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Izza

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

I’m in LA! 

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing piano when I was a kid which eventually led me to songwriting and performing. I’ve always been a fan of music and I love being able to be an artist and make my own music now. 

What’s been happening recently?

A lot! I have been busy recording and planning my song releases. 

Your latest single ‘Shut Up!’ came out on Feb 4; what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I wanted to create a song that had attitude and spunk. The lyrics reference themes of royalty and taking back your power through your individuality. I wanted the production to be simple, but powerful because the lyrics are the focal point of the track. 

How did you go about writing ‘Shut Up!’?

I wrote “Shut Up!” as a sequel to my song “Too Hot.” Both songs celebrate individuality and being authentic to yourself no matter how much others want to dim your light. It’s about blocking the haters and being confident in your identity.

Where and when did you record/produce/master?

The overall process for “Shut Up!” was very quick. I finished the writing, recording, and mastering in about 3 weeks. I made the song in December 2021 and I’m releasing it now! 

How has the pandemic affected your process?

The pandemic has allowed me to focus on music and find my voice. I’ve been writing every day and formulating a pop sound that beat represents me as an artist. 

What does your other current single ‘Too Hot’ mean to you?

“Too Hot” is special to me because it’s the song that inspired me to write more unapologetic pop songs like “Shut Up!” I want to bring that fierce pop energy back to the music industry like how it was in the late 2000s early 2010s. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Noga Erez.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love being active whether that’s playing tennis, hiking, or rock climbing. 

What’s planned for 2022?

The plan is to continue to release music and hopefully play some live shows! 

Favourite food and place to hang out?

I really like sushi and Mexican food. If I’m not making music, I am usually hanging out outside like at the beach or in the hills on a hike.

https://www.instagram.com/izzaroze/

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The Stained Daisies

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

All four of us are based a stone’s throw from each other in Coburg, Melbourne. Me (Jack), Dan and Jayden live together and Bartos lives a block or so away. 
 
How did you first start playing music?
Dan, Jayden and I all started fucking about with music in Grafton, which is a small country town in northern NSW. We had a few jams, wrote a few tunes, picked up Aidan, our drummer in Bega, and moved to the big smoke.
 
What’s been happening recently?
During the back end of last year, post lockdown, we did a few really good gigs performing our last release – ‘Jazz Club.’ We launched Jazz Club at Bar Open in Fitzroy which was potentially our best gig yet. We also supported Dr Sures Unusual Practice and Barefoot Bowls Club, a couple of great local bands, to round out 2021. We were then prepped to play River Sounds, a festival in Bellingen with some great acts involved including Regurgitator and Baker Boy, however, Omicron had other plans. We also had a big tour booked, to launch this upcoming EP – ‘Give It To Em,’ but alas, that has also been pushed back. Ah well. 
 
Your latest single ‘Individuality (Is Fine As Long As We Do It Together’) is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I was reading a heap of stuff during all the Covid lockdowns down here in Melbourne and I stumbled upon some stuff that intrigued me about group identities, the individual, duality and that sort of stuff. I still don’t know if I properly understand it all but I found it all intriguing nonetheless. So that partially influenced my lyrical approach to the tune. I also stole the title of the song from a M*A*S*H episode, where Frank Burns replies to Hawkeye – “Nothing’s wrong with individuality, as long as we all do it together.” I thought it was clever and so I pinched it and slightly reworked it into the tune and mashed (pardon the pun) it up with some of the other ideas that were floating about in my brain. Dr Sures Unusuals Practice also influenced me in lending my hand at some more punky vibed tunes.
 
How did you go about writing the single?
I woke up, had the chorus in my head straight away and then just went down into our home studio thing in Coburg and got our little track recorder out and recorded it all. It was just a rough demo but I wrote and recorded it in about two hours. It was one of those ones that sort of just fell out of me with very little effort. I then got Dan to sing a few different lines in the song for dynamics and Jayden put some harmonies on it and Roberts your mum’s brother. 
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
After I’d recorded the demo and that, we decided it’d potentially be a cool single so we decided to make it some sort of a release. We had a couple of other tracks that had a similar punky, political vibe so we pieced them all together and went and recorded with Maxy from Cellar Sessions Studios in Coburg North. Absolute legend of a human. Aidan, aka Frank Falcon, aka Tiny Barbutos Bartman, our drummer, is also a hell of a mixer, masterer, producer person so he did all the behind the scenes mixing and mastering. 
 
How did you approach the recording process?
We took a fairly stripped back approach to this one. All four of us just got into a room, recorded the instrumentation after a few takes, and then overdubbed the vocals, harmonies and a few of Jaydens guitar parts. 
 
Your forthcoming EP ‘Give It To Em’ is on the way, what can we expect?
Yep. So it’s a four-track EP with one song written and sung by me and three songs written as a band with Dan taking lead vocals. You can expect some fairly in your face, punky sort of tunes sprinkled with a bit of groove. It is a fairly politically driven EP, particularly some of Dan’s songs where he touches on ScoMo (godboy), the Murray Darling basin fiasco, Indigenous issues and the like. I won’t go into too much depth about his lyrics because I don’t wanna speak for him. I will say this though; give it to em. 
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been absolutely thrashing 90’s hip-hop at the moment which doesn’t really add up to the sort of vibe of what we’ve just recorded but there ya go. Heaps of Biggie, Raekwon, Cypress Hill, Dre. I’ve also been digging Kanye’s new one – Donda. We have also been giving Dr Sures most recent album a fairly good go. Hmmm, what else? We all loved the Get Back doco so that got us back into a bit of a Beatles phase. Blaze Foley, James Taylor, And Townes Van Zandt have also featured over the past month or so. 
 
What do you like to do away from music?
Read, surf, and hang with mates. To be fair, a large chunk of all our lives is dominated by music whether that is writing, gigging, mixing, jamming or going to other peoples gigs. 
 
What’s planned for 2022?
It’s hard to plan much with the whole spicy cough situation but we are going to try and re-organise our Give It To Em tour for later in the year. We are also looking to record our second full-length album which I think is going to be a bit slower, and more ‘acousticy’ driven stuff. Who knows though. We are also going to drop a couple of singles not long after the release of ‘Give It To Em’ I think, so keep a lookout for those. 
 

Favourite food and place to hang out?

A lot of my mates work in this little section of Johnston street in Abbotsford in a couple of breweries and restaurants – Bodriggy Brewing and Rita’s Pizzeria. So those two places are pretty hard to beat. We also have a couple of really nice local restaurants right at our doorstep – McDonald’s and Hungry Jacks. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of them but yeah, they’re pretty good. Tasty, cheap, healthy. Ticks all the boxes. 
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Soft Powder

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Naarm (Melbourne).

How did you first start playing music?

I learnt the piano when I was really young and picked up the guitar in my teens after watching videos of Led Zeppelin. I also vividly remember my Dad playing Elvis and Roy Orbison covers with his friend; I was always surrounded by music growing up.

What’s been happening recently?

Aside from releasing new music for the first time in over two years, I’ve been celebrating the Lunar New Year with friends and family which has been nice! I’ve also been working on more new music so I think I’ll release it soon.

Your latest single ‘Running Through The Dark’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The song encapsulates the chaotic mood I was in at the time. I had a lot on my mind and I was quite stressed, a lot of which I had internalised. It was at the start of the pandemic when we were in lockdown, and I wanted to write a song which felt like I was escaping the thoughts in my head. As we were stuck at home all the time, I wanted the song to have a “tunnel vision” feeling, and I wanted to feel like I was running through the streets at night. The sound of the song is influenced by abrasive guitar solos of the 80s, like the spacey, “chorusey” sounding ones that Metallica, Van Halen, and The Cure were creating. The sound of the song is also influenced by the repetitive drum machine beats you hear in Kraftwerk songs, and the manic, neon-lit atmosphere in Wong Kar-wai movies.

How did you go about writing Running Through The Dark?

Running Through The Dark was actually written unintentionally. During lockdown, I was bored and decided to do a Vapour Trail (by RIDE) cover, so I was playing around with some synth sounds and drum machine beats. I got sidetracked after finding some sounds I liked and I ended up going with it and writing Running Through The Dark. The Vapour Trail cover never happened.

Please tell us about the recording/production process:

After experimenting with the synth and drum machine sounds, I recorded them onto my computer and created some loops. I would then play the loops repeatedly whilst playing around with my guitar to find something that worked. I would do this with each instrument, layering each one until the loops started to feel cohesive and take the form of a song. I would then bounce some of the audio track loops out to my phone, which I would then play through my mic’d up guitar amplifier. This process makes the audio tracks sound more “present” and “real”. My friend taught me that trick! I then mixed the song myself and sent it off to Will Yip for mastering.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

My two most recently played artists on Spotify are Mazzy Star and Turnstile (their new record is so good).

What do you like to do away from music?

I like to think a lot, and I also like to watch films.

What do you have planned for 2022?

Although it’s difficult making plans at the moment, I want to release more music and hopefully play some shows. I’m also playing live guitar in my friends’ band so that should be fun as well. I also want to collaborate with some friends, something I haven’t really done in years.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Hmmm my favourite food is probably roti canai. I used to eat it with my parents whenever I went to Malaysia to visit my grandparents. It’s hard to find an authentic roti canai in Melbourne, so my favourite place to hangout would be wherever I can find some.

Running Through The Dark is out now.
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed

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Bodyjar

by the partae
written by the partae

We sat down with Tom…

 

Where are you currently based?

In Rye, on the Mornington Peninsula. Along with half of Victoria right now!!!

What’s been happening recently?

Busy working my day job as a locksmith! Our new album “New Rituals” is due out early Feb with a new single too, so, planning a new video for that, as well as some sort of live filmy kinda thing. Rehearsing for some shows which we are really hoping will go ahead and not get canceled or postponed again!!!

Your 7th album ‘New Rituals’ will be released on Feb 4, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 I was listening to Against Me ‘White crosses’ a lot, The Bronx IV, Bad religion ‘Age of Unreason’ and Off With Their Heads ‘Home’ when I was writing tunes for this record.

Sound wise I tried to clean up the guitar tones a little bit, to get some more clarity and punch in the songs, But mixing wise I was happy to leave it to Steve Evetts to just work his magic. I guess choosing him to mix was the biggest influence on the sound of the record!

How did you go about writing the album?

Most of the songs i wrote at home and then showed them to the band, we worked on the arrangements together in a jam room. We did a little bit of co-writing, but not as much as in the past. Families, jobs and covid got in the way of that a bit, but i don’t think the record has suffered from that, we just kept writing until we had enough good songs to get it done.

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

We recorded the album with Sam Johnson at his studio ‘Holes and corners’ in South Melbourne. That was great for me, coming to the city, getting uber eats and going to the South Melbourne market! Sammy is super cool to work with, we’ve known him from bands and touring and what not for decades so it was very easy to just plug into the sessions and get to work. Lockdowns were a real pain, but we got it done eventually.

Steve Evetts mixed the record in America, this worked really well for me too!!! Not being there for mixing, he would just interpret things the way he does, and then presented a mix to us. It was good because some of the songs were getting quite old for us, so his fresh ideas were appreciated a lot. Funnily enough, he had never heard ‘rain’ by Dragon before, so the mix of that was exciting to hear!!

How did you approach the recording process?

We recorded in 3 or 4 song blocks. We did 4 of those sessions over what felt like years!! Sometimes we played around with arrangements and stuff in the studio, which is rare for us, but mostly the songs were ready to track so it was a pretty quick process once we got in there. Drums first, layout the bed, then vocals after.

Jon Toogood sings the verses and pre chorus’ on Be The One which is awesome, i just went to his house and we tracked that upstairs in his spare room. That was so great, watching the greatest frontman in rock tracking one of your songs!!!

What programs/equipment did you use?

Guitar wise I used a lot of single coil telecasters, into an old Hiwatt turned up to 10 and a Marshall JMP. Cam had his SG into a Fender supersonic and a JCM 800 mostly.

Sammy has a custom Neve style thing he has running into protools. We used a Kemper for some overdubs, it’s so easy to dial up a sound with that thing, with a bunch of guitars like les pauls, telecasters with P90’s more SG’s, firebird, rickenbacker and Colesy’s (luthier Adam Cole) famous nashville tuned old guitary thing!!!

How will you be supporting the release of New Rituals?

PLEASE LET US PLAY……..we just wanna play. I fixed a lock at the local church last week, so i’m hoping they put in a word with hillsong or something.

The only way we know how, to release an album, is to play it live. So hopefully we will be doing that.

What motivates you to keep writing and playing music?

Writing wise, I just want to get better at it, it’s a really fun journey. I can lose hours at night in my little room caught up in a song. It’s like every song you write is the best one you’ve ever made, until your manager hears it and says ‘ it didn’t really grab me’  or ‘i’ve heard better’ which really is motivation in itself!!!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Face To Face’s latest album ‘No way out but through’

Weezer ‘Van Weezer’

The Daniel Johns podcast

Turnstyle ‘Glow On’

Gyroscopes entire back catalogue!

What do you like to do away from music?

Hanging with the kids, as much surfing as my old bones can take, avoiding work, a couple of beers with mates whilst our kids run wild!

How’s the punk scene changed since the band first started?

 Wow, it’s hard to remember the smell of the old Arthouse or the Punters club, the Annandale in Sydney, it’s mainly the venues for me, i still see a lot of the old faces, but the places have changed so much.

And bloody facedagram, all the things we did in those days, I’m pretty happy there were no mobile phone cameras documenting that!!

What’s planned for 2022?

GIGS!!!!

 I’ve got some new tunes, a plan for a different kind of release that I think we could get off the ground quite quickly.

A holiday up North????

Favourite food and place to hangout?

 I love Pho. breakfast, lunch or dinner. I’ll take it.

Hanging in my yard listening to the waves, in between screaming boys and the terrible music they listen to. Oh wow. I’ve turned into my mother……. I’m going to have a valium and a glass of brandy….

 

https://www.bodyjar.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bodyjar

https://www.instagram.com/bodyjar_official

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Nikki Wishart

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Sydney, Australia. 

How did you first start playing music?

As my parents would confirm, I was always a shy and reserved child. I needed to be confident I could do something perfectly before attempting it. Strange, I know. But that’s where the music came in; I grew up in a household that loved The Eagles and other bands of the sort. By four years old, I realised music was my escape. I was no longer anxious. I was no longer scared, only excited. Innocently beautiful beginnings that have led me to a wonderful world of creatives and friends. 

What’s been happening recently?

Over the past year, I have indeed found my sound and direction in the industry, from making EDM pop to indie, stripped back tunes like ‘compromised.’ I wrote a lot, some good, a lot not so good (like I’m sure everyone does). Both with others and by myself. I made a choice in 2021, after moving from Melbourne to Sydney, that I would spend time refining my craft rather than proving to people that I was “doing things” online, and that’s exactly how ‘compromised’ came about.  

Your latest single ‘Compromised’ will be released on February 10, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

‘Compromised’ draws inspiration from all arms of the indie scene. We wanted to create an epic, symphonic ending that encapsulated the breakdown and heartbreak in the lyrics. We drew influence from tracks such as ‘All I Want’ by Kodaline to achieve this.  

For the overall vibe, I was, and still am, heavily influenced by the likes of Chelsea Cutler and Holly Humberstone for both the sound and songwriting. 

How did you go about writing Compromised?

‘Compromised’ came about in typical pandemic zoom session fashion. I had never written with Noah Vernon (my co-writer) before, but for some reason felt like I could tell him about everything I had been going through. It’s funny to look back at that moment now; little did I know it would form such a beautiful friendship. 

The song foundations came from a song called ‘Runaway’ by Half.Alive. I had noticed the person I was seeing casually at the time liked it, and we thought it would be a cool idea to flip the band name and title into a sad-girl tune about how confused I was. 

I find that weird, quirky ideas always create the most remarkable and unique songs. 

What’s the story behind the single?

2021 was a weird year for me. 

From initial excitement to complications and compromised moments, I learnt a lot about myself and who I am in relationships (unlabelled or not). 

Sometimes things in life are hard to explain. Not always black and white. Not always meant to work out, no matter how much you want them to. 

Written in a time when things were so intense, so caring, yet so hurtful. Weirdly I’m still trying to find the words to define what I went through. Amid an entangled situationship, I lost a friend, someone I would’ve done anything for, picked up the phone at any moment. I compromised a lot, and that’s where this song comes in. 

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

I was more than excited to work with Ben Oldland on this track. From the minute we sent over the song, he got it. He got the references. He got the end goal. Noah and I talked about how insanely talented he was and how right he was for the project. His creativity and skill are insane, and I’m honoured to have collaborated with him on my 2022 releases.  

Nick from Panorama Mastering put the final touches on a song so dear to my heart. 

How did you approach the recording process?

It was different from how I had previously recorded tracks as it was entirely over Zoom. Creating the right vibe and tone in the room is hard virtually, but the boys made it seamless and easy. 

I always include co-writers in every stage of the process, so Noah was a part of all of the recording because a song is a team effort, no one person. 

What’s planned for 2022?

I’m more than excited for 2022. I have a few more releases planned, but I see this year as a one of growth and establishing myself in the indie scene. 

Please tell us about your future direction as a songwriter?

My aim as a songwriter is to continue to write music and lyrics that are different but real, honest and vulnerable. I want to find ways to say things that people can’t articulate because, from personal experience, I know how finding a song that explains exactly what you’re going through can make it just a little bit easier. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I love Gracie Abrams – especially her most recent album, ‘This is What It Feels Like’ 

I actually have a playlist filled with all the songs I listened to throughout the making of the track. 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/18Cker24JYi0V0gMjPSsEC?si=7016a4e5b50b476a

What do you like to do away from music?

Away from music, I’m a graphic designer. I also love working out, playing any sport I can get my hands on and listening to podcasts. 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love hanging out at the local national park; you will literally find me there every day. 

Favourite food would have to be ice cream or Vietnamese Pho.

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Abi Muir

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently living in Cairns, and have been for 7 years now, although I’m originally from the tiny Isle Barra off the West Coast of Scotland.

 

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve been around music and the arts my entire life and, coming from Scotland, it was a huge part of my soul/culture. I was brought up as a Highland Dancer and played the fiddle and piano at school (but NOT the bagpipes!). I’ve always loved the idea of being a singer, and a couple of years ago started writing my own songs in a little homemade recording booth in my parents garage. The success of my debut single Heebiejeebies inspired me to continue to chase this dream and I’m now following a path to make singing my career. 

 

What’s been happening recently?

I finished school last year (yeay!) and just started my Cert 3 in Music at TAFE. It’s great fun being around like-minded people and getting to be a full time music student. I have lots of new music coming out soon. Still the Same was the first single of my debut EP of 5 new original songs coming out in March. We’re releasing the second single from the EP on 11th February, called Stockholm – and it’s something a little different from my normal. We’ve just finished filming the music video for this one, in the rainforest in the heat of summer!! I also have my first co-headline gig at the Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns on 18th Feb and then will be performing at The Powerhouse in Brisbane April 24th. So I’m very excited for everything that’s happening over the next few months and can’t wait to share my new music with everyone. 

 

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

I read a book called ‘The Invisible Life of Addie Larue’ and was super inspired by the concept of time passing and growing as a person, but still having the same feelings you had for someone from your past, a love that never really went away. It’s a very heartfelt song and the lyrics reflect on whether your old lover or yourself are still the same person you were. Something I think everyone can relate to, so definitely give it a listen if you haven’t! 

 

How did the concept for the music video come about?

I wanted a super homey-type video. Inspired by those scenes in movies when families watch their old home videos. I wanted it to look as if I’m turning through the pages of my scrapbook and I’m reliving the memories. It’s a cute and simple concept, and includes footage from the live performance from the Single Launch at Bar36! 

 

Where did you film and who did you work with?

My sister and best friend filmed me awkwardly running around the Esplanade for the ‘memories’ haha. My good friend also took the video of me singing live at Bar36, so it was a very personal video made by myself with the help of my friends and family. It’s supposed to be quite raw and not so professional, and I think that’s translated well in the video. 

 

Your upcoming single ‘Stockholm’ will be released soon, how did this track come about and what does it mean to you?

Stockholm was a song I wrote on a random Thursday in my Garage. I had this concept of being in love with the villain and the little idea spiralled into the huge song that it now is. I worked with some of the boys from a progressive rock band Forest, and we turned into a powerful, heavy song that I don’t think people are quite expecting from me. It releases on 11th Feb. 

 

You’ll be releasing your debut EP soon, please tell us about this project:

It’s my first time putting out more than just a single and I am soooo excited!! Songwriting for me is all about storytelling, and the EP tracks are in a very specific order telling a story of falling in love and then it progresses through the falling apart and things quickly going downhill. The lyrics are so important in this project! It’s also my first time delving into different genres of music. Previously, my music has only been pop. But on this EP, I have funk, rock, jazz and a little doo-wop! It’s quite eclectic in the best way possible — there’s something for everyone!

 

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

I had plans to record with Simon Cohen at Studios 301 in Sydney, but covid happened and I ended up recording in Brisbane at The Plutonium Studio with Aiden Hogg! It was such a fun experience as I’m used to doing everything myself. It was nice to be able to JUST sing and let someone else do all the work. 

 

What do you like to do away from music?

I’m a huge bookworm & love creative writing. I guess that’s why I’m so obsessed with storytelling in my songs and making sure my concepts have depth and connect with listeners. 

 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m always listening to Frank Ocean, Mother Mother, Bo Burnham, Tyler, the Creator, very different music to what I sing.

 

What’s planned for 2022?

MUSIC!! I want to keep writing, singing, recording, releasing, and performing live — hopefully some festivals, maybe a tour? And keep chasing my dream to make music and performing my full time career. 

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love pistachios, corn on the cob, potato and green Thai curry…Weird mix, I know! And my favourite place to hang out is probably just at home with a book, or on the beach.

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Bad Moon Born

by the partae
written by the partae
We sat down with Voya the Guitarist/Producer from Sydney band, Bad Moon Born…
Where are you currently based?
Voya: Currently based in Sydney. Predominantly around where the Fat Pizza movie was filmed.
 
How did you first start playing music?
Voya: One of the most inspiring moments for me was getting to high school, and being taken around on a tour of the facilities.
Once we got to the music room, we saw a senior band covering Toxicity by System Of A Down, which lead to me dropping any other interests I had in life to do the same.
They were cool AF.
 
Please tell us how Bad Moon Born started:
Voya: Bad Moon Born started after a couple of our previous bands fizzled out through our musical journey, and we wanted to start afresh.
It was also our way of rebranding after doing some pretty cringe-worthy things as a younger band.
 
Your latest single ‘Light Leaves The Day’ is a step away from your hard rock sound, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?
Voya: Just felt like doing something different. We’re into a vast array of music and genres, which is something we wanted to lean into further.
We also wanted to use this track as a way of easing people into what’s to come.
 
How did you go about writing ‘Light Leaves The Day’?
Voya: I had the chord progression you can hear on the acoustic for a while, and Jordan was really keen on a ballad because he’s a sensitive guy.
My main objective was that I wanted it to be a ballad without sounding like a traditional ballad, if that makes sense. I feel like the style of bass and drumming really help to keep it from falling into that stock ballad territory.
I’m glad we achieved this, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the song as much. As for the lyrics – that’s all Jordan. The whole singles collection we released is quite personal for him, lyrically.
I feel like this was the perfect touch to end this journey and hopefully, it arouses some curiosity around what we’ll be doing next.
 
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
Voya: I recorded, produced, and mixed the track at my studio almost a year ago now, I think. The drums (and chair we used to sample the rimshot) were recorded with Chris Blancato (Northlane).
He also mastered this track, as well as the last 3 singles.

How did you approach the recording process?
Voya: Jordan and I demoed the whole song midway through 2020, and sat on it for a while, thinking about what we could add to it. Anything we tried adding caused the track to lose its stark, intimate feel.
When we started to track the song properly, we only ended up re-recording the vocals, guitars, and drums, due to deciding we’d prefer to keep the original synth, bass, and string parts.
So it was a fairly spaced out, and naturally occurring process.
 
What do you have planned to support the single?
Voya: We’ve just released a video clip for it, and will be doing a live performance of it soon as part of a virtual concert-type thing. We’ve also got the great team over at Beehive handling the PR for the release.

Who are you listening to at the moment?
Voya: Nickelback and Skrillex, exclusively. I’m not even joking.

What do you like to do away from music?
Voya: Every time I’ve been asked this I don’t know what to say, because the deeper I think about it, the more I realize I don’t actually do much else apart from music.
This leads me to wonder what I’d do if I couldn’t do music anymore, which in turn leads me to the deep dark sadness of feeling a sense of shallowness in my life.
That said, one could argue that it’s just an obsessive commitment.
 
What’s planned for 2022?
Voya: Writing our debut album. Anything else isn’t worth planning at the moment, unless you’re someone who loves covid related postponements and cancellations.
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Voya: Ćevapi. If you don’t know what they are, I highly suggest trying them ASAP.
My favourite place to hang out is at home. I don’t enjoy going out too much because it’s usually full of loud and obnoxious people who want you to share their enthusiasm for ‘being out.’
I’ll stick to my studio, thanks.
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Lucy Lorenne

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based? 

Melbourne, Australia! 

How did you first start playing music? 

My earliest memory of playing music is when I sang Avril Lavigne to my class in  grade 1 and at the same age, singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow on every bush  walk with my family. Really though, my Dad bought me my first guitar when I was 11  and taught me how to play. Soon after, I was busking, playing piano and writing my  own songs (including my primary school graduation song haha)! I was also  introduced to open mics at the same time and that was my first experience of  getting up in front of a crowd. 

What’s been happening recently? 

Over the past year, we established the Lucy Lorenne band and sold out our debut  headline show at The Workers Club Fitzroy as well as played a bunch of other gigs  in Melbourne and Geelong! We’ve also been in the studio recording an EP which is  set to release this year.  

You’re about to release your debut single ‘Geneva’ what influenced the sound  and songwriting? 

Over the years, I’ve had a combination of singing teachers and mentors ranging  from blues and hip-hop artists to jazz and classical singers. I started my music  career in Jazz bands and Soul/Motown lineups which has had the biggest influence  on my vocal sound and vibe. As for the sound, I have taken the story-telling style  from the the country and folk music I grew up listening to and the instrumentation of  indie pop rock music I listen to currently.  

How did you go about writing Geneva? 

I first started writing ‘Geneva’ after leaving Switzerland to study in France. I was 17  at the time and incredibly excited to be in a foreign country and the ‘new kid at  school’. Needless to say there was a summer romance and the song came to life  shortly after! I didn’t have my guitar with me but to make me feel at home, my host  parents lent me a little acoustic guitar that I used to write the song. Then, I spent  the next two years refining the song and a made demo a year after that.  

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

I recorded ‘Geneva’ with local producer Isaac Barter who recorded, mixed and  mastered the track! The band and I went to his cosy home studio to record and it 

was our guitarist Gus’ birthday so we had cake and tea and it was super  wholesome!  

How did you approach the recording process? 

First, I bought my own recording equipment to produce a demo for the band, sent  them reference tracks to inspire them, rehearsed rehearsed rehearsed, notated a  lyric sheet to make sure I didn’t miss any of the vocal nuances and phrasing I  wanted to include and then made sure there was plenty of unhealthy snacks for the  big days in the studio!  

Please tell us about your upcoming EP: 

Suffice to say there’s some similarities with the style/instrumentation that Geneva  represents but also some significant differences! The 6-track EP is scheduled to  release Autumn 2022!  

How did the band form? 

The band is super special to me. I used to play with Gus Buchanan-Turnour (guitar/ backing vox), Josh Whitty (guitar) and Jay Rose-Ham (keys) during high school.  Jade McKentish joined us recently replacing Angus Sumner on bass and Immy  Owusu (drums) and I met while playing a jazz gig!  

Who are you listening to at the moment? 

I’ve pretty much had Lianne La Havas’ album on repeat since it was released in  2020, I’m obsessed with her voice and the production on that record. I’m also  currently really into the new Melbourne band Telenova and their captivating debut  EP. Oh and who hasn’t turned off Taylor Swift’s version of Red since it was  released?? 

What do you like to do away from music? 

A busy day in the life of me would begin with a morning yoga routine, followed by a  surf with Dad. I would either spend the day studying for university (I major in  Anthropology) or spending time with family and friends adventuring! My other  interests include learning languages (oui je parle français) and travelling (when life  is normal!) 

What’s planned for 2022? 

We intend to release another single in the coming months prior to the EP launch  mid Autumn. We are desperate to get back on stage as soon as monsieur omicron  takes a hike! And of course, the writing journey continues… 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

If anyone knows me, they know that I’m the biggest chocoholic! And that my  favourite hang out spot is the beach or a really pretty botanic garden!

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The Causeway

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Riley: We’re all from South Eastern Sydney and are mainly playing gigs around the inner west and the city.

How did you first start playing music?

Maddy + Riley: We’ve all always been avid music listeners and kind of serendipitously fell into music! Dom began drumming on the wii game Rock Band, Riley started as a drummer and taught himself guitar at 12, Rosalie on ukulele in highschool, Maddy on classical piano and Laura in school choir. We all thrive on music, to quote Riley “I’d go insane if I couldn’t play guitar for a week.”

How did the band form?
Riley: I got a message out of the blue from Rosie in 2019 around the end of year 12. She asked if I wanted to start a band with her and her friend Maddy and I said yes. We started practicing together. Within a few months we had picked up Maddy’s brother Dom on drums and later Laura in 2020.

Your debut single Ok? is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Maddy: There wasn’t anything specific, but my songwriting in general is massively influenced by Little Birdy, Two Door Cinema Club and Lily Allen. They all have such a unique style and honest, authentic lyricism that I try to mirror in my own writing.

How did Ok? come about?

Maddy: Ok? Came about as a very necessary source of catharsis! I wrote it after being romantically rejected in a really confusing way that I didn’t know how to process, so the song follows a narrative of my own reflective process about the experience. It begins with me invalidating my own feelings and claiming to be ok, but by the end I confess I wasn’t ok and I come to terms with the experience. I brought it straight to the band and ever since it has become a favourite live!

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

Rosalie: We recorded at Pale Blue Dot with Tim Mcartney and Andy Scott our producer back in November 2021.

How did you approach the recording process?
Riley: At the time only Dom had recording experience so most of us didn’t know what to expect. In preparation we really tried to nail the song and have all our parts written and done, so that on the day things went smoothly. We had a really great producer and engineers who ran us through the process and in the end everything turned out great.

What programs/equipment did you use?

Rosalie: We’re actually quite inept with technology so all technological dimensions were handled by our amazing team Andy Scott and Tim Mcartney.

How was it working with Andy Scott and Tim Mcartney?

Maddy: It was phenomenal!  They are both so professional, diligent and kind. They gave us a great first recording experience and did everything possible to make sure we were happy with ‘Ok?’ We are so honoured to be able to work with them and can’t express enough our gratitude!

You’re a female majority band, please tell us about how this dynamic works:

Maddy: It’s really exciting to be able to diversify the Sydney music scene which is so male dominated right now! We’ve had a lot of positive experiences- girls often approach us and say it’s refreshing to see more female representation. At the same time we’ve also experienced sexism like the time all the girls got catcalled during a performance. It’s definitely challenging at times but rewarding overall.

The band won UNSW battle of the bands! What was this experience like and what opportunities did it bring?

Riley: It was an awesome experience to meet and play with all those great bands, and we got to play on the iconic roundhouse stage which was much bigger than we’re used to! It also got us into contact with Reenie from FBI radio who was generous enough to debut our single ‘Ok?’ on radio. We’ve also been lucky enough to be returning to the Roundhouse for a gig this year so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

Who is your mascot?

Maddy: Our mascot is named Peplum! He is a small tubby pink stuffed animal with his own Instagram handle: @peplumtakesontheworld. You can spot him in our photoshoots or at the front of the stage at gigs. He is omnipresent, a fan favourite and a big part of the band!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Laura: Our preferred genres and artists vary so much between band members and I’d say this is one of our biggest assets when it comes to the creative process. We have a big spread between us- Riley’s lead parts are influenced by American rock like Soundgarden, Dom and I love Arctic Monkeys, Rosalie loves Paramore and Maddy listens to a lot of classical music.

What do you like to do away from music?

Maddy: We’re all in uni so that takes up time! Otherwise hobbies across the band include swimming, knitting, Mariokart and watching Big Lez on YouTube.

What’s planned for the 2022?

Dom: We’ve got a big year ahead of us! Our merch has just dropped and we’re recording three more singles next month which will be released very soon. Otherwise, we’re keen to continue gigging around Sydney and potentially even Newcastle/Wollongong!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Laura: We love hitting Waterloo Maccas after practice, where we typically dig into a 24 pack of nuggets and some orange juice.

SOCIALS
Instagram: @thecausewayband
Facebook: @thecausewaybandsydney
Twitter: @thecausewayband
Tiktok: @thecausewayband
Mascot’s Instagram: @peplumtakesontheworld
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Dani Doucette

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am currently based in Toronto, ON.

How did you first start playing music?

I was influenced by my family, my father is a musician, however I really started playing with my brother Andre Doucette.

What’s been happening recently?

Well I’m still coming down from the high of performing for North Bay Pride, It was an electric evening.

Your new EP ‘Run With Me’ will be out on January 14th, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Honestly each song has its own unique vibe. I wanted this EP to just have freedom of expression, and allow each song to be its own mood. I was influenced by things going on in the world that I think about, experiences in my life I was sorting through. The usual songwriter things lol!

How did you go about writing the EP?

This first collection has been written and rewritten. Some songs are 6 years in the making, I wrote “Making Moves” two weeks before we had to solidify the line-up.

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

So many great people made this EP happen, Milano, Jack Emblem, Thomas McKay, Anthony Wright, Danie Santos, Andre Doucette, Phil Demetro, and Vic Florencia.

How did you approach the recording process?

Each song at a time. Then I listened for months, and if I wanted to change anything, I did.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I love listening to a wide arrangement of songs. I love good house music like Elderbrook and Rufus Du Sol. Also Robyn and throwback R&B from the early 2000’s.

What do you like to do away from music?

Put my earbuds in and run!

What’s planned for 2022?

Well this release is top priority and at the moment I’m organizing the music video for the title track, “Run With Me”.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

A big salad and a cabin in the woods.

Twitter: @danidoucettexo

Facebook: /iamdanixo

Instagram: @dani._doucette

Website: www.danidoucettemusic.com

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Baccus

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I live in Paris, France ! It has been 7 years now. I come from the South Ouest of France from a small town called Périgueux!

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing music when I was 16 years old. I was playing guitar and I sang in a Rock Band. It was pretty fun!

Then, I moved to England and I played in an Hardcore band. Pretty funny to think about it now, regarding what I am playing these days..

What’s been happening recently?

I released a new EP on my label Groovytude Records with an amazing Remix from Black Loops! ! I loved all the process of doing it and having the chance to have one of my favorite producer on board was amazing.

Your latest EP ‘Can You Feel It’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

With this Ep, I wanted to mix machines, plug-ins and real instruments. That’s why you have two Bass on the track “Can you feel it”.  One is from a plugin and the other one from a bass guitar. I added some notes on the guitar and I sing some parts! On the track “Show me the way”, I have incorporated my voice and a TB-303 to mix machines and humans. I wanted something clubby that can mix a machine vibe and a happy vibe.

How did you approach the production process?

I only produce during the day. I try to do “Sunny” music so I need an environment that will help me to do so.

The more it’s sunny outside, the more it will help me out. Then there are no rules! Sometimes I will start a track with a Synth or sometimes I will start it with a Drum. It depends of the inspiration.
What programs/equipment did you use?

I’m in love with the Arturia plugins. I used them most of the Time. I tried to do tracks without them but I love them so much so I’m still using them.

And of course, I use my microphone a lot as I sing on most of my tracks. I bought it in a small shop years ago. I wouldn’t advise anyone to buy it as the quality is awful but i can’t seem to part with it.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding through the production process?

The hardest part for me is to finish the track.When I have done 98% of a track I’m always stuck. I put my guts in every track so I am very tired at the end of the process. I really pay attention to details, so sometimes I would stay on a filter or an effect for 4/5 days.

What do you like to play?

I love to play my tracks and see how people will react. The best feeling is to play unreleased tracks and see that people love it. Regarding the style, I would say Minimal/ House. I’ve been in love with this style for years now. I think its an amazing combination to make people dance and make them happy.

What’s been happening with Groovytude lately?

Our favorite thing is to organise costume parties! The last one we did was for Halloween where we invited Phil Weeks ! We had 1000 people waiting before the opening to get in. It was crazy. We were full in 45 minutes and the crowd was on fire !

We are already working on the next Halloween party with something bigger…
Who are you listening to at the moment?

I try to listen to other stuff than House music when I am home. I really want to know what’s going on in other genres and I come from Rock music. So I would say the last single from Foals called “Wake me Up”.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love to do sports. It helps me a lot to survive in the music industry. It could be running, going to the gym or anything else, as long as I am dead after an hour and feel relieved.   And if I’m too lazy or tired, I would say watching a movie or series. I can binge watch the whole day and not moving from my sofa for hours…

What’s planned for 2022?

The next EP’s on Groovytude Records are already booked for the year and we are already working on the halloween party ! I can’t talk about anything else as it is very secret. I wish I could !  What I can say is that I’m working very hard and it’s going to be a great year!

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Bae Baracus

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently?

Clef – Gibsons, BC, Canada, planet Earth

Dolly – Vancouver, B.C.

Lin – Sunshine Coast, BC

 

How did you first start playing music? 

Clef – I’ve been playing for so long that I don’t remember! But I’ve always been involved in something, whether it’s high school jazz band, composing an indie film score, a neo-soul vibe project, an extemporal spectacle band, or Bae Baracus! 

Dolly – Learning to play the tin whistle in school…

Lin – Playing recorder, violin and piano as a kid

 

What’s been happening recently? 

Clef – Mostly baby-raising, tryna live in the moment. 

Dolly – A long break in Dublin, Ireland, where I’m from. Been surrounded by lots of trad music, maybe that will come out in future writing.

Lin – Not much right now, just coming out the other side of the holiday break, with the kids home from school (more local Covid measures) against the same intense backdrop that ended 2021…<grimace>

 

You’ll be releasing a remix and video of your single ‘Flex’ on Jan 14, what originally influenced the sound and songwriting for Flex? 

Dolly – Being disconnected from people during the pandemic (and before, to be honest). Frustration at trying to communicate online and how it takes away the human element. People communicate much differently when they have to look into each other’s eyes, rather than from behind a screen. That sincere message is delivered in a slight tongue in cheek wrapper, as you can see from the video.

Clef – I think it was a tongue-in-cheek approach but I’ve learned that nothing serious comes out of taking yourself too seriously. 

Lin – We wrote & recorded our album in a weekend last summer, and wanted some songs with an element of fun & danceability, in anticipation of live shows and people needing to let off steam. A couple of the songs had a nod to old piano-house and the basis for Flex also has a retro vibe. For some reason, it made me think of the 90s Berlin scene (no idea why as I’d never even been there) but Dolly had lived in Germany and we decided to try a ‘persona’ to deliver the message, which we thought worked really well for the track. 

 

Why did you decide to remix Flex? 

Dolly –  It’s the clubbiest song we’ve done so far, it cries out for remixing.

Lin – Yeah, this is one of our faster songs at 125bpm and I wanted to do a moody half-time kind of approach as a b-side

 

How did you approach the remix process?

Dolly – For my part, I added more primal vocal sounds and swirls to add another layer

Clef – Shout out to Lin for remix! I just blipped and blooped on the remix ?

Lin – Like all our tracks, this came together super fast and I threw it down in a couple of hours. Dolly sent some additional vocal parts and Clef sent some of his inimitable OP1 work… Our approach as a band is to not overthink things nor obsess over details, which I think is one reason why we have so much fun creating together. 

 

What influenced the video concept? 

Dolly – We agreed that if we were going to sing about flexing, the video needed to be fun and funny, kitsch and campy. Like “Physical” by Olivia Newton John. 

Clef – I think that the concept for the video was pretty much there from the jump, what remained to be seen was how we’d pull off a concept as ambitious as that, and I gotta say, I am amazed by the outcome, I think this video is hilarious! 

Lin – this has been a tough couple of years for everyone, and we just wanted to lighten things up a bit and keep things fun. Also, knowing that we were going to release in January, where traditionally people think about working out, it felt like this was the right route. The original concept had a whole cast of extras and a massive nightclub scene, but ya know, lack of budget, time and a pandemic scuppered that 🙂 

 

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

Dolly – We filmed at Gibson’s CrossFit gym on the sunshine coast (big thanks!) in November, with the wonderful Tallulah directing/filming/lighting. A one woman marvel! 

Lin – Massive thanks to Gibsons CrossFit for letting us have freedom to play in their amazing gym! And also to Tallulah for shooting and directing us. I edited the video and the team at LyricVids.Com in Toronto did some colour correction and VFX to give it added sparkle. 

 

What did you find most rewarding and challenging whilst creating the video? 

Clef – From my end the process was really easy and I was just excited to be there, but it felt like a good time all around and energy at the set was super positive and exciting. The difficulty for me was getting there in the cold, straight from a bartending shift. 

Dolly – Rewarding: getting to perform and be silly in a CrossFit gym with a great group of people! Challenging: finding a time we were all available..

Lin – I’m not a video editor, but I’ve cut most of our videos out of necessity, so that presents some challenges but that said I’m really happy with how this turned out. The most rewarding thing was having 3 hours in this amazing gym, going in with not much of a plan, but just having the freedom to play! I’ve kept myself pretty isolated through the pandemic so it was amazing hanging with Dolly, Clef and Tallulah and letting loose a bit 🙂

 

Who are you listening to at the moment? 

Dolly – Róisín Murphy and Fontaines D.C.

Clef – My buddy got me on the latest Yves Tumor LP from 2020 and WHOAMEMY

Lin – I’m loving Shad’s latest album ‘Tao’ and Little Simz ‘S.I.M.B.I.’

 

What do you like to do away from music? 

Clef – Music is like religion for me so it’s hard to say I could do anything “away” from music but there are other things I’d like to do around music, especially in the technology domain. I’m very interested in how tech-driven solutions could give more control to artists in the production and distribution of their work and how to implement my IT knowledge into a musical space.

Dolly – Riding my motorcycle and my bicycle. 

Lin – Growing vegetables without the use of chemicals.

 

What’s planned for 2022? 

Dolly – Live performances, hopefully!

Clef – It’s gonna be a crazy year, a lot of things need to work out to make it tenable or else I’m gonna have to get off this planet!
Lin – Really hoping for us to play some live shows and to bring the fun vibe of Bae to some clubs and festivals later this year. 

 
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Dolly – Fish n chips or sushi. Up in the mountains or in a dive bar. 

Lin – Pizza or Curry… I love being in the woods of British Columbia. Pizza or curry in the woods would be a magical thing, in fact that’s a pretty achievable goal for 2022. 

https://www.facebook.com/baebaracus

https://www.instagram.com/baebaracus/

https://twitter.com/BaeBaracus

 

 

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Mackenzie Leigh Meyer

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am currently based in Etobicoke, ON (just outside of Toronto), but Hamilton, ON is my hometown.

How did you start playing music?

I got started playing music in my hometown at Hamilton’s yearly music awards. Each year they held a Rising Star competition for up and coming artists to enter, and when I was about 15 I decided to give it a go with a song I had written. Having grown up playing piano, I always enjoyed being musical, but had never performed for the public out of fear.

That year I ended up placing third, and I don’t know what it was about that moment, but I decided right then and there that I wanted to pursue music as a career. A music degree and a bunch of milestones later, I’d say it’s going pretty good so far!

What’s been happening recently?

Recently I’ve been doing a lot of writing! The whole “pandemic” thing has really dwindled down the opportunity to perform live, so I’ve been trying to use the time to figure out what I want to say musically and work out a new show and material for 2022!

Your new single ‘Dial Tone’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The idea behind “Dial Tone” actually came from an episode of Letter Kenny. It’s slang for “a dull, boring person”: ie) John has all the personality of a dial tone. When I heard it used in that show I always thought that would make a good song title. Fast forward a few years and a couple boring conversations I couldn’t escape from; “Dial Tone” was born!

How did you go about writing ‘Dial Tone’?

When I decided to finally write it, I reached out to my friends Jesse Slack and Daryl Scott to co-write it with me because I knew the way they wrote would be a good fit for the tune. We really wanted to go for something lazy feeling but also sassy and luckily this was one of those songs that just seemed to come together really easily.

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

“Dial Tone” was actually recorded this July! I was so excited about the song after we wrote it in March that I wanted to get it out right away. So I reached out to my producer Jeff Dalziel (who also mastered it) and we got cracking! Everything was recorded at his house, other than parts from the players that didn’t live locally who just recorded at their own houses. It’s crazy how much you don’t need a studio anymore to get the job done.

How did you approach the recording process?

This recording process was approached in what I would call a very typical modern country way. I sent Jeff a demo of the song with the idea and vision I had for it and he worked his magic! By the time I came to record my vocal, the track was basically completely put together. Atypical to that, is me getting to play the acoustic line in the song and add some creative input, which I really enjoyed getting to do on this track.

What’s the weirdest gig you’ve ever played and why?

OH MAN, just one? Lol. I’ve played in a few dive bars where I’ve gotten to see some pretty interesting things but I think the weirdest gig I ever played was the first gig I ever did with my band.

Right when I was first starting out, my college roommate, who I admittedly didn’t know very well, had her relatives in our dorm one time and they asked me if I wanted to play a private party they were throwing. I told them I’d love to, but my band didn’t yet have enough material to fill an evening. We knew 6 songs, to be exact. However, they said that that would be enough and hired me for the evening.

A few weeks later, my country band and I showed up to their event and proceeded to play 3, 2-song sets, where in between they had a classical pianist perform. It ended up being a really fun night but it was definitely the weirdest event I’ve ever performed.

How do you prepare for shows?

To be honest, I don’t really have a ritual that I do! Performing has become pretty second nature to me now (trust me, it never used to be) and usually I just show up and do my thing. I am lucky enough to have a band that I’ve been playing with for years, so that really takes away any worry that I might get before stepping on the stage.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I am ALWAYS listening to Kacey Musgraves. I am pretty sure she will be my favourite artist until the day I die. But aside from her new album, I’ve been really digging what Ingrid Andress is saying, as well as Tennille Townes.

What do you like to do away from music?

I really like being creative, so in my time off I find myself doing things like scrapbooking, photography, web design, interior design, etc. Pretty much anything with the word “design” after it lol. I’m also a huge environmentalist, so I’ll spend a lot of time trying to make my lifestyle a bit more waste free, or educating myself on ways an individual can create a positive impact on sustaining this big ol’ body of water we call earth.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021 going into 2022?

Most of 2021 will be about getting “Dial Tone” to as many ears as possible, but I will say that I’ve also got a little EP in the works that I’m hoping to get out to the world sometime in 2022.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Ouuuu. A few different answers. My favourite place to “get” food is Valiant’s in Barrie, ON. My favourite food in general is pizza, and my favourite place to hangout I’d have to say, is my local watering hole TJ Osheas Irish Snug in Etobicoke, ON.

 

Twitter: @DiveBar_Diva

Facebook: /MackenzieLeighMeyer

Instagram: @divebar_diva

Website: www.mackenzieleighmeyer.com

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Dyno

by the partae
written by the partae

Dyno is a techno DJ and producer based in Italy whose been releasing music since the ‘90s, and worked with labels ranging from UMEK’s 1605 to Coyu’s Suara. He also runs a label called Dyrwalk and via the imprint recently put out a new deep, dark and hypnotic release called Selva Oscura, which featured two of his own tracks. Excited to learn more about him, we invited Dyno to run through a few questions…

Hi Dyno, it’s great to be talking with you today. Where are you currently based? 

Hi everyone, nice to meet you. I’m based in Pesaro, Italy, which is a small city between the sea and hills. In the beginning of my career, I moved my studio around between basements, garages and other buildings, but now I’ve a permanent set up in the hills near my home.

Could you describe your sound and style of music? 

I’m very attached to analogue and old school sounds, but also blend in new digital sounds.

Mainly I produce techno, but my style is not always focused on just one style, especially when I’m experimenting with my analogue synths. Usually, my tracks are quite dark with a lot of energy, but I’m open minded, and make what feels right in the moment.

How did you first discover electronic music, and who are some of your main influences?

When I was a child, I loved listening to radio stations using my headphones. I was always excited by electronic sounds, which I later discovered were made using synthesisers. Around this time, my favourite song was “Stripped” by Depeche Mode. Even today, I still get goose bumps when listening to it, especially at two and half minutes, where it’s so good that I completely lose my mind. I also got influenced by other tracks such as “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen, “Save A Prayer” by Duran Duran, “21st Century Boy” by Sigue Sigue Sputnik, and lots more…

One day in a local music shop, I asked for them to recommend me some CDs of good electronic music. It was this point when I first heard “Phaedra” by Tangerine Dream, and from then I had no doubt that electronic music would be my future passion.

I understand that you recently dropped a new EP called Selva Oscura, could you tell us about the tracks and concept?

Selva Oscura consists of two deep and dark tracks with solid reverberation, searching for a deep and detailed sensation to impress the listener. This production was born from reminiscing about my passion for vinyl, and thinking about the illegal raves I DJ’ed at in the ‘90s.

What’s your studio setup like, and what are your favourite bits of equipment?

I’m now stable in my new studio located the middle of the hills, and I’m so happy that hopefully I won’t have to move it again.  I design it meticulously, taking into account all the acoustic details plus shape of the room. It’s a pentagonal room with a 32 channel analogue mixer, three different sets of studio monitors, Audioscope Spectrum analyser and several original analogue synthesisers from Roland, Korg, Moog, Yamaha and others. I also use multiple effect pedals plus some other outboard gear, and I like using my analogue sequencer and modular synths. To complete the setup, behind my studio seat is a wall with thousands of vinyl records.

Can you tell us about your label Dyrwalk, as I’d live to know when you set it up, and which artists you have worked with?

Dyrwalk was a project started in 2010 with the aim of mainly releasing my own tracks. The label is a place where I could release music that I wanted to release without having to make tweaks or changes requested by other people, and have the freedom to experiment with new sounds and ideas. I’ve also released with many other labels, and across all those imprints I’ve worked with UMEK, Oliver Koletzki, Max Cooper, Sisko Electrofanatik, Solee, T78, Alex Dolby, Meat Katie, John Fleming, Khainz, Alex di Stefano and many more…

What other labels have you worked with, and what’s the release you are most proud of? 

I’ve worked with lots of labels in my career including 1605, Suara, Bush Records, Traum, Yoshitoshi, Global Underground, Gain Records, JOOF Recordings, Mondo Groove, Hell Yeah, Mantra Vibes, Incorrect and many others…

To be honest, I’m most proud of two publications that are not actually techno. I like to call them my two tripping albums, as they are both very atmospheric, and I dedicated a lot of time to working on them. I’ve listed them both below…

Dyno – Pic Nic Nello Spazio – Hell Yeah Recordings

Dyno – Synthònia – Mondo Groove

What do you like to do away from music?

I’m a passionate collector and player of vintage videogames, so whenever I’ve some free time, I start to play!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021 going into 2022?

In a few weeks, I’ll be releasing an EP on Gain Records with four new tracks, then at the end of the year I’ll be putting out a collection of my favourite productions from 2021, which will also include two previously unpublished tracks. In 2022 I’ll start to work more on experimental electronic music, which I’ll do in parallel to my new techno releases.

For anyone visiting your hometown, can you recommend a good place for food and favourite place to hang out?

If you want to eat good, and genuine Italian food, then here are my suggestions for good restaurants in the hills near my home Osteria del Giogo, Il Pergolato dalla Maria and La Vacchia Cantina. Nearer the sea, you can also find several good fish restaurants. I also love going into the some of the small taverns in the historical centre of Pesaro. If you want to have get some scenic views of the landscape, then you should also visit port side of the town.

Thanks for chatting today, is there anything else you would like to add before we finish?

Thanks for the interview, greetings also to all The Partae readers, and of course to people that support my music. It was a pleasure. Thanks Again.

https://www.beatport.com/release/selva-oscura/3467536

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Music InterviewsMusic News

Maya Rose

by the partae
written by the partae

What’s been happening since we last spoke?

Since my debut single ‘See You Again’, I released my debut EP Time, in 2019, in collaboration with Melbourne producers Jerome Farah (Baker Boy, KIAN) and Aman Bayatly (Adrian Eagle) which received strong reviews, support from triple j unearthed and new audiences, and I was nominated for “Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act” Music Victoria Awards 2019. I continued to build my experience as a performer with regular gigs in Melbourne and regional Victoria, then during 2020 lockdowns I spent a lot of time writing new songs and did live-stream events. This year I’ve been busy in the studio with producer Julian Steel (JAYDEAN, HANNAH) releasing ‘Mind the Gap’ as the first taste of my upcoming second EP. 

Your new single ‘Mind Gap’ is out now, how does this track relate to women’s current global movements?

The opening of the song is set with the voices of female protestors chanting “my body, my choice” and I sing about the issue of getting unwanted attention from men, connecting with the ‘Me too’ movement. There is an overrepresentation of men in the music industry which means “He’s making decisions for me; he’s leaving me out”. “He don’t have to dress up before leaving the door” touches on the different expectations put on male and female artists. A man can be on stage in a t-shirt and jeans without judgement. But women in the music industry have been marketed through sexualisation for so long that when an artist doesn’t adhere to this, it’s hard to sell them.
I also address the gender pay-gap in the track “He be out here making more than me; Even though I work just as hard” – statistically women will earn 20% less than her male peers in Australia. At the end of the song, I declare the motto, “Enough is enough”. 

Please tell us about this new social/political aspect to your music:

‘I won’t be quiet about it’ and ‘we’re still not equal yet’ focus on female empowerment, females having more of a voice and developing confidence, what has influenced this new direction in your music? 

Women in music, the ‘Me Too’ movement, and Brittany Higgens speaking out publicly with the help of more women in the media now, supporting her, influenced me. I really believe that encouraging young girls to have confidence to pursue the path of their choice, and to speak up about injustices, builds resilience and determination. Even when there are knockbacks, if women have the self-belief and strength of character to persevere they will be unstoppable in whatever they choose to do. 

What was the process behind developing the production ideas/concepts for ‘Mind the Gap’?  

I wrote ‘Mind the Gap’ a couple of years ago and was looking for a female producer to work with on the track but it was hard to find one as male producers outnumber female producers 47 to one. I needed someone who would best suit the style and understand the genre. Earlier this year I began to work with Melbourne producer Julian Steel. We combined my signature 90s R&B inspired tone and Sade influenced pop/jazz: the smooth tones of the saxophone, with Julian’s live instrumentation of laid-back guitar, reggae nuisances in the organs and rhythm, and groovy bass. 

You have been writing and recording during lockdown, how did you go about writing the music?

I write all my music from home at my keyboard. The concept behind ‘Mind the Gap’ started by wanting to write about a global social/political topic. I usually write from personal experiences, as a healing process, but I wanted to say something that had a bigger meaning to a bigger audience. The song grew from a place of feeling fed up with how women are treated by some men, but also how the topic relates to me personally. And I think more anthem songs are needed. I was inspired by 60s and 70s revolution songs, about civil rights and women’s liberation. Songs like Helen Reddy’s ‘I am Woman’ and Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’ were influences for ‘Mind the Gap’. 

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

I recorded ‘Mind the Gap’ in Melbourne, in 2021, with producer Julian Steel and Panorama Mixing & Mastering mastered the track.  

How did you approach the recording process?

As I’m in regional Victoria, I had to go to Melbourne for four recording sessions with Julian over a six-month period because of lockdowns. Firstly, Julian laid down the live drums, organs, bass and guitar. I came in for two sessions, one for the main vocals and another for the backing vocals. I got Bella Winter to feature on saxophone in a separate recording. We had one last session to add the final touches such as the protestors chanting.  

What’s it been like living and being a musician in regional Victoria (Castlemaine) and commuting to Melbourne for recording and performing?

I grew up in Castlemaine, a great arts community, and I love the space and quiet here. However, as a musician, the amount of venues are limited and there are less opportunities to progress my career. I’ve been lucky to not have been in as many lockdowns as Melbourne but it’s hard to build momentum as a performer as most of the gigs and work I need to do as a musician relies on going to Melbourne. It can be tiring going back and forth but I enjoy the scenery on the drive and listening to music in the car. I’m very grateful to have the cultural centre so close to me. It’s very rewarding going to the city to develop my career. 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021 going into 2022?

When things open up and I can get down to Melbourne next I will finish the recording and production of the remaining songs on my upcoming EP. I’ll be releasing another single and the EP hopefully late this year or early 2022. Can’t wait for you to hear it! 

How was it recording your second EP of introspective songs written in the 2020 lockdowns?

During 2020 I had to find non-public ways to express myself creatively. There was a lot to process about the pandemic and it was hard not being able to see my partner because of lockdowns, and losing a loved one. I got through this time by putting these stories into songs. I turned my wardrobe into a vocal booth and recorded and self-produced a song about struggling through these unprecedented times. I released ‘Home’ last year and filmed moments spent at home to accompany the song. Recording the other songs I’d written during 2020 with Julian in Melbourne and actually being back in a studio was pretty special.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m listening to Sinead Harnett, Snoh Aalegra, Little Simz and Victoria Monét. 

Stream/download ‘Mind the Gap’ here: https://gyro.to/MindtheGap  

Website: https://mayaofficial.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialmayarose/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maya.rose.music/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maya_rose_music 

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