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Music Interviews

Music InterviewsMusic News

Topic

by the partae
written by the partae

Hey Topic! Pleased to meet you and thanks for making time to sit down with us.

  1. You’re in Australia touring for two weeks! How has the tour been so far?

A: The tour was great! Australia is definitely one of my favorite countries in the world. I visited Australia in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the country. I was very excited to be back and also play a tour, which was a first for me! It has been a great experience and a huge milestone in my career.

  1. What was your favorite show?

A: That’s a tough one to pick, especially when I played eight shows but I guess it was the one at Marquee in Sydney. It was my final gig of the tour and also got surprised with a plaque from my label a few minutes before stepping into the DJ booth, so I was a little extra hyped that night!

  1. How has the Australian crowd been?

A: The Australian crowd is something else! I described it as “mad” on one of my Instagram posts (check it out and you´ll know what I mean by that :D), you guys definitely go crazy and you also like to drink a lot I guess.

  1. What surprised you most about Australia?

A: I mean, it was not a big surprise but I was traveling to a different city every day and sometimes it was like a four or five hour flight, like from Darwin to Melbourne. Of course, I knew that Australia is big and that not too many people live there in relation… but it’s just so impressive when you fly for so many hours and you don’t see any city or anything and you’re still in the same country – just in a different city. ‘Cause I’m from Europe you know, and when you fly 4 or 5 hours there you´ll fly over six countries and you’re most definitely even out of Europe 😀 That was really impressive to see.  

  1. Are you planning another visit to Australia soon?

A: Yeah, while we were there we talked a little bit with my booking agents that we might do something at the end of this year or maybe in the beginning of 2023. I am definitely up to come Down Under again. 

  1. What are your other plans for 2022 and what are you looking forward to most?

A: 2022 will definitely be the year that I’ll just go and play as many shows and festivals as possible. I just wanna get out there and finally be able to play all the shows that I missed the past two years. There’s so much I am looking forward to, there’s Parookaville coming, Tomorrowland mainstage and so many other great festivals and so many releases that are lined up, so can’t really pick.

  1. This Friday (22.04.) you’re releasing a new track with Alvaro Solar, can you tell us a bit more about this collaboration?

A: Yeah, on April 22nd I released a track with Alvaro Soler. We have many mutual friends and we were linked up in 2020. He’s a great guy, great songwriter and it was a lot of fun working with him on a track. I am very happy that the song is out now and so far we’ve gotten very good responses about it. I am also very happy that we managed to have a nice symbiosis of like the Spanish world and the dance world.

  1. Can we expect any more new music from you soon?

A: Yes, very soon!!! There will be an announcement very soon. You might have even heard it in my sets before, but that´s about everything I can say about it right now.

  1. What artist do you really want to work with and why?

A: – 

  1. Can you tell us a bit more about ‘melancholic dance music’?

A: ‘melancholic dance music’ is a phrase that we came up with, just after “Breaking Me” was release as someone asked me to describe my sound.  I always liked melancholic music. And even when I was a kid I was always listened to the more sadder songs but at the same time it made me happy, I don’t know why, it’s just me being weird I guess …haha. But then when I started making music and especially dance music I always loved to put the melancholic touch to it. “Melancholic dance music” – basically songs which bring up various kinds of emotion but at the same time you just can´t stop your body from moving.

  1. What is your favorite track released by yourself?

A: It’s impossible to pick a favorite track by yourself. I mean, all those tracks have a great personal memory for me and have a story to it. So it is pretty tough to pick one. Everyone is special itself. Which one is your favorite?

  1. What kind of music do you like to listen to in your free time?

A: I wouldn’t say that I have a favorite genre that I like to listen to. I like a lot of music. I think with Spotify and the possibility that you can listen to every music literally at the tip of your finger it made everyone’s music taste broader, I guess. 

  1. What do you enjoy most when you’re not in the studio or playing at a festival/club?

A: I like to watch and play Basketball myself. I also enjoy to spend time with my friends and family over a good meal!

  1. You’re a big Formula One fan, who’s your favorite team and driver this season?

A: I am a Formula 1 fan again. I was into it a lot when I was a kid and fell back on love with it last year. I don’t really have a favorite driver, last year I was cheering for Max Verstappen and I was very happy that he won. But this year I am just enjoying watching Formula 1 and may the best one win. I´m impressed by Lando Norris though and I think he might be a world champion at some point.

  1. What’s on your bucket list for 2022?

A: Playing at Tomorrowland Mainstage was always on top of my bucket list since I became a DJ. I will be able to tick that one off my list later this year, I am so excited!!! 

  1. One last question: If you could have dinner with someone, dead or alive, who would it

be and why?

A: Oof..another tough one!  Maybe Avicii. He was so good, made so sick tracks and also had such an impact! He would definitely be on top of my list.

Thanks so much for your time and enjoy the last few shows this weekend!

 

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Noon Shift

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

Since the day we started up we’ve always been a Western-Sydney based band.

How did you first start playing music?

We started playing music together after meeting in our high school’s guitar ensemble. I remember after meeting and starting up a band we’d pretty much go up to our school’s music rooms every single lunchtime and play together, occasionally staying a little too long after the lunch bell and getting in trouble for being late to class.

Please tell us about the Noon Shift journey so far:

I’d say since forming the first big step for us as a band was recording our first EP “Fuse” in 2018. Around the time it came out we were all becoming old enough to start playing at pubs, so I’d say that was the point where things really kicked off.
Since then we’ve mostly just focused on recording and releasing new tracks to play at our gigs and watching our audience steadily grow. We put out our second EP in early 2021 but knew it was time to up the ante a little and record a full length album. We’ve since come out the other end of that process with an album we’re all really proud of and can’t wait to share with the world!

What’s been happening recently?

Well last weekend saw the release of our debut album’s first single “Do It All Again”. We got some really kind words from a few fans which is always encouraging and appreciated. We then wrapped up the weekend with a charity gig at Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney raising funds for those affected by the floods. It was really great to see so many people show up for a good cause!

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

Sure is! I was doing a lot of guitar teaching at the time and found the songs I was teaching my students began inspiring the ones I was writing. I actually came up with the bulk of the song during a 30 minute break between lessons. If you listen closely you can hear a bit of influence from tracks by Foo Fighters, Hockey Dad, Chuck Berry and even a bit of Metallica!

How did you go about writing the single?

Once I had what I’d call the ‘bones’ of the track written (usually the riff/chords and melody) I took it to the other guys in the band and fleshed it out. The track actually came together quite a bit easier than some others. It was just one of those songs that as soon as you write, you know what the drums and bass are supposed to play as well. The song has been an absolute blast to play through every single time from the get-go.

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

We recorded the album, including this track over the summer of 2021/2022. It all began with a visit to The Brain Studios in Sydney to record the drums. The guy who runs the place, Clayton, gets great drum sounds and knows how to pull a great performance so choosing to do the drums there was a real no-brainer!

We then finished all the tracks in my home studio. I once again found myself taking on the producer role, trying to get the best sounds and performances I could, which can be a little tricky when trying to be the judge of your own. I have a little spare bedroom in my house which we pretty much used as a control room, while my bedroom became the room where our amps would be set-up. We had to have the amp up pretty loud to get it sounding right If you walked in while someone was playing it’d blow your head off!

The songs ended up back at The Brain Studios once I’d done the mixes to be mastered.

What programs/instruments do you use?

When recording drums we used a whole mix of pieces from different kits that Clayton thought would sound best. I do remember actually using a ride cymbal in the place of a crash for a bit of a heavier sound for the cymbals.

Our bass player Michael recorded the full album with his Ibanez SR series 5 string. We recorded the bass direct, without an amp but blended his clean tone with a dirty tone from a free Sansamp clone plugin.

As for guitar, everything was recorded through my trusty Tokai ES335 style guitar. As a huge Dave Grohl fan I’d wanted an ES style guitar since I was about 13. The real ones are quite expensive but I’m really happy with my one and use it for pretty much everything. The fact that they’re semi-hollow makes it decently loud unplugged, which is great for when I’m writing and something you typically don’t get from a solid-body.

How did you approach the recording process?

Even though we recorded the entire album on computers I still wanted to keep in mind a few of the limitations of analogue tape. On tape you can’t really edit a performance in the same way as a computer so what’s played is what you get, imperfections and all.

To me that’s what makes a lot of recorded music personal and memorable so we chose at the start of the recording process that we would use minimal editing on our performances and just learn to be okay with the little imperfections that (hopefully) make the music better.

Please tell us about your upcoming album:

I started writing our upcoming album, “Steering Wheels on Summer’s Days” after the end of my first relationship. The album is about the experience of a relationship’s final stage and end, the phase of grieving after and then finally learning to be okay with it and opening oneself up once again. It was our first time taking on a project of this size and we’re glad to have come out the other end of it with something we’re really proud of!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 and beyond?

Well 2022’s gonna see a few more singles in the lead up to the album’s release on October 14th 2022. The space between is gonna be filled with a bunch of shows. We’d love to hit the road and play all around Australia but we’re happy to wait until the right time comes!

We’re also just beginning to demo a few songs for what we’re expecting will be our next album so we’re really excited for what the rest of this year and beyond holds!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve personally been listening to a lot of Press Club lately. I’m seeing them play in Sydney in a few weeks and I’m the kind of person that wants to know all the songs when I go to see a band play live. Other than that, our bass player Tchai and I were listening to an American band called Sungazer on the drive home the other day. They’re pretty different from what we do so it’s actually quite refreshing to hear!

What do you like to do away from music?

When we’re not playing music we usually just like to sit around drinking beer and enjoying each other’s company. Perhaps the occasional fishing-trip or ill-fated longboarding sesh.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Let’s tie the two together and say that we love to get a kebab from our local shop Fully Tabooly in Pemulwuy. It’s a great place to sit down, have a yarn and hoover up a bab. Would highly recommend, just don’t forget to grab a loyalty card!

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Frankie Crea

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

Perth Western Australia

How did you first start playing music?

I have my earliest memories of wanting my parents to buy me a guitar when I was 5 and then I ventured into drums and other instruments as I got older

What’s been happening recently?

Not much really just living my best life.

You’re back to playing music again after a 3 year hiatus from releasing music, please tell us what you’ve been up to and why did you choose to release music again?

Yes, well I have been through a lot the last few years focusing on other projects, playing shows in bands and dealing with personal things, but now being in the best form of myself mentally and physically i felt like it was time to show the world again what I’ve been quietly working on.

How has your musical journey developed in the last 3 years?

Its been crazy, taking a break served me well, i recharged and came back to songwriting with more of a clearer vision and openness like never before, everything seems to flow easier for me now when it comes to writing.

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

Soundwise i was influenced by the likes of John Mayer, John Frusciante, James Blunt, Travis to name a few, i wanted to capture a mellow rock kind of vibe but also wanted to go back to the melodic style of music that my first EP entailed, i feel its my true forte plus i also wanted to explore a jazzier sophisticated mature sound because at the time of writing i was hell into jazz guitar playing and diminished sounding chords appealed to me, lyrics was inspired by someone i was close with a few years ago.

How did you go about writing ‘Plateaus’?

One day i had the guitar chords pop into my head and i rushed to my studio to lay it down then within 30 minutes everything just fell into place, before i knew it i had a full song and thought well this is definitely going to be the new single.

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

It was mid 2020 and i did it all myself in my home studio.

How did you approach the recording process?

I was a bit nervous because i stopped writing for a good 6 months before hand and didn’t know what to expect, so i approached it calmly with a vision in mind and i was happier it came out better than i envisioned, it was a very zen-like approach.

Please tell us about any new music that’s on the way:

Well i am working on a new album, so the plan is to have that out sometime next year hopefully, but nothing is set in stone as of yet, long way away from finishing it, you don’t rush these things, could i drop another single or 2 along the way? Maybe…see how things go.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Tied Down, Igorrr, Trickfinger, DICE, Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, South Summit, Ra Ra Viper to name a few.

What do you like to do away from music?

I like hanging with friends and family.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

Working on album number 2 and defs a few holidays can’t wait to travel again.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love pub feeds, anywhere with a good vibe.

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Liss

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Melbourne.

How did you first start playing music?

I first started writing music at age 9 on the piano. Songwriting has always been a passion of mine, so when I was 19 I decided to go to university and further develop my skills in songwriting.

What’s been happening recently?

I have been writing lots of music, collaborating with wonderful artists and finishing off the music video for Heartbreaker.

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

Definitely my love of pop music influenced the sound of heartbreaker. I wanted to write a song that was upbeat and one that you could dance to.

How did you go about writing Heartbreaker?

I was sick of the people I was dating having hidden agendas so I decided to write a song about what it was like being played by someone.

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

I recorded the song towards the end of last year in my bedroom closet. I worked with the incredible Bhauraw for the production and mastering of the song. He was really wonderful to work with.

How did you approach the recording process?

I recorded the vocals so many times before I was happy with the pronunciation, dynamics and pitching.

Please tell us about any new music that’s on the way:

I have been working on a darker sound for my second single. It’s called ‘I don’t want to sleep with you,’ so keep an eye out!

What do you like to do away from music?

I love to bake, go to comedy shows and spend time with my cat.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been loving Olivia O’Brien, Sally Boy, Brenzy and Maxine recently.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

More music, performing and hopefully an EP.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food is sushi and my favourite place to hangout is in the studio.

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Wilson Blackley

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m living in St Kilda, Naarm.

How did you first start playing music?

There was lots of music in our household growing up. My earliest memories are of driving in the car and listening to Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding. I’ve been drawn to that kind of soul music my whole life. My mum bought me a little drum kit when I was two years old. We had it set up in the loungeroom where we used to watch live gigs on the TV and play along.

Please tell us about your upbringing and how it influenced your music:

Looking back, I think that being Homeschooled really helped cultivate my passion for the music I grew up listening to. I immersed myself in 60’s and 70’s music from such a young age. I think being relatively isolated throughout highschool really helped me be confident and self about my the influences I brought into my own music when I started writing.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been working on a project in the studio most of the time lately. I played some awesome festivals at the start of this year. Other than that, I’m still getting the hang of how to live out on my own. It’s tricky!

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

I’d been in a writers block for a while leading up to writing ‘Repeat Love’ so I was excited when I had the idea for it. Going into record I really wanted the whole song to be about minimalism and feel. 

How did you go about writing Repeat Love?

The melodic Idea started to build in my head about one week before sitting and putting something down. I wrote it in one session and it just seemed to work. I haven’t changed any of the structure of the song since that first session which is rare for me.

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

I recorded this song with Sensible J at his studio in the South East of Victoria. Andrei Ermin mastered the track.

How did you approach the recording process?

We wanted this song to sound like a dry 70’s record. Recording ‘Repeat Love’ was more about J and I getting to know eachother which was an awesome experience. He’s already tought me so much about music I don’t think I would’ve heard without meeting him.

Please tell us about your experience on working with Sensible J as co-producer:

I don’t think I’ve laughed more working on a project than I have working with J. His ears and houmor are unparalleled!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m listening to lots of Lady Wray and Mara TK. I’m loving Little Dragon at the moment, and all the old music I’ve always listened to because I can’t seem to get it out of my head.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love hanging at Sister Of Soul in St Kilda. Great food, Great coffee.

Wilson Blackley’s next headline show 
Thursday 28th April  
Old Bar, Melbourne, VIC.

https://www.instagram.com/wilson_blackley
https://www.facebook.com/WilsonBlackleyy

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Emily Clair

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based? 

 

Napanee, Ontario, Canada.

 

 

How did you first start playing music?

 

My father’s side of the family is very musical and I had grown up around music and had always been exposed to it. I started singing at the age of two, I would sing myself to sleep as a child. I was in music lessons for over ten years in my early childhood, and it ended up being my passion.

 

 

What’s been happening recently?

 

Recently, I’ve got a lot of live shows coming up which is exciting because it’s been about two years with the pandemic since I’ve been able to play! I was also nominated for Roots Country Artist of the Year at the upcoming 2022 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards. Just being recognized for that is a really big accomplishment for me. I’m also starting to work towards my first full-length record, so there are a lot of exciting things on the go right now.

 

 

Your latest single ‘Kiss Strangers’ is out now, what influenced the sound and song writing?

 

I wanted to write a more upbeat song, because most of my music is a slower tempo, and this is what we had come up with. I think that it has more of a pop flare, with a sassy vibe but it’s still very much me as an artist. I wanted to be able to show my diversity, as a musician and deliver something a little more fun to my audience. 

 

 

How did “Kiss Strangers” come about?

 

It was written with two other writers – Bobbi Smith and David Borys – and it all started with a song title I had kicking around. We all dug into what the meaning of “Kiss Strangers,” would mean to us and this is what we had come up with. It was obvious that it was going to be a breakup song, by just the title alone. There was something fierce and sassy about the whole concept, and we really brought that to life in the chorus of the song.

 

 

What do you attribute most to your success with hit singles?

 

I think what makes a hit single is a catchy chorus, that’s when you know you’ve got a good song. If the hook is stuck in your head, then you’ve just nailed the most important part! 

 

 

You also have a music video for the single, where and when did you film and who did you work with?

 

The music video for “Kiss Strangers” was filmed in two locations in the Toronto area. The first spot is called Cherry Colas, a really neat burlesque bar downtown, and the second location was filmed just outside of the city in an apartment building. Believe it or not, the apartment is turned into a nightclub in the evening! Roadhouse Productions does all of my video shoots. They are a great team to work with and always know how to bring a vision to life! 

 

 

How did the concept for this video come about?

 

The video is more basic, but it is the set and location that really grabs your attention, along with the really neat graphics in the chorus! The concept is for the viewer to feel empowered and strong when they watch this video and I think we captured exactly that with the performance of the song. I did have other plans for the music video that told a little more of a story but with the pandemic it didn’t make it easy to arrange with the constant lockdowns. Overall, I’m still really stoked on how the video turned out! 

 

 

What did you most enjoy about the creative process?

 

My favourite part about the creative process during a shoot, is finding the perfect set locations that are really interesting, and go with the theme of the song.

 

 

You co-founded ‘The Songbird Series’ which is a song writing series that is focused on females in country music.  How did this come about and how has the experience been so far?

 

This came about just before the pandemic hit. It’s a female-empowered writers round, but still inclusive of males. It’s to focus on female talent because this industry lacks that. I thought it would be a great idea to bring a little Nashville to Canada, and host writers rounds here, because the talent in Ontario is undeniable! During the pandemic we did some online live shows, but now that the world is opening back up, we have our very first show in Fenelon Falls, Ontario in June at The Grove Theatre. This is a magical outdoor theatre nestled amongst the trees, and it’s the perfect spot to kick of the Songbirds series very first live show!

 

 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 

I’m loving Nate Smith he is a true talent. I’ve also been obsessing over Maren Morris’s new album “Humble Quest.”

 

 

What do you like to do away from music?

 

I love the outdoors, ATV’s, dirt bikes and boating. I really enjoy spending my time camping, and hiking, really anything that connect me with nature.

 

 

What’s planned for 2022?

 

I’ll be continuing to work toward my new record “Stealing Hearts.”  I’ve got a lot of live shows planned, and I’m really looking forward to just getting back out there and playing live music again!

 

 

Favourite food and place to hang out?

 

I love my fiancé’s wood oven pizza; nobody makes a better pizza than him! I love to hang out in front of a nice cozy campfire, or at the lake! If I’m not there, then catch me on the couch binge-watching Netflix!

Facebook: @EmilyClairMusic
Instagram: @EmilyClairMusic
Twitter: @EmilyClairMusic

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Velvet Bloom

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I live on the Mornington Peninsula in Moorooduc, it’s such a beautiful place!

How did you first start playing music?

I have always loved singing, so when I was young my mum got me a vocal coach. I started doing theatre and realised it wasn’t for me after about 6 years of shows. I began playing the guitar and writing my own songs when I was about 14 and I guess it grew from a hobby into a career from that point.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been sorting out a heap of shows and gearing up to tour our ‘Glimmer’ EP with the band. We have been writing lots of new music and can’t wait to get back into the studio to record!! We have also been filming with the Pure Nowhere crew to document our process of recording and releasing music!

Your latest EP ‘Glimmer’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

This EP was mostly written throughout the 2020 lockdowns. There were many influences, however, I feel that isolation made me think about my people and how special they are to me. There are a lot of ties to community in terms of lyricism – especially in the title track, ‘Glimmer’. Solitude helped me to write and gain perspective about the things that are most important to me. I guess in my case, I’ve always held the people who I love very close to my heart and I wanted to make a body of work that reflected that. I learned a lot of life lessons throughout the pandemic and reassessed most of my relationships. You should always feel loved and supported by the people who you surround yourself with. If they don’t uplift you in any way then you should put your energy into the relationships that do. 

How did you go about writing the EP?

Writing most of the works in a global pandemic had its ups and downs. I was given time to write and refine my work but without the ability of bringing it to the band in its early stages. All of the songs were pretty much fully formed by the time the band had heard them, so we kind of bypassed that process where all the members add their own influences to the actual bones of the work. It’s crazy to see how different something can be when written with others from the beginning. I had a lot of help with arrangements from Alex (our guitarist) in the early stages and wouldn’t change a thing. Writing/ Recording music is like creating a time capsule – you can remember all of those ideas and the emotions that you felt when you were there in that headspace. It’s really special to look back and remember what led you to creating a song – sometimes tracks even develop whole new meanings to you over time but I’ve never forgotten the original intention.

Where and when did you record/produce/master?
We actually created this body of work in a lot of different spaces but Quin Grunden’s studio and Studio A in Boxhill are the two places that come to mind when I think of recording ‘Glimmer’. In the past we have hired a studio for the day and smashed out all of our parts but recording with Quin allowed us the time that we needed to refine ideas in the studio! It made the whole thing much more special!

We had the EP mixed by Edvard Hakansson when we were in a lockdown last year. Alex and I had moved up to Mount Hotham for that period of time so there were lots of zoom mixing sessions with Edvard where it was snowing outside the window behind our laptop – that was pretty special!

We had the EP mastered with Joe from Crystal Mastering and he was so wonderful – working with him was a great way to finish the project.

Please tell us about what the single ‘Glimmer’ means to you:

‘Glimmer’ is a song that was initially inspired by my mum, how much she inspires me and how much of her I see in myself. When I began reflecting on my relationship with her I began thinking of other people in my circle. I thought about my relationship to community and how the people who I admire have embedded themselves into my life. I realised that I try to reflect lots of the behaviours or values that I admire in people from my community!

When did you film the video and who did you work with?

We filmed the music video in February! I was lucky enough to work with two of my favourite people/ creatives on this project, Anthony Rennick (our bassist) and Rhys Newling! 

We had some of our good friends feature in the video including Josh Davies, Abby Strangward, Georgia Rooney, Chris Gill and Jess Newton which was super special! All of these people have been involved with the EP in some way and we wanted to shine a light on them! I was wearing pieces by The Daisy Lane and Cheeky The Label – both beautiful local fashion labels. 

What did you most enjoy about the making of the video?

It’s always so much fun creating sets, I’ve been getting into flower arranging lately so I really enjoyed making the arrangements! I love seeing the band in costume and feel as though they all get really into it as well! Working with Rhys is always such a pleasure, Rennick and I have been lucky enough to have had his assistance on things in the past but this felt like more of a collaborative vision! 

Any shows coming up?

We have our ‘Glimmer’ EP tour coming up with shows in Canberra, Forster, Brisbane, Sydney, Beechworth, Adelaide and Melbourne!!

APR 28 – SIDEWAY BAR – CANBERRA (solo)

APR 29 – MANYANA – FORSTER

APR 30 – LEFTY’S MUSIC HALL – BRISBANE

MAY 06 – LAZY BONES LOUNGE – SYDNEY

MAY 07 – TANSWELLS HOTEL – BEECHWORTH

JUN 02 – CROWN & ANCHOR – ADELAIDE

JUN 11 – TOFF IN TOWN – MELBOURNE

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve loved listening to the most recent Raveena, Hiatus Kaiyote and Alice Phoebe Lou albums…   But over the past couple of weeks I’ve been really into Dijon’s album, ‘Absolutely’.

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I’ve been super busy lately so I’m a pretty big homebody at the moment! I really enjoy cooking and love to make Laksa and other soupy things with my housemates. We moved into an incredible new place recently so having people over for dinner and putting on a spread is always a good time in the space that we have created.

 

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KRCL

by the partae
written by the partae

Hey KRCL! How’s life in Germany?

A new life, a new culture…Exclting times i would say! Germany’s place in dance music culture is obvious. Although I wasn’t able to experience this culture much because I moved here during the pandemic period, it now feels like there’s much more to explore. I try to go different places every weekend to get inspired for myself and for my music.

Tell us about how you first got into music and how the journey has been so far?

I was working on my book (surreal fantasy blended with philosophy) which was published in Turkish later as -The Healer- in English) when i felt suddenly that it needs a soundtrack to bring the words to sound. I enrolled in an electronic music production course and there the whole journey started. Since then, Since that day, music has been a medium where I can convey the personal story of mine other than books. It is an honour for me to be appreciated by people for the pieces I have recently released. In addition, the fact that artists such as Oostil and Agents of Time include my pieces on their sets gives me confidence and hope for the future. I think I brought the continuation of the story in the new track.

Tell me about this new single on Ethereal Future, what was your approach for this track?

Tor Ether Neue means The Gate of New Etheral Air. The inspiration i had was one the scenes in my book which was continously playing in mind. That scene was about a gate which The Healer had to pass after a long journey of enlightment. Tor Ether Neue reflects this journey between past, present and future; from chaos to an euphoria.

What is your production setup like? Any favourite pieces of hardware you use at the moment?

I work with Ableton and a key controller. Overall, i can say i work alot with softwares but as well use some hardwares for some parts in some tracks. But sure, as a next step i will be shifting to live, so i am planning to get some to my studio.

How do you feel your sound has evolved since you first started releasing music?

As I mentioned, I started making music to have an another creative layer for my book. Today, I can say that i am so passionate about music production, it has become my passion for life: to express myself with music and search always for the better. If you look through my catalog of releases, you’ll see that tracks are not limited to any genre. I try to create something meaningful for myself first. Therefore, it allows me to have larger creative space to work with.

Are there any artists you admire that you’d like to collaborate with one day?

There are many which i like and would love to collaborate! It’s really hard to name all! But i should say i admire Hannes Bieger’s work and i hope one day we make the dream come true. Another was Minstrel which i sought alot after; that dream came true!

What moment of your career are you most proud of so far?

To be a part of the Future Forward Media; the team is far away one of the best. I would also say release of Boomerang, being featured at Mixmag and having been played with many top artists is something that i am proud of: learned a lot, learning a lot.

How do you spend your downtime outside of music?

Actually, i have a day job as an executive at a global company so no downtimes allowed :)))

What else can we expect from you in the near future?

Lots! Been working on many new tracks which are on their as well as European gigs; starting with Cinema Hall Budapest on May 6th, with Stephan Jolk.

Buy Link: https://www.beatport.com/release/tor-ether-neue/3707612

https://soundcloud.com/krcl_music

https://www.facebook.com/krclmusic/

https://www.instagram.com/krcl_arts/

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JNR.

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

We’re scattered around Sydney, but we work out of our studio in Marrickville.

How did you first start playing music?

We were all drawn to music at a young age. Somehow that accidentally brought us together when we all took lessons at the same music school. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

What’s been happening recently?

We’re just all very stoked about this release. We’ve been super busy working with a lot of different artists as producers but are going to be getting in the studio this week to finish the next batch of singles.

How does it feel to have debuted as a band?

Like we’ve been keeping a secret for years and finally everyone knows. We were just kind of waiting for the right moment and the right song that would define us at the beginning. Now that we’ve made our debut it feels like we can go anywhere from here.

Your single ‘Remember’ is out now, how did this track come about?

This one is about my family, and particularly my granddad. When he started losing his memory, I got very introspective and themes of time, love, family and friendship just kind of blurted on the pages. The song doesn’t sound much like the meaning, but I kind of like it that way.

Where and when did you record/produce/master?

There are a lot of elements that we kept from the original demo that I recorded in my room mid last year. We recorded Max’s guitars and did some extra production at Nico’s house and mixed it at the studio in Marrickville.

How did you approach the recording process?

It was one of those tracks that didn’t take very long to finish. The bones of the track were already there, we just had to bring it to where we were hearing it in our heads. That part took a lot longer, we spent a lot of time in the studio tweaking the tiniest things.

Who or what influences your sound?

Thematically, we pull our influence from everyday problems, mental health, love, and relationships. We try to embody a mood brought upon by the lyrics in our production choices. But our influences range from Bon Iver, The 1975, BROCKHAMPTON, Tame Impala… there’s so much out there.

How has your previous music pursuits/bands etc led to the formation of JNR.?

We’ve technically been in the same band since high school. We’ve changed genres a few times as we’ve grown – but we’re in such a great place musically at the moment. I feel like we’ve found our place, though that might grow as we do.

What’s your plans for future releases?

We’ve got singles upon singles coming this year. We want to release as often as we can without burning out. There’s so many songs we’ve been sitting on that we can’t wait to show you.

Please tell us about the dynamic in the band between each member:

We’re all best friends. It’s hard to define that because we’ve been best friends for close to 10 years. We’re always there for one another and always will be – I guess that’s the dynamic.

Being a band of producers, how has this lent itself to the music production/creation process?

It’s really interesting. We all have our own ear and our own way of doing things, so it’s really helpful when we’re all in the room to see how other people listen to your work. Sometimes we’ll start a song from scratch in the room together, other times one of us has a fully completed song that just needs the others to get their hands on it. It depends on the song and what we want to work on.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Lizzy McAlpine’s new record is great. We’ve also been loving COIN’s new album. There’s so much good music being released now, this answer could go on forever.

What’s planned for 2022?

More music. More growth. More jnr.

Official Website
Triple J Unearthed
Facebook
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Youtube

 

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CryJaxx

by the partae
written by the partae

Who is CryJaxx? 

CryJaxx: “Well, CryJaxx is a DJ and record production duo consisting of Mario Malja and Serafin Frroku. We are both 23 years old and recently have graduated. Serafin graduated in Business Administration while Mario graduated in Business Informatics. Yet, now we are both studying a Master’s Degree, currently based in Tirana, Albania.”

How did you first start making music?

CryJaxx: “We started to make music together in 2012 under a different alias. That year the EDM scene was going crazy. We were listening to a lot of music and got intrigued on how we can make electronic music ourselves. Watched a lot of videos and tutorials online and finally felt ready to download the software and start taking this to the next level. 

In the first few years we were mostly focused on practicing and learning about music production and discovering what we can do best. In late 2015 we re-branded under CryJaxx and started releasing a lot of music, different genres and lots of exploring. 2019 was a good year for us because after our release of “Who Would’ve Thought” on Tribal Trap, we started DJ-ing in festivals and had a big tour. We both started young and making music was a very intriguing way for us to express our thoughts and feelings.”  

What’s been happening recently?

CryJaxx: “Recently a lot has been happening! Our track “Candy Shop” went viral. The track was everywhere: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and a lot of radio stations. That track was, and still is, a big success we achieved. Also, we played at Pop Art Festival in Tirana and it was insane! We produced the soundtrack to a fashion TV show here in Albania and also been spending a lot of time in the studio working on a lot of new music and some big collaborations. Recently we’ve been working very closely with the label Tribal Trap on releasing our music and have a lot of plans for the future with them. In June we are playing again in Tirana at Colourday Festival and looking forward to that. We are so humbled by all the support we’ve received.”

You’ve recently covered legendary Hip-Hop classic, “In Da Club” by 50 Cent, how did you come to choose this track and who did you work with?

CryJaxx: “Ah yes, “In Da Club” is, with no doubt, a legendary track that we always loved to listen and party with. The track was blowing up everywhere when we were little kids and basically it was stuck in our heads for years. Last year we released a cover of “Candy Shop” and right away were thinking to do the same for “In Da Club”, we knew this one had to be the next single to get a reboot from us. 

But at first, we wanted to see how people enjoyed this new version of another legendary song and everyone loved it! So, we immediately started working on it with our good friends, Noise Affairs. For the vocals, we had to get Junior Charles (who did the vocals for “Candy Shop” too), and shaped it into what it is today. It’s been a long process finishing this track because we wanted to be the best it could, but at the end it was a fun process and we are all very happy with what we have today: a legendary classic with a modern twist.”

What new music do you have on the way?

CryJaxx: “We do have a ton of new music on the way. A track every 3 weeks to be exact, and all these tracks will be released by Tribal Trap. After “In Da Club”, the next single to be released is “Lollipop” – a cover of Lil Wayne. This cover has that CryJaxx modern twist, but not so similar to our last covers. This one is a bit different, a bit softer and gives you the feeling of intimacy. You all can listen to “Lollipop” on May 13th.”

Who are you listening to at the moment?

CryJaxx: “At the moment we are listening to many different sounds. Would say we both listening to David Guetta a lot, to Tiesto, Diplo, The Kid Laroi, Jack Harlow, Ava Max and a ton of old school music. We also like classical music.”

What do you like to do away from music?

CryJaxx: “Away from music we like to do a lot of things to keep our body and mind healthy. We both go the gym and train, sometimes we play soccer with our friends and other times we just like to hangout to catch up with friends and family. We like to spend quality time with our families with that little free time we have. Also, our studies play a role in what we do away from music but still, we love to have music everywhere.”

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

CryJaxx: “For the upcoming months of 2022 we’ve planned a lot of music to be released. Currently working on few festivals and shows for the summer and yeah, we are filming some music videos too. 2022 has a lot of work for us to do, but we are definitely ready to get into that.”

Favourite food and place to hang-out?

CryJaxx: “Food..hmm…we love all kinds of food but lately been eating a lot of Asian food. Favourite place to hangout is the studio haha. Besides that, we love nature and there is a lake near Tirana where we go to chill out when we have some free time.”

https://www.instagram.com/CryJaxx
 https://www.sptfy.com/CryJaxx

 

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Superbloom

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

We’re in sunny North London.

How did Superbloom form?

Sam (our drummer) and I have been friends for years. We used to play at one of our local venues, The Green Room in Welwyn Garden City, in separate bands when we were kids. This was back in the day when people went out to gigs on a Tuesday night, just for fun! We had a lot of mutual friends and ended up playing in a band together. Many years and musical projects later, we started Superbloom.

What’s been happening recently?

Well the bleakness of the pandemic finally seems to be coming to an end, so the last few months have been pretty good by comparison!

Since the start of the year we’ve been focused on releasing Smile. This involved adding the finishing touches to the mix, creating the artwork and music video, contacting blogs and radio stations etc. It’s been a lot of work, but thankfully it’s been totally worth it. Now we’re looking forward to putting together a new live set and getting out on the road.

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

It was one of the first songs we wrote together as a band, and is ironically one of the most technical. Having just started a fresh new project, we were building from a blank canvas and experimenting with different sounds and writing styles. I think this experimentation led to the track being quite progressive. Having said that, as a vocalist I like to write catchy, hooky melodies, so hopefully it still has that sing-along feel.

How did you go about writing Smile?

It was quite a while ago now, so this is testing my memory… I just remember me and Sam bouncing ideas off each other in my old home studio (bedroom at the time!). It was the product of a laptop, an interface, a guitar, some programmed drums and a cheap vocal mic. Most of our songs start off this way. Once the bones are there we head into the rehearsal studio and really get to work.

I do remember the bass riff at the start being a very last-minute addition though. Now I can’t imagine it any other way!

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

We recorded Smile at Broadfields Studio in Watford, London with Tom (Mitch) Mitchener. I think it was around 2018. Mitch produced, engineered, mixed and mastered the track. He basically became part of the band for the week we were there recording our first batch of songs. It was invaluable having his creative input, given we only have two core members.

How did you approach the recording process?

We’d worked at several music studios with several producers in the past, so we knew exactly what we wanted (and didn’t want). Not only from the sound we produced, but the studio experience as a whole. We always try to have solid demos recorded and be well rehearsed before heading into the studio, as this saves time, money and keeps stress to a minimum. It just means you can really enjoy yourself and have fun with it. We even knew what kinds of effects we wanted on different sections of the guitars and vocals, it was just down to Mitch to dig out the right pedals. He always seemed to get it right first time!

You have an album on the way, what can we expect?

We’re a pretty new band, so we’re still searching for the sound that makes us, ‘us’. I guess this could be misinterpreted as a negative thing, but we don’t see it that way. At the moment we’re just enjoying the journey and relishing the challenge. So, album-wise, I’d expect something diverse. It’ll still fall under the Alternative Rock umbrella, for sure, but there’ll be a lot of variety from track to track.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve always listened to a wide range of music. Looking at my Spotify recent searches, the latest are Kenny Wayne Shepherd, All Them Witches, Steven Wilson, The Mysterines and Alanis Morissette. Kind of eclectic, but that’s good, right?

What do you like to do away from music?

My day job and music seem to take up more or less my entire life. But aside from that I like to keep fit. I spend a fair bit of time in the gym and play a lot of sport (mainly football). I’m also a pretty avid cook and love cooking up a feast for friends. We’ll come on to my love of food later…

What’s planned for 2022?

We’re gagging to get out and play more shows. As I said before, the pandemic has really limited us in that respect, so that’s a big ambition for the rest of the year. We’ve got a few things in the pipeline, so keep an eye out for dates!

We’re also working towards the launch of our first full-length album, so that’ll keep us busy.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I like this question. I love food. My favourite is probably pizza, and curry. And nachos. And everything.

I’m getting more and more anti-social as I get older, so hangouts aren’t what they used to be. I like going out for some food and a few drinks somewhere local, so I don’t have to worry too much about the calamity that is public transport. I also like playing sport, so maybe on the football pitch? It’s always nice having a few beers in the bar after too.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/superbloom.uk/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/superbloomuk

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/6blYWrFo2gqUn5QvnvlRgl?si=qH3wKlnKToeclPmrrAs99w

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWDS0NUyATKam8C4tS3zH_Q

Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/superbloomuk

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Just a Gent

by the partae
written by the partae

The release of this album feels like a milestone for you and for fans alike; how does it feel to have this collection be so definitive as your sound?

It feels incredible, a huge part of why I wrote this record was to have a full piece that screams this is Just A Gent and this is who I am. Part of me wishes I had done it sooner but I’m stoked it’s finally here 

Talk us through some of your favourite moments of the album, and the importance of each of the collaborators you worked with on it: how did you go about linking up with the guests we hear on the album?

I’ve been putting together the album for a couple years now and some of the ideas have been sitting around for years and years. I think a few of my favourite moments are the more recent tracks I created to fit the record like lightspeed and planet oasis. I really enjoyed creating those, just drifting off into my imagination and letting them be whatever they wanted and I love how it brings me back to that when I listen.

In terms of collaborations these are all friends who I’ve worked with in the past or been working with in some capacity for a while. For this record I just wanted to work with people I cherished and creatives I trust. Everyone on this record has their own unique  taste and they all stay true to themselves. 

When you listen back through this record; what stands out the most to you about how your skills as a songwriter/producer have evolved over the last few years?

When I listen back, I think I’ve stopped thinking as much about what everyone else is going to think and I’m just making music that I want to hear myself. I think as a producer I’ve tried to take a step back and focus a lot more on the songwriting / sonics of these tunes. I usually have a tendency to overdo it, add to many elements, push the mix way to loud etc. So with this record I went for a less is more approach and really tried to nail the sounds and sonics of the guts of the ideas rather than overcomplicate them.

Do you think, in making this album, your approach to music making in general has changed in any particular way?

Absolutely, I’ve never committed to finishing so many songs for 1 project and its certainly stressful. In the past I’ve just worked at my own pace and really refined things before they were released but the more I worked on this record like I had previous projects it was just neverending. I think I had to find a point in all these songs where I said enough is enough and really pick and choose the best elements/ best tracks and recycle the rest. Originally tnjs would of been a 24 track double LP but had to make some sacrifices for the sake of my sanity

 

If this is the jump off point for a new Just A Gent fan, what kind of energy do you hope is instilled in them through listening to it?

I hope they can find some creative energy. My goal with this entire record is to inspire people to create and innovate. Even if that’s not the outcome, whatever they take from the record is why I do this. Sharing these songs/sounds in the hopes people can feel what I have felt during writing them and finishing them. Music still blows my mind everyday, how powerful of an effect it can have on your mood or a certain situation. If my sounds are enough to fluctuate someone’s choices into a more positive place than I’ve done my job

Australian dance and beats-driven music is properly having a *moment* right now – what is it about this sort of music being made out of this country that is really nailing it?

I think it’s been this way since I have been in the scene. Aussies have always been one step ahead and it’s not because we want to be ahead of the curve, it’s because we are just making it for fun. We are fortunate to be surrounded by such talented artists here that preach about just being creative, having fun with it and trying to stretch our imaginations to the limit. It’s so good to see so many friends/comrades killing it in the worldwide scene and I never doubted any of them. If you create to your own taste and make music for you then I don’t see how you can ever fail.

Are you listening to any artists or producers right now who feel in any way influential on the way you’re looking at music, creatively?

Always! At the moment I’ve really been loving Magdalena Bay. They are out of LA, I’ve only recently discovered them and I can’t get enough. Their new track dreamcatching has one of the coolest video clips I’ve ever seen and their sound is just so pretty and perfect. They just get it. 

The album already feels set up for the live scene – what are you looking forward to the most about getting the new music ready for tour?

Now that I’ve finally got a full record I’m just keen to play it out. I have never tested any of these songs to audiences because this record has come together during the last couple years. I can’t wait to see how people react to the songs live and on a huge system where I’m hoping it sounds it’s best. This will be the first tour where I’m gonna be really showing what just a gent is rather than DJing and playing a bunch of times I like. Very excited ?

 

https://www.facebook.com/JustaGent

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Sarah Yagki

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
I am currently based in inner west Sydney.
 
How did you first start playing music?
I started playing music from a young age, always wanting to get into singing but waiting till I was 14 so I could work and pay for singing lessons. I then started playing piano and then continued my love of music by studying at the Australian Institute of Music.
 
What’s been happening recently?

I’ve recently just released my new single Wanted More, along with performing at The Vanguard for the single launch and sharing original released and unreleased music. I have also been recording, writing and producing some new music along with performing at multiple venues and events, including opening for QLD Pop Artist Erin Foster at Factory Theatre.

Your latest single ‘Wanted More’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
The influences on the sound were my last few singles, and wanting to create a song that really tied up what I have been doing in my previous songs, and what I’m leaning towards in my new songs. The pop melody and beat, along with some melancolic strings and synth sounds really lift the song and enhance the songwriting where I explored the ideas of love and past relationships influencing the new.
 
How did you go about writing Wanted More?
I wrote Wanted More 3 years ago, and recently finished it when it took me time to reflect on the song’s intent. The song’s core is writing about navigating your way in a new relationship, whilst trying to let go of baggage from the last. I needed time to go through my own experiences in relationships, to really convey the meaning of Wanted More as authentically as I can.
 
What does this single mean to you?
This single means a lot to me as it marks a few years of discovering my own meaning to the song through experiencing what myself and my closest friends were going through. It also wraps up a period of music for me and is the last single before a slight shift in my sound as I mature through my own art as an artist.
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
The song was recorded in St Leonards with my producer James Guido and mastered by Klaus Hill!
 
How did you approach the recording process?
I approached the recording process through laying down the instrumental with the producer first, and then laying the vocals down and going through the best way to have the quality tone and execution of it vocally.
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I am listening to a lot of ROLE MODEL, Blake Rose and Isaac Dunbar.
 
What do you like to do away from music?
I love to go outside in the sun (when it’s actually sunny), spend time with friends and just explore new places and locations.
 
What’s planned for 2022?
2022 will see more live shows, some more visuals and some more singles – maybe even a collection or two of them!
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Favourite food is anything Italian and my favourite place to hang out is genuinely in my studio. It’s where I can feel most centred and grounded to myself in my own space among the chaoticness that life can be.
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Set The Record

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

We’re based out of Brisbane.

 

How did you first start playing music?

Ian and I found each other on a musicians website in the classifieds section… they used to be a thing back in the day. We then reached out to other people we knew within our networks to find everyone else. We’ve had 2 new members since forming, but once we all had an obligatory day of hanging out and eating pizza (gotta honor those pop punk roots), that was it. I couldn’t think of a better bunch of guys to be squished next to for hours on end while touring in a disproportionately small car.

 

What’s been happening recently?

Our guitarist Rohan just had his first child, so he’s been learning how to nail Dad jokes and dodge wee in between shows. The rest of us have been doing a bunch of stuff behind the scenes preparing for this release. But now that’s out, it’s back to working on our live show… aka booking a practice room and talking shit for hours, oh yeah… and playing music.

 

Your album ‘Time To Breathe’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

This album is like a time capsule of the past few years. Each of us have really meaningful songs on there, or parts of songs that are real life. Whether that be heartbreak, falling in love… or looking at where you’ve come from or where you might be at – the release is influenced by our lives.

 

How did you go about writing the album?

We had taken a bit of a break prior to recording, so we had a fair few complete songs that we’d worked on during that time. We also had a lot of ‘songs in progress’ and random ideas that needed sorting. So we decided to book a writing/pre-production session over a few days with Troy Brady (ex Amity Affliction). He brought a new perspective to things and helped us narrow the list, focus on the good, bin the bad and finalise the outline of the album.

 

What does this album mean to you?

This album represents a turning point for the band. I feel like we’ve stepped out from the shadow of our youth, and embraced a deeper, more honest side of ourselves. This vulnerability has given us more depth – something we were lacking in before. I know for a lot of us it also represents a release to all of those feelings and situations. It feels good to finally have it out there.

 

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

We recorded in Brisbane in early 2020 with Troy Brady as our engineer and producer. Beau McKee mastered the album.

 

How did you approach the recording process?

After our pre-production and writing session with Troy, we booked in with him to get to work. We’d already done a lot to refine the tracks, so we really just needed to figure out what our ‘new’ sound would be. It was important that we honored our pop-punk roots, while expanding and modernising our sound. We had a rough idea and a few loose references, but once Troy started recording he really helped bring the album to life.

 

Please tell us about your single ‘Give Me a Second’ how it came about and what the tracks mean to you?

As a band, our music has always been quite “positive”, with our lyrics usually looking at the bright side of every situation. For this track (and many off the album) we wanted to be more honest and transparent about those less desirable times. Times when you know you’ve fucked up, or feel hopeless and there’s nothing left to do but scream and beg for forgiveness. Nothing but time will help. For me, this song is an expression of that feeling of helplessness and sometimes you just need to sit with those emotions, put a soundtrack to your feelings, and let time do its thing.

 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

We have extremely varied tastes and right now it’s everything from pop powerhouses like Adele and Ed Sheeran through to Halsey, or BMTH, ADTR and MGK. I personally love me some pop punk/emo so lately I’ve been vibing with Super American. Also, loving the new music our old friends in Stand Atlantic have been releasing – ‘hair out’ is a freakin’ bop.

 

What do you like to do away from music?

I enjoy a cheeky beach trip with my girlfriend and our dogs – or anywhere out in nature. I also ride motorbikes and find that a lot of my creative thoughts come when I’m riding.

 

What’s planned for 2022?

We just released an album, so we’re going back to what we love most: live shows. We want to share our music with as many people we can this year, and nothing beats the energy from a bunch of like-minded people jamming out together. We’re also starting to bring together some ideas for new songs, so probably a bit of writing too.

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Anywhere there’s seafood. I will eat the shit out of a moreton bay bug… oh, and Guzzies – classic.

Favourite place to hang out is at band practice. Couple of beers with some of your best mates talking shit and jamming… nothing better.

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Soft Powder

by the partae
written by the partae

What does it mean for you to have this collection of music out in the world after first introducing your sound across the first two EP projects and recent singles?

When I first started making songs for Soft Powder I kind of set myself a long term goal: to compose, produce, mix and release my own album. So honestly, I feel accomplished and kind of relieved. This album is the culmination of all of my influences and experiences, and I’m both excited and scared that it’s “out there” now. I’ve been sitting on some of these songs for a long time and now that I’ve got them off my chest I feel ready to write more music.

‘Somewhere Like Paradise’ – where did that name originate and what significance do you think it still holds with the album material today?

Over the last two years, the process of writing and recording the songs on the album became a means for me to escape from reality and find relief, and the creative process really helped me cope. The idea of escapism has always been a central theme in my songs because it’s something I’ve always relied on, and ‘Somewhere Like Paradise’ encapsulates this idea. The title track ‘Somewhere Like Paradise’ was actually one of the first songs I wrote for this album, and it set the tone for the rest of the record – it felt like the perfect name for the album as well. I think every song on the record has the same melancholic, escapist energy that ‘Somewhere Like Paradise’ evokes.

Is there any one particular track that sticks out as a current favourite (why?)

Hmm this is a really difficult question because it changes all the time. Each song is acutely personal and so they each resonate with me in different ways. However, the one song that I think represents the Soft Powder project the best is ‘Close Your Eyes’. I think it’s the dreamiest song I’ve written, and I like how it kind of has a meandering, hopeful energy, but it also feels somber and nostalgic. 

What did you learn about the way you approach music, as a result of making this album?

The main thing I learnt about the way I approach music is that if an idea doesn’t immediately feel good to me, it goes in the bin, despite how good it might sound. This is probably an inefficient and impulsive way of writing music, but I have to be really invested in the idea or the song I’m writing, otherwise the song won’t go anywhere.

Do you think you would have done anything different in terms of the production or artistic process?

I would have used less reverb. I usually get carried away when I’m writing and recording music, so I should probably get someone else to produce my next record so that there is another set of ears on the project.

Have you thought about how the album is going to be realised live – that’s exciting!

I have given it a little bit of thought, but I still can’t decide if I want to play with a live band, or if I want to try and do everything myself, or if I want to exist solely online and not play shows. I once saw Molly Nilsson perform and she just sang her vocals live with a CD player playing her backing tracks and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I am conflicted and I need to think about this more! If/when I play shows, I want to incorporate more visual elements into the performance, as the album is as much a visual experience as it is a sonic one.

For people who might be coming to Soft Powder for the first time with tihs record – what do you hope people take away from it when it comes to learning about you?

Honestly, I don’t really want people to learn anything about me, but I’d really like people to experience the same relief and momentary escape from reality that I felt when I was writing the songs. I hope these songs are a source of comfort for listeners, and that the songs prompt their minds to wander.

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