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Music Interviews

OLY SHERMAN releases highly anticipated album LAND OF ALL PRETEND Sydney songwriter touring through into August!
Music InterviewsMusic News

Oly Sherman

by the partae July 9, 2021
written by the partae

Releasing a full collection of music can be daunting for any artist, though dropping an album like this after the year we’ve all just been through feels cathartic – how are you feeling about the whole process, now you’re at the end of it?

I think yes to a lot of people, the idea of dropping any type of work during or post covid is a bit of a weird one. For me the concept of releasing my own album was something I thought I’d be delving into years down the line. I wouldn’t say my project was the sole consequence of covid, but it did play a big part. Like many I was out of a job, I had moved back home, and it gave me a chance to listen to a lot of the music/demo’s I had done over the past three years. About half of the songs on the project are a result of this study and the rest of the songs came through time and as the world kind of grew back together. Whilst I’m super proud of the album itself, I still feel a sense of imposters syndrome about it all. ‘How have I even put this together?’ etc etc. In saying all this, the album to me was about my personal growth, and has been a really good basis in the new music which I’m writing everyday. 

We’ve heard some tops singles already from the album – how do you think they represent who Oly Sherman is as an artist in 2021?

I think with any of my work but particularly my singles off the album, they quite literally depict my life in those circumstances. Songs such as ‘Madness’ and ‘In The Summer’ are lyrically, pretty accurate representations of my emotional and physical state within the perspective. Whilst saying all of this, my taste and musical writing continues to grow. This album is definitely a representation of myself, but also a chance to show my growth. I’m even more excited to show what I’ve been cooking after the albums release. 

And within the wider scope of the album, what is it about these recent singles that represent the energy of the whole album do you think?

I think in regard to a ‘wider scope’, these singles best represent my first few years of song writing as a whole. I was and to some respect, still am super familiar with writing those types of songs. The album is definitely a representation of that type of writing process that I felt comfortable with. 

What has it meant to you that you’ve been able to have music as an outlet to concentrate on as we’ve had to grapple the pandemic?

I think its necessary to firstly say, that I was definitely a lucky one during covid. I was very, very thankful to have my family there as a support and know that a lot of other people weren’t so lucky in those respects. For me music and writing of music will always be a personal thing. I’m lucky enough that I can somewhat place that on an empty canvas and share it with the world. It’s a creative method which seems both easy and ‘nonchalant’. Rather than a distraction, I used my music as a means of perspective. It was present every day and kept my mind on what made me mentally healthy. 

For people who might be coming to your music for the first time with this music, is there a particular song/s off the record that you’d say are the one/s you’re most connected with now (and why)?

Different for me, as some of the songs from the project I love in certain ways, and some songs which the band and I have performed I love in different ways. I think for someone coming to my gig for the first time, the main message from me is just to just focus on having a good time. I think especially when comparing it to covid related things, everyone coming back to gigs just want to be happy and share the joy of live music again. I want nothing more than that in my live shows. 

This album is one of those records specifically made to be listened to front to back: was this an element you always had wanted to implement?

To be honest at the time, no but I think projects and music grows naturally into ways you didn’t expect them to prior. I’ve listened to the album a number of times and am pretty confident the order shares my mind state throughout.

 

Land of All Pretend is out now.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed

July 9, 2021 0 comments
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Tanya George
Music InterviewsMusic News

Tanya George

by the partae July 8, 2021
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Melbourne, Australia 🙂

How did you first start playing music?

When I was 5 I started singing in a choir! I started playing professionally at 15 by pretending I was 18 and getting into bars.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

I just released my new single “Can’t Do Anything Right” and I have some huge things happening in August you should keep an eye out for. Covid has been a roller coaster for many artists but I’ve persevered staying positive and active, I released a full EP called Normality in 2020, another single “Welcome” in 2021, a film clip and sold out my show at Howler.

Your new single ‘Cant Do Anything Right’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I was frustrated! I felt like I couldn’t do anything right for myself or live up to everyone else expectations even though I was trying my hardest. It sort of just came out in 5 minutes.

How did you go about writing ‘Can’t Do Anything Right’?

I vocal looped it, did some pretty harmonies, a beat and a heavy simple bass line then I just started singing how I felt; “I can’t do anything right, trying my best, help me if I look left or I need my rest”. Then I added some instruments to thicken it up this time.

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

I wrote the song at home in my room, on my looper after receiving an email I was frustrated at in about April and recorded it in May, produced it Michael Cooper and Mastered it Nicholas Di Lorenzo, Panorama Mastering.

How did you approach the recording process?

I always have my own demos, phone recordings and all my ideas stored in my looper, then I smash it all out in the studio and add the cherries on top with extra layering or effects.

You’re playing Chapel Off Chapel on the 31 of July, how do you prepare for shows and what can we expect?

Yes I am! I will be looping, might play some guitar, I will also have some friends joining me on stage.

Who will you be playing with?

I will be solo with my looper and special guests.

What do you like to do away from music?

I’m pretty music obsessed, but I love a red wine over dinner or exercising.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Fresh Finds Australia and New Zealand playlist on Spotify because Spotify just added “Can’t Do Anything Right” to that Spotify playlist!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

Can’t say too much yet but SO much, keep an eye out as you won’t be missing it. Expect an album in 2022.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Shujinko Ramen, Russell Street, Melbourne

Instagram @tanyageorgemusic https://www.instagram.com/tanyageorgemusic

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

Website https://www.tanyageorgemusic.com.au

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/tanyageorgemusic

All Links: https://linktr.ee/tanyageorge

July 8, 2021 0 comments
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Where are you currently based? I am usually in between LA and Sydney but with the travel restrictions I am based in Sydney, Australia for the time being  How did you first start playing music? I’ve always loved to sing! I remember my first time singing in front of my family was when I was 8 years old at my sisters birthday party  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? When Covid really started to get serious I was in LA, and had to rush home to make it in time just before the lockdown. I was meant to be back in LA after just a few weeks but haven’t been back for over a year and a half now. At first it was really hard to adjust to the shift in environment. Being in LA it is really non-stop, and being home especially with lockdown it was super slow.  A lot of my projects were pushed back because everything planned in LA couldn’t go through, (shooting visuals etc). So I really took the time to meet with the creatives here in Sydney and find people I enjoy working with. I learned a lot more about engineering my own vocals, and about directing. The good thing is that with technology I am still able to work closely with my team in LA. Its been really fun diving into different parts of the industry that ultimately have helped me grow into a better artist!  Your new single 'Trap House' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I love telling stories, and really finding melodies that carry the emotion of the lyrics I am singing to it. That is always my priority!  As for the inspiration behind the story, being in this industry can be very tricky. Theres a lot of smokey mirrors and blurred lines. I was offered a deal whilst in LA that seemed amazing but something didn’t feel right. I was back home in Sydney when I had to make a decision. As I was reflecting on my journey so far, the inspiration just hit. All those feelings of fear, chaos and belief started to write the song for me. The lyrics reminded me to trust myself. So I said no.  Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with? The song was just living in my notebook, until I was in LA again a few months later. I was singing at a live music venue when I caught the attention of My guy Mars. He mentioned that he wanted to work with me. So we went to his studio and I showed him the song I had written called “Trap house”. He instantly loved it & agreed to produce the record for me.  How did you approach the recording/production process? Being in the studio with mars was really mind blowing. Watching him in his element just create with so much passion and ease was insane. He had the first demo done within an hour session. I had a few elements I still wanted to add so we had another session working together and finalising the production. Once that was done we went to Sound Factory Studios, and I worked with Austen Lux chandler on the vocal production. He was great to work with and really helped to get the best vocal performance & he created some awesome harmonies too!  How did the concept for the music video come about? While searching for someone in Sydney to direct the music video, I was so lucky to come across Connor O Connor. She is a genius. From the first time meeting her I knew she was the right woman for the job. We had a few conversations about the meaning behind the song & the story. We worked very closely throughout the entire process but it was really important to me that she had creative freedom. She had created the concept, and the creative direction for every scene.  Where did you film and who did you work with? We filmed the video at D1 Studios in Marrickville, Sydney.  Connor O’ Connor (Director) put together the entire team / crew.  What did you find most rewarding and challenging whilst creating the film clip? It was very challenging organising the shoot with the covid 19 rules changing weekly. We wanted to make sure everyone was safe & that we followed all the rules correctly.  The most rewarding part was being able to play the video to my family.  Who are you listening to at the moment? I am always listening to different music, I can never narrow it down to one artist haha.  What do you like to do away from music? I love hanging out with my family !  What's planned for 2021? My plan is to just keep releasing music, keep making music ! Favourite food and place to hangout? My families restaurant Villaggio for both!  ( I promise my dad didn’t make me say that) haha  https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjazzyk https://www.facebook.com/jazzykofficial/ https://www.youtube.com/user/jasminekmusiic/videos https://www.instagram.com/itsjazzyk/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZAWrNHg1k
Music InterviewsMusic News

Jazzy K

by the partae July 5, 2021
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am usually in between LA and Sydney but with the travel restrictions I am based in Sydney, Australia for the time being

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve always loved to sing! I remember my first time singing in front of my family was when I was 8 years old at my sisters birthday party

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

When Covid really started to get serious I was in LA, and had to rush home to make it in time just before the lockdown. I was meant to be back in LA after just a few weeks but haven’t been back for over a year and a half now. At first it was really hard to adjust to the shift in environment. Being in LA it is really non-stop, and being home especially with lockdown it was super slow.

A lot of my projects were pushed back because everything planned in LA couldn’t go through, (shooting visuals etc). So I really took the time to meet with the creatives here in Sydney and find people I enjoy working with. I learned a lot more about engineering my own vocals, and about directing. The good thing is that with technology I am still able to work closely with my team in LA. Its been really fun diving into different parts of the industry that ultimately have helped me grow into a better artist!

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

I love telling stories, and really finding melodies that carry the emotion of the lyrics I am singing to it. That is always my priority!

As for the inspiration behind the story, being in this industry can be very tricky. Theres a lot of smokey mirrors and blurred lines. I was offered a deal whilst in LA that seemed amazing but something didn’t feel right. I was back home in Sydney when I had to make a decision. As I was reflecting on my journey so far, the inspiration just hit. All those feelings of fear, chaos and belief started to write the song for me. The lyrics reminded me to trust myself. So I said no.

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

The song was just living in my notebook, until I was in LA again a few months later. I was singing at a live music venue when I caught the attention of My guy Mars. He mentioned that he wanted to work with me. So we went to his studio and I showed him the song I had written called “Trap house”. He instantly loved it & agreed to produce the record for me. 

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Being in the studio with mars was really mind blowing. Watching him in his element just create with so much passion and ease was insane. He had the first demo done within an hour session. I had a few elements I still wanted to add so we had another session working together and finalising the production. Once that was done we went to Sound Factory Studios, and I worked with Austen Lux chandler on the vocal production. He was great to work with and really helped to get the best vocal performance & he created some awesome harmonies too! 

How did the concept for the music video come about?

While searching for someone in Sydney to direct the music video, I was so lucky to come across Connor O Connor. She is a genius. From the first time meeting her I knew she was the right woman for the job. We had a few conversations about the meaning behind the song & the story. We worked very closely throughout the entire process but it was really important to me that she had creative freedom. She had created the concept, and the creative direction for every scene.

Where did you film and who did you work with?

We filmed the video at D1 Studios in Marrickville, Sydney. 

Connor O’ Connor (Director) put together the entire team / crew. 

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

It was very challenging organising the shoot with the covid 19 rules changing weekly. We wanted to make sure everyone was safe & that we followed all the rules correctly.

The most rewarding part was being able to play the video to my family.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I am always listening to different music, I can never narrow it down to one artist haha.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love hanging out with my family !

What’s planned for 2021?

My plan is to just keep releasing music, keep making music !

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My families restaurant Villaggio for both!

( I promise my dad didn’t make me say that) haha

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjazzyk

https://www.facebook.com/jazzykofficial/

https://www.youtube.com/user/jasminekmusiic/videos

https://www.instagram.com/itsjazzyk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZAWrNHg1k

July 5, 2021 0 comments
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BAN MICAH
Music InterviewsMusic News

BAN MICAH

by the partae July 2, 2021
written by the partae

Hi Ban! The vibe of the track is dope – were there any specific sonic influences you were vibing with when making this track? 

YOOO TY MY G and yes WAP was definitely a huge influence, I think both conciously and subconsciously. That track was everywhere at the time so you know you couldn’t escape it, therefore I felt like I wanted to make something that would just bang from top to tail you know?

All of your material is pretty groove and rhythm-heavy, where does your love for production and this sort of music come from?

Damn I think it all really stems from spending alot of time listening to soundcloud back.

when it first started like 2014 or something. There were so many “backyard producers”  and “cloud rappers” like Flume, WhatsoNot, Lido, Major Lazer, Chance the rapper, Yung Lean, Spooky Black, Asap Rocky?!?! who were just posting certified banger after banger. Alot of that early soundcloud vibe is what keeps me making music and evolving I feel. Big shoutout to my homie Hatch for putting me onto soundcloud and for teaching me how to use Ableton. Honestly if you get a chance check out @hatchbeats on ig mans is a G

What makes a song like Anime Eyes the perfect jam to get to know you through?

Content wise this track isn’t deep enough to get to completely know me through BUT it is a decent introduction, and it hopefully pushes first time listeners to check out the rest of my

catalogue and really get a feel for who I am and what my music is.

Can you tell us a bit about what’s coming next for you this year?

Ofcourse! I’m working on a lot of new music and have a couple really dope colabs, from some hella dope local acts to some awesome international artists. I’m also looking to drop a couple more singles this year too, after that I’d say an ep than an album. My homie and I are talking about starting up a podcast too, you know, whole lotta unpopular opinions and hot takes on Music/Anime/Movies etc. So look forward to that too at some point.

How crucial has songwriting been for you through lockdown?

It’s been everything honestly, I’d say if I didn’t have this “gift” through the whole of 2020/21 I might of gone mad. I would’ve spent the whole time playing ps4, watching anime getting fat(ter), worrying about how I’m gonna pay the rent and feeling sorry for myself. Without getting too deep, being able to write songs and make beats and put those out into the world whilst being locked down has been UBER crucial.

Have you discovered any new artists or music that you can’t stop listening to atm?

Hmmm yeah actually I recently watched Eurovision 2021 and there was this artist from Iceland, Dađi Freyr been bumping his tracks alot, other than him I’ve been jamming alot of Brent Faiyaz, ¿Teo?, Emefbnx an aussie rapper/producer from Syd absolute heaters from him and Reggie Banks an

aussie producer from Sans Souci where I grew up dudes such a G shoutout to him. Oh and I’ve had ‘The Off-Season’ on repeat since it dropped.

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube |  Triple J Unearthed

July 2, 2021 0 comments
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Written collectively as King Brown  Tell us a bit about the genesis of this EP - when did writing begin and how do you think it stacks up in terms of the band's song writing now you can look at it as a full record? Out in the Desert is a showcase of our collective songwriting spanning from our beginnings up to the time of release. The opening track Moto has been with the band for a long time, whereas tracks like Matter of Time and Oyzo were written specifically for the EP.  The EP is our musical offering showcasing the band’s creative range both of songwriting and our sonic palette. The songs each have their own distinctive sounds but still meld together throughout the record to form the King Brown sound. Are there any particular songs on there that still stand out as favourites for you (and why)? Moto stands out for its sheer energy and power. The song has been with us a long time but still is a favourite for both us and for audiences when we play it. It tends to charge the crowd up when we let it loose live. That feeling is also heavily present throughout the song thematically too, hitting the open road and letting it rip.  Way Down also stands out, it’s been really popular and is super fun to perform. The song was waiting in the wings for a long time, not quite pieced together. It is amazing seeing it released and people enjoying it. We were able to fill in the pieces and put a bow on it with the extra time that the first lock down gave us.  How has the last year been for the band; how crucial has music been for you during the weirdness of 2020? Our music has given us a sense of direction and purpose during COVID. While it’s been tough for the music scene we used that time to work on getting this record together. The shows we have been able to play were amazing because you really get to appreciate them and not take them for granted. It’s also been good in a sense for the whole WA scene, people didn’t have the option to see east coast acts so they discovered all these great local bands, it’s grown the whole scene. Can you tell us a bit about the band's current creative and sonic influences? How have they changed? We each bring our different musical influences with us to King Brown. At the start our songs had a more surfy vibe which has now progressed to show more of a rock and blues influence. The different influences show in each of our instruments, creating our unique sound. Our musical influences within the band range from acts like Oasis, CCR, Skegss, and Allah-Las, however the influences that reflect through to our music would be Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, ...etc. What did you learn about yourselves as musicians during the writing and recording of this EP? We learnt that we have the ability and skills to get a lot of things done ourselves. Ben has put in a lot of time and effort recording the EP, without that we probably wouldn’t have been able to get it done. Shaun has been instrumental in creating all of the artistic elements and graphic design for the band, and also filming and editing our music video for Way Down. We have also learnt that as a band we can rely on each other to bring whatever is needed for our music. One of us can bring in a song or an idea and everyone adds their piece to make a unique collective creation.  In terms of live performing, what's exciting you the most about eventually being able to tour a record like this? We are really excited about getting the chance to play our new music that people have heard and become familiar with. It makes it that bit more special when you perform a song and the crowd engages with it so much more because they know it.  It’s a great thing when people react to us playing a certain song or shouting out requests for songs. It is the payoff of a lot of our time and effort spent making this EP. What's coming up for King Brown for the rest of the year, that's getting you pumped? Our next main goal is to release an album. We are excited to get stuck in to challenging ourselves to write and record a lot of new material for people to experience. Each one of us will bring our own ideas to the group, and from that a King Brown album will be made. That is a pretty amazing concept.
Music InterviewsMusic News

King Brown

by the partae July 2, 2021
written by the partae

Written collectively as King Brown 

Tell us a bit about the genesis of this EP – when did writing begin and how do you think it stacks up in terms of the band’s song writing now you can look at it as a full record?

Out in the Desert is a showcase of our collective songwriting spanning from our beginnings up to the time of release. The opening track Moto has been with the band for a long time, whereas tracks like Matter of Time and Oyzo were written specifically for the EP. 

The EP is our musical offering showcasing the band’s creative range both of songwriting and our sonic palette. The songs each have their own distinctive sounds but still meld together throughout the record to form the King Brown sound.

Are there any particular songs on there that still stand out as favourites for you (and why)?

Moto stands out for its sheer energy and power. The song has been with us a long time but still is a favourite for both us and for audiences when we play it. It tends to charge the crowd up when we let it loose live. That feeling is also heavily present throughout the song thematically too, hitting the open road and letting it rip. 

Way Down also stands out, it’s been really popular and is super fun to perform. The song was waiting in the wings for a long time, not quite pieced together. It is amazing seeing it released and people enjoying it. We were able to fill in the pieces and put a bow on it with the extra time that the first lock down gave us. 

How has the last year been for the band; how crucial has music been for you during the weirdness of 2020?

Our music has given us a sense of direction and purpose during COVID. While it’s been tough for the music scene we used that time to work on getting this record together. The shows we have been able to play were amazing because you really get to appreciate them and not take them for granted. It’s also been good in a sense for the whole WA scene, people didn’t have the option to see east coast acts so they discovered all these great local bands, it’s grown the whole scene.

Can you tell us a bit about the band’s current creative and sonic influences? How have they changed?

We each bring our different musical influences with us to King Brown. At the start our songs had a more surfy vibe which has now progressed to show more of a rock and blues influence. The different influences show in each of our instruments, creating our unique sound.

Our musical influences within the band range from acts like Oasis, CCR, Skegss, and Allah-Las, however the influences that reflect through to our music would be Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, …etc.

What did you learn about yourselves as musicians during the writing and recording of this EP?

We learnt that we have the ability and skills to get a lot of things done ourselves. Ben has put in a lot of time and effort recording the EP, without that we probably wouldn’t have been able to get it done. Shaun has been instrumental in creating all of the artistic elements and graphic design for the band, and also filming and editing our music video for Way Down.

We have also learnt that as a band we can rely on each other to bring whatever is needed for our music. One of us can bring in a song or an idea and everyone adds their piece to make a unique collective creation. 

In terms of live performing, what’s exciting you the most about eventually being able to tour a record like this?

We are really excited about getting the chance to play our new music that people have heard and become familiar with. It makes it that bit more special when you perform a song and the crowd engages with it so much more because they know it. 

It’s a great thing when people react to us playing a certain song or shouting out requests for songs. It is the payoff of a lot of our time and effort spent making this EP.

What’s coming up for King Brown for the rest of the year, that’s getting you pumped?

Our next main goal is to release an album. We are excited to get stuck in to challenging ourselves to write and record a lot of new material for people to experience. Each one of us will bring our own ideas to the group, and from that a King Brown album will be made. That is a pretty amazing concept.

Out In The Desert is out now.
Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube |  Triple J Unearthed

July 2, 2021 0 comments
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Teulu
Music InterviewsMusic News

Teulu

by the partae July 1, 2021
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

At the moment, I’m in this really beautiful, quiet spot in the Grand Teton National Forest over in Wyoming, it’s absolutely wild out here!

How did you first start playing music?

Oh man, such a funny thought. Going to a small elementary school in southern Vermont, it was sorta an unspoken requirement to give some sort of musical instrument a try. I think in 1st grade my mom rented me a trumpet, but after a few months of absurd sound making, she returned the trumpet and came back with a snare drum. The rest is history. I stuck with playing the kit my whole life. I’d say the last 3-4 years I’ve really focused more on producing, but drums will always be closest to my heart. But yeah, I was lucky to have that push from my parents at an earlier age to grab something and see what happens.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

So much has been happening! I’ve sorta packed up my life for the next 6+ months and just recently hit the road. We’ve been on the road for 28 days today and very much still acclimating to the go-go-go lifestyle. But we can talk more about that in a bit. As far as my Covid experience, it’s been waaay easier than others, which I’m grateful for. I was lucky to spend the majority of the thick of it in VT, where there was plenty of space and a pretty conscious community who’ve taken it seriously. Knowing buddies down in NYC and hearing about the extreme isolation, I’ve had it way easy. Dogs also help haha.

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

This was an interesting song to put together. Structurally it sorta pulls you all over the place, which I ended up really enjoying in the end. Influence wise, I’ve always been obsessed with vocal manipulation and vocoders, from Daft Punk and Imogen Heap to Bon Iver and The Japanese House, so I pretty much always sit behind the keyboard singing and rambling over random chord progressions. That sorta mapped out the first half. I also love cinematic type stuff and film scores in general, which is what led into the second half of the song. I always find myself going back to M83 or Sigur Rós, and yeah that’s kinda where it all ends up. Winter time in VT is also pretty magical, so that definitely played a part too.

How did you go about writing Fulgurant?
It all started with this really cool synth I accidentally fell into. It was one of those random small plugins that came with a bundle I bought a while ago through Native. It blended so many washy layers together, so after telling myself to stop tinkering with it I had a really cool chord progression put together. From there, I knew I wanted to do some sort of vocodery layering as well, so I spent a ton of time working on that and trying not to overdo it with the amount of synth and vocal layers. Percussive textures are always something I focus a ton on, so getting those super crisp and clear was the third piece of Fulgurant. I spent a while looking for the perfect harp plugin, which was so hard to find, and sorta funny thinking back on it now. There’s this one small section where I have this huge strum from a harp that leads into the bridge type section, and the harp sorta handles the whole transition there. It took me a while to get that sounding right haha, but so worth it! Lyric wise, I didn’t know what the song was going to be about until I really took a step back and had a bit of a realization about some pretty heavy stuff, life and death, that kinda thing. For Fulgurant specifically, it’s all about seeing a family member age, and face some pretty serious dementia. Something a lot of people face, but never really confront outright. At the end of the day, we just have to be there for eachother, and that can be hard to do too.

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

I’d say 75% of the song was written out of my small corner studio space in my living room at my old apartment in Burlington, VT. For the vocals I actually just brought my gear into a practice room at this spot called the Burlington Music Dojo. I’d rent out a weekly spot for practicing drumming mostly, but the room was treated super well, and I thought I might get a better take trying to record there. Seemed to work decently well! I finished the latter part of the track down at my childhood home in southern VT. Once I had it sounding the best I could, I sent it over to a good friend and amazing engineer Nick Squids, who did the mix and master and really took it to another level. Guy is a genius.

How did you approach the recording process?

I always feel pretty amature when it comes to recording live tracks in my songs. I don’t have anything fancy, but it always seems to end up clean and clear enough. I have a 2 track audio interface and a cheap condenser mic I use for just about everything. Outside of vocals, I recorded some guitar – I have this baby taylor that can’t hold a tune to save its life, but I love it so much. I always leave it in some random open tuning, and I just set up a mic in my living room while I was plucking a few chords that ended up working really well with the song. I also have this beautiful black tele, that I love adding huge held out chords with. I usually throw a fair amount of effects on the guitar stuff, you can get some really cool sounds that way. But yeah, it’s always recorded in the middle of my apartment type of thing.

What programs/equipment did you use?

I ended up using a combination of plugins between native, output, arturia for my synths, bass, and other instruments. There’s honestly way too many options out there these days haha. I feel like I could probably do more with less, but yeah, I’ll typically throw on a handful of effects from waves or soundtoys to really start distorting and manipulating the sound. I’ve been a huge fan of the soundtoys crystallizer and some of the maserati plugins from waves. I think my favorite part of the whole set up on this song was midi tracking my drum samples into this little electric kit I got off craigslist. It was the first time I was able to actually record what I was playing with a Teulu track. I feel like it gives it a better groove, and a good groove is so important. Even if it’s dragging or maybe off a bit.

I hear you’re living out of a converted 1989 Chevy van! How and why did this come about and how has the experience been so far?

Aha yes! It’s been a wild ride so far, that’s for sure. I think the whole idea started from a huge feeling of not really knowing where to go next. I moved back east with plans to move into the city, but COVID hit and sorta threw everything out the door, like it did for so many others. Not long after that, my girlfriend and I found this cheap, old 1989 chevy van that was already gutted, and we got to work building it at the beginning of the year. It then sorta morphed into “oh, we could really cut down on our consumption while doing this, and really minimize our overall footprint.” So not only could we figure out where the next home might be, but we could consume less, and waste less in the process. I also set up a pretty cool mobile studio, more to come from that soon though. It’s really easy to romanticize this idea of living on the road, which partly can be totally true. There’s also a lot of adjusting and acclimating to be done, and we’re still going through some of that now. Especially with two dogs along for the ride, haha.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Oooooo, so much good music just dropped! I’m halfway through the new Tyler album, and he’s crushed it again. I just love his beats and all of his production, it’s so unique and good. I’ve also been really into this artist On Planets, wicked good lyrical cadence and his writing is really inspiring to me as of late. Oh man, and don’t get me started on the new Porter record. Another really good record just dropped from rum.gold that I’m super into.

What do you like to do away from music?

I’m a huge fan of winter, so taking the pups out snowboarding is something I do pretty often. Also a sucker for a good (and bad) scary movie, but you gotta have popcorn with it. Sorta random, but I picked up leather tooling from a good buddy over in Portland, OR, and really enjoy making simple leather goods out of recycled scraps. Anything that helps pull you out of the daily routine, and get you to think about bigger picture type stuff, I love.

What’s planned for 2021?

Crazy to think we’re already halfway through it! I’ve got a few more tracks to release, which feels good. I’m still a bit slow at finishing songs, so a big goal is to write a ton of new music while being on the road. And yeah outside of music, I’ll be on the road for the rest of the year, checking out some new potential spots to call home. The biggest thing I think is just trying to really focus on living as minimally as possible and recognizing what a privilege this all is.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Oh man, tough question! Since I just spent the last week in Bozeman, MT, I’d say that’s been the coolest spot on the road so far. I was lucky to land there during a few Pride events, and the community there is so great. The food there is pretty awesome too, I had Bibimbap for the first time over there and it really hit the spot. Shout out to Whistle Pig.

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July 1, 2021 0 comments
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JODi
Music InterviewsMusic News

JODi

by the partae June 29, 2021
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Living in Sydney at the moment.

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve been singing all my life, and my mother is a piano teacher. I’d have the occasional lesson, but I didn’t take it too seriously. I liked learning things by ear, rather than reading music. I learned Oboe for 9 years at school, played for my HSC. Towards high school, I was introduced to Logic, where I started producing and recording covers (some of which might be available on Youtube – I warn you, it’s a cringefest.)

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

As a result of the lack of gigs and events, I’ve been scheduling writing sessions with new friends! I haven’t done much collaboration in writing and production, I find the process of creating a very personal thing, and I was too afraid to share that with anyone else. What I realize now is how beautiful it is to share that creative energy with someone else, and I love it.

Other than that, the quiet period before this upcoming release has ended, and now the responsibilities have snowballed! I was planning for months, so it’s really quite exciting to finally catch up on all that I had planned for bl!nk!

Your new single BL!NK is on the way, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I kid you not, my reference track for this song was all I listened to for months. In the week I found this song, I think I’d already listened to it 100 times on day 3 (Spotify literally told me so). I’m A Kid by Jadu Heart was my sole inspiration for bl!nk. I was OBSESSED with its sound and the way it made me feel. I think bl!nk takes a slightly harder turn throughout, a little more of an edge to the lyrics and sound. I’m pretty bitter in this song. Lyrics tell all.

How did you go about writing BL!NK?

I was meeting with Alistair (Alistair Hayes, Sydney drummer, co-writer + producer) to write our first song. After discussing for a while, we decided to write something rebellious and sexy, very self-assuring and assertive. As I mentioned before, I was pretty bitter at this point in my life, so a storyline wasn’t hard to find. We took inspiration in sound and feel from Jadu Heart, Ainslie Wills and Lucky Daye, to name a few.

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

We recorded bl!nk in Alistair’s home studio, a.k.a, his bedroom. Started in November 2020 and finished soon after.  We enlisted the help of our friend Oscar to mix the final demos, and I sent the final off to 301Studios for mastering.

What does BL!NK mean to you?

Bl!nk’s purpose actually changed for me, once we’d finished the song. I think that change results in the bridge, it hits pretty hard. It makes me feel alive and fierce and wicked! Originally I think I wanted to write something a little sly and witty. Something polite, but still truthful and a little bit sexy. As we kept writing, a darker attitude formed. The bridge turns into this rude, grungy therapy session. I basically let out everything I know I shouldn’t say, and I don’t care.

You’ll be filming a music video soon, for which track?

The music video coming up is for bl!nk!

How did the concept for the music video come about?

The concept is based very much on the cover for bl!nk. The story of the song also tells itself really, it’s easy to find inspiration in something that actually happened to you. I love dark colours, eerie photos. Picture black and white ghost documentaries… mixed with cute 90’s girls… that’s my aesthetic. OR I just like flash photography in the dark, that’s a safer angle. Let’s stick with that.

Where will you film and who with?

We’re hoping to go back to where I shot the cover artwork, on the way to North Head Lookout, Manly. I’ve asked Sydney Director + Photographer Maya Luana to help me with the project.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love cooking! And I have a problem with buying too many indoor plants.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m eagerly awaiting Snoh Aalegra’s next album! By the time this interview is released, her album will be out! So I’m going to strongly bet that’s what I’ll be listening to. Lost You is a single Aalegra has released in anticipation of the album – it’s a blessing. Remi Wolf’s recent single Liz, Ocean Grove’s 2020 album Flip Phone Fantasy, Easy Life’s latest release skeletons, Mel Blue’s recent album Sanctuary Point, Pt.1 – I could go on! Those are current favourites.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Usually, I try to eat pretty well… but my favourite cheat meal is at a friends place in Crows Nest, Plan B. They have loaded fries and savage burgers. Hangout locations change according to where the next gig is, as most of my friends are all independent artists.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

The bl!nk video is yet to be released! And #spoiler another single is coming! Ending the year with a pretty fun dance track. I’m tying up loose ends for next years releases… stay tuned.

Mailing List: https://10onuhmt64w.typeform.com/to/gCJFTV2q
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodiartist_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodiartist
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UXBYyEazvEKmKR0pCzSfQ?si=qaP8MF8cQ8Wr96yzJQvn6A&dl_branch=1
June 29, 2021 0 comments
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Rashid Ajami
Music InterviewsMusic News

Rashid Ajami

by the partae June 28, 2021
written by the partae

Hey Rashid, congrats on your latest release, your TOR label debut! For our readers who might not have heard it yet, can you describe each of the tracks in three words/a sentence?

That’s a good question ! I would say…

“Never Knew” is soulful, nostalgic and raw.

“Chasing Ghosts” is industrial, haunting and warm. 

“Still Think of You” is melancholy, lush and dreamy.

You’ve had a really strong 12 months with releases on the likes of Tale & Tone, TOR, XYZ… What do you think was the reason behind this exciting collection of new tracks? Have you been having an extra creative phase?

I think these tracks came from a desire to create during lockdown. I had a few months of creative focus in which the tracks came together. They each have their own story and meaning behind them, but in the end they worked quite nicely as a collection, even though this was not what I initially intended. 

Where do you usually get your inspiration from, and has lockdown affected that (either in a good or bad way)?

My inspiration comes from nature, art and mainly from experiences in my life. But when it comes down to it the inspiration comes from within and is at a deeper level. It comes from being in the moment of creation fully. 

Where would be your dream gig or show when the world opens back up properly again?

My dream is to tour the world and play in multiple countries, meet new people, and have unique experiences. 

What’s next for you? We’ve heard that you’re big into NFTs and artwork, and are working on some cool installations… can you tell us more about that?

I will be launching my first NFT collection soon. It consists of 6 pieces all with unique visuals and music. I’m very excited about it and I really enjoyed the project! I’m looking at many new artistic projects that involve bringing together art, music, film and immersive experiences. Stay tuned for more updates!

Rashid Ajami’s ‘You Don’t Know Me’ EP is out now on Tale & Tone. His ‘Never Knew’ EP is Out Now on TOR, get it here.

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 https://www.instagram.com/rashidajami/

https://www.facebook.com/rashidajamiofficial

 

June 28, 2021 0 comments
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SRUJANIKA
Music InterviewsMusic News

SRUJANIKA

by the partae June 26, 2021
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?

The city of cyberpunk vibes and neon signs; my home away from home… Tokyo, Japan. What’s good?

How did you first start playing music?

Technically I used to play the flute quite diligently in my elementary school band but my real interest in music developed when I was going through a period of writer’s block in my late teens. No poetry was coming out, so I decided I needed a new outlet to express myself or I was going to combust. Then I discovered DAW’s and made little secret songs on my Apple Laptop with loops, beats and samples. It wasn’t until 2017 when I had a keyboard workshop in college where I really started to learn about music theory. A lovely professor from Yamanashi taught me about chords and how to play Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra. Finally in 2018 I got myself an Akai Mini and I was just blown away by the limitless possibility of musical creation. I’m telling you, it felt like the sky was the limit!

 
What’s been happening recently?

I just got my very first gig to perform my original music in the coming months and I am so nervous yet excited. Something about singing songs that I personally wrote as opposed to acting as somebody else just sends chills up my spine. But I think that’s what turns me on, because creativity is a high-risk energy. Will I fail or fly?

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

More like who. My producer and homegirl is an artist from Russia who goes by the title MILIAH but I call her by her first name, Emilia. She has been a wonderful creative collaborator and business partner whom I trust. I sent her a demo which had a street-like Travis Scott beat and she transformed it into this mystical, dream indie-pop, shoegaze rock hybrid that blew my mind. “This is how I imagine your song,” she told me. I just adored the little details she added to it which made it sound otherworldly, and I’ve been blown away by people’s response to it which has been overwhelmingly positive.

Often during our production phase, she asks me: “What do you want?” which instantaneously puts me in touch with my true desires for my art. Every instrument and effect is chosen just for me, and I fall in love with music a little harder. God do I need my guitars and 808’s! I’ve learnt a lot about communicating my artistic vision effectively to others which is a skill. It can get really specific sometimes, and leaves no room for “oh yeah that’s fine.” Nobody needs that. What is expected of me is to be nothing short of a bad bitch who knows what she wants and how to get it.

 
How did you go about writing Rise?
There is a book that has become my Bible. It’s called The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path towards Higher Creativity. In it, it has an exercise called Morning Pages where we’re supposed to write 3 pages straight from one’s stream of consciousness into a notebook. This is done to kill the censor within, or the inner critic, which had dominated my life for years. I didn’t even know if I was a real artist. I judged myself and my work too heavily to even create, let alone show people what I made. But once I was able to put pen to paper with no B.S excuses getting in my way, I began to write dozens of songs like never before. I had made music in the past, but not quite like that. I lost my mind and broke down crying in the process. I was a force of nature; a wildfire or a hurricane. The Dark Night of the Soul that I endured for months to see my end goal, which was creating a body of work, come into fruition was not in vain.

I finally emerged like a classic Phoenix from the ashes, and that’s when I wrote the lyrics to Rise in my journal at what must have been 3AM.

Where and when did you record?
It wasn’t until the end of November 2020 where I was half-alive yet somehow more fiery and alive than I’d ever been.

I was in my bedroom recording Rise on my phone. I didn’t even have a home studio back then, and this jerk producer told me that he’d stalk me like ‘A’ from the TV show Pretty Little Liars, sarcastically wished me good luck and that I wouldn’t find anyone to work with me and my ‘pseudo’ talent. I swear that just made me work ten times harder. Another producer whom I looked up to didn’t really respond to my request when I asked for the STEMS to his beats, unfortunately. But being told no is not the end. No is just the beginning of a creative career. I’ve gotten immune to it. There is a saying that rejection is God’s protection and that there is a better plan for you. So I don’t get disheartened anymore at seemingly lost opportunities. It’s important to never lose sight of the end goal and keep going no matter what.

These guys led me to think: “Why are there so many male producers? No shade, but where are the women in music? I want to work with a female creative in particular.” It was through the internet I googled specific communities and found She Is The Music, and it was there I was able to connect with Emilia. I listened to her song Wild and loved the production on it, so I reached out to her via Instagram DM’s. So in the end, I’m thankful for the doors that closed on me. I’m lucky to have built my goddess gang since then.

How did you approach the recording process?

It was honestly very simple, smooth and straightforward. Since I didn’t even own a mic back then, I actually just recorded three vocal takes on my Android phone (which goes to show how much technology has advanced) and emailed it to Emilia’s friend Dmitriy, who did the mixing and mastering on the track. It was as though all the obstacles that I had faced were finally removed and things started opening up for me.

How did the concept for the music video come about?

I thought I was going to leave Japan in May, so I wanted to capture the essence of the title ‘The Land of The Rising Sun’ by putting in a sunrise. We had the idea to shoot one day at night, and another during the day to showcase the video moving from darkness to light which is what the song is about.

Where did you film and who did you work with?

Through a Facebook group for filmmakers & videographers in Tokyo, I was able to connect with Guillaume Tauveron, a French director & filmmaker who was so sweet, kind and hilarious. Since he has shot in all the popular locations, we wanted to go somewhere unique so we shot at Makuhari Beach which was so much fun and made me grateful to be this free-spirited independent artist filming by the ocean. I want that beautiful time back. I used to fantasize about making a music video since FOREVER. It’s a dream come true not only to have made one but also put it on YouTube and have my own little artist channel. I used to pray for this. I’m really lucky.

You have an EP coming soon, please tell us about it:
YES! Some of my favourite rappers and rockstars have had alter ego’s like Megan Thee Stallion’s Tina Snow and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. I wrote this song called Heart Candy which has S-A-S-S-Y lyrics like “you’ll never find a girl like me I’m hard to replace.” I was like, who is this girl? Sasha Fierce? There is a cute yet dangerous dolly sound on it that made me come up with a name for my very own alter ego & EP title Gothic Lolita Gem, which is more inspired by the Japanese fashion style than Nabokov’s novel. I don’t think I need a persona to create music, though. Everything is 100% me. I’m a shapeshifter though, so that might confuse people. One day I’m like a noir film and another I’m technicolor. I’m constantly changing, like a chameleon.

I’ve experimented with a lot of different sounds and styles on the EP and I have a feeling I’ll always be doing that. I can’t wait to release it! Stay tuned for it to drop sometime this year.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Eve’s album Scorpion. I was born in the late 90’s so I’ve been having nostalgia for 00’s music. The track Stronger by Kanye West. I’m on some what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger type of energy. A Little Bit Dangerous by CRMNL, because I’ve been in villain mode after people came for my neck and failed. And I think the duo RHYME SO are sick. Their 360 video for ‘Hot’ with the virtual club was a visual experience to remember.

What do you like to do away from music?

The social isolation of the pandemic has really put me in an introspective state for the last 18 months. During this time I’ve become a 200 Hour YTT Kundalini Yoga practitioner which has brought me a lot of inner peace along with Deepak Chopra and Alicia Keys’ Divine Feminine meditation series. That reminds me, I need to complete my goddess Kali yoga challenge! She is a Hindu deity that embodies Shakti and despite her associations with death, doomsday, sexuality and violence, she is actually considered to be the loving mother of the universe. I am all about spirituality, liberation and raising consciousness. But I’m not one of those fake good vibes only type of people. I’m a lightworker and a shadow healer.

I love manifestation candles, crystals, divination, essential oils etc. I used to hide that side of me because I was scared people wouldn’t take me seriously, but I’ve learnt that when I step into alignment with my authenticity and everything I thought was ‘weird’, that’s where my people are. Spiritual babes are some of my favourite kinds of people because I know they’re committed to personal growth. I almost decided not to pursue music in favor of a more strictly truth-seeking path like a tantrika or a dakini, whom I have been told I was in a past life, until I remembered a quote by Marilyn Manson: “Music is the strongest form of magic’. My vibration increases tenfold when I’m creating songs – it’s so much fun!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

I signed up for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s one year program this March so I’ll be continuing to study the modules for that course. Plus I just sent in my college applications for the fall semester so I’m hoping things go according to plan during these unprecedented times. I’m also learning how to DJ.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Your girl is a true foodie who loves to travel. I just had the most delicious butter prawns and chilli crab from Singapore Seafood Republic for Father’s Day so I’m still basking in that post-meal glow. I am flirting with Ayurvedic recipes since I’m trying to up my wellness, but if you would have asked the old me, I’d have probably said strawberries with Godiva chocolate and Italian spaghetti. Things are slowly changing now. I switched up my pasta in favor of zucchini noodles, or affectionately called ‘zoodles’ which I thought were pretty delicious.

The pandemic has me fenced in, so when I’m craving fresh air I like to go to Kasai Rinkai Park and chill near the water and BBQ tables.

LISTEN/WATCH

https://www.instagram.com/srujanikamusic/

June 26, 2021 0 comments
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Health Club
Music InterviewsMusic News

Health Club

by the partae June 18, 2021
written by the partae

https://backl.ink/146802140To celebrate the release of Have Like Like that on Off Leash Records, we sat down with Lucas (PKA Health Club) for a chat about where things are for him and the music, right now.

Greetings Lucas, for those that don’t know about Health Club, how long have you been at this project and how would you describe the music?

Hello! I’ve been writing music under Health Club for around 3 or 4 years now.  When I first started the project I was listening to and influenced by a lot of soul, funk and neo soul, which led me to this sort of pop/neo soul output.  I’ve always really enjoyed lower tempos; they leave a lot of space between the beats and allow for more explorations in groove.

This new track of yours “Have It Like That” on Off Leash Records, is a funky, soulful record. The vocals remind me a little of early UK dance, but then there’s an almost American style janggly hip-hop beat plus some very Australian usage of the saw synths. Is it deliberate for you to merge styles or is that something that just happened organically?

I think initially I had leaned into some more of the UK feel on an earlier version – using some parallel harmony, 909s n what not but at some point, I just started from scratch and played with a new, more soulful angle.  It all just unwound from there and I found myself throwing a slap bass in the chorus.  I do love intentional use of juxtapositions or clashing of ideas but in this case, I think it just happened.

Are there specific influences that contributed to the tone of this track? If so, who are they?

Pharrell is always a massive influence, and if you get down to it a lot of the more current influences would also lead back to him too.  People like Lynda Dawn, kaytranada, Mndsgn & Toro y Moi; are very key components of the sound I’ve created with this release.  Can’t forget to mention Patrice Rushen, I don’t think I could go a couple days without listening to her.

Some of your more recent singles have been closer to a house/disco tempo. Are we gonna hear you stick around in these more open grooves for a while?

Definitely.  I’ve been DJing a lot over the past year or two – more than I have in years.  I’ve been listening to and playing heaps of late 80s and 90s stuff, especially Italo and Dream House.  I think I’d like to explore writing some actual club music very soon.

For the production nerds out there, are there any favourite instruments, plugins or tools that can be heard on “Have It Like That” and what do you like about them?

A lot of the lead and mono sounds on this one are from an sh101 remake.  The original was my first synth and when they brought the modern remake out, I had to get it.  I’ve used Soundtoys ‘Crystallizer’ for some of the lush background sonics too, definitely worth giving that thing some praise.  And, on every song, I’ve used the prophet 08 – in this case, for the big saw pads in the chorus.

No doubt, Electronic music is in a strange place worldwide with limited capacities and not much of a festival scene. How has Queensland been of late? Are you and your contemporaries able to go out and play shows? How do they feel?

It’s taken some time but we’re back to what feels like normal.  The limited capacity is still in place of course, and is quite a point of tension, with other areas of society seemingly “immune” to covid safety restrictions and procedures. Friends are throwing shows nearly every weekend, to smaller and maybe more dedicated crowds.  People are aware of the limited release, so the tickets are bought up quick and the attendance is always in high spirits.  I’ve even caught some shows from international artists which seems crazy.

On, that; If you could play support to any international headliner, who would it be and why would that be an awesome show for Health Club?

Probably someone like Erika De Casier or Toro y Moi. I feel like any show they would do would be awesome regardless of my involvement, and would be great to be a part of it.

What about in the studio? Who would be a dream collaboration for Health Club and why do you think it would work?

Adam Bainbridge (Kindness) or Joseph Mount (Metronomy).  They’re not exactly current influences on the music I’ve released but they’re two of the biggest contributors to my high school obsession with music.  They’re both artists that I feel pushed pop music in really interesting directions and reference some great records in their own ways.  I’d like to think over the years I’ve found a lot of the same influences that drove them to make their work and would hopefully have a common ground to draw inspiration from.

What’s next for Health Club is there anything you’d like to leave us with?

More music, and hopefully soon.  Earlier this year I played a live show with my friend Millie, the first I’d played in years.  It left me excited to work on it further and look into performing more live shows in the near future.

PLAY/DOWNLOAD

https://www.instagram.com/health_club__/

June 18, 2021 0 comments
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Rat City
Music InterviewsMusic News

Rat City

by the partae June 16, 2021
written by the partae

What is your name and role within Rat City?

 My name is Lasse Michelsen, and I’m a producer/songwriter and a member of Rat City.

Where are you currently based?

 Oslo.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

 Right now, I’m on daddy’s leave, so it’s all about getting through the day with my nine month old daughter. It’s a lot of fun! Covid-19 hasn’t really affected our daily work as much as other businesses. We’re used to being stuck alone in the studio.

Your new single ‘Rather Be’, a collaboration with Isak Heim, is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 The sound is based on what we have released earlier, horns, live bass etc. Kind of an organic sound mixed up with house/disco-vibe. I have no clue what to call it… Since there are so many songwriters involved, I can only speak for myself, but I think it’s about cutting loose from a bad relationship or person.

How did you come to collab with Isak and how was the experience?

 We have worked with Isak on several previous releases, so it was very natural for us to ask him to sing on the song. He has an amazing voice!

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

 All recordings are done in our own studio in Drammen (Norway). Phil Tan (U.S) on the mix and Sing Master on the master.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Like we always do, press record and use your imagination.

What does ‘Rather Be’ mean to you?

 A lot! It’s one of a few records that we still love to listen to.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 Kamara, she is really talented.

What do you like to do away from music?

 Fly Fishing, hunting and hiking in the mountains.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

 Make more music!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

 A nice meal in the tent on the tundra after a long day of fishing.

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June 16, 2021 0 comments
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Joe Terror & Hollie Joyce
Music InterviewsMusic News

Joe Terror & Hollie Joyce

by the partae June 16, 2021
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

 Hollie – I live between two places – Northcote and Ocean Grove, Victoria. Basically, part time city, part time coast life.
Joe- I am based in Brunswick, Victoria. I made the move to Melbourne almost five years ago from rural NSW.

How did you first start playing music?

Joe – I was always fixated on music from a very young age. I’d set up pretend microphones and make my family gather around for living room concerts, singing along to CD’s. When I got my first guitar, I was about eight years old. I’d lock myself in rooms and just listen to notes ring out for hours.

At the age of thirteen I began teaching myself songs on the guitar and jamming with a friend from high school, he was becoming a great guitarist, so in order to start our band I scored a drum kit scholarship at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium to be able to afford lessons and got my chops up on the kit.

Hollie – Yeh! I was pretty similar actually, I grew up in a family of performers so I was always surrounded by people performing music, dancing etc, basically a lot of big personalities. I started learning the piano with my Nanna, but quickly became uninterested in playing covers and wanted to write songs of my own. I would have books and books of little poems with this monophonic 80’s Casio that only played one note at a time but it had a recording function so I would layer parts for hours over the best/worst beats you’ve ever heard. I was probably 13 when I started having a crack at writing songs on guitar, dad bought me an SG shaped black Ibanez electric guitar but I never played it because I had my eye on his 70’s acoustic guitar that I still play to this day.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

Joe – As you know Melbourne has just endured it’s fourth lockdown. This time around I have personally lost one The Stained Daisies show, of which we rehearsed for months in advance training extra band members, one Tug show on the 12th and we are still holding our breaths about whether we will be able to do the launch for DEA on the 18th of June.

Covid sucks.

Hollie – Thank goodness for the daily quiz.

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

Joe – I was at the back end of writing my last album “Songs to Track Down To”, a very mellow bunch of folk songs, when I decided to start writing and recording something that completely polarised what I was pushing out at the time. I began working on the “Queen of Smiles, Blues & the Devil” concept. I had planned that it was to be a straight up rock album with the same kind of poetic value that the previous album had, only yelling it this time. So I guess the sound and energy I was pushing in Dea was a product of me somewhat challenging myself to embrace an essence of anger whilst I worked on something very peaceful.

How did you approach the song writing process and how did you come to work together?

Joe – I approached Hollie online with the instrumental version of the track and asked if she would like to contribute some kind of vocal layering to flesh out the groove. Once she had done that we decided it wasn’t finished and Hollie agreed to throw some words at it. She was given the album name “Queen of Smiles, Blues & the Devil” and came back with what is now “DEA”.

Hollie – I remember constantly sending you updated versions of little clips being like, “do you like this?” “what about THIS?” until I realised you just wanted me to do my thing haha.

Joe, how was the experience working with Hollie?

Joe – Working with Hollie was everything you’d hope for in a collaboration. It was a great mix of fun and serious as we dipped into each other’s worlds for a moment.

Hollie, how was the experience working with Joe?

Hollie – Same! Working with Joe was just so easy considering we didn’t really know each other before this. I agree, a healthy amount of being ridiculous and then working hard.

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

Joe – The Instruments were all recorded and mixed by myself at my home studio in Brunswick. All of Hollie’s parts were recorded and mixed by Hollie on top of the instrumental track. It was then mastered by Aidan Bateman.

How did you approach the recording process?

Joe – My zoom R24 is my writing tool. I’ll have a riff or a groove and just keep adding layers of instruments into the recording device, and that is the product you hear. That’s how Joe Terror music has always worked.

Hollie – I basically imported the track Joe sent me into logic and just wrote everything directly in producing and mixing as I went along.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Joe – This week I have been listening to “Still Sad”, a playlist by Mikey Young & Anthology records, a follow up to the 2019 “Sad About The Times”. It’s brilliant. Also, Big Thief Live at Bunker Studio, Pig Lib by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Hurtsville by Jack Ladder and a heap of Sarah Mary Chadwick.

Hollie – I’ve been getting stuck into the album “On” by Altin Gün, Pete Drake, but mostly the song “forever”, The Kevin Fingier Collective and Imarhan.

What do you like to do away from music?

Joe – I enjoy working in the country and being in the bush. I have also recently taken a liking to bartending. It can be a fun social environment and somewhat keeps me out of trouble.

Hollie – I’m usually chipping away at something, whether it’s in the garden, or writing something, painting, drawing, cooking etc. I also tend to plant my feet either in the dirt or by the water.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

Joe – I’ll be trying to tackle as many Joe Terror shows as I can in the next couple of months along with another few singles from the album. For the majority of September, I will be back in the country looking after a bunch of goats and recording some new stuff. Most of October I’ll be touring the East Coast with The Stained Daisies. Then maybe in November I can finally have the full album out and see out the year with Joe Terror shows.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

Joe – Space food sticks. On the moon.

Hollie – Wait woah, I want to be on the moon too so naturally I’ll also need some space food sticks, if you have any.

Joe Terror IG HERE

​Hollie Joyce IG HERE

Spotify link HERE

June 16, 2021 0 comments
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FFLORA
Music InterviewsMusic News

FFLORA

by the partae June 10, 2021
written by the partae

Hey Felipe, thanks for taking the time to speak with us! How are you?

I’m fine, even with this pandemic I try to remain calm, positive and focus on my productions, it’s a pleasure to talk to you.

Where are you in the world right now?

I’m in Presidente Venceslau, the city where I was born in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil

How has the last year been for you in lockdown? Have you been able to take any positives from it?

It’s been a time full of ups and downs, in many moments it’s very difficult because I’m not sure when or how the return will be, but whenever is possible I always try to keep positive thinking, and like it or not, I ended up having more time to spend with my family and myself, I have used this creative leisure to inspire me even more in the productions that are going full steam.

You’re one half of the acclaimed duo Dashdot. What was your journey like to become a successful producer and DJ?

It’s been an amazing journey, where I collect memories and beats from the most different places and tracks. I’ve made countless friends, met wonderful people and had the pleasure of producing some of the soundtracks that are part of many people’s lives.

What is your favorite memory as Dashdot?

It’s hard to choose a particular memory, but I’ve always enjoyed the international tours, we’ve had the chance to play around Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America 

What made you want to start your solo project FFLORA?

I was at a time in my life looking for more independence and a slightly more specific sound line, I already had the idea of ​​creating a parallel project, and this whole pandemic ended up accelerating this idea.

What was the inspiration behind the new track on Ame Records?

There were some incredible inspirational vibes that kicked in from time to time during these lockdown moments, and Colors is definitely one of my favorite quarantine productions. I hope that I can sign other tracks on Ame, a brand that I identify a lot with.

How was it making with no chance to play it out or have any crowd interaction?

This is one of the biggest differences on my production process, I’d always tested my songs countless times before releasing the final version. However, I had to adapt and somehow teleport myself into the minds of different people in the crowd pretending to be listening to the track. 

What would be your dream first gig back?

To tell you the through, I just want to be able to play again. Of course there are some special places and festivals, Like Ame Club itself, Warung, Green Valley, Lollapalooza, Rock In Rio and etc… But what I really want at this moment is to be able to play, doesn’t matter where.

What’s the thing your most excited about when we can return to live shows?

I’m looking forward to testing my quarantine productions, there’s a lot of music that I really believe in!
I’ve probably made more that 50 tracks these last months. 

Have you discovered any records in lockdown that you’re dying to play out?

I don’t think there’s a specific track, but there’s a lot of good stuff that was produced in quarantine, whether from Brazil or abroad.

What else have you got coming up?

I have a lot of news ahead of me, from new releases and lives sets and the development of an own label.

https://www.beatport.com/release/colors-feat-dcw-extended/3396530

https://www.instagram.com/fflora_music

June 10, 2021 0 comments
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LUCY PARLE Wins Teen category award at International Songwriting Competition Signs recording deal with Double Drummer New single 'Back Up' out now!
Music InterviewsMusic News

Lucy Parle

by the partae June 10, 2021
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

 

I’m currently based on the Central Coast NSW Australia.

 

How did you first start playing music?

 

I first started singing lessons when I was 8 years old and then I started learning the guitar and piano when I was around 10.

 

What’s been happening recently?

 

I have recently won the Teen Category in the International Songwriting Competition for 2020 for my latest single ‘Back Up’. It has been the coolest experience winning this category because it has really boosted my confidence as an artist.

 

You’ve just released your new single ‘Back Up’ via Double Drummer, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 

When I wrote this song I was influenced by artists like Taylor Swift and Julia Michaels. But I also took in influences from the song ‘Every Rose Has It’s Thorn’ by Poison because I love that songs production and it’s songwriting style.

 

How did you go about writing Back Up?

 

I wrote Back Up pretty quickly because it is about a personal experience I went through so the song was always all about the lyrics so when I was writing it I really focused on what I wanted to say and interesting ways to communicate what I was going through. 

 

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

 

I recorded Back Up with the best producer in the world Michael Carpenter and I recorded it at Love Hz Studios.

 

How did you approach the recording process?

 

Michael and I always approach recording with a scale. On one end of the scale is organic/ country and on the other end is electronic/ pop. I always wanted this song to be a little rocky but still organic and so I gave him some reference tracks and we went from there.

 

You’ve recently won the ISC TEEN Competition, how has this experience been and how have things change since?

 

Winning the ISC really pushed us to release Back Up which has been the coolest experience. It has also given me so much added confidence as a songwriter and artist which I treasure because sometimes being an artist can get overwhelming.

 

How do you juggle music with school?

 

I don’t! Haha just kidding. I definitely put music first because it’s what I want to do with my life so I think I balance it by trying to schedule when I’m going to get school work done so I don’t fall behind and I work on music the rest of the time.

 

Who are you listening to at the moment and who influences your sound?

 

I am currently listening to Julia Michaels’ most recent album as well as Delta Goodrem’s new album. I also love Emily Weisband, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift. 

 

What do you like to do away from music?

 

Most people who know me will know that when I’m not working on music I’m with my fur babies. I love my cats and my puppy and spending time with them is one of my favourite things in the world.

 

Does songwriting come easy?

 

For me, music tends to come in ebbs and flows. I often write a bunch for songs in the space of 2 months and then after that I won’t be able to write anything I like for the next 2 months. The trick is to not put pressure on yourself because that causes blocks. I’ve learnt that I can’t force myself to write and that when I’m in the right head space I am able to write so many songs that I really like. 

 

Do you have to find a quiet space and make an appointment with yourself to write or does inspiration come any time /anywhere?

 

I will often get inspiration from something someone has said or in dreams and other experiences and I will just write the idea in my notes on my phone. But to actually write a song I definitely need a quiet space to go. For me, I write at my piano in my bedroom because that’s what inspires me.

 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

 

For the rest of 2021 I plan on continuing to release singles in the lead up to my debut album!

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

 

Mexican… love it! Also Grill’d. My favourite place to hangout would have to be either at home or somewhere I feel like I can be myself.

Follow Lucy Parle

https://www.facebook.com/lucyparlemusic

June 10, 2021 0 comments
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Dive Index
Music InterviewsMusic News

Dive Index

by the partae June 3, 2021
written by the partae
Refolded: Waving At Airplanes Remixes is the sixth full-length album from electronic composer/producer Will Thomas’ collaborative Dive Index project. The original LP was received with critical acclaim last Spring; it’s now been revisited by Will over lockdown, delivering an altogether darker, more atmospheric sound. 
 
Out now on Neutral Music with remixes from Mercury Prize-winning producer Mike Lindsay and Plumbline, and fresh reworks of the originals, this is a brilliant, thought-provoking LP that makes for addictive listening.

Where are you currently based? 

Hey there, I’ve been back and forth between New York City and Los Angeles for many years and have finally settled permanently on the west coast. Due to some unforeseen circumstances during the pandemic, I moved my studio to Ojai – about 90 minutes north of LA.  It’s a beautiful area. Very peaceful.

How does the sound of your new album Refolded – Waving at Airplanes Remixes differ from the original Waving At Airplanes album?

For the original album, I set up parameters to use specific sound sources which were a modular synth, piano and some acoustic guitar.  I wanted the tracks to have a continuous, sonic thread beyond the vocals of Natalie Walker and Merz. For the new remixes, we had the freedom to experiment with different musical styles so, while the originals are somewhat subdued, the remixes are more immediate, beat-heavy, and venture into some darker territory. 

What initially inspired you to remix the album?

The pandemic put a halt on in-person collaborations so I thought a great project would be to revisit the songs from Waving At Airplanes and come up with some new interpretations. Normally, I would farm out the remixes to other producers, but I was playing around with the vocal tracks and was really keen on doing some myself.  I asked Mike Lindsay if he wanted to remix one of the songs and he was up for it so I was thrilled to have him involved. 

How did the collaboration between Natalie Walker and Merz come about, and how do the two feature on the album?

I worked with both Natalie and Merz way back on the Dive Index album, Mid/Air which was a wonderful collaboration.  They both are phenomenal talents and I was so honored to work with them again on Waving At Airplanes.  I sent them both a handful of demos and they picked multiple songs so the album ended up being just the two of them. We alternated the track order – Natalie, then Merz and so on – which created a nice dialog between their voices.  As far as the remix album, it really came down to which vocals were ‘remix-able’, if that makes sense. And some worked better than others so the selections came together organically. 

Can you tell us a bit about the original production of the EP? 

Since I used mostly modular synth, piano and acoustic guitar on the original versions, I made a conscious decision not to use those instruments at all for the remixes. This was to make sure there was a clear distinction of sound sources used for each version.  When I was packing up my studio to move, I rediscovered a few pieces of gear that I haven’t used in quite a while. Mostly analog synths from the 80s like a Roland JX3P and an Oberheim Xpander.  It was great to get reacquainted with these old friends. 

What’s the creative process like behind a Dive Index release, and how does this differ from your other projects such as Plumbline?

Plumbline is primarily an instrumental project and Dive Index is vocal oriented with somewhat traditional song structures so that’s the main difference between the two. Working on Plumbline material is more of a solo affair, except when working with Roger Eno. And since I know the Dive Index songs will ultimately have a vocal track, I have to approach those songs with that in mind and leave room for the voice within the sonic space. 

What are your favourite tracks from the new album, and why?

Oh geez, that’s like asking a parent which kid they like best.  I know this isn’t fair, but I truly like each one for different reasons. And the ones that I felt weren’t working, didn’t make the cut.  Now that said, Mike Lindsay’s remix of ‘She’s Exploding’ is certainly a stand out for me simply because Mike took it to a place that I wouldn’t normally go. And it’s wonderful to get lost in all of his sounds. 

What does the rest of 2021 hold for Dive Index?

I hope we can do some shows in the fall. Nothing is booked at the moment but thankfully things are opening up so live music is alive and well.  Finally!  

Buy Now here On Bandcamp

https://www.facebook.com/diveindex/

https://www.instagram.com/diveindex/

https://twitter.com/diveindex

 

June 3, 2021 0 comments
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