Music Interviews

What is your name and role within the band?

Aaron Ikin – Main songwriter, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

We’re based in Sydney. The scene has taken a hit lately due to the lock out laws, but now they have been lifted it should start to snowball! The reopening of the Lansdowne a couple of years back has been amazing for the scene. Such great music there. Frankie’s is a definite hotspot for all sorts of shows and you can really feel the Sydney music scene alive and well when you’re down there.

How did you first start playing music?

I had always had an inclination for poetry growing up and an ear for good music but it wasn’t until I lost my dad at 21 to Motor Neuron Disease I taught myself guitar, singing and songwriting. I decided at that point music is twofold – great for self-expression but also a gift to someone else.

How did Love Drunk Hearts form?

Out of a warehouse party!! I was living there at the time and attempting to write as much as I could. It was a real hub for musicians on the Northern Beaches and a great practise space. Our lead guitarist had tried out for Benny’s (bass player) old band Bec and Ben but didn’t make the cut. This was probably a good thing as we got along straight off the bat and started writing together. I sent him a memo of our first recorded and released song and luckily he didn’t run. When we got good enough, Benny jumped on board as a bass player and in house producer and bought tonnes of experience with him on that. Brownie, our drummer, had worked with Bec and Ben and another band called Clubfeet. We are very lucky because we all get on great, although sometimes I can act like a bit of a diva.

Your new single ‘Park The Cars’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

I’d like to say it’s a combination of listening to Angus Stone’s Broken Bright’s album and Noel Gallagher’s solo work. I always like the feel of both their stuff, particularly Noel’s vocals. I’ve always loved the shoe gazey / driving stuff – you get lost in it for a while. It was a real welcome change of direction for us. Oscar Dawson’s expertise on this track – he really polished the track and brought it to another level, particularly in the arrangement and soundscapes.

How did you go about writing Park The Cars?

I was literally strumming in the bedroom of an old unit in Manly and started singing the line ‘where they park the cars’ and although it’s a bit of a funny lyric, it fit the vibe of the music really well. In regional areas all along the coast, the carpark acts as a bit of a meeting ground; an access point to the great outdoors and the beach. As Australians, I think we all love a good road trip with friends and family.

What is the purpose/meaning of the song?

It’s a song about escapism – I think as humans it’s vital to explore and experience. The song aims to conjure pictures in the listener of their paradise, the destinations which give a feeling of freedom far from circumstance and instil a yearning for something different and something more.

Where and when did you record/produce?

We recorded in Melbourne at Aviary Studios in Abbotsford last April. We road tripped down from Sydney and listened to Paul Kelly’s A to Z the whole way. What a trip!

What programs/ instruments did you use?

Oscar used ProTools on his end and we used a bunch of different guitars, amps and pedals. A mixture of our own gear and stuff that was in the studio. The main guitar sound comes from a couple of different Fenders; the smoothness of a Strat mixed with the bite of a Tele.

How did you approach the recording process?

We came at it from a live feel. We all got in the room and tracked live. After 3 or 4 takes we would escape to the NASA control room and pick the best parts. Once the bed of the track was done we recorded the vocals and worked on extra guitar parts in Oscar’s studio.

Holy Holy took care of the production, how was this experience and how did you come to work with Holy Holy?

Amazing. Oscar was great. I felt like as a band we got on with him really well. His a real wizard at production and guitar and an all round great guy. I’ve been a fan of Holy Holy’s stuff and love the sonic textures that they explore on their records. Some of the best modern rock in Oz. I always think as a band you need that 5th member to really get the best of a song and Oscar filled that so well.

We were lucky enough to meet with Oscar’s management for a band audit and during this audit Oscar was suggested for production – I reached out immediately and we were so lucky Oscar liked the tracks.

What do you like to do away from music?

Surf and exercise. I’m always learning too. My partner and I are always having a laugh and a great time too. I’m also pretty fond of a good beer.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been hammering Dope Lemon lately. Great vibes. HOLY HOLY’s last album was epic too. Liam Gallagher’s latest solo work has some bangers. DMA’s track ‘Silver’ is a gem. There’s also a local band called 100 releasing some good tunes.

What’s planned for 2020?

We have another song Oscar produced to release in April! And another self-produced track after that. We also want to jump on some solid supports and start working with a manager – it’s all been in house so far.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I’d have to say a burrito with chips. California style. The best every time. I love hanging out in Manly by the beach. Nothing better. Home in Freshwater isn’t too bad either.

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Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I’ve been based in Perth for nearly a decade now and there is so much amazing music here. Being quite an isolated part of the country, and indeed the world, I think it makes for quite a unique scene and artistry.

How did you first start playing music?

I was about 8 years old and my Aunty gave me an old acoustic guitar with only a few strings on it. I got hooked pretty quick and started trying to learn by myself in my bedroom. I think I first started writing music when I was around 13.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve recently returned from my third tour of New Zealand, which was wonderful. I love playing shows over there. And I’ve just put out a new release, which is always an exciting time.

Your new single ‘Run’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

Running, aswell as music, is probably my longest-standing love, so I thought it was time I wrote a song about it. I wanted the lyrics to be a bit poetic and ambigious, and the sound to be uplifting.

How did you go about writing Run?

I started writing it when I was up in Exmouth for a show and a friend of mine had his guitar in a different tuning. I started playing around with a riff in that tuning, then while I was on tour in the UK, I was sat in my bedroom in the town I grew up in and it just came pouring out. Then I went for a run with a big smile on my face.

Where and when did you record and who with?

I recorded it back in October with Andy Lawson at his wonderful studio (Debasser Studio) out in the Perth hills. He is so great to work with and the natural surroundings up in them there hills are so nice to be around while you’re creating music.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

I’d road-tested the song at a few UK festivals, which was helpful. I just wanted the track to have a really driving, energetic feeling to it – to try resemble what I feel when I go out for a run. I played the song acoustically to Andy and then we experimented with a few sounds. I had a fair idea of how I wanted things to sound, but I love the spontaneous nature of how the recording process can completely change how you imagined your music would turn out.

What programs/instruments did you use to record?

I do believe Andy uses Pro Tools. I used only my acoustic guitar, but we included a few drum elements and some bass synth to add some weight and atmosphere.

What do you like to do away from music?

Well I like to run a lot, mainly so I can feel less guilty about having plenty beers with mates! I also love some rock climbing, getting away on roadtrips and to new countries, good food and plenty of ocean time.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Cowboys From Hell by Pantera just came on my Spotify radio there, haha. Bit of a blast from the past. But today I’ve been mainly listening to Tycho. I adore the atmospheres that man creates with blends of instruments and electronic elements.

You have a tour coming up, where are you headed and when will you be hitting the road?

Next show is in Margaret River on Friday Feb 21 at The River. It’s a co-headline show with my good mate Michael Dunstan. If you haven’t heard his music already, you should absolutely do yourself that favour. And then I hav a Fremantle show at The Aardvark on Saturday Feb 22.

How do you prepare for live shows?

I try to do vocal warm-ups, but sometimes I’m too lazy. I usually just have a beer, chill and chat to people.

What’s planned for 2020?

I’ve been back in the studio starting on some new music. My old electric guitar has made an appearance for the first time in many years. I’m excited! And I’m looking at more Australia shows and a UK festival run again in August.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I live in a town called Okotoks which is about 15 minutes south of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Considering its size, Okotoks’ music scene is quite impressive; we have 3 artists local to Okotoks that regularly visit Nashville and are pursuing active careers in music; and beyond that, an abundance of live shows and performers. And of course, Calgary is just a hop away and there is a really active and vibrant music community there.

What’s been happening recently?

Well, I’ve been napping a lot. Other than that, I just signed a management deal with a new company that I have a tremendous amount of faith in. I released a single with a video in January – and I have an album coming out in February. Oh and I’m pregnant, which is also a trip.

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

Yes! It feels good to finally have it out in the open. It was written during a depression that was really lengthy, dark, and uncomfortable for me… there were times I doubted my ability to overcome it. “My Heart Song” was the light at the end of the tunnel. The reminder that there’s always something there supporting you if you listen deeply enough. The sound came really naturally when we went to produce it. It fell together with very little shaping. There’s a lot of me that feels that this song was very much just meant to be what it is.

How did you go about writing ‘My Heart Song’?

The lyric landed on the page: “My heart knows things that I don’t” … as if my pen had a mind of its own. And it just kept writing. It was the start of me seeing the light within the dark. I knew something was shifting. That song helped me more than anything else could at that time. I’m incredibly grateful for it.

Where and when did you record and who with?

Oh you’re testing my memory! I am so bad with dates. “My Heart Song” was in fact the final song recorded for this album. We finished it in August of 2019 if I’m not mistaken. It was recorded at Evergreen Sound which is a studio in north Calgary. My producer’s name is Mark Troyer, and I could write a page-long testimonial about how much I love him and love working with him.

What programs/instruments did you use to record?

I am the furthest thing from an engineer, so I can’t tell you anything about the programs. (Pro Tools perhaps?) But the instruments were quite fun to play with. We had the standard bass, drums, and guitars of course – but we had some fun incorporating synths, and the amount of layering that was done with the vocals is something I really liked about this song. We used voices like instruments, my own and two other background vocalists (Mariya Stokes, Annika Cheyne) sang individual notes which were blended to make chords that sit in the background. It’s quite cool if you have keen ears and can break out all the sounds.

Does the finished track sound as you imagined it would?

It’s clichéd to say it sounds better, isn’t it? I’m a cliché. It’s more than I expected from it. Truly.

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

A little bit of everything! I’m so happy with how this project turned out. It felt like such an opportunity to stretch my creative legs. I have some modern-country sounds on there, a song that has sort of a Bruno Mars vibe, some really raw and broken down songs. It’s sort of a buffet of music. I am lovingly referring to it as my Frankenstein Project.

When will you be releasing the album?

Feb 20, 2020. Aka: 02.20.2020 (because I am a numerological nerd like that).

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I have really eclectic tastes, so it really depends on the day and where I am. If I’m at home I’ll listen to swing jazz, at the gym I like to listen to pop (T-Swizzle and Ariana Grande ftw) and break down the production, vocals, writing, and sounds; and if I’m in the car… I like audiobooks. (Russell Brand is my current listen.)

Please tell us about your blogging:

Blogging was a vice and coping mechanism that was created in a period of time when I was unable to use my voice. I had an 18-month period in which I had such severe vocal fatigue that not only was it difficult to sing, it was difficult to speak. I actually went weeks without speaking much at all. To be honest, I think I was the only one who suffered during this time… Ha! Writing was something I could do when I couldn’t talk. It became a huge outlet for this pent-up creative expression that had nowhere to go when my voice was unable to be of service.

I write about life mostly, and the things that I learn and observe in my life experiences. I’m quite candid (sometimes to the degree that might make some people uncomfortable) and I incorporate a lot of humour. My goal is to unearth some of the more ‘human’ parts of being human so that we can all feel less bad about having the experiences we do. Humans feel bad about being human all the time. It’s a bummer; so I like to make it less of one. And hopefully make people laugh while doing so.

What’s planned for 2020?

Well. I’m having a kid. So that’s a trip. My hubs and I are expecting our first in April so I’m sort of writing off the rest of the year as ’to be determined’ because I’ve never had a kid before, so I haven’t a clue what to expect. I think I’ve changed maybe 3 diapers my whole life. So this will be the most epic, high-stakes science experiment ever.

Before April rolls around I’m releasing this album – and I’ve got a handful of local shows planned to premiere all the music included on the album and a few of the songs that didn’t make it. I’m really proud of this show and I was extremely diligent about putting it together. I’m really excited to share it with everyone.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food is usually sushi. But since they don’t really let knocked-up broads have that… lately, I would give the ring finger on my right hand for a burger. Not sure why, but I have had the most epic addiction to burgers over the past handful of months.

My favourite place to hang out is at HOME. Because I’m a hermit. Or the mountains on a really great hiking trail. Because: hermit.

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What’s your name and role within the band?

My names Ben and I’m the bass player for Ava Kaydo. I also played drums for the recording of our debut single ‘Lucid’.

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

We are currently based in Yeppoon/Rockhampton of Central Queensland. The music scene in this area is fairly lacking, with only a few original bands out and about. Being a rural area, cover bands are much more prominent.

What’s been happening recently?

Well we’ve just released our first ever single which feels so relieving. We’ve been holding onto this one for a few years now, and after recording it we could finally show everyone what we’ve been working on. 

Your first single ‘Lucid’ has just been released, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The sound itself was just naturally inspired by our influences I suppose. At the time we had Ocean Alley’s album ‘Chiaroscuro’ on heavy rotation, and we were also taking notes from DMA’s newest material. But the song was pure improv and wasn’t really methodically written. 

How did you go about writing Lucid?

The process for writing ‘Lucid’ was very natural and spontaneous. It was one of those songs that came out of thin air. Sparked by an overwhelming moment of creativity, Jeremy our guitarist just started playing the main riff of the song and we just all started joining in. Within a matter of minutes the meat of the song was there and we we’re stoked with it. Maddy, our singer, layered her spacey vocals over the top and that was that. 

The lyrics we’re written after Maddy had a bad sleep paralysis experience. Using the concept of ‘Lucid’ dreaming, Maddy used the words to turn the song into a positive retelling of what happened. A sort of therapy I suppose. 

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

We recorded the track on October of 2019 in Brisbane. We worked with Paradox Audio Productions; a studio based out of our friend’s house. Blake and Rob really worked well with us and understood our vision. It really opened our eyes to how fun the recording process can be. 

What programs/instruments did you use?

We used guitar, bass, drums and vocals. And for programs we used the ol’ trusty pro tools. 

Being from a rural area ‘Yeppoon’ what challenges do you face as a band?

It’s hard to make connections with the industry, and we often need to travel to record and play gigs. It’s why we believe there needs to be more attention given to original live music in rural communities in towns such as Yeppoon. The live music community in our area has definitely improved over the last couple of years. However, the biggest challenge is definitely the isolation from the music industry. 

What do you like to do away from music?

If we aren’t playing music, we are usually listening to it over a couple of margaritas. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

We are massive DMA’s fans and they are always playing when we are hanging out together. I myself have been obsessed with Pond’s ‘Hobo Rocket’ album recently. I’m also loving local Brisbane band Sunbather’s debut song ‘Softly Spoken’. It’s been on repeat for the last few days. 

What’s planned for 2020?

2020 is the year we get our shit together. With our first single out, we’re looking towards an EP in the near future. So, keep an eye out for new music.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

We have a cheeky obsession with KFC. When we have a break from band practise it is usually our ritual to get ‘The Colonel’ for lunch. Favourite place to hang out is the beach. 

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What is your name and role in Heartlake? 

Our roles vary between members and expertise, Noah usually spends his time on stage looking at his nicely crafted pedal board, Giac chooses to hit drums as a form of communication following speech therapy in his younger years (true story), Luca tends to play a couple notes on the bass with beer in hand, and Liam is a walking megaphone, whilst struggling with singing/playing coordination. 

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

We’re based in the Northern Beaches, Sydney where there’s plenty young talented bands on the rise, and ones that have established themselves worldwide from the beaches that we all look up to for example Ocean Alley and Lime Cordiale who we supported for a couple shows on their dirt cheap tour in Dee Why 2018. 

How did Heartlake form?

It all started with Giac, Luca (brothers) and Noah who’ve known each other for many years and shared the same love for music and enjoyed playing Sweet Child O’ Mine on repeat, which led to asking Liam who played football with Luca to front the band about a year in at the end of 2017 and actually beginning to craft an original sound.

Your new single ’Watching over you’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

We had a number of different songs to choose from when deciding which would be the best to hit people’s ears first. We wanted to capture something that got into the hook fast to hopefully grab your attention, and something simple that can be remembered whilst exploring ways to build the instrumentation with a number of different effects to capture a demanding sound. We all have our own individual tastes and ways of playing and writing so therefore we carry a bunch of different influences whether you may hear them in the song or not. Some of these artists include The Wombats, RHCP, Lime Cordiale, Sticky Fingers, Kings of Leon, the 1975. 

How did you go about writing watching over you?

Liam had come up with a verse guitar part and melody, but we needed something that would bring this together and build into a song. So we built the chorus around the bass hook which we felt created a solid statement and platform into making the general flow of the song clearer. When developing the song in the studio, our aim was to caption an insight into our sound for those listening for the first time and wanting to explore us further. 

How did you go about achieving the sound?

We wanted to create a sense of punchiness and drive, which we achieved through the layering of guitars and vocals in the chorus, and locking in a bass and drum groove which we could build a song around, while creating interest with the use of delays and modulation for example throughout the verses and bridge. We’ve always had a lot of fun with effects when songwriting, and a lot of these sounds from our initial ideas were developed in the studio and we’d like to credit our producer for making that work. 

Where did you record?

We recorded our single ‘Watching over you’ at a home based studio called ‘Jaminajar Music Production’ in Narrabeen with Paul Najar. We got the opportunity to record here when we one the Beaches ‘Northern Composure’ which has been a sick platform to get going for younger bands on the rise.

What programs/instruments did you use during the recording/production process?

We recording bass guitar and acoustic drums simultaneously in the same room, and following that we mic’d up guitar amps and processing most of our effects through a number of different plugins. 

Who did you record with?

We recorded with Paul Najar, who has been great for us through his experience and professional manner in the studio really helped focus us and record the best possible version of our song. We’re so stoked with what he’s helped us achieve and we’re excited to get our music our out into the world. We hope you love it as much as we do.

Please explain how you approached the recording process:

We spent about a day tracking the drums and bass in the studio, this part was the most challenging as this is when we really critiqued the song and made sure we were doing what we wanted to do with the song and made small final adjustments with Paul, our producer. Giac probably had about 10 different takes on the kit as we were still experimenting with structure while recording. We moved onto guitars next and took a while exploring different sounds, and synths and vocals last once the rest of the song was laid down.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

We’re all different in our personal music tastes which is like a piece of the puzzle to our sound, currently we’re enjoying Tame Impala’s new stuff, the 1975, Lime Cordiale, the Weeknd, Mac Miller’s new album (Rest in Peace), Yungblud, Hockey Dad, Tora and Sticky Fingers ‘Yours to Keep’ album. 

What do you like to do away from music?

We’ve all got our different interests, from the surf, to the gym, enjoying footy season, eating, drawing and painting, having a couple (which usually leads to 10) beers on a fine Saturday night, the list goes on. 

What’s planned for 2020?

We’ve got a busy year ahead of us. We plan to get as many gigs under our belt as we can and get our name out there and release more music following Watching Over You, two of our members graduated high school last year so we’re gonna give it our all this year and see where it takes us.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Favourite food is definitely burgers. We’ve been on a mission to find the tastiest burger around and can confirm that Bar Luca in the city is something else, the Blame Canada is the burger to beat (this is not sponsored). We keep ourselves entertained with anything that’s put in front of us, and enjoy taking the mick out of each other once every few minutes wherever we go. 

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What’s been happening recently?

In between shows and our usual day to day lives, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes preparing for a multitude of things, this single being one of them. We’re all keen to rip into 2020 and releasing this single is just the beginning for us. 

Your new single ‘Wherever You Go’ is out on the 24th of Jan 2020, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

I think Will was listening to a fair bit of ‘Royal Blood’ at the time he wrote ‘Wherever You Go’, and that’s where the big bass and lack of guitar in the verses came from. 

In terms of drums, I think the idea was really just, “keep it simple, keep it tight”, and that definitely worked for me. The bass and drum combo in the verses is what hooked me when I heard the first mix, and it still does whenever I hear it today. 

How did you go about writing Wherever You Go?

This track kinda fell together pretty quick, I seem to recall. Once we had established the basic structure of the verse, everything else just flowed on and clicked together. We definitely spent a bit of time fine tuning the details, but for us ‘Wherever You Go’ was really easy to connect with, and we had no problems laying it down.

Where and when did you record/produce?

‘Wherever You Go’ was recorded with a bunch of other tracks, including our last single ‘Too Much’, in May 2019. We all spent a few days at the local ‘Housefox Studios’, and took our time getting everything sounding just right for these tracks, and we’re quite proud of how they all turned out. 

Who did you work with during the recording/production process?

As usual, the three of us bounced ideas off one another until we found the perfect mix to suit the song, but a big influence for us was Lachlan West. He helped us out majorly for our first two EP’s, and we didn’t want anyone else to be behind the desk when we walked into the studio this time around. He has an insane amount of knowledge and skills with all the equipment, and also its just a bonus that he’s an awesome as fuck drummer and mad legend.

How did you approach the recording for this single?

As I mentioned before, we recorded a few other tracks in the same session at the studio, but we made sure we weren’t biting off more than we could chew. We took our time setting up, and made sure every little detail sounded perfect before moving onto the next thing. Being a relatively straight forward song drumming-wise, it was a pretty simple process to lay down the track and then spend a bit more time focussing on the guitars, vocals and all the other little things. 

What programs/instruments did you use?

The drums on the track are played on a custom kit, based off a Pearl Reference Pure, and a variety of tasty sounding cymbals from Zildjian, Bosphorus and Meinl. We messed around with a few different sizes of snares and toms, but we ultimately landed on the usual 14 inch snare and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. 

In terms of production, Lachy is the production wizard, so the ball is very much in his court. All that stuff doesn’t really make sense to me, I think he uses Protools.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

For the last few weeks I’ve had ‘The Vanns’ on repeat non-stop, especially their ‘Through The Wall’ album. I really cant seem to get enough of it, which is the best feeling to me. If I haven’t been listing to that, then I’ve been blasting some ‘Middle Kids’ as well which is always a safe bet.

What is the average day like for you?

For me, most days consist of work until about 4pm. I manage to listen to quite a bit of music while I’m there so I’ve always got my ear out for what’s on the radio/what’s up next on the playlist. After work is usually a quick swim at the beach and/or a bit of time playing drums. I try and get behind the kit every few days, and recently I’ve been investing a bit more time in my technique, instead of just thrashing away like a maniac. If its not one of those things, I usually hang out with Will and Dan for a few hours and we just chill out, have a few drinks and have a laugh. 

Do you collaborate with other musicians?

As a band we haven’t collaborated with anyone yet, or that I know of. However if any opportunity of the sort came about, I would be keen to pursue it and see where it takes us. 

Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety?

Yeah for sure. I cant speak for everyone when I say this, but I’m sure most performers have had some wobbly knees before a show or two, I think its just natural. Obviously as time goes on and you become more comfortable doing what you’re doing, the nerves will go away. But I have definitely been anxious before a big gig, but they’re the nights that tend to be the best shows we play, so its always worth it. 

Any advice for aspiring musicians?

Persevere! It sounds simple but it really is important. We’d all love to play our music and “make it” overnight. But the reality is that rarely happens in this day and age. However, if you’re good at what you do and you continue to put the effort into your practice/gigs/recording then you will 100% start seeing some results, you’ve just got to persist.

What’s planned for 2020?

A whole bunch of stuff, to put it simply. 

Without revealing too much, I can safely say you will hear more new tunes, and you will see us playing more shows around the country and locally. 

Stay tuned, we’ve got some cool stuff coming.

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You’ve had a gnarly 12 months, what’s happened and what’s been happening?

Its been crazy! 2019 was hectic – I think I played about 200 shows 😮

I released an EP and a single with Zoe Badwi, and I did a tour around Bali, Fiji and Oz the last two months of 2019! It was hectic.

Where are you at the moment?

Currently I’m in Tasmania! Playing a show in Burnie Oz Day Eve! My new single just got released! YEEHAW!

We’re frothin on your new single ‘Take It In’ what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Thanks man! Im super proud of it! About a year ago I stumbled across this dude Max Glyde. Absolute freak. The moment I heard is shit I wanted to make something with him. 12 months later we have a single and about 7 beats stacked up! I think his classy feel and my funk work super well together!

Where and how did you go about writing/producing Take It In?

We made the beat in a studio at his uni in Box Hill, and to be honest the crux of it came together in about an hour. Was pre crazy. We both work with Velvet Bloom so we got her in a week later and she smashed the top line. From there, we finessed it for 4-5 months after that.

What programs/instruments did you use to record/produce?

Me and Max both use Ableton. And me and max both heavily use Massive and Sylenth for sounds! As well as Max on live guitar!

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Unless a vocal is sent to me, I pretty much always start with making a beat which is what Max and I did, then you approach a vocalist and re structure and do stuff from there!

Who did you work with if anybody?

Max Glyde (collab), Velvet Bloom (vocals), Lachie Milne (Mixing), Panorama Mastering (Mastering).

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Take It In?

Rewarding for me was the dynamic me and max have in the studio. We just click and its so good. It was challenging finishing the last 10% of it. Really challenging. Most of it was there but we took several sessions to be completely happy with it!

How has your live show progressed over the last few years?

My DJ set I feel has just become more versatile and I think as a performer I’ve become more confident in what I’m doing. Im also playing more and more originals which is great. I am definitely working towards my live show though with a full band. Watch this space 😛

What have the fans been like live?

They love it – and its great cause they vary so much depending on where you play. Blessed to be here.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Max Glyde, Tentendo, Dombresky, Blush’ko, heaps of slower stuff and Yoga music when I’m trying to sleep haha.

What’s planned for the next few months and 2020 as a whole?

Definitely playing shows, but more importantly releasing music and making heaps of it. I have about 4 singles ready and raring and I want them all out this year ideally. 2020 for me is really honing in on the production side of things.

I hear that you’ve got a fun lil show coming up with The Partae, what can we expect?

You must’ve heard correctly 😉 Intimacy, funk, fun and a heap of taking it in 😉

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Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I’m currently based in Bali. There’s so many different music scenes in Bali from traditional music to the underground scene.

How did you first start singing and playing music?

I was interested in music from a young age and played my first instrument at 6years old. As a young teenager I explored all types of instruments and listened to all kinds of different music that inspired me to start writing, make music and learn how to sing.

You’ve recently landed in Australia, how’s it been so far?

Melbourne has been amazing, I’ve seen a lot of great bands, underground culture, street art and skateboarding scene. The city is so inspiring.

You’ve just released your debut 14 track album ‘The Time Is Now’ what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The influence mostly comes from the 50’s era to the 70s punk and rock and roll. My songwriting is mostly influenced from my own life experiences.

How did you go about writing the music and over what time period were the songs written?

There are both English and Indonesian songs on my album which I have written over the past few years. Some songs came to me effortlessly but others took a little longer.

Where and when did you record and who with?

I recorded my album between Jakarta and Bali with a lot of talented musicians. I finished the album with my producer Cipta Gun at his studio in Bali.

How did you approach the recording process?

Some songs were recorded live and other songs were recorded track by track between Jakarta and Bali.

What programs/instruments did you use to record/produce/master?

We used all live recorded instruments and protools to master.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the songwriting and recording process?

The most challenging thing was probably scheduling everyone’s time to record. The most rewarding thing was being able to compose my music with so many talented people.

Where can we buy/listen to ‘The Time Is Now’?

The album is out now on all digital music platforms. The CD and merchandise is available through my website www.reno.co.id

You are from the beautiful country of Indonesia, what is the live music scene like there at the moment?

Indonesia is huge and we have more than 17,000 islands so we definitely have a broad mix of all types of live music. From traditional, electronic, punk and pop culture.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m not listening to anything in particular at the moment but I’m always looking for all types of new music and bands to inspire me.

What’s planned for 2020?

Touring to promote my album ‘The Time is now’ and a lot of skateboarding.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

In Bali you can always catch me hanging at ‘Gimme Shelter’, ‘Twice’ bar or the skatepark. My favourite food is Babi guling, google it 🙂

Socials

https://www.instagram.com/renpratsren

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I’ve lived in Melbourne since 1991. 

It has a huge and diverse music ( and art for that matter ) scene that brings in more revenue than sport and yet, as everywhere else, the people making the art aren’t making any of the money.

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing music when I was 15 and I persuaded my parents to get me guitar lessons after I’d saved up and procured a $14 ‘Audition’ guitar (I saw Marc Ribot playing one of these a couple of years ago!) from Kmart. I’d been inspired by a lot of the music I was hearing on the radio – T rex, Deep Purple, The Stones, basically electrified Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Your latest single is out now, what influences your sound and songwriting?

A mixture of the prior mentioned ‘electrified rock n roll’, experimenting with  strange beats, unusual ways for generating sound ,weird harmonies, wordplay and stuff going on around me.

You have an Australian tour kicking off at the end of January, are there any shows that you are particularly looking forward to playing, if so why?

I’m looking forward to the Hobart, Brisbane and Beechworth shows because they’ll be just me and no band and those shows are always more rambling and story  telling, going places I can’t take a band. I’m looking forward to all of the other shows because I’ll have a different combo of local musos and musos that I’m taking with me in each place.

How do you prepare for live shows?

I put together a repertoire based on what musical configuration I’m working with and what I want to present for that show. I write all he songs I might want to choose from all down over 2 spread pages of and open book – about A3 size when opened out, so that I can look down on the floor and pick any song that takes my mood. I call this ‘The Book Of Swamp’. This is what I do instead of a set list. All of the musos I work with know this and know not to expect a formalised setlist.

I then think about what I’m gonna wear. If I’m on my own it stops there but if I have a combo it depends on the people. Some people just can’t be tamed and others are good sports and want to help present a show of some sort. The challenge is to make it look like we didn’t all just meet at a bust stop…ha ha maybe that could be a look in itself.

I always go on ‘cold’, don’t meditate or do vocal exercises. Actually that’s a white lie, I have been having a shot or 2 of tequila in recent times to get into ‘the vibe’ but am getting over(or bored with) the taste of tequila. 

Your book ‘Nine Parts Water, One Part Sand: Kim Salmon and the Formula for Grunge’ is out now, how did this book come about and what inspired Douglas to write it?

Doug and I hit it off straight away and he’d ask me about some aspect of my past before, after or during a lesson and that would just set me off into some ‘rock story’. I think after a while that got him interested to know if any of these stories had been compiled anywhere and of course they hadn’t. He plucked up the courage and asked me one night if he could write my biography and given the absence of such a thing, and given that I’d attempted it but never had the time, I said yes!

You worked along side your guitar student/biographer ‘Douglas Galbrath’ how did the idea/concept come about to work together?

You mean in my band? Obviously Doug is a fairly enterprising fellow. I knew he was already a drummer. He’d taken it on himself to try and be the booker at the local pub and booked some of me and my friends bands in there as well as his own. I saw he was a good drummer and even worked with him playing at his daughter’s schools bazaar, which he also booked bands for.

How did the story telling, story writing between the both of you take place and over what period?

He’d invite me to brunch start recording and do what he did at the lessons. He got me talking. Basically he prompted me with a question and off I’d go.

What did you find most rewarding and challenging through out the process?

For me the most rewarding thing has been to see the threads that I’ve given Doug, get woven into a story. It seems something quite apart from me even though I recognise it all.

The most challenging part was to know where the line between being a bit circumspect and censoring oneself was. Obviously I don’t want to fall out with people but there’s also a need for honesty. This is however just a story and not an exposé so there’s a balance to be struck.

Any advice for anyone wanting to writing a book?

Don’t know if I’m the person to give that advice yet. Maybe wait till I’ve written MY book.

Where can we buy/read ‘Nine Parts Water, One Part Sand: Kim Salmon and the Formula for Grunge’ ?

Ha Ha! In all discerning bookstores….but more importantly….and also in the highly likely event that all discerning bookstores don’t have my book in stock (because they’ve sold out ha ha), 

at my upcoming shows where I’ll be selling the book and my 2 new singles and more…

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Bonzo Dog Doodah Band

It was Neil Innes’s tragic death that dragged me into yet another You Tube vortex.

What do you like to do away from music and writing?

Painting and other things

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

I’m going into the studio with Tony Thewlis in 3 days to put the finishing touches on a brand new Scientists album.

What’s planned for 2020?

Touring said Scientists album in the USA 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Well right now it’s the roast that I’m about to cook and my fave place will be here when I’m eating it, because I’m HUNGRY.

https://www.facebook.com/kim.salmon.549