, so definitely stay tuned! 

Favourite food and place to hangout? 

John: Guzman Gomez slaps so hard. If I could eat one thing for the rest of my life it  would probably be that.

https://www.facebook.com/Nthrdband

https://www.instagram.com/nth_rd/

 

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Behani

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

 Based in Melbourne Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

I started to create music from my small home studio when I was 15. I grew a curiosity in composing beats and how it would make me feel a variety of emotions. Music connected me to my emotional side when I was a teenager

What’s been happening recently?

 I have been extremely busy working on a number of swim lanes. Im currently working with different producers on my collection of music across a range of genres, including RnB, afrobeats, reggeaton & pop. Managing my music company and all the moving components. My upcoming shows where I will be performing both singles Let Me Know and Real Man. My first show is in Nigeria, Lagos for flytime festival on the 20th- 24th December with headline acts including Burnaboy, Wizkid, Craig David, Niki Minaj & Davido. My second show is in my home country Australia for Juicy festival with an old school RnB line up including Ludacris, Bow-Wow, Mya and Ne-Yo who I will be performing with across Brisbane, Sydney and finally my hometown Melbourne.

Your debut single ‘Let Me Know’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I’ve always been inspired by the King of music Michael Jackson and his ability to make people want to move through powerful metaphors. The instrumentation arrangement of ‘Let Me Know’ really focused on the heavy side of drum set, drum machine, strings and voice. I love writing songs about love. I think love is underrated, and such a complicated and powerful topic to connect with humanity.

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

I recorded Let Me Know in the infamous Circle House Studio  in Miami. I worked directly with Scott Storch in the creation of the beat whilst I wrote the lyrics and melody.

You worked with powerhouse producer Scott Storch in Miami, how was this experience?

 Incredible. Since I was a teenager I always looked up to Scott! For the first time I was able to create a track from scratch with him and it was an amazing experience as an artist. I watched his range of techniques- how he lays foundations, the plugins he uses when picking the sounds, how he defines the songs structures and chooses the right tempo and so much more!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 I love the producer Sarz and Wizkid from Nigeria, Lagos.  The tracks Essence and Monalisa both have a strong soulful element in their technique.

Please tell us about any upcoming music releases.

 I have just released my single Let Me Know which will be followed up with my single with Ne-Yo called Real Man, we have just launched the track in the U.S. and will be releasing it in Australia shortly. It’s a RnB song with a powerful message of empowerment for both men and women.

We hear your next single is a collaboration with Ne-Yo, how did this come about and what was it like working together?

 I was scheduled to create a beat with Scott Stortch and co-write with Neyo on that beat.  Ne-Yo was not meant to be singing on my track but the concept both lyrically and melodically along with the beat was so strong that he asked how I would feel about him singing a verse on Real Man and see how it sounds which I accepted with excitement and joy! It was incredible working with two legends at their game! They hadn’t worked together since their hit single Let Me Love You by Mario so it was nostalgic coming together and creating magic from scratch!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023? Tell us about your upcoming performance in Lagos.

I have  my first show on December 20th-24th in Nigeria Lagos for Flytime Festival. There are 60 artists performing with headlining acts including Wizkid, Davido, BurnaBoy, Craig David & Niki Minaj. I’m also going to be creating my first Afrobeats EP on this trip so stay tuned for it release in 2023.

I then have my first tour in January for Juicy Festtival where I will perform Real Man with Ne-Yo. We will be touring together across Brisbane on the 13th, Sydney on the 14th and Melbourne on the 15th.

I’m currently in strict rehearsals with the Ministry of Dance Australia and working with a Afrobeats choreographer for my show in Nigeria. I’m very excited

Favourite food and place to hang out in Melbourne?

 I’m a real foodie. I love cooking Italian, Greek, Persian food but when we go out some of my favourite restaurants are Mario’s in Fitzroy, Cosi, Afghan gallery and the list is endless!

Socials: @behani.official

Website: www.iambehani.com

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Premiere: Purj – A Civil Conversation

by the partae
written by the partae

PLAY/LISTEN

Where are you currently based?

It’s pretty crazy to say this, but Beverly Hills baby, that covid deal came in clutch.

What’s the LA music scene like at the moment?
Honestly, I think it’s overwhelmingly basic, but there are some sweet little pockets that promote the more esoteric side of EDM that I’m super inspired by. Unfortunately, you really have to search for them.

You’re originally from Melbourne / Australia, what’s the difference between being in LA to Australia?
Safety, holy shit, Los Angeles is a hellscape. I was a night rat growing up, only chased by eshays a few times, y’know, normal stuff. Los Angeles is not a place you want to be walking around at night. I love this city for so many reasons, but listen to my track Exposure Therapy and you’ll understand why I’m slightly pessimistic about this city. My first week here changed my life.

How did you first start playing music?
Woah, this is a question I’ve never even thought about. I was a classically trained violinist for 7 years and realized I hated it. I started making mashups on virtualdj and wanted to learn more about the actual craft of “djing”, I went to some DJ “school” in the city and was the only kid they enrolled as an exception because it was an adult course but I learned how to scratch records, count tempo, idk just some really practical stuff, shout out DJ Bonez for that one class you did. I started Djing events because I was a loser and wanted to get invited to parties. It worked, I won, kids paid me to have fun and I learned to produce my own tracks to play out.

Inspired by the bloghaus era, I tried making electro trash and electro house, but complextro was the thing that forced me into really diving into sound design. Flash forward, I moved to New York and learned everything I could about sampling and surrounded myself with hip hop, big ups my old crew SLUMP. I eventually ended up in LA, was kidnapped and thrown in a gutter, and basically decided I wanted to try put on silly voices in my music “sing”, I was such a quiet and insecure sod prior to that, you really have no idea. AHHHH

What’s been happening recently?
Honestly, I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone and show more of my personality to the world as I feel like it puts so much context behind my lyrics. I’ve been filming so much content and trying to set up photoshoots and writing sessions, it’s actually been pretty non-stop but it seems to be working, like aye I’m talking to you.

You’re releasing your follow-up single on November 11th titled ‘A Civil Conversation’ off your Exposure Therapy EP which will be released in December.  What or who influenced the sound and song writing for A Civil Conversation?
To keep a long story short, the backbone of this track is a horrifying 8-hour-long date I went on. It began with her sending me the wrong address, her still arriving an hour late, and inviting all of her friends. It culminated in us sitting on a park bench with her swiping through tinder showing me the other dates she had lined up. Now imagine the other 6.5 hours all equally as bad. I then sprinkled in some other bad date references, some attitude, and a little bit of sugar. All of this materialized as my attempt at making an early P!ATD track.

What does this single mean to you?
Dating in your 20s sucks.

Please tell us a bit about what we can expect from your upcoming EP and the influences behind it:
Honestly, this EP was my first foray into understanding myself not only as a vocalist but also a songwriter. I really evaluated what inspired my younger self and tried to emulate as much of that as I could. It’s music for lil purj, angsty yet hopeful, juvenile yet mature in personal depth.

Think P!ATD x MCR x FOB x Mindless Self Indulgence x The Used x Slipknot x Marilyn Manson x Bring Me The Horizon x Bloc Party x Every artist on OWSLA (RIP) x PORTER ROBINSON x The 1975 – MATTY HEALY [plz be my friend] x Aphex Twin x Burial x Limewire x Tumblr… Really anything on the internet between 2005 – 2014.

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

Honestly, 90% of the EP is just me in a dark corner at the back of my room humoring the souls of the damned. However, the other 10% are some beautiful guitar features by @synovamusic and support from a really talented group of friends who give amazing feedback or help when needed.

How do you approach songwriting?
Bad things keep happening… let’s talk about it…

Who are you listening to at the moment?
YVES TUMOR I can’t even put into words how profound this artist is to me.

What do you like to do away from music?
I work as a Graphic Designer at a kickass company called Production Club. Do a little digging and you’ll know pretty quickly why this is a dream job for me. I am also training for a kickboxing tournament next year, ahhhh please send me all the good luck beans!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
I finally get to go home! I haven’t been home in 4 years because of covid and visa complications and it’s really taken its toll on my mental health. I’m going to crumble in my mum’s arms. Oh and of course, finish the Exposure Therapy EP roll out 😉 maybe a few videos, we will just have to wait and see.

Favorite food and place to hang out?

In Los Angeles. Dialog Cafés Smash Burger. I’d never eaten pickles and the owner who’s mates with my mate saw me taking out the pickles and called me out on it. He proceeded to express how much love and care go into his pickles. Out of shame, I started to put the pickles back in my burger… let’s just say I kinda fw pickles now. Thanks Tod <3

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Sherie

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am currently based in Los Angeles California. I moved here in 2019 from Atlanta, Ga with the intention of pursuing my dream to be an artist and write and play violin in all the ways I possibly could.

How did you first start playing music?

I first started singing the day my mom had me join her in the church choir at 5 years old. She was a soprano singer so that automatically made me one as well. While growing in my craft of singing, I picked up the violin at 9 years old and never looked back. Private lessons, orchestras, jazz bands, and even became first chair in high school. I took it seriously and as I got older wanted to put my singing and playing together to create a form of art that was tailored to me. I then became a singing violinist playing and singing at weddings, concerts, and venues which turned into me wanting to create my own music with both of my crafts in it. I then started to create music of my own and the rest was history.

What’s been happening recently?

I recently have been performing, I had a show last month that had an incredible turn out and since then have been creating content and getting ready for the release. Even before that, I opened up for Alicia Keys during her world tour which was an amazing and growing experience for me because she has always been an artist that I look up to.

Ale’ is the first single off your upcoming EP, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

“Ale” is a Haitian call to love. In Haitian Creole it directly translates to “Let’s Go”, thus pushing us all deeper into a journey through love in all it’s facets. “Ale” is the story of a woman (me) who has taken all of her experiences that gave her fear to love and decided to let it drive her into love taking the action to just go for it and not let anything stop her.

How did Ale’ come about?

I started working on “Ale” with a producer named Reggie he is really dope he sent me the beat and I immediately thought, this is a love bop and I started free styling words of “here we go” and naming a bunch of places that would be fun to go on dates and then started to narrow it down to talk about the reality of not being afraid to love anymore and just going for it. Then I thought to incorporate my culture into it and say “Ann Ale” meaning let’s go and wanted to make it a whole event Around expressing how I felt in the song with adding some creole to the mix.

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

I recorded “Ale” at my amazing engineer Max’s studio in North Hollywood. I wrote it with my friend Naika who is an amazing artist and husband D Smoke who is also an amazing artist. The dope producer of the track Reggie killed it with the amazing 808’s, the kicks, and the chords, and my amazing bassist friend Josh Howard added some groovy bass lines to it.

Please tell us about your upcoming EP:

As an artist I believe the best art comes from an open place. I started this project without a set intention other than making honest music  driving from experiences, past failures , and successes in love. In doing so, I had a chance to push some creative boundaries musically and lyrically that make it an exciting listen.  And I am definitely playing violin all throughout the project as well.

How has your Haitian culture translated into your music?

I’ve never physically set foot in Haiti but every time I’m with my family, I’m in Haiti. We are a big bunch and everyone in the generation above me speaks creole and have taught me and my brothers. We use to listen to Haitian music (Kompa) together and ask our grandparents what the songs meant. I have always wanted to put some Creole in my music so I thought, why not put some of it in there and say some of what I would say in a love song and mix it up.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Right now I am listening to “the human condition” album by Jon Bellion. I love all of his music but this album is my favorite one from him. I first listened to it and was so mind blown of how much his lyrics reflected my life and times of self reflection. It was like he was singing right from my diary. Along with his amazing Melodies and production, Jon Bellion will always be the goat in my book.

What do you like to do away from music?

Outside of music I love to learn about new things. I am currently reading a book called “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek  and it’s about the reason why certain leaders are able to inspire a mass amount of people because they focus on, not the what and the How of their business but why they want to do what they do in the first place.

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

I have some performance dates coming up that I am excited about. After dropping this single, I’ll follow it up with some more singles and an EP at the top of the year. But in the meantime, I look forward to performing and creating content that keeps telling my story.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Crab legs are my favorite food. I am a master at cracking them right down the middle and can eat them all day! The best hangs for me is being at the beach with friends or family vibing out to music.

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Instagram | Facebook | Spotify

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Histamine – Ahead of Kraken Rum underground music event: Subterranean Summer

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

We’re based in Sydney’s Inner West, although our vocalist AJ relocated to Newcastle last year, and now travels down for shows etc

How did Histamine form?

Myself (Tully) and AJ had just had our previous band call it a day, and we immediately started talking about what we wanted to do next. We roped in our mate Jack to play drums, and he then got Alex on board to play bass.

What’s been happening recently?

We’ve been playing heaps of shows, which has been great after the stop-start nature of the past couple of years, and we’re working on new songs for a release in 2023.

Please tell us about any new music in the works or on the way:

We’re working towards an album coming out late next year

How would you describe your sound?

Fast, abrasive and relentless

What or who influences your sound and songwriting? 

We pull from a pretty wide range of influences across the hardcore and punk, but we definitely lean towards the faster, rawer sounds that are at the roots of the genre.

You’re playing at Subterranean Summer; an underground music event in Sydney on the 1st of December with SPEED and Posseshot to name a few of the epic bands playing, who are you looking forward to seeing play?

Always stoked to see and play with our homies in Speed, but I’m personally really looking forward to catching Posseshot, and just being part of such a diverse lineup.

How do you prepare for live shows?

We tend to just have a couple of beers at the venue and try to take it easy.

What can we expect from your live show at Subterranean Summer?

An unapologetically relentless 20 minutes of riffs and noise

Who are you listening to at the moment?

MSPAINT and Dazy are both in high rotation at the moment

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

We’ve got one more show on the cards for 2022 after Subterranean Summer. In the new year we’re going to pull back a bit on local shows to focus on writing, but we want to get to Melbourne, Brisbane and hopefully Perth for some shows in the first few months of the year.

https://www.instagram.com/histamine2000/

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Awkward Branches

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Mike is in London & Phil is in Bristol.

 

Being long term friends, how did the Awkward Branches collab come to be and how did you arrive at this point?

We met working at events – mostly weddings – at an old chapel in Peckham and quickly learned that we were both musicians. Phil suggested collaborating on something and went round to Mike’s to record some pieces. The early demos were quite proggy and ambient, but we also seemed to be drawn to quite bouncy, catchy melodies, so we soon moved towards more pop-oriented structures. Over the years we’d occasionally work on things together, in-between other projects, and the loose ideas eventually coalesced into something tangible – songs that kept speaking to us until it was time to put a name to them.

 

What’s been happening recently?

Aside from releasing our debut single, we’ve been working on remembering how to play the songs together. It’s been a while since some of them were recorded, but they’re still in there somewhere, at the end of a neuron!

 

Your single ‘A Frame (Not a Window)’ is out now via Tip Top Recordings, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I don’t think we ever talked much about shared influences at the beginning; there was something quite instinctive to it. We’ve undoubtedly unconsciously stolen ideas from all over the place and there are certainly crossovers in our tastes – too many to mention, but especially anything dreamy, with good interactions between guitars and synths.

 

How did you go about writing ‘A Frame (Not a Window)’?

Musically, this was actually one of the earliest pieces we worked on; Phil had the main guitar part already worked out, and Mike added some keys and percussion. We both had this instrumental version of the track on our phones for years, and never tired of listening to it. It always felt like a song-in-waiting, so eventually Mike added the vocals and it came together quite satisfyingly. 

 

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

So far we’ve recorded and produced everything ourselves in Mike’s bedroom-studio, over the course of about 6 years. For the final polish on the track we turned to the trusty ears of Mathew Keightley.

 

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Tentatively at first; we had no plan and everything was quite instinctive. Phil kicked things off with the guitar parts and Mike added to them with keys, percussion and eventually vocals. In terms of production, we’ve tried to keep things quite simple and tangible and not add too many layers, as much as it is tempting.

 

What or who influenced the concept for the music video?

Mike made the video, initially inspired by a craft-paper collage Phil had made as a potential EP cover. We wanted it to have a tender, hand-crafted quality – slightly clunky, like the Mr. Men animations – despite it being a largely digital affair.

 

What do you like doing away from music?

We both thoroughly enjoy watching the worst Stephen Segal films ever made, which happens to be all of them.

 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Mike: Beth Orton’s new album and Blood Orange’s latest EP.

Phil: caroline’s self-titled debut album

 

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

We have a few more songs that will form our debut EP due out in spring, we’re some new things, and hope to feel confident enough to start playing live soon.

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

We like nothing more than heading to a little place called The Couch, sharing two of the largest pizzas Dominoes will provide, a bottle of the reddest of red wines, and the inevitable sense of dread that follows.

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Sam Hunter Interview: Releases Testing The Waters

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

S: I’m currently based in the South West of Sydney, living with my band ‘beatnix’

How did you first start playing music?

S: I’ve been singing all my life but it actually came about when I was in Switzerland playing football in 2008. I was injured quite badly and found writing poems and noting my emotions helped me cope. At the time I was at an American international school in Zürich, and I was heavily influenced by the golden era of Hip Hop! So I wrote and rapped everyday for the next 6 years.

What’s been happening recently?

S: Gigs gigs gigs! I recently became a full time musician and am running my own business so the live aspect of entertainment has been flourishing. I am the front man for the trio ‘Beatnix’ so as well as solo and duo gigs, we are starting to make a name for ourselves. I’ve also been focussing on learning piano and exercise.

Your latest single ‘Testing The Waters’ ft Jhelisa is out now, how did you come to work with Jhelisa?

S: I’m so happy with it! Jhelisa had reached out to me via instagram (if I remember correctly), she had only one song out and sent me some references. I think it was mutual that we both wanted to create together, she has a really unique voice to match her incredible writing style!

Please tell us about the collaborative process:

S: The day we met was literally when we booked the studio session with my producer ‘Delipres’. Once we got acquainted there was an open conversation about our experiences. I actually came up with a figure on the keys but they both looked at me and said –
“I thought you wanted to write an upbeat, fun song Sam … those chords sound sad” ? haha!

They were right. It was all too natural after that … Jhelisa and I went back and forth to find the concept quite swiftly whilst Delipres found the right chords and groove. Once he hit that Jamiroquai style baseline I had the first verse written in 10 minutes! We did one more studio session after the draft day and then it went to mixing and mastering.

What influenced the sound and songwriting on Testing The Waters?

S; The positive, nonchalant energy of that original session really set the tone for the song I believe. We all spoke about influences such as Mac Miller, SZA, Dualipa, Gold-link and many more but the overall influence was each other’s skill sets and ability to find a creative process that day. Jhelisa wrote that hook so naturally which gave me so many ideas for my rap verses. Delipres (Patrick Clody) absolutely nailed the musical side of the session and kept that summer feel alive!

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

S: The original session was back in early June I believe, at Delipres’s home studio in Sydney. We always start an early AM session if we are creating from scratch and then take a week or two to listen to the first mix… from there we wrote and adjusted the song as well as the arrangement. Delipres did a marvelous job on the edits and first 3 mixes, that’s when I sent it over to ‘Ben Feggans’ at Studio 301. He has mastered a few tracks for me and is fantastic!

How did you approach the recording/production process?

S: All in that initial session. Jhelisa wrote the hook and bridge plus the call and response, whilst Delipres was swiftly creating the music. At the same time I wrote and polished off my verses and then we recorded it as the track runs so it felt natural. I find working in those environments immensely productive, especially when everybody involved is transparent and understands their role in the project!

What’s planned for future music and music projects?

S: I have a couple of singles up my sleeve that I will bring out in 2023. Delipres and I have spoken about an EP in 2023 but my main focus is getting original music written and produced with my band ‘Beatnix’. The boys are incredible musicians and I believe we are making music and art that is incredibly unique. But you’ll have to stay tuned and see it unfold for yourselves!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

S: This year alone I’ve had to learn over 50 covers so I can work and book gigs, but I’m actually listening to an array of different music. From Chopin recitals to Mac Miller’s whole catalogue. The boys and I got to do a gig back in June with Grammy winner Masego, so I listen to him and FKJ a lot. Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei, Stormzy, Ocean Wisdom, Joey Bada$$, Horrorshow and many more. I’m actually enjoying podcasts lately too! My Therapist Ghosted me and Huberman Lab are my favourites!

What do you like to do away from music?

S: I’m on that learning wave at the moment so plenty of reading! To be honest my life is music so it’s incorporated in almost everything I do however I do normal things like, beach, skate, work out, watch good movies and to be honest … cooking is one of my favourite pastimes! I love caring for people and watching their faces when they try my food. Spending time with my pugs is never a bad time either!

Plans for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

S: I’m a workaholic so doing everything and anything I can to keep business coming in and opportunities rolling. I have about 22 plus gigs to go before the year is out but around Christmas time I’ll switch off and spend time with family. I just became a Godfather so trying to get over to France to meet little Georges ❤️

Favourite food and place to hangout?

S: Maaaan, have you been down to ‘Unamas’ at Coogee Pav? It’s exquisite! I’m all about my fine dining and boozy hangs. Give me that European tapas or just a cheese board any day!

Newtown is my Jam though and I could spend my whole day walking up and down the strip supporting all the local businesses … P&V Wine merchants is my spot though!

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Bella Deer

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Currently living in Greater Geelong. Grew up here and am living here currently as my Dad isn’t in the best of health, so being near family (and the beach) is great but I really miss Melbourne, especially the local Thornbury music community where I lived in 2019.

How did you first start playing music?

Classical piano lessons were forced upon me as a kid, I called quits many times only to find myself writing my own songs, then wanting singing lessons, and then returning to lessons again. I really do value the skills I obtained from learning classical music. I always played music at high school in an array of different bands and projects.

What’s been happening recently?

It’s been amazing to have been able to ‘get the band back together’ so to speak. During lockdowns I didn’t really play much music, but earlier this year decided I should see if I could find someone local, especially to play my new material. Shoutout to Rael, who has been rocking up to practices these last six months, and of course my amazing bassist and main Tetris packer of 5+ years, Simon. He never lets me down. I really like playing as a three piece, but think we need a live guitarist too.

We also played in Ballarat at Volta on Thursday 3rd Nov and the feedback we got was overwhelmingly positive, which was such a relief! It was a good feeling especially for our first launch show.

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

Artists such as Broods and Lorde really influenced ‘Bloom’ itself. It’s definitely on the more pop side, but I find my songs generally fit across multiple genres, including indie and alt rock. It just depends how I’m feeling!

How did you go about writing Bloom?

‘Bloom’ was born from an impromptu jam, if I recall Simon was actually playing drums and I was on keys. Think this sometimes gets me pumped up a little more than if we were both playing melodic instruments.

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

Produced and recorded in July 2019 – feels like a lifetime now to be honest with the wonderful Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe).

What or who influenced the concept for the music video?

Video concept was a tricky one; I really wanted to steer away from flowers (this was definitely not what I was going for from the early inception of the song) and there are a few songs with the same title already.

Who did you work with to create the music video?

I sourced a local Geelong company called True South Film and it was directed by the wonderful James Duggan. He was very efficient and I felt really comfortable working with him. I knew from the beginning he was going to come up with something really special from seeing his previous work, as I really struggled with the visual side of things!

Please tell us about the most challenging and rewarding aspects of creating the music video?
I hadn’t made a clip in a really long time, so I felt a little rusty! Iit was a freezing night, and we finished really late. I really love the colours and the vintage lenses they used. Aiden Mair (DOP) is also very talented and could see how much he loves his work.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I saw Hayley Mary live recently in Queenscliff and she blew me away. I already knew how great she was, but I am loving her solo stuff. I may have fangirled a bit at the merch bar. I am also loving a few Italian artists I’d dare say you’ve never heard of (Pinguini Tattici Nucleari/Mahmood); I really want to improve my Italian as I wish to travel (and perform there) as soon as possible as I have friends and family in Milan and in Tuscany. I have to say I am also digging Sam Smith’s new track with Kim Petras.

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

We’ve got a hometown show at the Door Gallery Café on November 19, but I am hanging out to play in Melbourne again, most likely in the new year. Please keep an eye out as I plan to drop another track ready to drop early 2023, so there will be more shows to play then too!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite all time food is a bowl of gnocchi with a bangin’ ragu. If I could choose anywhere to hang out it would be in Brisbane with my Brisbane babes Bri and Amelia whom I met at Bigsound in 2017 in an elevator to the then Rooftop bar 11. I’m really glad I took that wrong turn or the friendship may not have ever occurred!!!!

 

BELLA DEER ‘BLOOM’ LAUNCH SHOWS

Saturday 19th November Door Gallery Cafe Fyansford

BLOOM is out now.
Official Website | Triple J Unearthed | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Twitter

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jnr.

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

I’m based in Eora (Sydney) and work out of my studio in Marrickville.

How did you first start playing music?

I started learning piano when I was around 8 and would sing and play old Billy Joel and Elton John songs. I picked up guitar a bit later and started playing in rock bands which really solidified the passion. I haven’t really stopped since.

What’s been happening recently?
Too much! I released my last single ‘A Friend’ at the end of September. Then I had to figure out how to do my live shows almost immediately after the release, and did my first two shows under the jnr. name. And all that time I was finishing off this next single and working with other artists. It’s been a pretty hectic end to the year.
 
What or who influenced the sound and songwriting for your latest single ‘Say (Light Me Up)’?
I wanted this one to be introspective but uplifting – I love that push and pull between emotions in music. I was listening to a lot of LANY at the time and I think that really shows in the track’s aesthetic. Thematically, I was in a really troubled place at the time and needed to get it out. It’s hard writing music about people you’re close with because they’re gonna know what it’s about as soon as they hear it. But it doesn’t feel authentic to write about topics that aren’t playing on my mind at the time. This feels like a snapshot of where I was at that time.
 
How did you go about writing Say (Light Me Up)?
It took a few drafts and structure changes to get to where it is. It’s all based around that pad in the intro, this weird blippy synth and big 80’s drums. The vocals went through a few melody drafts but once I found the right fit I knew instantly.
 
Where did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
I started producing this one at home – I’ve got a little setup in the living room. And I just kept going between home and my studio space (Casa Studios) to finish off the prod. After I finished the production I had a few sessions at Studios 301 with Nico Mendoza (the king) to do the mix and master. He made this song exactly what it needed to be and I couldn’t be happier.
 
How did you approach the recording process?
I produce alone, so the recording process is very introspective and I get to get really deep into all the fine details with essentially no time restraints. I recorded this mainly in the box, and used Omnisphere for most of the synths.
 
This track has taken a new direction from your past releases, how did this come about?
I rarely ever write a straight-ahead ‘pop’ song – it’s always influenced by other weird things that I’m into at the time. But I wanted to challenge myself and do something completely within the genre. Because I love artists like joan, Nightly, Lauv, Conan Gray – they’re all just making really well-written and well-produced bangers. So I focussed a lot on the songwriting and making the production as clean as possible, while still keeping it authentic. It still sits in the same world as ‘A Friend’ even though I’m doing something a bit different.
 
Please tell us about the video, aesthetic of the jnr. brand and the people behind it:
It was really spur of the moment. Me and Zoë usually sit down and talk about what we see when we listen to the song and go from there. We wanted a vintage vibe because the song has kind of a nostalgic feel to it. So we roped in Myles Carroll who is a gun on the Super 8 Camera and got these beautiful shots at sunrise. There’s not really a story to it, we wanted it to look more like a home movie.
 
You work with your partner Zoë, how has this been?
It’s so easy. She gets my vision and always has ideas on top of mine that bring it to the next level. I’m a very visual person, but find it hard to explain what I see in my head (I do that better with sound). So I really trust her with the jnr. brand; my aesthetic is definitely a blend of both of us.
 
Please tell us about your relationship with the Sydney music scene and the artists that you love:
Sydney is coming up! There are so many underground artists and events happening that really excite me. Everytime I go out I see more and more people that are making incredible art and are contributing massively to the culture. I think it’s only up from here, there’s a lot to be excited about.
 
You work as a producer and topliner outside of jnr. what do you get up to?
I do a bit of everything. I love melody so much that when I’m producing I usually help out with the topline as well. But I’ve been working mainly with artists I meet online or through other people. Most recently, I co-produced and co-wrote Corrj’s latest single ‘Lie To Me’, which is a 00’s RnB-trap song (catch me on the ad libs as well). When there’s less pressure on me as a vocalist to perform in the studio I get to really dig into the production and experiment with new sounds that may not necessarily work for jnr. 
 
How did you get into producing?
Accidentally! I was on a Zoom writing camp in lockdown as a topliner. The producer in the session asked if I produced as well and I said “Yeah, kinda.” So he left the call and let me drive the session. I had to learn on the fly and hope for the best haha. It was pretty daunting but I can’t thank him enough for it. The artist in that session became a really good friend of mine and we’re working on a single for next year!
 
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
The rest of the year is going to be finishing off songs that I want to put out next year, and working with more people outside of my circle. Lots to expect.
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Harry’s House and Being Funny In A Foreign Language have been on rotation.
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Klub Satellite in Newtown!
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Odds & Ends

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
We’re four mates living in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) in Aotearoa (New Zealand). We love it here!
 
How did you first start playing music?

Individually we all have roots in music here and there. Some of us started playing music before having a full set of teeth, and some of us started a little later. We all met while studying music at university and formed a band there; Some of our stuff is still recorded there and we love coming back to our roots.

What’s been happening recently?

A LOT of things have been happening. Let’s see, we released Something Else in April which got some fantastic radio play around the country. We threw that single a release party at the Tuning Fork and had our biggest headline show yet. Then we jumped on tour with our mates Skram from Wellington, to celebrate their fresh album. We only just wrapped up the tour when we dived straight back in the studio to record this new single Better Days. That’s now been mixed and mastered and we’re sending it around Australia and Aotearoa to make sure it lands in the right ears.

We’re putting on a release gig at the Tuning Fork with some killer support acts to celebrate this new single on November 19 so our brainspace is very occupied by all the logistics around the release.

Your latest single ‘Better Days’ will be released on the 18th of November 2022, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
It’s hard to say what influenced the songwriting, Koen wrote the song back in 2017 or so, but it’s a song about getting off your ass and finding your happy place. The sound, however, is a bit more recent because we redid the entire recording of the single. We’ve been playing a cover of the iconic Naive by The Kooks on tour and there’s definitely a bit of The Kooks you can hear in the song, sonically.
 
How did you go about writing Better Days?
Writing the song was fairly easy, I (Koen) came up with the chords and structure of the song and then I got a really great feeling from the music alone. I then wrote the lyrics pretty easily, keeping road trips with my close mate Zac in mind while writing the song, and summing up great times we’ve had surfing, spearfishing, rock climbing and camping together.
Summer is just around the corner so It’s a great nudge for everyone who pays attention to the lyrics to get outside and take in the beautiful world we live in.
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

Straight out of the tour with Skram we dove into the studio to record the Drums for Better Days. At this point we already had pretty decent guide tracks to give our drummer, Max Earnshaw, a really good energetic mix in the headphones, with the idea that it would make Max play more energetic as well. We then made those drums sound even better with some nice plugins and even nicer outboard hardware, and Jonathan Meyer tracked the bass simply directly into the pre-amps. After that, guitarist and singer Koen Aldershof layered about 4 different guitar parts over multiple tracks, to get that popular indie-pop-rock sound, similar to Half-Alive, Grizfolk, Great Gable, The Happy Fits; the list is endless.The gang vocals in the chorus are what really makes this song stand out for us. It was quite fun, we asked our Instagram following if anyone wanted to sing along on our new single and we had an overwhelming response. We had a lot of musical and non-musical friends and followers sing along to the chorus lyrics “Higher and higher and higher” which created this huge wall-of-sound kind of vocal effect. It really sounds like there’s a small army of people singing and shouting the key song lyrics. Phew, so the song is done, recorded anyway, and in only 3 weeks. At this point we sent the song off to our previous lead guitarist and good friend Luan Meaker who mixed the song beautifully. Chris Chetland from Kog Studios, (who’s worked with some ridiculously amazing artists) mastered the single and in our opinion, the song is one of the best ones we’ve ever produced.

How did you approach the recording process?

The recording of Better Days actually came about super quickly. We were a little pressed for time, not to mention exhausted, coming out of the tour across the North Island if we wanted to push a single out before the end of the year. We thought, it’s better to release it in November because as soon as December rolls around, nobody is going to listen to anything but Mariah Carey’s jingle bells. So we got stuck in, the way we always do, starting with drums first. If anything, we put less pressure on this single than we have done for previous tunes and I think it made for a really easy and relaxed way of getting the recording done.

What does Better Days mean to you?
The message behind Better Days is to get off your ass and spend some time appreciating the world we find ourselves in. The song is tailored to everyone who has dreamed of doing THAT thing. Whether it’s sky diving over Dubai, backpacking through south-east Asia, Sailing around the world, or another seemingly out-of-reach fantasy, this song is the motivation. The motivation to quit a job you don’t like, to change careers if you don’t like where you’re at, to chase a dream, to find yourself in your happy place. The lyrics in the song, “look for better days”, are meant to make you look within yourself and ask those big questions; Am I happy? Am I where I want to be? Am I on the right track? And while these can be tedious and nagging questions to ask yourself, you are the only person who can admit that you’d rather be somewhere else.
Happiness is important and there’s only one way to find it, by getting of your ass and looking for it.
 
What’s planned for 2023?
More music and more shows are a must. We love making music and we love playing it to people even more. We’ve speculated about jumping across the water and visiting our friends over in Australia, but at this point, nothing is confirmed or concrete.We have locked in a few festivals that we’ll be announcing soon so follow us on social media to stay up to date.
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Ugh so many, too many amazing artists! I try to spin my Release Radar on Spotify every Friday as well as my Discover Weekly playlist. I find some true gems in there, like the new album from The 1975, Spacey Jane, and releases from The Rions, The Murlocs and Gang of Youths. But like I said, the list is endless.
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Favourite food, hahaha, what a random question. I mean, Lasagna always slaps, although you can’t beat a good plate of sushi. The best meal would be a potluck to nibble on a bunch of different flavours and cuisines and hang out with mates. Speaking of hanging out, anyone who hasn’t heard of Movespace needs to head over to their socials and follow them. It’s definitely our favourite place to hang out! It’s a creative space with room for co-working during the day but hosts gigs in the evening, both inside and on their rooftop venue. They’ve recently built a recording studio with the most incredible vibe and it’s THE space to meet cool like-minded people.Of course, we can’t go past our favourite venue, The Tuning Fork! It’s THE place to catch some of the up-and-coming kiwi acts and establishing overseas acts. We’re playing our second show at the Tuning Fork on November 19th and we can’t wait to be back on that beautiful stage!
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Music InterviewsMusic News

Clay Western

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently living in North Bondi.

How did you first start playing music?

I first started off playing trombone in primary school. When I was about 15 I was at a bit of a crossroads with music. I started to go to a few gigs and was really inspired to write songs. I became good friends with the Caravana Sun crew and they gave me some cool opportunities to play gigs with them while I was still at school. The rest is history, I guess.

What’s been happening recently?

2022 has been a bit all over the place for me. I moved from Fremantle to Byron Bay in June, and then I just moved to Sydney a month ago. I felt there was more opportunity for me down here, so I pulled the trigger.

I have been writing a heap through all the chaos and meeting a heap of new people. I’m pretty keen to settle into the big city life for a while and see where it takes me.

Your single ‘Nothing Lasts’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I wrote ‘Nothing Lasts’ in the studio with Jordi and Josh, a couple of weeks before I moved from WA to Byron Bay. At the time, I was staring down the barrel of leaving all my friends, family and the life I had created at home in WA. The song talks about moving on from a relationship, and even though it’s not the easy decision, you know it’s the right decision for both of you.

Lyrically, the track is pretty melancholy, so we tried to give it a bit more of a lighter, driving feel in the production. I think the polarity between the lyrics and production find a happy medium that complement each other.

How did you approach the songwriting process?

I had a bunch of different demos and ideas when I went into the studio with Jordi and Josh. We had recorded a song the day before and were looking to record a new song. The ideas I had weren’t really working, so we decided to just start again and write something from scratch. We wrote most of the song in one morning and just finished it as we were recording it.

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

I recorded ‘Nothing Lasts’ with Jordi Davieson and Josh Biondillo (San Cisco) in their home studio in Fremantle. We then recorded the drums with Dan Carrol at Rada Studios then got my good mate Dylan Olivierre (The Money War) to mix it.

Please tell us about the production process:

Josh and Jordi have some amazing vintage gear in their studio. I wrote the chord progression on Josh’s Fender Rhodes and we built the song around that. and used a Yamaha DX-7 for most of the synth/bass parts. This is probably the least guitars I’ve used on a track and it feels refreshing to take my music down a different direction. We built most of the track at their home studio then recorded drums at Rada Studios with Dan Carrol. I love looking back and seeing how many different hands one song passes through. The production of a track is a journey in itself, and I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to work alongside some amazing people.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m listening to a heap of Whitney at the moment. I think there’s definitely hints of them in ‘Nothing Lasts’. I’ve also been listening to Marcus Mumford’s new album, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator. My musical taste is a bit all over the place haha.

What do you like to do away from music?

Surfing is my main passion outside of music. It has always been a big part of my life and allows me to escape from all the chaos and keeps me sane. I find it hard to sit still. Being active is really good for my mental health. If I don’t make time to get in the ocean or do something physical I definitely feel it. Music and surfing are my meditation. They allow me to leave all my troubles at the door and let me brain reset.

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

I’m really excited to be creating heaps of music with new people. I’d like to do an east coast tour early next year and maybe even tie in a couple of shows back home as well. I’m still finding my feet in Sydney and trying to navigate life in a new city, which is pretty exciting. New people, new songs, anything is really possible.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

WA really punches above in terms of food and bars. For coffee, Ooh Coffee in North Fremantle without a doubt. For bars, Percy Flints is the favourite. One of the best beer gardens I’ve been to, food is pretty good as well. You can pretty much guarantee you’ll see your friends there on any given day of the week. I’m still finding my bearings over in Sydney. I really love The Royal in Bondi. It’s a bit grungy, the food is great and they have some sick bands playing. I saw The Beefs play there the other week, and Isabella Manfredi as well. There’s definitely a cool little scene there.

‘Nothing Lasts’ is out now.
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