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INTERVIEW: ELAURA – Loving Deeply Without Loving Blindly

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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.

Socials

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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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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Watermelon Boy Discusses New Track ‘Break That Board’

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Hey Team! Earlier this year I moved from Brunswick back into Fitzroy. It’s great to be closer to the action again. I love the nightlife here and the energy of Fitzroy is always a buzz.

You’ve recently joined forces with Ritchie Loop and Mark Dwyer, how did this collab come to be?

I had the idea for Break That Board and had come up with the basic rhythm & bassline. I knew that finding the right vocalists would be paramount. I actually connected with Mark first and he laid a killer verse. I knew that we needed a more dancehall style vocal for the chorus and Richie Loop has the perfect sound. The fact that he’s worked with some of my hero’s like Henry Fong & Vybz Kartel was obviously a major bonus. He added so much flavour to the track and really contrasted nicely against Mark’s verse. The track very quickly started to feel complete.

‘Break That Board’ is the killer track that’s come from the collab, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The tuned percussion is pure Watermelon Boy but I used a more twerky rhythm this time which gave it a different groove. When the vocal recordings came back to me, it all reminded me of 90’s fighting games like Street Fighter II so I recorded a bunch of samples that sounded like the commentary from those types of games. Adding those and the game soundFX really solidified the flavour of the track.

How did the songwriting process take place?

I had the “Mind like a rock, hand like a sword…” concept in my head and wanted to pay tribute to karate bad-assery. I’ve done karate since I was a kid and had never really crossed it over into music in any way. So I sent that to Mark with the beat and he wrote his verse around that. Same with Richie Loop. They both came back with their own lyrics that involved hard work and self improvement which are cornerstones of traditional martial arts. So the track has this “zen” to it which I think is so cool because there’s a correlation with being a musician or any kind of artist. The themes of working hard, honing your skills, so you can be creative, masterful and unpredictable.

Where and when did you record/produce/master?

It was very much a modern recording process with me producing and mixing from Melbourne while Richie recorded in Jamaica and Mark the US. It all came together earlier in the year

What programs/equipment were used?

I write in ableton live and mix internally, recently I’ve started doing a little “pre-master” where I run the track through some outboard gear to give it a little extra shine. I’m also finding that this helps me get a really nice mix because it shows up anything that’s unbalanced. So I’ll end up running the track out a few times and making fine adjustments before sending it to Klaus Hill for the final master. I use an SSL Fusion for a bit of colour as well as a buss compressor from Audioscape and a really nice Australian made EQ from High Voltage Audio.

What were the most challenging and rewarding aspects of creating Break That Board?

It’s always hard working in opposing timezones but if one isn’t in a hurry it can still be reasonable. Hearing the track come together and getting the master back was damn rewarding. It might be my favourite Watermelon Boy work yet. And that’s cool.. To continually make music you’re excited by.

Will we be hearing more tracks from this trio?

I think we’ll have to make more! This was such a ball and came out sounding so solid it’s inspired me to push this sound further.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Hagan, Digital Afrika & BRYAN THE MENSAH are making some of my favourite music at the moment. I’m also really enjoying listening to Alex Jones get raked over the coals on the Knowledge Fight podcasts and being updated on Australian cookers and con-artists on The Conditional Release Program.

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

I’ll be playing Cloud 9 in Fiji on the 7th, 8th & 9th of December. It’s a perfect venue for Watermelon Boy; The tropical setting on the water, busting chill tunes with pizza and cocktails. Such a great way to spend a vaycay. On the 21st of Dec I’m hosting a Summer Solstice Variety Show at The Evelyn in Fitzroy with some VERY special guests that I’ll be announcing soon.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

For lunch I love any place with decent vegan sandwich options, that includes Viet Rose Bakery or Nico’s Sandwich Deli in Fitzroy. Around dinner time I’ll frequent one of the local institutions like Afghan Gallery, Madame K’s, Fina’s or The Rainbow Hotel. As far as bars go, we have so many brilliant ones around but you’ll likely find me at Nighthawks in Collingwood which is always a great place for a chat in the beer garden.

Socials:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/watermelon__boy

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Premiere – Ben O’Kane ‘Place I’ve Never Been’ Interview

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

 

My hometown, West Wyalong in central NSW. But looking to move away next year just not sure where to just yet!

 

What was it like growing up in country NSW?

 

It’s funny, if you asked me this question 10 years ago I would say I couldn’t get to the city / coast quick enough.  But as I’ve gotten older and seen more of the world it’s made me appreciate how good it was to grow up in the country. What I look back on now is the mateship that you build in the small country town and no matter how far I go or how long I am away for my mates and those friendships back home have never changed. My last release ‘Aint It Funny How’ explores all of this, give it a listen!

 

How did you first start playing music?

 

I was 12 years old when I first picked up the guitar. I had a couple of mates who were a bit older than me start a band and thought they were the best thing ever. And I guess I wanted to be like them so I started playing by myself and started writing songs pretty much straight away in a little notebook which, I have still have today. Some of the lyrics are hilarious. 

 

What’s been happening recently?

 

I’ve been busy, it’s been a massive year actually. Now footy has finished up I have been playing gigs most weekend in a few new places such as Albury/Wodonga. I’ve just started working on some new tracks so hopefully will be able to release new music sometime next year as well!

 

Your single ‘Place I’ve Never Been’ is out on November 4, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 

This song is a combination of a lot of difference influences. I loved acoustic punk-rock songs as a teenager and the guitar / strings element in this track defiantly draw upon those sounds from Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World and Angels and Airways. But what I love about this song is the subtle electronic songs. These songs were all drawn from my more recent influences such as Allday. This is a sound /style I really want to explore further in the future. 

 

But the track completely changed from what I originally had in mind for it. The song started as just an acoustic guitar played lying on my lap as a percussion/guitar fusion, similar to how Ziggy Alberts made a lot of his earlier stuff. But the track kept evolving however, the originally chords were kept and we decided to add the electronic elements instead of the percussion elements to give the song a bit of extra punch. 

 

How did this single come about?

 

I never really intended this song to be on the EP actually. But when I showed my procedure my original idea, he loved the concept of it and immediately saw the potential direction we could take the track so the track evolved and came together really quickly. Lyrically, I had this idea in mind of exploring what it’s like to realize you are falling in love for the time and rather than fight it, letting yourself open up to it and becoming vulnerable with someone again. 

 

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

 

Nearly a year ago to the day I took the 12 hour drive to Byron to record the EP with producer Billy Otto who produced the whole track. Talents Bryon local, Phoebe Neumann also features on the track with the female backing vocals. The track was mixed by Caleb M. Harris who is based in Nashville Tennesse in the States. And the song was mastered by Trent Dobson who is based in the UK – so it was a bit of a global effort!

 

How was it working with (Producer) Billy Otto?

 

Working with Billy was incredible. I had zero experience recording music before and Billy made the whole process so easy and so much fun. Some of my best memories will forever be making the demos in the his little house on the hill. 

 

How did you approach the recording/production process?

 

As this was my first experience recording I didn’t know what to expect so I just went in with an open mind and didn’t want to get bogged down by what I thought they tracks should song like. I am so happy for this because the songs turned out even better than I had imagined. It did get a little tricky after I had to move back home after 3 weeks because of covid, but we made it work and it was just such an amazing experience overall. 

 

Who was responsible for the Artwork and Creative for this project and how did the concepts come about?

 

Ashley Cooper, who is a member of the Holy Moly Artist and Gum Records family designed the artwork and creative for this track. The track is all set in the early hours of the morning and the cover reflects what a dawn looks like in the country with Australian native fauna looking like shadows. 

 

Your debut EP is on the way, please tell us about the writing process and some idea of what we can expect:

 

It is my debut EP and it is called ‘Avem Haven’. I started the writing process by booking an isolated cabin in the hills of Kangaroo Valley in NSW. I literally just spent 4 days, from sunrise to sunset, by myself coming up with song concepts, playing with some sound ideas and writing lyrics. Looking back it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The cabin I stayed in was called ‘Avem Haven’ and I named the EP after it because without that trip there would have been no EP to release!

 

What are you listening to at the moment?

 

At the moment I am trying to really focus on what sort of sounding artist I want to be. A big thing for me is making my live performances sound like the recorded tracks using my loop station. So I am currently listening to Felipe Baldomir, I love how he structures his songs using a loop station and how he uses open guitar tunings. I am also listening to Ziggy Alberts who is a massive inspiration of mine. I love his lyrics and cannot wait for his new album ‘Dancing In The Dark’ to be released. And lastly I am also listening to the Melbourne band ‘Slowly Slowly’. Again I love there conceptual lyrical writing and their overall sound. I saw them live the other week of or the first time and they were honestly the best live act I’ve ever seen. 

 

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

This year, I have a few more shows planned in regional NSW. But next year I am planning my first every official tour to promote the release of my EP which I am super excited about. Expect shows to be down the south coast and in the major NSW cities such as Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Albury and Wollongong.

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

 

I don’t know if I have one favourite food, anything cooked by mum never misses though. And being at home when all the family is home is always my favourite place to be!

https://www.instagram.com/benokanemusic/

 

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Kopps

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
 
Rochester, NY
 
 
Please tell us about what’s been happening recently?
 
We just put out a brand new music video for our single “Planet Bitch,” which is the second single we’ve released from our upcoming EP, also titled Planet Bitch. 🙂 We’ve also been touring pretty extensively and have more dates coming up in the Northeast in November and December!
 
 
What influenced or inspired your latest single “Planet Bitch”
 
When I came up with the concept of “Planet Bitch” I just knew we needed to do a title track for it. So basically the concept led to the single and I knew I wanted to work with our long-time producer (Daniel Armbruster of Joywave) on it as well. We always have good chemistry on tongue-in-cheek tracks like this one. 
 
 
How did you go about writing this single?
 
The concept led to the creation which isn’t something that always happens. We started with a track and I wrote a lot of the lyrics/melodys on my own, then we reconvened to edit everything down and record. That’s actually my preferred way to write as I like to have some time alone with a track instead of writing everything in-studio, though I’ve done it both ways. 
 
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
 
The song was written and recorded in Rochester, NY at Daniel Armbruster’s studio (He also produced the track.) It was mixed by Nick Radovanovic and mastered by Joe Laporta. 
 
 
How did you approach the recording process?
 
Because our catalog is pretty extensive, we’ve recorded a lot and record mostly the same way for every track. The song structure etc. need to be completed before other instruments or vocals are recorded for the most part, but many of the digital parts of the track will have been laid down prior to finishing writing, then once vocals and any real instruments being used are recorded, much more production polishing happens to actually complete the track. Then there are typically rounds of edits for mixing as well.
 
 
You made a VFX music video, how did this come about and how was it working with Josiah Moore?
 
All the credit goes to Josiah on the VFX! Josiah was incredibly easy to work with, I think our visions were aligned from the first call we had and the process of shooting only took one day. After that the heavy lifting was done by Josiah who created “Planet Bitch” and all of the visuals. I was so amazed when I saw the first edits- really just blown away. I hope new and old fans enjoy this as much as we do!
 
 
How did the concept for the music video come about?
 
I think for this it was only natural for us to want to create the actual planet we keep talking about in the music and show the audience a little barbarella fantasy moment. Because our live shows are choreographed, I knew I wanted that to be a part of things too!
 
 
What does this music video mean to you?
 
It’s one of our most visually flashy videos but also a video that is just supposed to be a snapshot in time of “Planet Bitch,” so it’s less like our other videos, many of which have more of a concept to figure out. This one is more performative and different for us while still showing glimpses of humor through the alien queen character, boob guns, etc. 😉
 
 
How did COVID affect your music and writing process?
 
Hugely. It was a dark time for my music career and pretty uninspiring as live performance is probably my favorite part of musicianship as a whole and that was no longer an option (besides performing to a phone.) I also was a lot less physical because we could no longer rehearse and be in a room with one another so I felt a sense of really losing multiple pieces of myself. The music I am putting out now has been done for quite a while but not being able to see an audience receive it made me not want to release it until this cooled down. Ultimately there were pros and cons to this but playing live now, I’m glad I waited to release!
 
 
Please tell us about your upcoming EP and how it differs from your last EP Kopyright
I think there are moments on this album that are similar to Kopyright in that it’s “all killer no filler” and really energetic throughout, but I also think it differs in that there are moments on this one that are really meaningful to me personally and show different elements of musicianship than prior projects have. I think this is the most “funk” driven and vocally popping project we’ve released in a while, which is cool for me as a singer.
 
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
 
I am finding myself revisiting the Genesis/Phil Collins discography lately, lol…I’ve also just been having a straight up mainstream moment listening to Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s new albums but I have to say that listening to those artists as well as less radio friendly stuff has really taught me how to be a dynamic writer in a lot of ways since our music does have major pop underpinnings while also mixing in several genres. I look at each music consumption experience as a way to learn more.
 
 
What do you like to do away from music?
 
As an extension of music: working out and dance are definitely important for me mentally and physically, especially because of how physically demanding our shows are! Psychology is what I went to school for, so what makes people tick is really interesting to me and I do a lot of reading about that in my spare time. I’m also pretty into various holistic health topics and am always trying new stuff with that. At home, I live in a historic house, so there’s no shortage of projects there to focus on and restoration is very rewarding for me. Lastly, I don’t like to be in one place for too long so I travel between coasts frequently and make being near water a big priority. 

 

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

Our next single “There’s No Such Thing As Love” comes out November 11, and the entire Planet Bitch EP is out November 18th! We have upcoming live dates in November and December as well, which can be found on our website at koppsmusic.com !!

https://www.instagram.com/koppsmusic/

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Music InterviewsMusic News

Coco Elise talk about their debut ep, making music on GarageBand, and more

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

We are currently based in Boorloo, Perth,, chillin.

How did you first start playing music?

I was given a guitar as a child, then was spoken to by the musical gods and learned my one true calling was to play music and with this, I began to write music. And with that, here we are. Welcome.

What’s been happening recently?

Music-wise we’ve started to really get into it, we’ve got a lot of new tunes we’re really excited about! We’ve just been playing a lot of shows and feeling them lows. We’ve also been a bit sad, and that’s not all bad. It’s important to feel as sad as possible when writing music so emotion can be successfully portrayed.

What influenced the sound and songwriting for your new single ‘Wish you’d show’?

Mainly Mac de Marco and Kate Bollinger, with a dash of Vampire Weekend. Big fan of how they can make such stripped back music sound so good.

How did you go about writing Wish you’d show and what does this track mean to you?

This track and “Sun may shine” were kind of written at the same time, Harry came over and did some Saxophone overdubs on a beat I came up with while Isaiah was asleep on the couch. Our old bass player Dan came around after and tracked some fantastic bass bits after. It’s by far our favourite song at the moment, and it’s a classic little love song. There’s definitely heaps out there, but they always mean the most to whoever’s making them!

Your debut EP is on the way, please tell us about your journey with this EP:

This EP has a special place in my head as it’s been completely produced and mixed in my room on GarageBand. Starting out I didn’t have too much to work with and I feel like a nice unique sound has come out of the process. I’ve been sitting on these tracks for a while, and was pretty unsure how they’d be received. We’ve had some awesome support lately, and it feels really good to get them out.

What can we expect?

Life. Thrills. Freedom.

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

All tracks were mastered with Gareth Henderson (thanks Gareth), everything else was done with the band in my bedroom.

How did you approach the recording process?

I usually just play around on the guitar or a synth and see if anything nice comes out of that, that’s usually the first step. Then I sing over whatever I have, and build everything else from there. Every song’s a little different!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

A lot of Kate Bollinger, and a local resurfaced band Butter who are just amazing.

What do you like to do away from music?

Play with animals, change the world, and inspire the generation to come.

What’s planned for 2022 going into 2023?

We’re absolutely loving playing live gigs around town, so we’ll keep doing that! We love reworking the songs for live performances, keep its really fun for us and hopefully people who come see us as well. We’ve got another EP ready to go as well, stay tuned…

Favourite food and place to hangout?

We love getting burgers at Flipside in Freo, and see whatever is going on at Mojo’s. Perhaps even have a nice beverage, if we’re feeling crazy.

COCO ELISE SOCIAL MEDIA:

INSTAGRAM // SPOTIFY // FACEBOOK // SOUNDCLOUD

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Music InterviewsMusic News

Interview: Late November

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
We are based up in Townsville, North Queensland
 
How did Late November form?
We were all mates that were playing in the High School Jazz Band together, then we caught up outside of that to have a play, and the rest is history!
 
What’s been happening recently?
We’ve been super stoked with the reception on our newest track ‘Fishook’, and we are gearing up for the next few releases!
 
What or influenced the sound and songwriting on your latest single ‘Fishook’?
Retrospectively we’d say that it’s very Last Dinosaurs inspired, we didn’t really set out to write a song that took elements from anything, but we think we must have been really enjoying their sound and arrangement. As for the production, there is a bit of Bluejuice in some of the harmony lines, very Broken Leg-esque in parts of the song.
 
How did Fishook come about?
Alex, Aden, Denzel and Sam were all piled into Kodie’s car (a fresh p-plater at the time), and Alex had his guitar half out the window. ‘I’ve got something to show you boys’ he said, and by the time he was up to the second verse we were all sold on it.
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
We originally recorded with Mark Myers up in Cairns, but we’d developed the song so much since that session that what we’d recorded there didn’t feel relevant to us anymore. We then re-recorded most of it in the Aitkenvale Library in Townsville, then sent the fresh stems off to Mason Rowley (Oh Forest Shore, Arches) to mix, then to Hayden Dunlop (Chelsea Drive) to master.
 
What do all of the 7 members do in the band?
We’ve got a jazz band in the making:
Alex Thomas (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar)
Aden Rock (Tenor Saxophone)
Kodie Redfern (Bass)
Samuela Naborisi (Drums)
Denzel Carlos (Lead Guitar)
Anthony Minehan (Alto Saxophone)
Kristopher Gounaris (Trumpet)
 
Outside of the instruments, Alex and Kodie do most of the writing for the core structure of the song, and Kodie is a member/manager of sorts, organising the branding, merchandise, and other logistics. Sam is a talented producer, and he makes the interludes we use for our live sets.
 
Please tell us about your upcoming Australian tour and possible dates for Japan:
We are itching for both of these! We are aiming to do between 7-10 shows mostly between Tokyo and Osaka in around March, and then we’ve got an Australian tour in our sights for late 2023, and we’re hoping to hit Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville (of course) and Wollongong. We’re still ironing out logistics and costs for the Aus tour, but at this stage it’s looking promising!
 
How does being based in Townsville, QLD influence your music?
Townsville has fostered its fair share of original artists, and the music scene has been quite collaborative in nature. We feel that we wouldn’t have the sound we do now, if it wasn’t for seeing these local artists and being inspired. That inspiration naturally makes you look at what they’re doing in their music, and a little bit of that is bound to rub off on you.
To name a few super influential locals:
Colie
Sam Wright
Oh Forest Shore
The Broadcast Fiasco
Hidden Pillars
The Funny Jims
Chelsea Drive
Dogtooth
Lost for Ideas
 
Please tell us about the importance of the community and being a part of the growing Townsville community:
Watching bands like The Broadcast Fiasco (formerly Solarpets) play in Townsville at the Rec Room was formative for me (Kodie). As a teenager that was learning how to play guitar, this kind of thing struck a chord in me, and I knew instantly that I wanted to do what they were doing. Without these shows, I might never have experienced that feeling. Or I might have experienced it later in life when starting a band seemed too foreign a concept. Without this community and culture in Townsville, we will be missing out on generations of artists that haven’t had that ‘Aha!’ moment, and that’d be a real shame. Multiple people from Brisbane have said to us ‘there must be something in the water in Townsville’ and we think that’s just the community and culture raising well rounded, and collaborative artists.
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Our top 5 at the moment are:
Sunbleached
Bryce Bishop
Pinegrove
Fontaines D.C.
Turnstile
 
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
We’ve got an AirBnB booked in Lucinda for the first week of November, and we are all going to get together and make as much as we can. We’ve got so much in the pipeline, and we can’t wait to share it all!

https://www.facebook.com/LateNovemberBand

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