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Where are you currently based?
I’m currently based in Melbourne. All my recording, mixing and mastering is done in Melbourne as well!
How did you first start playing music?
I was enrolled in music lessons from a young age by my mum. I learnt piano in primary school, dabbled in some violin (which I was really bad at) and started some vocal lessons around age eleven. High-school was where I kind of realised my passion for music — I started doing live performance gigs through school, heaps of musical theatre too.
It just kinda went up from there I guess.
I kept reaching for bigger goals and eventually found myself in a recording studio in 2020, and I just fell in love with all that comes with being a recording artist. It’s such a different environment, and the skillset in comparison to live performance is mental — it’s a whole other world.
What’s been happening recently?
I’ve been working towards my EP really. Conceptualising lots of different aspects to go alongside the music. My favourite part of creating and being an artist is thinking of visuals, graphics —all of it. There’s something so fantastic about bringing music to life visually, especially when it’s your own story.
The tracks for the EP have been in the works since early 2021 and I’m so excited with the way it’s all shaping up. It’s truly just an audio representation of growth and experimentation. It means so much to me and I’m beyond excited for it to come out..
Your second single ‘get2going’ will be released on March 27, 2022, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I was really into dance and hyper-pop, like ‘PinkPantheress’ type vibe when I wrote it. I wanted something sexy, fast and catchy. It all really comes together when I’m in the studio with Ben—it just ties itself in a nice little bow. We just vibe, with loose intention and the end result is always exactly what I’d hoped for, I really don’t know how we do it to be honest. I knew I wanted the sound to be maximal, lots of layers, lots of stacks and heaps of little details that just bring the song together. I usually write a hook on its own or to a beat, then we just build from there.
How did you go about writing get2going?
I wrote the hook in my room kind of accidentally, just walking around my house humming this line about ‘waking up in heaven with u’, then without thinking too hard and it just slipped out and I was like oh.. that’s kinda cool
Then I just wrote a very loosely structured song in like 20 minutes to a plain Youtube beat. I didn’t really like writing with specific A,B structure or anything like that at the time, it definitely works, I just wasn’t digging it. I was more into — what am I trying to say, what’s my intention, and now let’s make it a song.
I made a little demo in my room and sent it to Ben Oldland, and then that’s it. We jumped in, refined it and now it’s here!
How would you describe the single?
I would describe it as a bratty, sexy little song. I don’t know where the attitude came from—I am definitely not that rowdy most of the time—but I think it really works.
I mean, what can I say? I like feeling sexy, I like doing things..
But one of the reasons I really love this single is because it was the first song I wrote and recorded that really felt like it was going in the direction I wanted artistically— I felt my previous single was a bit absent, like I wasn’t really myself. But that’s the best part about creating music I guess, each time you look back it’s exciting to see that kind of growth. And I love get2going, it just gives me a lot of confidence. I hope it can make other people feel the same, like being sexual isn’t shameful or dirty—it’s fun and flirty, it’s a part of living.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
I recorded this in 2021 with Ben Oldland—fantastic guy, and he produced it too. Got it mastered with Panorama Mixing & Mastering. I really love working with both of them, they understand the vision, and I’m never disappointed when I work with them.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
My friend recently showed me Teyana Taylor, and I’m absolutely loving them. ‘Issues/Hold On’ is definitely one of my favourite songs at the moment. But I really do love the classics, especially when I’m working. I love Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. God I love Billie Holiday.. But I’ll also forever love good funky music to put me in a good mood.. Tom Misch, Jacob Collier, all the goods!
What do you like to do away from music?
To be honest I’m never away! I’m on the bus listening to different albums to hear production styles, different vocals, different instrumentation, I really just can’t be away as weird as that is.
I do love the beach though. And eating out—that’s about it really.
What’s planned for 2022?
Finishing up the EP! Got some exciting details finalised the other day and it just fuels the fire you know? I love the whole process from writing the songs to every detail up until its out —and after!
But mainly, just the EP..
After it’s released I’ll start (hopefully) doing some live performances and getting into the swing of things, maybe a show here and there!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I’m just a brunch kind of person. So any good cafe that has excellent coffee, and a good like eggs benedict or brekkie burger and I’m set man. I’m good — that’s all I need.
I am a homebody though, and just super anxious in general so I really do love just sitting in a watching a movie or something with take away food. Give me dumplings delivered to my door with ‘Howls Moving Castle’ on the TV and you won’t hear from me, I’m good.
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Where are you currently based?
South Yarra, Melbourne.
How did you first start playing music?
Started playing keyboard when I was 6. I just wanted to be able to play Kiss From a Rose and the theme song to Titanic.
What’s been happening recently?
It’s been a pretty busy couple of months directing/ editing videos with my brother for all the singles from my album.
Your debut album ‘N2KY’ will be out on March 18, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
It’s heavily influenced by Scandinavian sounds and textures—cloud rap, synth pop, nu-wave—artists like Bladee, Lust for Youth, First Hate. Lots of ambient textures, sequencers, icy synths, auto-tuned vocals.. that kinda thing.
How did you go about writing the music?
I wrote most of the original ideas on a shitty Casio Keyboard and an acoustic guitar (for the first time ever). Later in the studio with Dean Tuza (producer) we started fleshing out the ideas with different synths and programming beats on the 808 or 909. I’ve been getting my producing chops up the last couple of years so my new demos sound less… shit.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
We did the whole album in Dean’s studio in South Yarra, Melbourne. South-side represent. The album was mixed in LA by my dear friend Stuart White (Beyoncé, Jay-Z) and mastered by John Davis at Metropolis.
How did you approach the recording process?
Because the songs for this album were so raw to begin with, Dean and I referenced a lot of artists that we love, and started working out how to dress these songs properly. Some songs completely transformed. We were very thorough.
What does this album mean to you?
I didn’t really know until I finished. N2KY stands for Nice 2 Know Ya. It’s basically an album about rejecting enmeshment and dependence on others. It’s a record about craving freedom, whatever that means.
What do you like to do away from music?
I’m very interested in mental health. I read a lot of books on that. Dependence on substances and the many different approaches to dealing with that interests me as well, having had my own struggles at times. I love boxing cos it keeps me fit and focused. Big Formula 1 fan too. I also play Fortnite every day, and I love being around my friends.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Bladee, Lust For Youth, First Hate, Iceage, Ecco2k, HTRK, Acopia.
What’s planned for 2022?
I’ve got a second album shaping up nicely, so hopefully I can get that finished!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
It’s definitely a Melbourne hot spot atm, but I can’t go past Hope St Radio. Wine is great, food is incredible, and it’s an environment that really promotes socialising—I love it, sue me.
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Hi There! I’m fine! Not an easy question, the good thing is music and culture, the bad is the ignorance, the hypocrisy and the lack of attention we have these days.
How was the pandemic for you and what affect did it have on your music taste and style?It has been two very hard years where there has been a real reset. Today is a new beginning
How do you evolved your own sound while staying true to your roots and own signature and not jumping on new hype bandwagons?
I think that roots are important, and that you cannot lie to the soul. It is important not to lie to oneself, and to externalize what we really are, we live in a world made only of appearance and fiction, with music you cannot lie.
Do you make music that suits certain labels or do you create first and worry about that later?
I like to create freely, and then look for the right label for that creation
What are some of the key bits of music making gear in your current set up?
In my home studio I can’t miss my mini moog and also my Maschine with which I enjoy creating new grooves every time
Where is your best environment as a dj? a small dark club or a huge outdoor festival stage? late at night for the weirdos or early so you can play slow and eclectic etc?
When I was a resident here at cocobreach I liked to play in the afternoon on the beach, and play to late at night. I was doing dj sets for 6 hours, but I also really like small night clubs! People attach to each other who transmit the vital energy thanks to a primordial thing, the dance.
How do you work, do you have an idea in your head you work towards or do you just experiment and jam and see what happens?
It depends, it can be one or the other, there are days where I start from scratch, days where I take samples and I start to work from that sample
Tell us about your gimme good love EP – what inspired or influenced it, where and when and who was it written for?
It’s a song dedicated to love, which I think is important in life. Nathalie perfectly understood the concept I was talking about and wrote some wonderful words.
Did you work with Nathalie remotely or in the studio? How did you meet?
Yes we work remotely, the Irish singer Rion S introduced us. He is an important friend for me!
What else have you got coming up/are you working on?
I’m preparing some nice things! Coming up is a collaboration with Mell Hell, an Australian DJ, which will be released soon, it will be a good record! This phase of recovery will also be a rebirth I hope!
Facebook: @mircobertidj
Where are you currently based?
I am in Pitt Meadows! It’s a little farming community about an hour outside Vancouver.
How did you first start playing music?
I grew up loving to sing and perform in church choirs or piano recitals. I remember auditioning for a kids TV show once when I was 14 and being like “yeah, this is great. I think I could be good at this.” I just started writing, singing and playing shows in high school for fun and never really stopped. You get better with time. New opportunities are always coming up. I love telling my stories and connecting with people on such a personal level.
What’s been happening recently?
Recently, it’s been pretty busy and pretty awesome. I just released my new single “Take Me Back” and then the music video to follow. The music video was probably my favourite thing that I have gotten to do to date. Such a great crew and they really helped bring my vision to life. It’s just such a fun and happy video and projects what I’m all about.
Your latest single ‘Take Me Back’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
It was when I was scrolling through Instagram one day and I was seeing all these posts captioned “Take Me Back.” The photo would be of them at the beach years back, or before they had kids or back when they were skinny (joke). That became the inspiration when writing the song.
How did this single come about?
I had played it lots at shows and online and it just became something that everyone would comment on as one of their favourite songs that I played. Since I loved it too it seemed obvious that I should record it and release it as the next single!
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
I went to Calgary to record this one with Spencer Cheyne and Justin Kudding. I remember my first night there I was settling into my hotel in the city and I felt so homesick. The next day I was scheduled to start recording. On my drive to the studio I thought my GPS was broken because it was taking me down all these deserted gravel roads. I usually just show up wherever the producer tells me to go so I didn’t actually know what OCL Studios was going to look like. It ended up being in the middle of farm land and it felt so much like home. The rest of the week was amazing and the producers really brought the song to life.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Right now…. I’m still listening to Evermore and Folklore by Taylor Swift!!! I know they’re technically kinda old, but these days I’m at home a lot more. It’s such a nice album to listen to while I bake in the kitchen or do other mundane tasks around the house.
What do you like to do away from music?
I’m usually down for just about anything. I love home reno projects, dinner with my husband, walks with the dogs, bingeing trashy TV with my best friend. Game nights are my favourite – tbh we played Settlers of Catan at my stagette (wild night).
What’s planned for 2022?
2022 is already flying by! My first EP is going to be released this spring which will be so cool to have a physical copy of something that I’ve created to share! I’ll also get to play a few shows around the nation and hopefully just have an all around rockin’ year!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I LOVE almost all food. Steak, fries, veggies & dip… But I think my favourite would have to be a McDonalds double cheeseburger with extra pickles or those crappy Little Debbie’s Swiss Rolls. I’m a big homebody so I love being at my house. I also love summers at the family farm playing with my dogs in the field.
Website: www.danielleryanmusic.com
Twitter: @daniellemusic_
Facebook: /DanielleRyanMusic
Instagram: @danielleryanmusic
Where are you currently based?
Sydney born and raised.
How did you first get into comedy?
It’s always been a private dream of mine, but having parents that are the children of immigrants isn’t exactly conducive to pursuing a career in the arts. But after crash landing in Insolvency (liquidations, bankruptcy) and working there for a few years, my soul began to erode and I ran out of excuses to not try the thing I always wanted to.
I was writing for a few years, and I hit up open mics for a while before hiring out a theatre and inviting all 400 of my cousins (it was mostly friends) to come see my first hour of stand-up (it was…not the best). After that, I completely quit my job and have been chasing this dragon ever since.
How did you keep busy during Covid?
I wrote my new show (come see it), I got very experimental with cooking, got obscenely drunk with my partner, watched all of Lost, and injured my back.
You’re Don’t Call Me A Wog!’ (An E̶t̶h̶n̶i̶c̶ Comedy Story) tour kicks off on Monday, March 14th at the Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide, from there you’re performing in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, what influences your show and what can we expect?
For the last 30 years, there has been a sub-genre of comedy in this country called ‘Wog Comedy’, an offshoot of ethnic humour. Due to my Italian and Greek roots, and an occasional penchant for mentioning them in my material, I have been labelled as a ‘Wog Comic’ since I first got on stage.
Sometimes (like when I get invited to do shows to audiences of 800 plus as part of ‘wog tours’) I like this, while other times (like when I do shows in shisha bars to 30 Lebanese people and other comedians tell me I’ll crush because its ‘my demographic’ – our countries of origin aren’t even on the same continent) I don’t.
Strangely I’ve felt this way my whole life; sometimes I’ve embraced being the ‘Italian and Greek kid’ and other times it made me feel ashamed, and I think this is a general experience for all ‘ethnic Aussies’.
So this show is the story of my love/hate relationship with my cultural background, through life and then through comedy. It’s very self-deprecating and contains a lot of music, poems, lighting cues, AV slideshow, so it’ll be light and a lot of fun.
Who makes you laugh?
ScoMo. But if you’re talking about comedians, the obvious ones are obvious for a reason, Chapelle, Burr, Seinfeld. Gary Gulman is absolutely the hidden gem of American comedy; please check out ‘The Great Depresh’ on HBO (I think Binge and Foxtel).
And a little closer to home, Luke Heggie is the best in this country, he’ll be a household name in no time, and he makes me want to quit every time I see the guy get up.
How do you prepare for each show?
I try to get on stage as much as possible; minimum 3 times a week but preferably multiple times a night. Thankfully the Sydney Comedy Scene just keeps burgeoning so there are plenty of opportunities to perform.
To prepare for the hour shows (this is my 5th) I’ll generally recite the entire show, as loudly and animatedly as I would on stage, by myself in my apartment. My neighbours must think a stone-cold lunatic lives in 582. Especially if they can make out any of the material.
Best and worst thing about being a comedian?
It’s a cliché, but having no real boss, setting your own pace, and having a totally blank canvass with the only real remit of audience laughter (or at the very least, intrigue) is pretty great. Also, when you do well, it feels pretty good-inject that sweet, sweet validation right into my bloodstream.
Conversely, meeting people and them instantly firing off a “tell me a joke” (or something like your final question) is fairly annoying. I find if I drop the charisma dial socially, I get hit with “you’re really serious for a comedian” way too often for my liking.
Also, when you don’t do well on stage, its basically being told by a room full of strangers that they don’t approve of your personality.
What do you like to do away from comedy?
I’m a total soccer nerd, so I have a lot of needless 4am wake up calls. I have a couple of podcasts (one comedy based, one about soccer) which takes up way too much time for something I do for free.
What’s planned for 2022?
This tour, which ends in May. Then I’m really looking forward to turning over the material (I’ve started writing the next show already).
I have 7 out of a total of 10 weddings left to go to in 2022. Also I’m turning 30.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Unquestionably pizza. And I am very lactose intolerant, but love conquers all.
Home, with a hefty, 6 season, 12 episode a season each at 45 minutes run time, TV show to dive head first into. Or Comedy Clubs.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To be basted and marinate in olive oil and garlic so me and my greasy cousins can feast on it as an appetiser.
ANTHONY LOCASCIO ‘DON’T CALL ME A WOG’! (AN ETHNIC COMEDY STORY)
TOUR DATES
TICKETS: ADELAIDE | MELBOURNE | PERTH | SYDNEY
Monday, March 14th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Tuesday, March 15th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Wednesday, March 16th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Thursday, March 17th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Friday, March 18th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Saturday, March 19th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Sunday, April 10th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Tuesday, April 12th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Wednesday, April 13th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Thursday, April 14th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Saturday, April 16th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Sunday, April 17th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Tuesday, April 19th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Wednesday, April 20th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Thursday, April 21st – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Sunday, April 24th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Friday, May 6th – Regal Theatre Chorus Room – Perth
Saturday, May 7th – Regal Theatre Chorus Room – Perth
Friday, May 13th – Factory Theatre Main Room – Sydney
Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
What is your name and role within In Eyes?
Hi! I’m Rosie and I am the vocalist and lyricist.
What’s the Gold Coast music scene like at the moment?
The Goldy has an incredibly vast and diverse music scene, with heaps of artists across all genres. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the closure of many venues over the past few years, and there aren’t a lot of opportunities for bands of our genre to get regular shows here because of it. I know our local government is trying to remedy this though, offering grants for local musicians, and doing their best to add live music to local festivals and events. I have hope for the future of local music here.
How did In Eyes form?
The band initially formed in 2014 when my previous band split. We went through a couple different members before landing on this current lineup in 2017. Dylan (guitars) has been in from the very start. We asked him to audition after seeing him play covers online and he nailed it. I met Kris (drums) at uni, and through studying music together we struck up a super strong friendship and working relationship. He was the piece we’d been missing for so many years. I’m so thankful to be a part of this lineup.
What’s been happening recently?
We’ve just released our latest single, so watching that expand and grow, and be received so positively, has been amazing. We’re also gearing up now to keep writing new music, and getting our live show nice and tight so we’re ready to gig again after so many cancellations last year.
Your latest single ‘Tripwire’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
Songwriting wise, I was in a reflective period of my life when I was thinking about the long term effects of a first time heartbreak. I was inspired to tell the story of my own naivety in the face of a manipulative relationship from the perspective of today, 13 years in the future. Kris wrote the music for this single, and I remember hearing it for the first time and being so intrigued with the rhythmic elements of it. He’s really intelligent rhythmically and I was so excited to see how it would challenge me as a writer.
How did you go about writing Tripwire?
The Tripwire process started while Kris and I were in our final year of uni in 2019. We had a studio session booked and he played me the demo and I instantly fell in love with it. We booked a couple more sessions to work on it and perfect it. I took the first demo home and wrote to it, then in those later sessions we workshopped it, and showed it to friends for feedback. There was something special about it from the beginning, and it turned out better than I think any of us expected.
Where and when did you record/produce/master, and who with?
We recorded at Machine Lab Recording, with our good friend and frequent collaborator Jared Adlam, who also mixed the track. Kris and Jared co-produced the single, and we sent it off to be mastered by another friend of ours, Paul Blakey.
How did you approach the recording process?
The original plan was to drop Tripwire as our second single of 2020, but because of the pandemic, we were basically forced to halt our progress with recording and releasing. We spent a majority of 2020 working on our last single, The Dreamer, and only saw each other in person twice that whole year. Once that dropped, we decided it was time to book in, and start the process for Tripwire. The restrictions at this point had been lifted, but that also meant everyone else was looking to get into studios to record. We booked in for the earliest we could get in with Jared, which was July 2021 (about 5 months after initially reaching out). We recorded over 3 days, and worked on mixes, the artwork, music video, and everything else for the release as time went on. We did what we could under the ever changing restrictions and safety guidelines, and although it dropped a year after we initially wanted it to, the response has been insane, and we’re so happy with how everything came together.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been discovering a few bands on TikTok actually – my favourite at the moment is The Home Team. I’ve had their album Slow Bloom on repeat for about a month. Really good stuff.
What do you like to do away from music?
Dungeons and Dragons! I’ve always been into fantasy games, books, and films, so when I discovered DnD a few years ago I was hooked. I started DMing (dungeon mastering; running the games) in 2018 for a few friends from uni, and haven’t stopped since. I think what I love so much about it is I’ve always been a writer and a storyteller, and DnD allows me to flex my creative muscles in a way that music doesn’t. It’s a way to explore parts of myself that I don’t always get to express in the real world. If you get the chance to play Dungeons and Dragons, do it. It can truly be life changing.
What’s planned for 2022?
Writing a lot, playing more shows, and releasing as much as we possibly can. An EP is on the cards, but we’ve gotta go with whatever the world throws at us, and make the most of it. We mainly just want to keep making music, playing live, and doing what we love.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
We’ve had a few phases within the In Eyes lifetime. We started at Nando’s, then segued into Guzman Y Gomez, but for now, it’s probably Pattysmith’s. There’s one near our practice space, and also near our studio, so it works out!
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/InEyesMusicGC
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
I recorded my lead and backing vocals in studio with Daniel Newstead then sent them to Arrowbird who then composed and produced the music and added more backing vocals. Daniel Newstead then mastered for us.
Where are you currently based?
I’m currently in my Audi, parked in a client’s driveway, they haven’t come home from picking up the kids from school yet, they’ll have to park on the street, it’s pouring outside. Oh yeah, I’m in Sydney.
How did you get into comedy?
I’m not sure, but I think comedy got into me. I am just documenting the life of an ‘Immaculagent’ and people are losing it. It’s not something I planned out, I’d rather be out there slapping SOLD stickers on signboards, but now I’ve been dragged out to do motivational talks in theatres. I’ll take it if it pays.
From March 25th you’re going to embark on the your ‘People Have Lost It Tour’ how did this show/tour come about?
In 2021, I went around Australia preaching strategies to people, and the tour was called ‘People Are Gonna Lose It’ – and just like 92% of the things I’ve predicted, it came true. So I had to follow that tour up with the subsequent ‘People Have Lost It’ to live out the prophecy.
Jesus even said ‘beware of false profits’, so I’m being vigilant.
What can we expect from this show?
Lights, cameras, action! At least an hour of perspective about the state of modern society, old fashioned wog values VS Aussie tradition, relationships and marriage, having kids and trying my best to stay shredded. There might even be a live song in there, who knows?
How does this tour differ from your previous comedy shows?
It’s a sequel from last year’s debut tour, with a deeper dive into the catastropha of a year we’ve just endured. It will have a projector show, music and theatrics. It may even have some audience participation, again, who knows? More stories, more rants, more rabbit holes. More laughs.
Which comedians do you admire?
Most people in real estate are comedians, some of their property videos should win ‘Best Comedy’ at the next ARIA awards. Otherwise, out of real estate, I rate Carl Barron, Sebastian Maniscalco, Bill Burr, Ricky Gervais, Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy.
Who do you like performing with and why?
Myself. No reason why, I’m a lone wolf in the forest. Out here to show people the path through the trees and hopefully lick a river at the end. I’ve recently jumped on stage with local legends Hughsey, Tahir, Luke Heggie, Aaron Chen, Andrew Barrett & Daniel Townes. They are all immaculate.
How is your show different to other comedians?
I’m wearing a suit, buffed shoes, tanned beyond belief, hair flickering. That’s already worlds away from the norm. But other than that, its a look into my upbringing, and how that’s shaped my view on society and all the topics covered.
What inspires your material?
Probably frustration and disbelief. The inability to understand why people do certain things, like face tatts. I just talk and ask questions to get a better understanding.
What do you like to do away from comedy?
I have two young kids, so I love cleaning, changing nappies, feeding, colouring in. If I get some time, i’ll play tennis, surf, go running in the forest and lick a river. Also, spending some time with my wife!
What else do you have planned for 2022?
To take this show around Australia & New Zealand. I was looking at Canada and UK, but I don’t see it this year. So I will focus on making people lose it here and continue to wrap, stitch & plug.
Favourite food and place to hangout in Melbourne?
When I was young and free, I loved going to Melbourne clubs, because Melbourne is the best city in Australia for culture and nightlife. But now I just want to run by the Yarra in the morning, eat mulch/berries, dis dat, then walk the city and eat wog food. Melbourne is rich with European culture and the restaurants are immaculate. If I’m really in the mood, I’ll call a cousin and get picked up in a 1987 Holden VL Calais and get taken to Thomastown for a Burek and Buttermilk.
Interested in how you know each other, your history of making tracks together in the past and how this particular track was made?
RayRay: “We met each other through the Barong Family. We did a song together on my “Alien Mutation” EP last year called “Watch Out”, and it turned out to be really good.
It’s one of the most hyped songs in my EP, so we decided to collab again. Out of Cookies sent me the idea first, and we sent the stems back and forth. Have always been a big fan of their music. I’m very excited to release this trap banger with them”.
Out Of Cookies: “As a matter of fact we have met RayRay in person only once. It was in Amsterdam at the Barong Family dinner during ADE back in 2018. When we collaborated on ”Watch Out” back in 2021, she was killing the track with her vocals like she always does. But we actually didn’t expect her to sing like this, like she did in the breaks of ”Keep It 100”. Once we heard it, we were blown away and immediately fell in love with these vocals. That’s when all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.”
Along with the vocals, can sense a variety of genre influences which creates a unique hybrid feeling to the track. Would you mind explaining the genre elements in this particular track?
RayRay: “Both of us make all kinds of trap-influenced music, and I also use my vocals a lot in music. I started to sing on my own music since last year.
I feel like this release is a good balance in between hard drop and soft break with a swag attitude. It also mixes in some dubstep elements. I really love the energy in the song.”
Loads of energy indeed, also sensed a bit of drum and bass/jungle/break elements, is that correct?
Out of Cookies: “You’re right about the drum & bass part. We absolutely love to use these old drum & bass / jungle sounds in our productions. It was used a lot in Happy Hardcore tracks back in the 90’s. We just like to combine that classic sound with those new heavier sounds. We actually made a full Drum & Bass track last month.”
Great to include a lot of variety, a question for RayRay in terms of the vocals “Keep it 100” – is there any specific meaning or memories associated?
RayRay: “I love to pretend I am playing different roles in movie or comic books when I write my lyrics. In this song, I was imaging I am a successful assassin who enjoys his missions so much.
It also refers to our music life that we make cool music, and we make it dope. We keep what we do 100.”
On that note, keeping it 100 in what you do, are there any special shows and other productions to be aware of in the coming future?
RayRay: “I’m making my EP currently!
And going to be on tour with yellow claw in US, and I’m going to play at Tomorrowland this year!”
Any advice you would give to others?
RayRay: “As an artist, staying true to yourself, being proud of who you are and showing everyone that you genuinely have the passion and the love for what you’re doing! You can discover all the possibilities in music, so you can really create something meaningful & inspiring… no matter where are you from or who you are.”
Can we expect any more collaborations from you 3 in the future?
RayRay: “Yes! Always down to work with out of cookies!!”
Where are you currently based?
At the moment, myself and Kurt are based in Pottsville, NSW and Ruby and Tex live in Brisbane, QLD. We’re about 2 hours drive away from eachother.
How did you first start playing music?
For me personally, I always wanted to be a singer. When I was a kid my sisters and I were obsessed with playing Sing Star, every weekend we would be doing it. When I was probably 10 or 11, I started to be more interested in bands (rather than just listening to Avril Lavigne on repeat), and the first band I fell in love with was Coldplay. I got tickets to their concert for my 12th birthday and it was the most inspiring core memory for me and still one of my favourite concerts to date. Ever since then, I knew exactly what I wanted to do – be in a band like Coldplay, tour the world and write songs. I remember learning singing and bass guitar in school, and then eventually teaching myself to play guitar so I could write songs.
What’s been happening recently?
We’ve just released our new single ‘Give You Everything’ plus a Y2K inspired music video to go with it. We’ve also announced our debut album ‘Now And Then’ which is coming out May 20th. We’re super excited to finally be able to talk about it, we’ve been working on it for so long now!
You’ve just released your single ‘Give You Everything’ what influenced the sound and songwriting?
This song came to life in early 2020 whilst we were in LA having a writing session with Sarah Aarons and John Hill. The ideas behind the song were inspired by both Sarah and us (Kurt and I) having similar experiences at the start of our career in the industry, which was essentially having people walk over you and take advantage of you because you’re young, naïve and still figuring things out. I think the core message of the song is that you can’t always give someone everything – you have to keep something for yourself. Sonically we straight away knew this one was going to have our 90’s/Y2K influences shine through, which our producer Kon Kersting was able to bring out whilst we were recording the song. We didn’t know it at the time we were writing it, but ‘Give You Everything’ was really the pinnacle of our debut album – thematically, lyrically and how we imagined it sonically. It was kinda the start of the new E&TD era.
How did you go about writing this track?
We had a writing session planned as I mentioned before with Sarah Aarons and John Hill at John’s studio in Los Angeles. Kurt had come up with these really interesting chords on the tour bus before we had arrived in LA, and he thought it would be a cool idea to bring them up in the session. Writing with Sarah and John was incredible, they had so many amazing ideas for the chords and after a few hours we had written and demoed an acoustic-style demo of the song. We were so stoked with it already, even though it was just the bones. When we were forced to come home in 2020, Kurt and I decided to turn our two-room tiny house into a studio where we could fully immerse in writing songs. We knew we wanted to keep working on ‘Give You Everything’, with some more guitar parts and a bridge and things like that. We had put together a more fleshed out demo, and sat with it for a year before we headed into the studio to record it for the album.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
The album was produced and recorded by Konstantin Kersting, who is a friend of ours and we’ve worked with him for the majority of our releases. It felt really good to be able to do our debut album with him. We did the drums and some of the bass tracking at Airlock Studios and the rest of it at Kon’s studio, both in Brisbane. Some extra parts were also put in at our home studio in Pottsville. The album was also mastered by Leon Zervos at Studios 301 in Sydney.
How does this single relate to the rest of the album?
‘Give You Everything’ was definitely a pinnacle point of the album thematically, lyrically and how we imagined it sonically. We really loved the nostalgic vibe to it, and we wanted to explore that concept more – which we ended up doing for the entire album. It was really difficult when we came home from the US due to COVID – there were a lot of mental health barriers we had to overcome, and using nostalgia in our songwriting was almost a form of escapism for us at that time. I think that’s why a lot of people can relate to it, because I think we were all wishing to be in a different time at that stage of life. The single really did trigger a lot of the common themes, and eventually the album title ‘Now And Then’.
How did the concept for the music video come about?
I remember listening to the demo of the song with Kurt shortly after it was written, and it’s a common thing for us to talk about initial thoughts on visuals and colours and things like that pretty early on in the piece. Kurt was talking about the idea of a high school day dream scene, which we both agreed would go along so well with the song. Once the song was recorded and it came time to actually start planning the music video, Kurt had created an entire vision board of scenes like playing in a high school hallway, going to a party in a limo, and having animated versions of us inspired by Lizzie McGuire which was a show all of us watched all the time as kids. We asked director Nick Maguire to work on the project with us, and it was amazing to see how he was able to turn all of Kurt’s ideas and concepts into reality – including shooting the entire thing on film!
Where and when did you film?
We filmed the video at the start of the year at a few different locations. The bedroom scene was at our stylist Zoë’s place, she had just moved in so we were lucky enough to be able to re decorate her room for the scene. The school scene was actually my old high school, my old art/photography teacher was nice enough to help us get in on a weekend and shoot for a few hours. It was kinda weird to be back there but cool we got to do the video there. It definitely had the Y2K high school corridor style we were looking for!
Who did you work with during the creation of the film clip?
We worked with Nick Maguire for the video. He directed it, and really helped bring the entire vision into reality. We’ve worked with him for previous videos like ‘YOU’, and thought he would be the perfect person to understand the vision and bring out the ideas that we had in our brains.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the process?
I think the hardest thing in general putting the song together was finding motivation when our mental health wasn’t at it’s best. It was super tough. It felt like there was nothing going on but also an overwhelming amount of things happening, which is really a strange feeling. Once we had recorded the album, we were all in a not perfect but much better headspace, and COVID was still making it difficult to organise things – especially since Kurt and I were living in a state that was closed off to QLD where Ruby and Tex live. That was so hard to navigate, but we always found a way to make it work.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
At the moment Kurt and I have been listening to the new War On Drugs album. It’s so amazing and we always have it on in the car, it’s super inspiring for us as songwriters. We’ve also being loving the new Pinegrove record and Holly Humberstone’s new EP.
What do you like to do away from music?
Personally, I’m really into art. I love doing it in my free time, and I’m always trying to think of new things I can create with it. I’m trying to practice stick-and-poke tattooing at the moment, which is fun. I also love playing my Nintendo Switch, it’s honestly my favourite down-time thing to do where I don’t have to think about anything!
What’s planned for 2022?
We’ve got our debut album ‘Now And Then’ coming out May 20th this year, which is super exciting and we’ve had it in the works for a little while now! We’re also finally going on tour with our friends The Vanns, then heading out for our headline shows across Australia before heading over to the US for Bottlerock and more. We’re just excited to be able to play new music to everyone, and also leave our bedrooms to be honest haha.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
As a band, we actually always go to Guzman Y Gomez after rehearsals every week. It’s just a thing that we always do, because it’s so good. If we aren’t hanging out at a food place, we’re always at Pedal Empire in Brisbane!
Hey I’m CJ, frontman of Tied Down
Man, things have been crazy lately with non stop gigging for TD along with recording two new songs (still unreleased) and really just making the most of the time together and enjoying the ride!
I would say as a collective, we keep finding more and more definition in our sound with every track we release. In line with a stance of refusal to put out mediocre, run of the mill tracks, we’ve really taken our time to hone in on our style and put some deeper meaning into each track with ‘Slow’ being a standout in that category. We all seem to bring our influences to the table and really dive head first into creating a unique sound for Tied Down that resonates with our listeners.
Our new track ‘Slow’ was recorded late last year. We went about it a different way with Matt Templeman taking the reins as executive producer. I think we felt the need for change and to work with someone who really engaged with us and Matt brought a lot to the table in terms of energy, music theory and constant ideas of how to get the most out of the track. Also a massive shoutout to Fraser Cringle for being the most badass drum tech there is and Simon Struthers at Forensic Audio for mastering the track beautifully!
Lately I’ve been going through a bit of a soul search back to my influences of writing creatively so for me it’s Meg Mac, Miles Away, Slowly Slowly, Rufus and OG Silverchair. For current tunes in the car though, I’ve had South Summit, Dice and Joan & the Giants on repeat!
Outside of that, heading down to the beach or park with my partner and doggo is always super relaxing and gives a bit of clarity.
The list of WA bands crushing it at the moment is through the roof which is super dope after what feels like years of being on the backfoot.
Currently we have a few support gigs coming up at The Indian Ocean Hotel on the 25/2/22 and at Lynotts Lounge on the 11/3/22 before we have a bit of a breather. The next big one for us is a headliner at The Rosemount Hotel on June 11 for a not yet released single launch yewwww!
We’re always looking ahead for bigger and better. We’ve got way more tunes set for release in ’22 and hoping to put another EP out by the end of the year. It would be fucking incredible to back that up with a national tour towards the end of the year but we’ll play that one by ear!
In terms of hanging out, I seem to be drawn to any pub that the boys are at for a frostie ahhhhhh!
Where are you currently based?
Where are you currently based?
I live in Burlington, Ontario Canada.
How did you first start playing music?
I started playing the saxophone in elementary school and my journey really began at twelve years old when I taught myself how to play guitar on an old Spanish guitar I found in my grandpa’s basement. From then on I started to write my own music!
What’s been happening recently?
Life has definitely slowed down a bit these days with everything going on in the world but I’ve been focusing on creating more and getting ready to release more new music!
Your latest single ‘People Like You’ will be released on February 18, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I had been listening to Patty Griffin’s “Living With Ghosts” album and found her songwriting style and vocal delivery really inspiring. I wrote “People Like You” during the summer of 2020 and it started out with just a melody I came up with. Almost all my songs start that way and then I’ll try and find a chord progression I like. It was really raw and I brought the idea to my co-writers Chrystal Leigh and Emma-Lee. Emma-Lee heard it like a classic country song and we continued with that vibe in mind.
How did ‘People Like You’ come about?
When I was in Nashville on my first writing trip a few years ago, I had a session with Chrystal Leigh and she had this line idea, “the world could use more people like you” and I remember I really liked it but we ended up writing something completely different that day. That line stuck with me and when I found out my friend had suddenly passed, I came up with a melody and reached out to Chrystal again to write it in his honour.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
The song was recorded at Coalition Music, Toronto in the summer of 2021, produced by Colin Cripps, engineered by Adam Royce, Mixed by Chris Stringer and Mastered by Peter Letros at Wreckhouse studio.
How did you approach the recording process?
We recorded it all in one take, recording the vocals and guitar together like a live performance. We wanted it to be as real and authentic as possible.
What’s planned to support the single?
I’m doing as much as I can online with interviews and campaigns while restrictions are still in place due to the pandemic but I really hope I’ll be able to meet the people who are listening very soon and play the song live for them.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to The Lumineers new album, “Brightside” and Adele!
What do you like to do away from music?
I like to go for bike rides, do anything creative like painting and I love to garden.
What’s planned for 2022?
Releasing my debut EP and playing as many shows as possible!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I love to hang out at my grandparent’s place! I love being in their company and eating real authentic Greek food.
Fun fact!!!! My guitar is from Melbourne!!! (Cole Clark Guitars)
Website: www.thisischarissa.com
Twitter: @thisischarissa
Facebook: /thisischarissa
Instagram: @thisischarissa
Where are you currently based?
I’m currently based in Keswick, ON. Keswick is part of the Town of Georgina on Lake Simcoe, about an hour north from Toronto.
How did you first start playing music?
I’ve always loved music, but I think the very first hands-on musical experience for me was when I was around 8 or 9 years old. My friend convinced me to go with her to a choir class in town. I didn’t really want to go at first, but it ended up being a lot of fun and that’s when I realised how much I really love to sing! Not long after that I discovered Taylor Swift, and she inspired me to learn guitar so that I can write and play my own songs.
What’s been happening recently?
Recently I’ve been keeping busy with the making of the “No Complaints” music video! It’s been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun, and I can’t wait for you to see it!
Your latest single ‘No Complaints’ will be out on Feb. 18, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
There was a girl in high school who bullied me. I was always making a point to be nice to her (you know – kill ‘em with kindness sorta thing) but I feel like doing so only made her more mean to me somehow. I didn’t really know what else to do, so after school one day I just started writing how I felt about this difficult situation. It was a cheeky way for me to both rise above the situation, but also fight back a little. I wrote one verse at that time, which is now the bridge of the song. I wrote the rest of it with Al Rowe and Mark Rynkun, and the three of us turned it into the silly, high-spirited song it is now.
How did the single come about?
I’ve been singing this song at gigs for years, and it seemed to always be people’s favourite one. It was only a matter of time before I recorded it, and I’m so excited it’s finally getting out there!
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
I recorded this song in the summer of 2021 at Newcomb Studios, with producer Adam Newcomb (who also mixed and mastered the track) in Northumberland County, ON.
How did you approach the recording process?
My super talented producer, Adam, also played all the instruments on this track, so once those were all done I went in to record my vocals. We made tweaks and enhancements as we went along, thanks to help from another super-talent, Roberta Michele (who is also my voice coach). Also, for some reason I started thinking about Dolly Parton at some point along the way and I feel like you can sort of hear that in parts of the song, which I’m low-key obsessed with!
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Recently I’ve been listening to some Dolly Parton, Lady Laga, Dan + Shay, and (as always) Taylor Swift. Plus a lot more, but those are the ones that stick out right now!
What do you like to do away from music?
I honestly love so many things! Firstly, spending quality time with my family, friends, and boyfriend. I also enjoy working out, rollin’ around on my Heelys, and the classic girly-girl things like shopping, makeup, getting my nails done, and dressing up. Also in my opinion, at the end of a long day, there’s nothing better than watching a movie in comfy clothes with a glass of wine and popcorn!
What’s planned for the rest of 2022?
A LOT! More singles, music videos, recording, live shows (*if COVID lets me), and my debut EP is set to be released near the end of the year!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
My favourite food is popcorn, hands down! In summer, my favourite place to hangout is the beach or a nice restaurant patio for drinks! If it’s a cold Canadian winter day, my favourite place to hangout is in my bed with 10 blankets!
Website: http://jaymelynne.com
Twitter: @jaymelynnemusic
Facebook: /JaymeLynneMusic
Instagram: @JaymeLynneMusic
