Music News

Where are you currently based?

Margaret River, WA.

What’s been happening recently?

In amongst my daily ritual surf check and hanging with my dog on the property, I have just released my first single ‘oh well’ and have been riding the wave of releasing new music!

How did you first start playing music?

I did guitar lessons when I was 12 for about two weeks before I got bored and quit (as kids do haha) Later I made friends with a girl when I was 16 who sung and played music, and I thought “I reckon I could do that” so I began to teach myself to play. My dad, (who also plays guitar) noticed I was trying to learn again and so he surprised me by swapping an old surfboard for a Cole Clark Fat Lady (complete with tales of touring Europe and a crack in the neck!), which he gifted me! LEGEND!

You’ve had a very traumatic and testing childhood due to a very severe car accident where you actually died and were revived, how has this affected your life and music?

My childhood was actually brilliant!

The car accident you refer to happened when I was 24 and on my way to dinner with friends. A drunk driver hit our vehicle and luckily a nurse was on her way home from shift and she was able to help before paramedics arrived. This incident profoundly affected my life as I was left disabled, with what’s called a Catastrophic Traumatic Brain Injury. Amongst many other faculties, I lost all ability to play music or remember my own songs. As you can imagine this was a devastating thing to realise.

It took you years to re-learn how to walk, how to function on a daily basis and how to play music again, for which doctors told her she would never be able to do, how did you defy the odds?

Learning to walk was done in the first few months in hospital but learning the rest of adult brain function is a different story! Doctors told me that I was “totally and permanently incapacitated”, meaning I would never work again in any capacity. This really didn’t sit well with me, so I decided I would prove everyone who either left me or told me I couldn’t, wrong. It was as simple and as complicated as making a choice. From there I began the painstaking journey of re-training and re-connecting my neural pathways in my brain at the Institute of Functional Neuroscience. This process took roughly 3 years, but the process to release music took about 5years. Turns out music is an incredibly healing thing and is fantastic for our brains.

Please tell us about what or who influences your music?

I write music purely from a place of creativity inspired by the throws of love and life itself. In my opinion love and life are synonymous.

What or who motivates you to release music?

I think the inner drive to overcome the difficult cards my life dealt me and to prove those who deserted, doubted and told me I’d not amount to anything, wrong! is the main motivator for me. However, and more importantly to that, I want to show people that they can overcome anything and create the life they want to live. No matter what, you have the privilege of choice. I grew up with a saying on the bathroom wall of my childhood home that said – “What happens to you does not matter. What you BECOME through those experiences is all that is significant. This is the true MEANING of life.” Unknown.

Life really helped me understand this saying in more ways than one!

Your latest single ‘Initial Pulse’ is a celebration of life and is your second single release from her upcoming 1st September EP, what does this single mean to you?

This song means a lot to me as it was the first song, I managed to write post-accident. It was a joint celebration of new-found love/connection, as well as the new ability to play music again.

What or who influenced the sound and song writing for this track?

I wrote this song when I experienced love for the first-time post-accident. It was written at a time that being able to create music was new again, as if a new chapter of my story had begun.

In terms of the sound, I didn’t want it to be too light considering the gravity of being able to write music again with this song. I felt in order for it to be authentic to me and my style of song writing, It needed to have depth and substance without creating a “heaviness” when listening to it.

The song ended up using the theme of new love, those first heartbeats for someone, as a metaphor for life in general. A fresh start and new beginning to life.

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

I recorded this song at Norman Solander Studios in Perth, WA. My producer Darryn Ball was extremely patient working alongside me, within my capabilities and health setbacks.

The session artists who are in the song were each fabulous and included: Clancy Lethbridge (Bass), Jack Hill (Drums), Miranda Murray-Yong (Cello), Dennes Arto-Cruise (Lead Guitar), Alexis Naylor (Piano), Grace Newton-Wordsworth (BVs).

Please tell us about the 5 years that it took you to get to the point of re-learning music enough and building your function to create this EP:

I don’t think there’s enough time or space for me to answer this question adequately! Haha The process was incredibly arduous and extensive, not to mention time consuming. I will try to give you a brief run down.

I guess I should start from the beginning of my life post-accident. Though I have no recollection of the time period in hospital, my father who is an avid guitar player brought his Stratocaster (sans amplifier of course) in to my hospital room and played to me whilst I was in a coma.

Eventually when I had learned to walk, talk and have the ability to remember my own name again, I was sent home with my parents to begin my life from scratch. I had been labelled as “totally and permanently incapacitated” by doctors, meaning I would no longer be able to work in any capacity. I was 24 years old.

On top of this; my long-term partner left me, my career as a Primary school teacher had ended and I was back living in a country town with my parents acting as my only support. It felt as though I had been left with nothing. So, one day I decided I would grab my guitar and enjoy my hobby of playing music (of which I had only ever played in private to myself).

 I picked up my guitar, positioned myself to play and…… nothing. I stared at my instrument and my mind went into deep confusion turned devastation at the realisation I could no longer play music or remember my own songs. As you can imagine, amongst everything else my injury had taken away, this was one part of me that I couldn’t bare the thought of losing. With me in tears, my father took me aside and told me “it is in there Jay, we just have to find it again” and he showed me three chords on guitar. An A, G and C chord. From that point onwards, I decided I didn’t care what it took, I would learn to play again. I spent years re-learning how to play and remember my own songs. In order to do this, I needed to also spend a vast amount of time doing intense therapy at the Institute of Functional Neuroscience. A kind of therapy designed to assist brain function and rebuild neural pathways. Needless to say it was an extremely difficult few years. In addition to this a very dear friend of mine took her life at the tender age of 27. This profoundly impacted me.

During this time period of about 3-5years I learned (very much the hard way) what was most important in life, and that I was the only person capable of deciding the kind of future I would have. I wasn’t going to let anyone, doctor or not, tell me what I could and couldn’t achieve. Perhaps the only beneficial side-effect of my Traumatic Brain Injury is the lowering of inhibitions, allowing me the courage to perform my songs outside of my own company. I took it upon myself to try my hand at playing in front of a crowd, and it turns out, people not only enjoyed my performance but were routinely asking where they could listen to my songs. This boost along with the courage and determination I had gained from my life experiences spurred me on with my musical career. Although the process of officially releasing music took longer than most with unfortunate recurrent health issues stagnating the process, the 5-year wait has been worthwhile with my first song “Oh Well” having a resounding positive response in the lead up to my Debut EP “Respire” being let loose on the world September 1.

I guess the moral of my hectic life story is relatively simple.

YOU CAN.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I listen to all kinds of music depending on my mood! I made a playlist that has a completely random array of artists I listen to from Folk to Hip Hop, pop, house and rock! The list goes on…

What’s planned for the remainder of 2023?

Releasing my Debut EP, “Respire” on September 1. From there the sky’s the limit!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I think my favourite cuisine is Japanese food, however my partners home cooking has to be number 1! My favourite place to hangout it definitely on the coast. I am down the beach pretty much every day, rain hail or shine.

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Where are you currently based?
I’m currently based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia.

How did you first start playing music?
I first started learning the trumpet in Year 3 when I was in primary school.

What’s been happening recently?
I’ve recently opened a new music studio ‘The Rooftop Studio’ in Manly, AU and am recording new music there as well as filming some live acoustic sessions of other artists!

Your latest single ‘Someday’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
When I write and produce music, I often work backwards from the result I’m trying to achieve. In this case, I imagined the song was going to be the soundtrack of me driving out of Sydney to live somewhere more remote. Away from the hustle of city life, to slow down somewhere closer to nature.

Where are you currently based?

We’re based in Brisbane, Australia. 

What’s been happening recently?

Honestly, a lot of writing. We’ve been writing and demoing as much as we can outside of our regular lives. 

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

We all came from either rock bands or heavier. We went for a commercial pop sound on our last EP and while we love those songs, we wanted to return to our roots as musicians. The lyrical content reflects a grittier, more aggressive sound too, so we aimed to keep it that way rather than turn the song into something it wasn’t. 

How did you go about writing Wasting Away?

Song writing has always been my (Jake- vocals) role in the band. I’ve always written the songs and then developed them further with a producer before the band essentially just learnt their parts. This time around, I wanted all of us to sit in together and write the song as a unit so everybody felt like they had some ownership of the art we were putting out collectively. While I still had a hand in writing, I also took on a producer role and helped develop everybody’s ideas. 

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

I produced and recorded the song with the band in late 2022 at my studio in Brisbane. We then sent the track to Declan White in Melbourne who did the mix & master. Declan also did a small amount of additional producing and engineering on his end. 

How did you approach the recording process?

I approached the recording process like I would do with any of my clients. We set some time aside and tracked what we needed to in that time. None of us had access to a guitar with an Evertune bridge, so we tracked guitars well enough for Declan to decipher (along with providing a video on how each part/section is played) and asked him to track the guitars at his studio with the guitar setup we wanted. Declan is great at what he does, arguably one of the best in this genre in Aus, so he was able to smash it out easily. 

Since there was no real deadline, I was able to spend a lot of time in post-production working on the electronic elements of the song. I was also able to spend more time tracking and dialling in all of the vocal layers. If memory serves me correctly, the song has over 40 tracks of vocals alone. 

Please tell us about any upcoming music:

There’s an album worth of material written currently with about half of that recorded and mixed as pre-production. Sonically, it goes further down the rabbit hole that we started on with Wasting Away and in my opinion, it’s a big step up. I love Wasting Away, but it was written as a bridging track between our last EP and what’s to come. 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2023?

A lot more writing and recording and likely a couple of shows. Our goal is to have some new songs totally finished and ready to go in the new year. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Sleep Token, Trophy Eyes, Movements and No Pressure. Those bands have either just released something new or have something coming up. Whichever the case, everything these bands have put out recently is great. 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food is pizza (pepperoni with added chili flakes and olives is king). I can’t say I have a favourite place to hangout anymore though. I’m 31, so maybe a pub? I’m also a dad nowadays, so hanging out is a long-lost luxury of the before time.

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Where are you currently based?

Naarm/Melbourne

How did you first start playing music?

Growing up, I was always surrounded by music because my dad is a musician (a bass player and classically trained pianist). He taught me some piano and guitar at a young age. My mum, although not a musician herself,  is also an extremely creative individual with a great love of literature, so she would read me books and poetry most evenings. As a result, I loved writing and storytelling and dreamed of being a novelist. At age 11, I decided to combine writing and music and began songwriting, soon discovering it was my true passion.

What’s been happening recently?

Honestly, so much! I’m releasing my next single, Rosé Glow on July 21st. The single is a prelude to my debut EP, The 11th Hour, set to be released in August. It’s been a very busy (but rewarding) few months and I can’t wait to share the songs with everyone. I’m so very proud of this EP. I’ve been writing songs since I was 11 and have wanted to release them for almost as long, but always struggled with lack of confidence and self-doubt. You could say, I kept leaving my music till ‘The 11th Hour’. I’ve been sitting on some of these songs for years (one since I was 14), so to finally release this EP feels surreal. Apart from that, I also have some exciting shows coming up – stay tuned on my socials for more details soon!

Your latest single ‘Rosé Glow’ from your upcoming August EP, ‘The 11th Hour’ will be out on July 21, what does this track mean to you?

Rosé Glow is the embodiment of fun – it’s sparkly, alluring and nostalgic of unforgettable nights out with friends. It’s the type of song you add to your ‘getting ready’ playlist and sing whilst doing your makeup and having pre-drinks with friends. It also dabbles in a bit of fantasy – blurring the lines between reality and possibility. Rosé Glow is also very special to me as it was also my first collaboration. I do the majority of my songwriting alone in my bedroom (which I love), but I wrote this one with Gabrielle Emery (‘EMEREE’). It was such an enjoyable experience, especially considering EMEREE and I have such a lovely friendship. It all came together so naturally.

How did the single come about?

I was in the studio with my producer EMEREE and I had another song in mind for The 11th Hour. However, after we started producing it, it just didn’t feel right or seem to slot in with the other tracks. We then decided to just write a song together, so we brainstormed and decided we wanted it to be a fun, pop song people would listen to whilst getting ready with their friends. We wrote up until the end of the first chorus together and then I took it home and finished the remainder of the lyrics that very night because I just loved it so much.

We recorded the majority of it at Gabrielle Emery’s home studio and then were lucky enough to record the rest at a state of the art studio (which was so cool). Working on Rosé Glow at the home studio was so enjoyable though. EMEREE and I often went on coffee walks and lunch outings – we drank one too many aperol spritzes and recorded my final vocal in her wardrobe (it was the quietest place we could find haha). EMEREE produced and mixed the track and it was mastered by Darren Ziesing. 

What influenced the sound and songwriting for your upcoming EP?

My songwriting is influenced by my experiences and those around me. This collection of songs reflect my life for the past 7 years. From childish infatuation, to feeling isolated, alone and unwanted, to just enjoying time with friends, to falling in love once (and then falling again), to sisterhood and ensuring that loved ones are in healthy, positive relationships, The 11th Hour divulges my feelings, experiences and observations. 

How did the musical creation process take place?

The 11th Hour includes 5 songs I’ve written over the past 7 years. I write songs as an outlet and a way to process and express what I’m experiencing and feeling. Therefore, I wrote the majority of these songs alone (in my bedroom with my guitar or at the piano). However, Rosé Glow was a joint effort (written by EMEREE and I). 

I discovered EMEREE and loved her production style, so we began working together. I approached her with voice memos of my songs – I’d just recorded myself singing them (accompanied by piano or guitar) into my phone. The first song I played her was Fall Twice (maybe my favourite track on the EP). She instantly loved it and actually kept the piano from my original voice memo and even the squeak of my old pedal. It can be heard throughout the track, but predominantly in the introduction and first verse!

All in all, it’s been an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable experience. I’m grateful to have met EMEREE, who has brought my songs to life so perfectly. 

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

The 11th Hour was produced and mixed by EMEREE and mastered by Darren Ziesing. We began working on the EP in September of 2022. We did the bulk of the recording/producing at Gabrielle’s home studio and also at a couple of other, very nice and cool studios. 

What do you have planned for The 11th Hour?

Rosé Glow is a prelude to my debut EP, The 11th Hour, set to be released in August. 11 has always felt like my lucky number. I was born on the 11th and at age 11, I began writing songs. I have also procrastinated releasing my music for many years, despite having wanted to so desperately. I struggled with self-belief and the confidence to properly pursue my passion. 

To finally record this EP has been the most fulfilling, rewarding, enjoyable and emotionally chaotic experience. The 11th Hour is composed of 5 songs – I’ve been sitting on some of them for years (I wrote Boy in the Shadow at age 14!). To finally release them is the most surreal feeling. I was lucky enough to meet and befriend EMEREE, who is an extraordinary producer and has brought these songs to life so perfectly. 

I am so excited to share it with you in August and keep your eyes peeled for some exciting shows and videos?!

How did you balance your legal studies with your music?

Google Calendar. 

In all seriousness, it’s sometimes a struggle. I find myself neglecting my studies or sometimes my music, depending on the week. I try to stay organised, keep on top of due dates and complete my work as soon as I receive it. Obviously, at times I procrastinate and end up with a mountain of things to do. That’s when I have a cry about it. I hope to one day make a full-time career out of music and wave goodbye to my legal studies. However, for now I’m juggling both and managing!

Your family consists of a father who is a musician (Bass player and classically trained pianist), mother who is a writer, brother who is a musician and plays in a traditional greek rebetiko band, how has this influenced your music?

My dad influenced me because without him, I wouldn’t have constantly been surrounded and exposed to a large variety of music. He also was responsible for teaching me guitar and piano and bought me my first guitar (a Taylor, because he knows I love Taylor Swift). We still regularly jam out together and he played bass on a few of the tracks on my upcoming EP (Memory of You, Boy in the Shadow and Fall Twice). 

My mum, although not a musician herself, is such a creative individual and during my childhood, she would constantly be writing stories, drawing and reading my brother and I books and poetry every night. This resulted in my great love for words and crafting stories of my own. From a very young age, I decided I wanted to be a novelist, but after discovering my love for songwriting, I realised that was my true passion.

My brother is insanely talented. He’s a multi-instrumentalist (he plays guitar, piano, violin and has a beautiful voice). He is also in the process of learning bouzouki. He’s one of my closest friends and inspires me to practise guitar and piano more haha! He’s very in touch with our Greek heritage, which I really admire.

Constantly being surrounded by such musical and creative individuals has shaped who I am immensely. My parents have always encouraged creativity, imagination and inquisitiveness. I don’t think I would have discovered my passion for songwriting without them.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Taylor Swift (ALWAYS). Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is on repeat.

I’m also currently obsessed with The Good Witch (Maisie Peters) and Gretta Ray’s new singles from her upcoming album Positive Spin (Heartbreak Baby makes me go feral in the best way possible).

What do you like to do away from music?

Spending time with friends and family, nature/beach walks, cooking dates, cuddling my dog and taking him for walks (the cutest standard poodle ever), journaling and reading.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2023?

Well, The 11th Hour is set to be released… so there are many exciting things planned surrounding that…

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Burrito bowls. At friends houses making burrito bowls.