BrewDog wants Aussies to ‘get on the beers’ – now and in...

January 22, 2021

Sweet Summer Suite feat. Melbourne’s finest DJs

January 21, 2021

Queens of Club Release ‘Bones’

January 21, 2021

BAD RELIGION SHARE “EMANCIPATION OF THE MIND”

January 21, 2021

BRISBANE’S LÂLKA SHARES NEW SINGLE ‘ATOMIC BLONDE’

January 21, 2021

DEB NEVER SHARES NEW SINGLE ‘SOMEONE ELSE’ + OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

January 21, 2021

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January 21, 2021

ORB LIVE AT THE FORUM MELBOURNE MARCH 20 ~ ONE NIGHT ONLY...

January 21, 2021

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January 20, 2021

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January 20, 2021

Queens of Club

January 20, 2021

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January 20, 2021

French artist Laure Briard shares new single and lyric video ‘Supertrama’, new...

January 20, 2021

GOAT GIRL Share new track & video ‘Badibaba’ New album On All...

January 20, 2021

MIA WRAY RELEASES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW SINGLE ‘NEVER GONNA BE THE SAME’...

January 20, 2021

HAND HABITS Announces dirt EP out February 19th Shares video for new...

January 20, 2021

NGV: Tonka Pop-Up at Triennial EXTRA, New Video Tours and Surrealism Online...

January 20, 2021

CHASING GHOSTS DROP NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO SUMMER NEW EP HOMELANDS OUT...

January 20, 2021

JUAN WAUTERS Releases new single & video ‘Presentation’ feat. Nick Hakim and...

January 20, 2021

SCOTT DARLOW RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIA’ WITH STAR-STUDDED VIDEO

January 19, 2021

Thrashville releases full program for 2021 event

January 19, 2021

Iconic 80’s Chicago House Label DJ International Relaunches With Anthony Thomas’ ‘Promised...

January 18, 2021

ALPINE FESTIVAL SNOW MACHINE EXPANDS TO NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCES LINE UP FEATURING...

January 18, 2021

DESCENDENTS SHARE NEW TRACK ‘THAT’S THE BREAKS’

January 18, 2021

Visit Victoria and Mushroom Group proudly partner for ‘2021 SOUNDS BETTER TOGETHER’...

January 18, 2021

KING STINGRAY DEBUT NEW TRACK ‘GET ME OUT’ . OUT TODAY VIA...

January 18, 2021

Em Rusciano takes to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Thu 18...

January 18, 2021

MELBOURNE MUSIC WEEK ADDS MORE TO IT’S EXTENDED SUMMER PROGRAM Melbourne Music...

January 18, 2021

SYNTHONY TO LIGHT UP MELBOURNE FOR A ‘ONE NIGHT ONLY’ SHOW LIVE...

January 18, 2021

INDIGO SPARKE Signs to Sacred Bones Shares new single ‘Everything Everything’ Announces...

January 18, 2021

UPCOMING R&B ARTIST MAKALITA UNVEILS NEW SINGLE ‘DO THIS’

January 18, 2021

Nicky Romero Kicks Off 2021 with Return To His Progressive Roots on...

January 16, 2021

Cool Sounds share ‘Crimson Mask’ from forthcoming LP ‘Bystander’

January 15, 2021

Melbourne artist CANTRIPS return with new track ‘GOODBYE YESTERDAY’

January 15, 2021

Dro Carey Shares ‘Another Knot (Satl Remix)’ + Releases Instrumental Version Of...

January 15, 2021

YAWDOESITALL brings more heat on new single ‘TEST DRIVE’, featuring TAWANDA

January 15, 2021

Volen Sentir shares stunning LIVE @ Magic Forest

January 14, 2021

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are amped for the New Year with brand new...

January 14, 2021

JESS LOCKE Releases new single & video ‘Dead and Gone’ Announces Jan/Feb...

January 14, 2021

JULIEN BAKER Releases new single and video ‘Hardline’ Watch KEXP live performance...

January 14, 2021

BRIJEAN Share new single ‘Ocean’ New album Feelings out February 26

January 14, 2021

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January 13, 2021

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January 13, 2021

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January 13, 2021

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January 13, 2021

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January 13, 2021

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January 13, 2021

Music Interviews


Where are you currently based? Melbourne What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Akaysha: 2020 was an absolute write off, I feel like I literally stared out the window for 8 months. Did manage to cook up some pretty good food.  Hannah: I reincarnated and became Hai Priestess.. the cocoon was pretty dark for a while there.  Sal: I mixed herbal teas and sent them to my family and friends (sorry family and friends). I also wrote some terrible apocalyptic songs and talked to my greyhound (a lot). How and why did Queens of Club form? Akaysha: Our periods all synced & Mercury was in retrograde. Hannah: The planets aligned in all seriousness, it just clicked. It feels like we were meant to meet each other, and the first time we hung out it just made so much sense. Initially it was just three female producers coming together to hang out, share ideas and support each others work in a male dominated field - but naturally we started chopping up and adding to each others songs. Queens of Club was born out of play.  Sal: all the above What are your musical backgrounds? Akaysha: I started learning piano, guitar and drums as a kid, I always wanted to start a band but could never find anyone. Around 14 I started making electronic music & Djing as it was something I could do solo. I released a lot of electro house under Kaysh then evolved into more downtempo electronica as Ok Sure. 20 years later I have finally managed to start that band!  Hannah: I learned piano and guitar and began playing folk music shows at around 15, I was never an amazing musician, but loved songwriting, construction and performing. I always wanted to be in a band and it wasn't until I was 26 when I formed Bonnie Doom and Pow Pow Kids, I spent a number of years playing around town. I loved the production side of things, and after we recorded albums for both those bands and I got an insight into recording, I started to get the itch to produce myself. I released a solo album that I wrote and produced in 48 hours called Bonnie The Kid - Xanadu, and from there I was hooked and developed as the producer Syntax/Semantics for some years to reach my final incarnation Hai Priestess in Queens of Club. Sal: I started with jazz and classical piano, and dabbled with electronic music software in my early teens. My mum made me take opera lessons (why?!) so for a while there I was singing dramatic operatic German pieces after school with an unnecessarily strict teacher – maybe one day I’ll tap into that (Queens, consider yourselves warned). How did your track 'Bones' come about? Akaysha: This was one of my old songs back from 2015 that was never officially released, the girls had some ideas and it evolved to what you hear today. Sal: I fell in love with Akaysha’s original version of Bones and needed more it in my life. How did you go about writing the track? Akaysha: Sal took my original version and added more lyrics, a proper hook & rearranged it, all skills that I lack in songwriting, if I’m left to my own devices I’d probably be stuck in an instrumental loop for 5 hours.  Hannah: I didn't have much to do with this one except tell them it was a banger and a bit of "woo woo" high vocals.  Sal: For a few weeks, I listened to Akaysha’s version obsessively every time I did the dishes, singing new ideas for it as I went. The dishes weren’t cleaned well, but I’m very happy with this version of Bones and that’s more important. Where and when did you record/produce/master and what equipment did you use? Akaysha: I started recording this 6 years ago, I can't remember what gear I used, probably all soft synths, I don’t use a lot of hardware. All produced, mixed and mastered in my bedroom studio.  Sal: ALL the magic happens in Akaysha’s bedroom studio. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation process? Akaysha: As I said I have a habit of getting stuck in an instrumental loop. Sal and Hannah are more in tune with vocals & arranging & catchy hooks so it’s great to collab with them, they breathe new life into all the half finished stuff I have lying around. Obviously there are always a few creative differences but nothing major and we can generally all agree on a final outcome.  Hannah: The most rewarding thing is getting to hang out and be creative with close friends, it's just super fun.  Sal: I respectfully agree with my Queens. You are very much a sensory live act with the use of costumes, visuals/audio - how did this come to be? Akaysha: We wanted Queens Of Club to be just as much of a visual experience as an audio one. Instead of us all standing behind computers we thought putting placemats on our heads and dancing around would be way more interesting. Hannah: It's a natural evolution for us, we all love dress-ups, costume, theatre... all kinds of art forms. This is a playground for us where we throw ideas around and see what sticks and what doesn't, and there's some wacky shit in those minds of ours. We are so different, yet so complementary and so because QOC is so authentically who we are when we come together it's a natural unfolding - we don't look at or listen to others and try to copy or follow trends. We're just being creative with the things, sounds, looks, ideas we like.  Sal: because Akaysha cannot stop herself from attaching homewares to her person. How do the costume, visuals and audio creatives for the live show come about? Akaysha: A lot of hot glue guns, trips to the Kmart homewares section and tassels were involved.  Hannah: We are very DIY, and between us we have some pretty random skills so we manage to make it all ourselves (so far - but we'd love to collaborate). We share images, videos, anything really that catches our eye and is inspiring, and pretty quickly the visual elements just started to come together - it's a very strong vision and we somehow could see what the others were seeing too. We wanted to create an entire world and experience.. It's so boring standing around watching people with egos play their instruments. We wanted to remove the ego, and make it about the audience.. not us.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Akaysha: Louis Theroux’s podcast 'Grounded' Hannah: Shamanic Visioning by Sandra Ingerman Audiobook and In Too Deep Podcast by Jack Rowland Sal: Judge me if you must -  A 10 hour playlist of Gregorian chants (it’s my new must-focus music). Other music-wise, I’ve been listening to “Tipper” (Gulch is my favourite track) and “HAAi”. My enduring faves are the album “Thora Vukk” by Robag Wruhme, and anything electronic that involves mallet percussion or grainy, crunchy bits. What do you like to do away from music? Akaysha: I’m a big foodie, I do a lot of visual art, I also have a major wig obsession.  Hannah: I run a start-up called The Local Green Pages which is a free local directory for Creative & Sustainable people. I also work in Social Change, so am a passionate Social Entrepreneur.  Sal: At the moment, I fan-girl Ryan Shelton, read my greyhound bedtime stories and dance.  What's planned for 2021? Akaysha: I think I better freeze my eggs.   Hannah: Lots of Queens of Club, releasing new music, we're planning a clip for our next single at the moment so bringing all those pieces together.  Sal: all the above. I have some solo music to finish and release this year (like the other Queens).  Favourite food and place to hangout? Akaysha: The 10 course degustation menu at some fancy restaurant  Hannah: Kaysh's balcony and fancy Uber Eats  Sal: 10 course unfancy Japanese, potentially on Akaysha’s balcony https://www.facebook.com/thequeensofclub https://www.instagram.com/queens_of_club/

Queens of Club

Where are you currently based? Lethbridge, Alberta.  Canada. How did you first start playing music? I've actually grown up playing music.  My folks are musicians and helped start my home town music festival in the 80's, my sister and I like to joke that it's their oldest (and favorite) child.  I started with playing mandolin when I was nine, then I moved on to guitar at 13 like we all do.  I couldn't ever feel satisfied with playing one thing though, I always wanted to play them all.  I had lots of great role models around that played lots of things so I didn't have to look too far for help or inspiration.  It was really just a "put one foot in front of the other" sort of situation.   What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? I've been really lucky through all this Covid business.  So far all my immediate people are healthy and carrying on as best they can.  I'm actually particularly lucky to be able to put a record out during this mess.  When all this began I didn't think I'd be in a position to put a record out, but Tonic and everyone working on the release have done an amazing job. It's lent a degree of normalcy to this otherwise abnormal time.  I'm super lucky to get to spend more time at home too.  I haven't spent this much uninterrupted time at home with my wife and cats in years, so that's definitely been a source of joy for me.   It was hard when everything shut down though.  I was on the road in the USA and made it across the border just as it closed, which was harrowing.  We were making a record in Vancouver just as things were getting serious in Canada and by the time I returned home the country was in its first lockdown.  I went through a bit of a spiral after that with my mental health and was diagnosed with clinical depression after a time.  I have a really great support system with my wife and family though and they helped me get back on the up and up and I'm doing well now.   I think I'm not very good with change at the best of times, so I kind of had a system overload.  My wife is an elementary school teacher and she's so incredibly strong.  Whenever I feel like I'm having a hard day being an artist in lockdown, I talk to her about her day and put it all in perspective.  Teachers and nurses man, they're the serious heroes in this thing.   Your new single and video for 'Where Are My Blue Eyes' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I really love old-timey bluegrass and have really been immersing myself in the lore and tradition.  I was on tour in California last year with Leeroy Stagger and the Rebeltone Sound and found this old banjo from the 1890's in a music store in San Rafael.  It was tuned in double C tuning, which I'd never played but immediately recognised as the modal signature of all my favorite old recordings.  I got back to the van and tuned my banjo to double C and 'Blue Eyes' was the first thing that came out of my fingers.   How did you go about writing the single? The banjo part came first.  After I'd figured out a few moves in my new tuning the form developed quite rapidly.  Lyrically it came as a revelation as well.  We'd been on tour for the better part of the year and I was starting to feel pretty homesick.  I'd also been thinking a great deal about the atomic bomb and the new atomic age we've been living in since Aug 6, 1945 and how quickly the world can change.  I wrote the first line "where is my blue eyed girl, where on earth is she?" and the rest just poured out of me.  I think the whole thing took about ten minutes.  That's how it is though.  Sometimes you have to work for it, and sometimes it walks right up to you. Where and when did you record/produce and who with? The record was recorded over about 18 months in 2018/2019 at the Rebeltone Ranch in Lethbridge, AB.  The other band I play in (Leeroy Stagger and the Rebeltone Sound) was touring all the time, and I was finishing my undergraduate degree at the University of Lethbridge, so I chipped away at the record as I could.  I'm a recording engineer and engineered most of it.  Leeroy produced and did the lion's share of mixing.   The band were all my fellow Rebeltone Sound alumni.   How did you approach the recording process? I wanted to do something that really fit the aesthetic of the songs.  I write in kind of an anachronistic way and always want my songs to sound like they've come from 80 years earlier or something.  I've always loved analog gear too, so with those things in mind we decided to approach making the record as old school and analog as we could.  The console we used was a Trident 88 which was really neat.  We recorded almost everything live off the floor and tried to keep things to one or two takes.  Not everything on this record is perfect, but that's totally where the beauty is for me.  It feels authentic, if I do say so myself... How did the concept for the video come about? I was talking to my videographer friend Evan Uschenko, who shares my love for antiquated artistic methods and we got talking about how fun it would be to do something using 16mm.  We had the idea to shoot a video on film and to hand paint the frames to create a multimedia piece of art.   Where and when did you film and how was the experience? The process was hard but great.  It was fun to struggle with film again, Evan loading the camera blind with his hands in a canvas bag so as to not expose the film, not being able to see what you've just shot, all the trials that the modern age has corrected were present and I think the final project was better as a result.  The painting is what really took time.  To paint 17 minutes of footage was approximately 24,000 frames and took 40 hours.  When it was done I was glad it was over, but immediately was looking forward to the next time.   You have a new album coming out on the 15th of Jan, please tell us a little about what we can expect: I'm so proud of this record.  It's a collection of twelve songs spanning old-timey bluegrass and Canadiana folk that focus on where we are, how and why we got here and where we might be going in the end.  I really challenged myself on this record and I think that shows.  I tried to make music that I liked personally, and that I hoped people would like to listen to, but most of all I tried to write songs about real, important things.  I'm a big fan of the Clash and always idolized how their work had an important message, mostly about trying to be a better human being.  That's what this record is to me, and I think that comes across.   What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the album? Getting out of my own head.  Being an artist is a funny thing because we tie our personal self worth so tightly to our professional success.  I had to practice getting out of my own way a lot on this record.  I tried to be very vulnerable on this album too, and that opened me up to a level of risk that I'm not used to.  It's a good risky feeling though, I don't think there's any going back to the way it was before.   Who are you listening to at the moment? My top five records right now are Noam Pikelny -  Universal Favorite, Miles Davis - Miles Smiles, Chris Thile/Michael Daves - Sleep With One Eye Open, John K. Sampson - Winter Wheat, and the soundtrack to the movie Empire Records.   I've been listening to a lot of other things too.  Gillian Welch put out a really cool record last year that is so hauntingly good.  I've been listening to Tony Rice a lot too, he did so much for guitar players everywhere and it was a real tragedy when he passed.  I'm also working through Bach's cello sonatas on my banjo, so I've been listening to a lot of Yoyo Ma as a reference for those.   What do you like to do away from music? I'm a private pilot so flying is a big thing for me.  I have such a love for aviation.  I'm a long distance runner, which is great because I can run at home or on tour or wherever.  I like to ski and play chess.  When I'm home I love to cook.  I paint, mostly acrylic and watercolour portraits of historical figures (with varying degrees of success).  I also love to read.  I'm big on classic literature, Hemingway, Vonnegut, Thompson, Camus, Pasternak, etc.  I also do digital audio research on analog and digital mixing practice and perception through the University of Lethbridge, which I'm not sure counts as something I like to do AWAY from music, but is definitely a thing I've been doing.   What's planned for 2021? You know what, it's hard to say!  The record comes out on Jan 15th and I have a few things coming down the pipe as far as touring and performance, but it really is too early to tell what is and isn't going to be possible.  All I definitely have planned for 2021 is to do my best to make it as safe and responsible as is in my power.  I'm itching to get out and play, but only when it's safe and responsible to do so.   So I think my plan is to stay home until directed otherwise.   Favourite food and place to hangout? I like a really great slice of pizza.  When it has that thin crust that's charred but chewy and when the ingredients are fresh and properly prepared.  New York, NY has the best pizza I've had so far.  And I think Bø, Norway has the worst, (so far). My Favorite place to hang out is a local place called The Owl in my home town of Lethbridge, AB.  The place is a shining light in this city and we're so lucky to have it.  If you're in the area, definitely stop in, and tell Steven I sent you. Second place goes to the entire city of Berlin, Germany.  Third place goes to Sonny's bar in Brooklyn, NY. https://www.facebook.com/rylandmoranz/

Ryland Moranz

Where are you based? Currently, I’m in sunny Govan. A stones through away from the Clyde River. Sitting in my studio answering my third interview of the day! That no mean city they call Glasgow. Glesvegas! How did it feel to release your debut artist album, The Last King of Scotland, last month? It was a pure mix of emotions actually. Overly proud, a little relieved. But also sad and sort of Stockholm Syndrome. This has been a labour of love for the last 2 years. I’ve fallen in love with, out of love. It’s kept me driven, focused and inspired throughout this horrific year. Now I feel a bit lost! Like the vulnerable mother. Watching their kid walk into school for the first time. It’s flew the nest, into the wilderness. To be devoured by whomever it falls upon. I couldn’t have asked for a better reception to be honest. The reactions and support around the world have completely blown my expectations to pieces. What is behind the album title? It’s pretty much an acknowledgment, a nod - to the country I love. The place that inspires me. You can travel the globe week in week out. But nothing beats the feeling of home. And little self proclamation as well just for good measure! Did you do anything special to celebrate the album launch? Yes. I officially launched the album from arguably Scotland’s iconic venues, The Arches. "It only seemed right to take it back inside those hallowed brick walls of The Arches. When I moved to Glasgow from Orkney in 2008, it felt like every other night out ended up here. What started out as a hobby turned into an addiction. The addiction led to an education. A pilgrimage to this clubbing mecca we all know and love. Nowhere could be more fitting. I have to say, I had mixed emotions reading back all the comments. So many stories, experiences, shared by people, tagging their circles of friends, clubbers - bringing all that together felt even more special than the stream itself. And it really brought home just how special The Arches was. An institution in it's own right. Friendships forged, memories set in stone. There was only one place I could have launched this album. Egypt has the Pyramids. China has the Great Wall. Glasgow has “Oor Arches."  From Paul Van Dyk to Gary Go, theres a host of huge collaborations on the album. How did these come about? I worked with a plethora of international artists on this album. Hailing from Berlin to LA. London to Oban. Some were heroes, others were friends. Then some were just insanely talented songwriters. But all with one thing in common. The potential enrich my sound and add a new, exciting twist. Otherwise, is there any point in collaborating? I’m a control freak when it comes to the studio. Thus I’m not ideal for collaborating with. I need to have my stamp on everything. I know how I want it to sound. The track is already finished in my head before I’ve even written it. If I don’t realise that vision, then the track is dead in the water for me. So collaborating is difficult for me. Unless I am passionate about the artist, and the potential outweighs the compromise. All these artists ticked that box. Some tracks began as singles. Awakening with Paul was a melody I had sitting on my computer for around 8 years. Until it finally came to life as a demo for Vandit. Then Paul decided to join me on the record and collaborate. Other tracks started out as indie demos. Happy Hours was an Ed Sheehan style pop record before drafted in DC Breaks who turned it into a rib rattling D&B masterpiece. The track with Gary Go was originally a sort of progressive indie track. My manager John brokered a deal at ADE, Amsterdam. Basically give me a shot at the stems and subsequently turning it into a brooding crossover Trance meets cinematic Rock cut. Each collaboration has its own wee story. But they are all with artists that excite and energise my sound. Whats your creative process like? It’s pretty temperamental to be honest. It comes in random waves so I always need to near my laptop if I’m not in the studio. Some of the best melodies have come to me in a dream. There have been tracks finished backstage before I walk out in front of 5000 people. Other tracks have been started on airport floors and finished in hotel rooms. I have no control. But one thing I’ve noticed is if if I’m going through a particularly rough time, I’m able to channel this into the most emotional and thought provoking music. It’s like a supernatural ability. The only problem is I have to go suffer or experience unwanted feeling to channel it. Other times I’ll be in the kitchen making a cup of tea, hear an advert from the TV and bang - I’ll have an instant hair raising topline melody. I can tap inspiration from a multitude of sources. But emotions and experiences are most fruitful for me. Can you tell us about your approach to production and recording? After the bolt of inspiration - which could be a melody, a bassline, a hook idea - then comes the groundwork. Putting the scaffolding up to host this ultimate vision. From there it’s like a process of jenga. Building the foundations, taking away, adding. Until you find the winning formula. And achieve that ultimate vision. Who inspired you to make electronic music? Initially my mum. She got me into Judge Jules. From there, I distinctly remember hearing one of his live sets from Creamfields 2001 I think it was. He played a track called Angelic - Stay With Me. It was a live broadcast and I’ll never forget the reaction. The screams. Whistles. Horns.  I was 11 years old. So I wasn’t aware there was a producer sitting in a room making these sounds gel in harmony, but I knew I wanted the ability to create that energy and emotion. When the time comes, where are you most excited about playing live? Mexico for it’s electric, hot blooded atmopshere. But closer to home, Glasgow. Here we fucking go. And what track from the album are you most excited to play in front of fans? Kismet Energy. It’s a high octane, euphorically driven Hard House track. It sums up my journey from the past. My influences. An era that shaped me but reimagined through my eyes. As I wasn’t actually old enough to live it.  What can we expect next from Will Atkinson? I’m putting the finishing touches on one last single to close out this shitter  of a year. It’s a 145bpm power Trancer. The melody will break your heart. There are multiple climaxes. You’ll be left a hollowed out shell after listening to it. There’s a strong sense of hope, maybe a feeling of loss. 7 or so minutes of relentless ecstasy. It’s called The Last Rave On Earth.  ‘Will Atkinson’s album ‘The Last King of Scotland’ is Out Now on Black Hole Recordings. Get it here: https://will.complete.me/lastkingofscotland

Will Atkinson

What is your name and role within Stuck Out? Josh - Vocalist Where are you currently based? Born and bred in Melbourne, Aus. How did Stuck out form? We're all mates from high school who hung out on the weekend, jamming in a garage/ basement. Once we finished school we decided to try and take the whole band thing a little more seriously and now here we are. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? I've been one of the extremely blessed people who has kept working throughout the various lockdowns. Working isn't something  people are normally thrilled about but it kept me busy and now with everything opening back up again, the band is in full flight and very keen on releasing the new EP. Your new single 'Inverse' is out now off your forthcoming EP 'Lie Through Your Teeth' how did Inverse come about and what does the single mean to you? Inverse was written about 2 years ago then kind of trashed cause it wasn't good enough, then about a year ago we opened up some old files and came across it and basically re-wrote the song into what you hear today. It was certainly a long process from start to finish but I definitely think it's a good representation of the thought and effort we put into our songwriting these days. Your new EP will be out on Dec 18, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Honestly, we just want to write good rock songs with good hooks to match. Each song sounds (relatively) different to each other and I think it's a great representation of the scope of our sound. We didn't specifically draw on a particular band or project when it came to LTYT, we just wanted to take what Stuck Out was and make it better. How did you go about writing the tracks? Each track was vastly different. Tracks like Inverse and Mindless were in the works for two years, then we wrote Hollow about a month before we went into the studio. Ultimately it tends to be an individual who will start a song then everyone will come together to rip it apart and re-write the whole thing to be the best it can be. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with? The EP was recorded in Feb/March, we actually finished vocals a week before Melbourne went into the first lockdown. We worked with Jack Newlyn (Paradise Club) from start to finish on this record which was really nice. He felt like a member of the band by the end and his attention to detail was amazing, I can't recommend him highly enough. How did you approach the recording process? We really wanted to create a record that would translate to a live setting. We pride ourselves on our live shows so we wanted something that would match that energy and aggression in a recorded form. What programs/instruments did you use? 99% of what you hear on the record is pure guitar, drums and vocals (obviously with effects added over the top). We had a lot of fun messing around with delay and harmonic pedals to try and warp what we already had and we relied heavily on the JHS Double Barrel for the guitar tones. What did you find most challenging and rewarding through out the process? The start of recording is always difficult because there's alway so many directions you could go with tones, production etc. but once you get into the groove with it, it starts to record itself. The most rewarding part is definitely hearing the finished product. Every song on the record came out better than I imagined and that's a big testament to Jack's work on the record. Who are you listening to at the moment? BMTH released that ripper record so that's been getting a lot of spins.Loathe, Alpha Wolf and Nothing But Thieves have probably been the most consistent appearances this year, all of them released phenomenal albums. What do you like to do away from music? I'm very chill with my time. I just want to catch up with mates, socialise and have a drink. That's probably been enhanced even more after the year we've had. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Our EP Lie Through Your Teeth is out this Friday and our EP Release Show is Saturday night so that should keep us relatively busy. We'll enjoy the New Year break then get right back into things at the start of next year! Favourite food and place to hangout? Our local is Hello Sam's burger joint. Honestly, anywhere you can get a burger and a beer is perfect for us. http://stuckout.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/stuckoutband https://twitter.com/stuckoutband https://www.instagram.com/stuckoutband

Stuck Out

Velvet Code / So Fierce Music

Velvet Code / So Fierce Music

Like Angels

Matt Storm + Ivan Hartle

Matt Storm + Ivan Hartle

Where are you currently based?   I’m currently based in Sydney, Australia. How did you first start playing music?   I saw Frenzal Rhomb playing at the ARIA Awards on TV in 1999 and it changed my life. I wanted to be a musician so bad but didn’t really know how to do that. I then had some family friends in Newcastle start a local band and that inspired me to no end. I started a band pretty quickly after that with some friends from school. We eventually got instruments and learned to play, well after the fact of calling ourselves a band. We played all through high school at anywhere that would have us, scout halls, surf lifesaving clubs, town halls, youth centres. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?   Yeah it’s been really strange, to say the least. I’m an early childhood teacher during the day, so I’ve been working as an essential service all throughout this whole time. It’s strange having that part of my life stay the same, when so much of the other aspects of my life have changed so dramatically. It’s been really hard for me to not go and see shows. I get a lot of fufillment out of the music community, and it’s been tough not seeing artists that I love do their thing. Your single 'Blood' and debut album 'Middle Everything' are out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for the album?   I have a stack of different influences - from Bloc party to The National, from watching old professional wrestling matches to Beetlejuice, from Batman to Kurt Vonnegut. But more than anything, the sound was really influenced by having my live band present for the recording, and having it be produced by Jonno Tooke from Cry Club. I just feel so lucky that I get to work with artists I respect so greatly. How did you go about writing the music?   I’d meditate and go for really long walks; where I would write down almost random thoughts that I had. I’d come home and spend the night working shopping these random thoughts in to songs on GarageBand on my phone. I then brought these ideas to the band and Jonno and they helped bring them to life. Where and when did you record and who with? I recorded in Sydney during April 2019. I was with Jonno (Cry Club), Emily Duncun (an amazing solo artist), Marcus Tamp (Amends, Burn In Hell and Vices) and Lauren Guerrera (Columbus). How did you approach the recording process?   We all spent quite a long time workshopping and learning the songs before we got in, so the actual recording process was pretty straight forward. What programs/instruments did you use?   It was a pretty straight ahead band format, with guitars, bass, drums and keys How did Blood come about and what does this track mean to you?   Blood came about in the same way that most of the record came about, just through meditation and reflection. It’s about leaning right in to being frustrated, and finding resolution within that. You're playing Vanguard in Sydney on Nov 10, how do you prepare for live shows and what can we expect?   There’s going to be an intimate solo show first, with a few B sides and rarities, and a band show after, that really showcases the bigness of the record. To prepare I spend a lot of time practicing the songs, and getting the sequencing right for the set. Who are you listening to at the moment?   The usual suspects: Phoebe Bridgers, Skepta, The National, Bloc Party, Action Bronson What do you like to do away from music?   I really love watching really old Wrestling matches; there’s just so many memories and nostalgia attached to it for me. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?   I’ve got the next album written, and I’m gonna spend the end of this year and beginning of next year putting it together. Favourite food and place to hangout? I’m going to say Nachos, but there’s really too many faves to mention. I love hanging out with my girlfriend, Michelle - wherever we are is pretty ok.

Jack R. Reilly

Where are you currently based? I am currently based in Sydney, Australia. How did you first start playing music? Music has always been a big part of my life from playing the recorder in my childhood years and then moving on to playing clarinet, guitar and the drums. My upbringing with also living in remote places such as Arnhem Land and Papua New Guinea has definitely had a positive influence on me as a person and into my song writing.   What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? The year 2020 has been a year of growth and re-connection to my inner self. I have been going for walks in nature with my Staffy Flo, meditating and enjoying practising the Wim Hoff method. During COVID lockdown, I found myself picking up the guitar a lot more and revisiting my song writing. You could say that ‘Endure’ was born in a year of great worldly change.   Your new single 'Endure' is out soon, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I am very excited to have released my new single ‘Endure’. My influence for this song comes from a belief that we are living in world increasingly challenged by lack of social connection and isolation from nature. Endure is about the endless importance of harmony with the natural world, and a gentle reminder of what has and always will be important.  How did you go about writing Endure? Firstly, by playing around with chords and sythn progressions in the studio and I then came up with the lyric ideas to lay over the top, and it all unfolded from there. Originally the instrumentation had a strong electronic influence, but I decided to strip it back quite a bit. Overall, I wanted to go for a simple vibe to drive a clear message - that was really what I was looking for in this song. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with? All done in the home studio, with the help of my multi-talented muso husband.  How did you approach the recording process and what did you most enjoy? Just knocked back a few shots and off we went. Not really, it was all quite focused. Once I had a clear vision of what I wanted, it was just a matter of having several studio sessions to get it all down. I loved the process of laying down the vocals in my own personalised green coloured vocal booth with an ornamental frog light-catcher. Just bringing in the rainforest vibes! What programs/instruments were used? Logic, with programmed synths and drums. Plus added live guitars and bass. How did the concept for the music video come about? My vison for the Endure music clip was to simply be walking along a forest trail and absorbing the energy of nature. I wanted to show the beauty, nature and love. And yes, there is a tree hug in there! The video is a powerful reminder that the simple things in life have never been more important and reflects on lost memories and intimate connections.  Where and when did you film and who did you work with? It was filmed in the The Cumberland State Forest, which was perfect for the forest trail walk, and to our surprise also the ideal spot for the filming of the drone shots. The way I connected with the Videographer John Mamutil was via Instagram, which was amazing, as we found out later that we actually already knew each other outside of Instagram. To work together on the Endure clip was the perfect collaboration for both of us. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the music video? I really enjoyed the editing side of things, and I loved the creative process of putting all of the footage together. To see the storyline come to life is very rewarding. But the challenging thing for me would be the grading part of it – though I got through it and am pretty happy with the whole outcome.  Who are you listening to at the moment?   So many different things – new and old. I made up my own Spotify playlist called ‘Random Friends and Finds’- which pretty much sums up who I love to listen to.  What do you like to do away from music? I love to Roller skate! That is my new thing to do either at the skate park or at the roller rink. I am a visual artist and have a fashion label called Luvlok too. I have shown my art in solo and group exhibitions in Sydney and the ACT, and my paintings were recently featured on the ABC TV series Black Comedy. My fashion label Luvlok, is very Artisan style having a focus on one-of-a-kind garments made with natural hand painted fabrics. I have been blessed to have had these featured in US fashion magazines, Elegant Magazine, SALYSE, and Prolific.  Any gigs coming up? Not at the moment, but in 2021 – I hope so…. readers - feel free to follow my Instagram account to keep yourself in the loop. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? It’s almost Christmas Partae peeps, so celebrating is on the cards. And for 2021 – Recover, continue writing and reconnect with family after this crazy year that we all have had. And I have a whole library of songs that are just bursting to be released into the world. So, keep tuned. Favourite food and place to hang out? Formaggi Ocello in Surry Hills, Sydney - that would be my fav. You really need to experience their ‘Cheese and Wine’ nights. In summer, my perfect hang would be somewhere with a pool, palm trees, and a cocktail bar…. either by the beach or nestled somewhere in the Aussie bushland.

Mia Lovelock

What is your name and role within Big Orange? Daniel. Songwriter Where are you currently based? Western suburbs of Perth Congratulations on the new album, 'An Ode To Odious'! How does the record sit with you guys as a band, now it's finally out and released?   Thank you. While others enjoy the album it's good for us to be able to sort of forget about it and move onto something new. We went back to the studio the week it was released.  Would you say the approach to songwriting/arranging differed much during the creative process of this album? (If so, how?) No, it’s the same process where I bring complete songs demoed to the band and we work out how to play them.  I work in my music room every day and play until something comes out of nowhere and then I go to work on that. I usually try to make sure the framework and structure of the song is in place i.e. arrangement, melody, lyrics before I start work on the production side. Though sometimes i'm a little eager to see what it'll sound like with bells and whistles. (I put bells and whistles on all my songs).  What was something you learned about the way Big Orange works together, over the course of making 'An Ode To Odious'? Well Jamie our drummer is a fairly new addition and our first time with him in the studio so it's all been learning really.  Were you particularly inspired by any sounds or records going into making this album? I haven’t been listening to a lot of music over the last few years because I don’t wanna get too influenced by it or rip off a song or something. Especially when I’m working on stuff and I’m always working on stuff. But there are lots of influences on the album. If 'An Ode To Odious' was THE album for newcomers to Big Orange's sounds, what tracks would you recommend they listen to first to get a good scope of the type of band you are, and why?   Our sound is pretty all over the place so it’s hard to give an idea of what type of band we are but maybe I Wanna Know and Goodnight Kiss Vampire Bite because it displays some of the variety in our styles going from rock to a more piano based pop song. The band is WA-based; how have you found the vibe has been for live music and rallying together in the time of COVID? I don’t think there has been much to worry about really over here in Western Australia and from what I can tell a lot of bands have been doin fine in terms of gigs. We haven’t played much this year, have spent more time recording and working on new material, so I can’t really speak for the vibe. What is exciting you about returning to live touring in 2021? Touring is always a good, 2021 will be no different I'm sure other than we will have a record out that hopefully people know and love.  https://www.facebook.com/bigorangetheband/

Big Orange

Bachir Salloum

BACHIR SALLOUM 

Nandun

What is your name and role within VINNY? Mr Aubry - I play the role as the singer Where are you currently based? Melbourne, Australia.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? Not a lot, sitting poolside sipping martini’s. Laying low trying to bliss out in the sun. Iso was amazing! We aren’t ready to go back yet.  How did VINNY form? We were deep in a session at an underground disco church. When out of nowhere a 7 foot gorgeous man laced in a tailor disco ball suit approached us and offered us the job. We then spent 4 years at a secret Island in VIN-CAMP learning all the ways of VINNY. Once graduating from VIN-CAMP we were placed back at the same underground disco church which is now a Chinese take-away restaurant and we’ve been following the way of VINNY ever since.  Your new single 'Fire' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?  We wanted a dance floor banger. Something that makes you want to move and feel good. At the time we were listening to a lot of 70’s disco and rock n roll. From Janis Ian, Barry white & Rick James to INXS, stones & The Clash.  the song by sunrise.” How did Fire come about? We had this groove and feeling in our bones. We were lying poolside sipping pina coladas, watching the sun go down when out of nowhere, a topless, coconut-oiled man walked past us down to the beach playing his saxophone, shooting fire out of the bell (thus the name, ‘Fire’). We befriended him and asked if he would come into the studio that night to help us finish off the track. We worked throughout the night and finished the song by sunrise. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with? We recorded Fire in a secluded island off the Bahamas! We worked with Alex Markwell & Alex Gopher. Massive love to the whole team   How did you approach the recording process? We just went in and got it done. Good vibes, good food & booze. A very relaxing and exciting experience.  What programs/instruments did you use? This is private information we are not allowed to dispose of. Thank you.  What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Fire? Most rewarding was spending a month on a secluded island with 6 of my best friends. Most challenging was spending a month on a secluded island with 6 of my best friends.  Any shows coming up? Nothing as of yet. Will be a while before we play our debut show. Which let me tell you. Will be like nothing you’ve ever seen before.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Barry White. Too much Barry White. Not enough Barry White.  What do you like to do away from music? Go on river boat gambling trips.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Coming out of 2020 with a bang. Lots of things in the works. 2021 we go into movement for world domination. The future looks bright ahead.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Ramen for me atm.  I loveeee hanging out at our dear friends new venue WESTWOOD in footscray. It’s a belter of a joint. Just don’t forget your passport!  Adios, bye for now, thank you, love you, VINNY bless you all  https://www.facebook.com/VINNYDISCO/

VINNY

Dust Of Us

Dust Of Us

Motorsports champion Christian Meyer joins Levop to deliver a joyful sunshine jam on his musical debut ‘Sacala Al Sol’ with stunning music video

Motorsports champion Christian Meyer joins Levop to deliver a joyful sunshine jam on his musical debut ‘Sacala Al Sol’ with stunning music video

Karen Lee Batten

Karen Lee Batten

Where are you currently based? Sydney How did you first start playing music? My earliest memory was listening to the Amy Winehouse album (Back To Black) at my grandparents house, they had a piano and I decided to learn how to play the song by ear. I have always loved music but that really was a definitive moment on why I wanted to start playing music.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? I just finished up on this year's season of AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, and jumped straight into the studio. Covid has given me a lot of time to think and feel to write my music so it has been good in that aspect. I just released my debut ‘More Than I’  Your new single 'More Than I' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Writing "More Than I" I wanted the single to be Cinematic, Dark & Emotional. 'THE HUNGER GAMES' X 'BILLIE EILISH' X FLORENCE & THE MACHINE'  How did you go about writing More Than I? I have had this song written for a few years now, it wasn’t until I got back from LA and had to quarantine that I spent time at the piano and put the music together for the song!  What does this single mean to you? The song is very personal to me. I wrote it about a time in my life where I came out to the world as myself. There is this very silent moment between coming out and waiting for the other end to respond. For me this song is reflective of that moment and the build up to having the courage to be my truth.  Please tell us about any new music on the way and what we can expect: The music that I’m recording and creating now are even more personal, they deep dive more into more obvious moments in my life, moments that I believe the audience will connect to a lot more. With ‘More Than I’ it was really the epic movie trailer music that just like a movie trailer gives you the sneak peak, in the most epic style, of what is yet to come in the all new music coming soon. What was your experience like being involved in America's Got Talent and The Voice, how do the two experiences compare? Well look, I’m so grateful for both. The Voice was very difficult for me, I was learning and growing to be the person that I am in the two seasons of the voice that I was on. There were a lot of great moments and moments I wish I could re-do but in saying that I was able to experiment with my fashion, my voice and how I wanted to present myself.  AGT was a TV giant, but I was prepared, although I was still nervous, I was very confident in myself and my talent. I was not expecting to get 30 Million views on my audition in the first week. Like I said AGT was just GIANT haha!  What did you learn from the experience of being on both? From the aspect of both shows, the biggest thing I learnt was that originality over predictability is key. Authenticity and truth is always the golden ticket and trusting in who you are and not doubting yourself is so important but listening and taking on critique is just as important!  What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the experience of being on both shows? The hardest part really is that it is TV and everything is uncertain till the second you're actually singing. Things change and being a performer who has always been a perfection, AGT and the voice have really pushed me to work fast, work smart, think creatively and always out of the box.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Billie Eillish always but right now, Catie Turner from American Idol. Genuinely obsessed.  What do you like to do away from music? Fashion, I love to design and make. For me, the creative and the visual aesthetic is almost if not just as important as the music. I’m a very visual person and the outfit that I’m performing in can be the cherry that makes the performance. Just like a song written uses metaphors to tell the story I use my art to tell the story. I’m always working on something new.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? WRITING WRITING RELEASING! Favourite food and place to hangout? I love art galleries, I can walk around all day haha. Sushi is always my go to meal, I had it three times yesterday.. it's ridiculous haha.  SHELDON RILEY INSTAGRAM https://www.facebook.com/thesheldonriley

Sheldon Riley

Andrew Pololos

Andrew Pololos

What is your name and role within Seabass? My name is Annie, I sing, write all the songs and play guitar in SEABASS (as well as managed the band up until recently. We also have some answers peppered in from Ryan (guitar and makes all our records) Where are you currently based? Annie: We are TRAPPED in Adelaide. Nah, its pretty cool. How did Seabass form? Annie: myself, Kyrie and Flik were asked to play with Pussy Riot as their band in 2019… We thought after wed had a taste of the big stage together blasting through huge Ampeg bass rigs and Fender twins we better keep on going. Myself and Ryan had been playing together in another project so I brought us all together a few months after that! (Are Russian activist session musicians a thing? Apparently yes. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Annie: We’ve been working pretty hard on the release of our single ‘Burn’ as well as getting all our ducks in a row for our launch of our debut EP.  Ryan: Yeah, COVID has been disappointing but it gave us time to make the EP. Your new single 'Burn' from your forthcoming debut EP 'Always Kidding' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for Burn and the EP? Annie: Burn pretty much just spilled out one morning… I was pretty wired about the mismanagement of last year’s bushfire season as well and one of the most outrageous acts of murder of an indigenous Australian at the hands of police. I was furious and desperate and so from that the song came. Ryan: Influence wise there’s some 90s rock in there. What does Burn mean to you? Annie: Burn is a call to arms, a plea to not become complacent or to turn away. Burn is me desperately asking if others can see what I’m seeing and needing to do something about it.  How did you go about writing the music for Burn and the EP? Annie: I have been sitting incubating some of these songs for a few years, some are definitely more recent. I just needed to figure out what they would be used for and how we would use them. They all started as fairly low-key kind of country inspired folk tunes but now (thanks to Ryan, Kyrie and Flik) they’re face melting indie-rock bangers. Where and when did you record and who with? Annie: We recorded everything at Ryan’s home studio which he has been operating out of semi-professionally for a little while. Ryan is responsible for recording, mixing and production. Ryan: Along with any production ideas the band had along the way. What can we expect from Always Kidding EP? Ryan: We tried to get as much of a picture of the band as we could in an EP format. Each of us has a fairly wide range of skills. Some tracks are concise rocky belters others do their own thing and play by their own rules. We tried to get as much of our usual set down as possible in EP format and polish it through some extra production. It’s a power packed morsel. Annie: In all honesty we’ve accidentally recorded an almost album… It’s a long EP or a short album. Extended extended play. What programs/instruments did you use? Ryan: Annie drafts her ideas up on Logic Pro then I record and mix on Pro Tools. It’s a pretty sanded rock config with two guitars, bass, drums and a bunch of BVs behind Annie’s huge vocals. How did you approach the recording/production/mastering process? Annie: We tracked everything at Ryan’s studio. I was pretty depressed at the time so I mostly just tracked when I was asked to and the rest of the time I just played Civilisation V whilst spilling dip and crackers on Ryan’s bed. Ryan: We tracked some things completely separately and some stuff we tracked together. Vocals were done separately. Backing vocals were a riot because the band would all take turns at their part while taking turns lying down (This is what happens when you’re mixing console is in your bedroom). Annie and I had a feedback session where we boarded up the door of the studio and cranked our amps and grabbed an entire take of obnoxious noise over the whole EP - then I grabbed parts that sounded cool and mixed them in. Annie: For some reason now Ryan no longer lives with those people…  Who are you listening to at the moment? Annie: Well… Obviously Phoebe Bridgers and Fiona Apple… Oh and WAP on repeat… Honestly, if I can have a day where I hear WAP five times in a row, that’s a good day. Ryan: Phoebe Bridgers and The BeeGees. What do you like to do away from music? Annie: I like gardening… I dabble in PlayStation, I’ve been playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and I finished the remastered Tony Hawk as well a while back. Ryan: Nintendo Switch - Zelda and Mario Party with my housemates. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Annie: Crossing my fingers that we might be able to play a show in real life again soon and dropping the EP early next year. Ryan: I’m going to finish putting together my new studio space and wait for the apocalypse to blow over.  When will the EP drop? Annie: I think you’re like the second people we’ve told but February 17, 2021 and HOPEFULLY we get to have a launch show in Adelaide the week after that at Jive but stay tuned.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Annie: Oh man, theres this spicy nut mix thing at my supermarket that I think I’ve eaten like 20kg of over the past few months. Ummm vegan Magnums. I like hanging out at Ryans house.  Ryan: Party pies and my studio. 

Seabass

What is your name and role within The Bonnie Doons? Kane Kennedy. I produce the music and manage the band. Torian Brewer and I write and record the tracks. Where are you currently based? Based in Brisbane, Australia. How did the Bonnie Doons form? We officially formed the band in mid-2017. Benny Blacket (former lead singer) and I started the project. We met at college in 2014 and began jamming, writing the skeleton for our first song ‘Swing’ back in 2015 which features on our first EP. Torian was on guitar when the band first formed, Benny then moved down to Sydney and T-dawg stepped up on the mic. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? Recently we haven’t been doing any live things, just been focussing on promoting this EP and gearing up for some future shows. Your sophomore EP 'The Betweeners' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? This EP was heavily influenced by the 90’s. That was both Torian and I’s favourite era for entertainment as a whole and so I think naturally it came together in that style. The EP speaks about making better decisions through talk of relationships mostly. A compilation of our own personal experiences was what influenced the songwriting. How did the EP come about? Well I mean we were always going to make more music; it came naturally. The musical approach was slightly different though, given we changed the vibe up for Torian’s vocals. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with? We recorded this through late 2019, all over the place really. I did the drums and rhythm guitars at Alchemix Studios in Brisbane, then did the lead guitars, bass, and vocals at home. We even used some takes from our demo sessions, out in a cabin in the woods style. It was a bit of a Frankenstein project. I produced it and sent it all over to Aria-Award winning Govinda Doyle (Angus and Julia Stone) for the mixing and mastering process. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the EP? Most challenging for me was the general learning curve of producing music, especially in a genre I’d never really done before. I’m no professional, it’s still early days. It was a fun challenge. The next chunk of music will be quite a different direction again. We’re just trying a few things out for now. The most rewarding thing is when the people that you respect express to you how much they love it. And I mean, most friends are going to tell you they love it – whether they do or not. But we got some genuine responses, and it was delightful. What programs/instruments did you use to record? Half of it was recorded in Ableton and half was done in Pro Tools. Probably the two most common DAWs. Instruments; drums, guitars, bass, keyboard, triangle, rainstick, shakers. Who are you listening to at the moment? In the last week I’ve been listening to some early King’s of Leon, Che Burns’ new EP, Kurilpa Reach’s new EP and some Sublime. What do you like to do away from music? The normal things; friends and family, make food, glass of red, exercise, soccer. I recently have taken time away from my engineering job, following up a few personal, musical, and entrepreneurial pursuits. Hoping I can break free from the 9-5. Any shows coming up? Yeah we’ll be launching this EP in January 2021 – 16th of Jan at Solbar Sunshine Coast, and 23rd of Jan at The Zoo in Brisbane. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Relax, jam, enjoy the shows we have coming. Then see what happens. Favourite food and place to hangout? Torian started working at Mongrel Bar in Milton a couple months ago and it has become the new spot I think. It’s gotten me into Peruvian style food – the chef there is a serious pro (he owns the venue). It’s also a great location and atmosphere.

The Bonnie Doons

Hi Jori, and welcome to The Partae Hi! Great to be here. Where are you currently based and where were you born? I’m in Portugal now, in a quiet little village South of Lisbon, not too far from the ocean. Originally I’m from Utrecht, in The Netherlands. How did you first get into the music industry and what other projects have you been involved in before COLLIGNON? My father taught me how to play the piano at a young age, and as soon as I could I started playing in bands. I never went to music school, but always wanted to travel around in a bus with a group of friends and play shows. And so that’s what we did, for many years. I was in a couple of different bands, always writing, recording, producing. My last group was SKIP&DIE, a collaboration with Cata.Pirata, a singer and visual artist from South Africa. Who were your biggest musical influences growing up? I remember many days lying on a pillow in front of my dads record collection. I always loved artists that somehow take you traveling. Like Ry Cooder, or David Byrne, Eno. I was going from The Meters to Philip Glass, and a bit later also Damon Albarn, Manu Chao, Beck, Beastie Boys..  Can you talk to us about your new project COLLIGNON and the vision behind it? COLLIGNON is a solo project, but also a vehicle for me to work with different artists. I will do collaborations, set up my studio in another part of the world and launch projects from there. Having this flexibility is very motivating. Since I stopped touring I had some time to reflect on which experiences I loved most from playing with my previous bands. The memories of gigs and festivals that stuck were usually not the biggest crowds, but the ones where we could really connect and have fun with the people there. For me it’s really important, especially in electronic music, that we can really play on stage, interact, improvise, make a mess, make something happen. I love electronic music, but there are some challenges for me. Pressing a button is really a different thing from touching a string, or singing for that matter. There needs to be some character and personality. With modern production you can make everything so perfect and shiny that you might lose feeling, or essence. I think in our times that kind of conflict translates well into many other areas.. Anyway, it’s fascinating to me and I’m trying to walk that line. COLLIGNON’s debut EP ‘Pontcha ku Lua’ will be released at the end of November. What influenced the sound and songwriting for this project? I really wanted to make an instrumental record first. Nobody telling you nothing, just sounds and music to let your mind float.  Moving to Portugal also had a big influence. Especially Lisbon has a rich and diverse cultural scene. There is music from Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guine Bissau, all the countries Portugal has historic connections with. There is a lot of new music here for me to dive into. How did you approach the recording/production? When I stopped touring, I built a studio in the garage next to my house and started working from there. This first EP is the result of me being able to develop my own sound in this studio. I used to be working on my laptop in the back of the bus, so to speak, now I have a nice room, some nice microphones and a cool mixingdesk. Some of the tracks are collaborations. I work a lot with Gino Bombrini for example, the percussionist of my previous group SKIP&DIE, he plays all the instruments I can’t play, so that’s real handy. We jam and explore, then I take some time to edit things together. What programs/instruments did you use? I use some drummachines, the Machinedrum and Analog Rytm and also the Octatrack from Elektron to start ideas. I have them all patched to different tracks on the mixer and can send them to different speakers or effects. I have some guitar amps and a leslie, some springverbs, things like that. I found this Revox D36 taperecorder from the 60 that I really like for compression and saturation. I have some old synths, MS20, Jupiter 6, a Voyager, Rhodes, piano and a small modular setup too. On the computer I work mostly in Cubase now. How much has international travel had an influence on your songwriting over the course of your career? Traveling and seeing the spectacular diversity in the world made me humble about all these things you think you know and just take for granted. There is so much to explore and to be curious about. It triggered me to start fighting cultural homogenisation. I believe progress lies in diversity and the flirting, dancing and clashing of ideas. You’ve also made an amazing video to accompany the single. How did the concept for the video come about? Oh thank you, that’s nice! For a while I’ve been interested in video synthesizers. I have an old school one from Atari (the guys who built the original game Pong were always stoned apparently and dreamed up this machine), but there is a company now called LZX in Portland that builds really cool modules. I found the patterns and rhythms I could make with these machines work really well with the music. And it’s a lot of fun to do too. Which other artists are listening to at the moment? Oldies like Caetano Veloso, Holger Czukay, Thelonious Monk, Yusef Lateef, Kasai Alstars or Alain Peters, Nicola Cruz, Mauskovic Dance Band, Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force. What do you like to do away from music? We have a small campervan and love to drive down the Portuguese coast, but since this virus doesn’t allow us to move much, we’ve spent more time growing veggies and fruits in the garden. Feeding the chickens, reading, meditating, drinking coffee, there’s a lot of that these days. Thanks Jori, and all the best for the rest of the year, Same to you, thank you so much for the attention.

COLLIGNON

Josha Daniel

Josha Daniel

3LetterzNuk

3LetterzNuk

Where are you currently based? I am currently based in Auckland, New Zealand. How did you first start playing music? So I started playing music in High school when I started learning guitar with my best friend from then I continued to teach myself how to play whilst also writing terrible teen angst songs that had literally no substance to them at all haha, although my friend and I made this one song called C#ck Flavoured Lollipop one arvo and I gotta be real, it was a certified banger. Unfortunately no one will ever be able to hear it lol. Now I officially started producing when I was 22 my homie Hatch gave me a crack version of ableton live 8 and taught me the basics, and the rest is history. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Covid has actually been pretty good for me. Since the whole pandemic dropped I've had more time to focus on my music and write more songs with better production quality. It's also given me alot more incentive to pursue and achieve the goals I had sidelined up until now. So yeah all in all 2020 Covid for me? Easy. Your new single 'I Can't Even' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? So going into the making of this track I was bumping a lot of 80's R&B and disco eg. Evelyn Champagne King/Billy Ocean/ George Benson etc. Thus I had that whole vibe in my head when I went looking for key samples and also in creating the drums. How did you go about writing 'I Can't Even'? For the lyrical side of the song I had just come to the end of a pretty overwhelming relationship, I won't get too deep into details but let's just say the whole thing was bad enough for me to write a song about it. I think the best thing about this track and honestly my favourite thing about most of the tracks that I love listening to is that, it's heaviness is filtered through a bouncy groove that can really make you miss the darker theme if you're not paying attention to the lyrics. Although I will say its as heavy as I'm making out to be but still haha. Where and when did you record/produce and  who did you work with? So I originally produced, wrote and recorded the track in 2017 in my bedroom and ended up benching it for a few years until the start of this year when came I back to it and decided to completely rework the whole thing. Writing/Recording/Mixing was all me. But the mastering was done by Ben Feggans @ 301 he's an absolute legend. How did you approach the recording process? The same way I do with almost every track, I usually lay down the verses first which can take anywhere from 5 mins to a whole day depending on how on point I am. Then I'll lay down the hooks/choruses/adlibs either straight after or the next day. What programs/equipment did you use? My setup is super simple to be honest. For 'I Can't Even' and basically all of my tracks and beats etc. I work in Ableton on my laptop. And I recorded the vocals using a Rodes NT2A condenser mic connected to a focusrite solo audio interface, and I had a pair of 5 " JBL monitors for mixing. Who are you listening to at the moment? Well right now I'm bumping alot of D smoke's 'Black Habits' album and Logic's 'No Pressure' album and I've also had Pete & Bas in heavy rotation! If you're a hiphop head and haven't heard Lightwork Freestyle or Window Frame Cypher then you need to hand back your culture card... that's all I'm saying. What do you like to do away from music? When I'm not making music, I like to Cook/Game/Binge anime/Youtube and eat said cooking. All the good stuff you know. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? So for the backend of 2020 my plan is to keep writing and recording new music/music videos and hopefully get a couple super dope colabs finished, so that when 2021 makes it's way around I'll have a metric shit ton of content for all my fans and potential fans out there. Favourite food and place to hangout? Easy, Hong Ha IYKYK And if I was still in Sydney I'd have to say anywhere around the city circle ie. Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Broadway etc.  https://www.facebook.com/BanMicah/

Ban Micah

What's your name and role within The Grogans? I am Jordan and I am the drummer of The Grogans. Where are you currently based? I’m based at 22 Almurta Road, East Bentleigh. Pop in and say hi. How's your Covid experience been so far? Oh look it wasn’t too bad, it definitely has its pros and cons. Plenty of time to hang out with housemates, do some gardening and stuff but cons are that i can't really do anything else. Your last single before the album was released - 'Got a Girl' - is out now, how did this track come about? Quin and I were jamming, during the covid period and stumbled across it, built on it with Gus a few weeks later and then recorded. It’s a bit heavier but still poppier enough to a boog. Your new album Day/To/Day is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Ahh, I think we took a lot of influence from relaxed surfy rock like allah las, the pesos and heaps of 60s & 70s surf. Also recording the album in ocean grove added to the sound through it being so relaxing. How did you go about writing the album? I don’t think we ever sat down and said “let’s write this now”, they just all happened through jamming. We had a rough idea of what we wanted to do but never knew exactly how many tracks or what exactly those tracks would sound like.  Where and when did you record and who with? Ocean Grove, at the start of the year between isolations and with Quin, our guitarist/singer. How did you approach the recording process? We were trying to record it all at home, but just kept getting too hard because of work. So we just decided to lock ourselves away for a week to just get it done, otherwise we would have just kept adding stuff at home for months and never would have actually finished it.  What programs/equipment did you use? We did it all on Protools. I don’t actually know too much about Quins mics, he’s got a heap of gear. There's heaps of old vintage mics and shit. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Day/To/Day? I think maybe in Again and Teach Me when I did heaps of different drum takes in different places because I wasn’t too happy with the sound, then it was most rewarding to finally get that right take in Ocean Grove. Who are you listening to at the moment? Allah Las, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Amyl and the Sniffers, Adam Newling and Kylie Minogue   What do you like to do away from music? Either walking around the backyard hitting things with a stick, working, relaxing or just driving around. Real hectic life. Any shows coming up? Yes we have 8 sold out shows coming up in Melbourne, might add a few more too. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Just play some, ah, sit down shows. Will be a bit of a new experience, a bit interesting.  Hopefully next year play some stand up shows again, and maybe release some more music. We’ll see what happens.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Right now I’m really loving ravioli, I haven't had it in a while but it is really tasty. Because of the pandemic, my favourite place to hang out at the moment would have to be the front lawn in the sun. Official Website: https://www.thegrogansband.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrogansband/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegrogansband Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrogansband/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq6DVSu-SB4I8jFhGPln_sg Triple J Unearthed: https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/grogans

The Grogans

GEORGIA DUTTON

Georgia Dutton

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based in Sydney, Australia  How did you first get into music? When I was 7 years old I was listening to channel (V) used to be my favourite on a Saturday morning and I’d sing along to all the songs.  “I wish I was a punk rocker” by Sandi Thom had just finishing playing I started singing it and my family relative came out of the kitchen saying she loved the song but stopped when she realised it was me singing and not the TV.  She turn to my mum and said “you need to put her in singing lessons” my mum ended up working three jobs just to put me into singing lessons.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? The past couple of months have been pretty crazy for me prepping for my single release as well as writing new songs and coming up with concepts and ideas for music videos as well as other releases.  I remember when everything first started getting serious with COVID I felt so strange definitely deflated because there were certain plans that I had made that got put on hold.  Your house burnt down, please tell us how things have changed for you since: I tend to tell people that my house burning down in one of the best things that ever happened to me. They call me crazy of course but before my house burnt down I was not in a good place at all.  When I was 16 years old I was on The Voice Australia.  After being eliminated in the battle rounds I didn’t cope well at all.  I suffered from depression & anxiety for 4 years, I couldn’t keep a job, I couldn’t write any music, I didn’t even want to leave my bed.  That all changed when my house burnt down.  It wasn’t over night, I couldn’t just forget about all the things lost.  It was one of the hardest things I ever had to watch.  My mum and I lived in a homeless shelter for 4 weeks following the fire, it really opened my eyes. Your new single 'Top Spot' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I was working as a housekeeper when I wrote Top Spot, I remember the day like it was yesterday.  I remember being so tired whilst driving from one hotel to the next I was working a double shift and had been working crazy hours all week.  I knew why I was doing it I knew that the long hours, the sore feet it was only for one thing and that was so I was able to make music.  I started to think about all the crazy stuff people do to get where they want to be and started writing.  I wanted it to be relatable, quirky & new.  Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with? My producers name is Philippe-Marc Anquetil We have been working together ever since I was on the voice.  We recorded & mastered Top Spot in his Studio.   Top Spot was recorded in April this year.  How did you approach the recording process? I always like being prepared when heading into the studio.  I normally go in with 3-5 songs that I have recorded a demo to at home.  We listen to all of the song and make the decision, I was really nervous about Top Spot because it was unlike anything I had ever written before.  What does Top Spot mean to you? Top Spot reminds me of where I was when I wrote it and how far I have come in that time.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Post Malone for sure I love all of his stuff.  Saweetie is also on repeat SZA, Kiana Lede and Mali-Koa’s new album. What do you like to do away from music? My life pretty much just music if I’m not in the studio I’m usually thinking about going into the studio. I love food so cooking & baking when I get the chance.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I’m heading back into the studio over the next couple of weeks and starting to prep for my next release which will be early next year.  I’m hoping to be able to perform Top Spot live by the end of the year if not really early next year.  Favourite food and place to hangout? My favourite food is a pepperoni pizza for sure.  Favourite place to hang out would have to be my studio.  https://www.instagram.com/shyjanamusic https://m.facebook.com/shyjanamusic https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSq4UhNY https://twitter.com/officialshyjana https://www.shyjanamusic.com

SHYJANA

What is your name and role within Harves? My name is Matthew Wright and my role in Harves includes singing/songwriting, playing keys and panicking about things I don’t need to. Where are you currently based? Based in Melbourne, Australia. How did Harves form? Sam and I spent many years sending song files back and forth and loosely collaborating over the internet. Until mid-2020, we didn’t really have a clear vision for what we were attempting to do. Our first single (Do Your Worst) was placed in a film through our publishers, and that was really the catalyst for us getting our shit together. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? We’ve mostly been writing and preparing for our next release. Covid has certainly made things tougher for us. We’ve worked together in person only a handful of times this year, but in that time we’ve managed to launch the band, and finish and release 2 songs. We’re adapting I guess. Your new single 'The River' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Harves take influence from wherever we can. Between the two of us, our taste in music is incredibly broad. We don’t really make a conscious effort to sound any particular way. I think our music is a perfect blend of everything we like, and the River is a great representation of that. How did you go about writing The River? Sam sent through the instrumental idea about a year ago and the vocal came to me almost instantly. It was one of those songs that takes on a life of their own. Apart from some changes the chorus, nearly everything was written within a couple of hours. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with? We record and produce our own songs. Sam is also Produces/Mixes/Masters by trade. Harves are a pretty self-sufficient unit.  How did you approach the recording process? Due to Covid, The River was recorded entirely from our respective houses. I did the vocals in my bedroom and Sam took care of mostly everything else in his home studio. What does The River mean to you? The River is a metaphor for the place that my mind goes when I create music. It can be a really dark and often lonely place, but coming out the other end is almost always worth it. Who are you listening to at the moment? Right this very second I’m listening to John Coltrane. Also been giving the new HEALTH record a lot of love. We’re both massive fans of nearly everything they do.  What do you like to do away from music? We’re both pretty avid gamers. I’d say we’re nearly as passionate about video games as we are about music. We draw a lot of inspiration from that world. Writing for video game soundtracks is a big goal for us. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? We’ll be spending the rest of the year writing and preparing for our next release. We’re still undecided on what that release will be, but time will tell. Now that Covid restrictions are easing, we’ll no doubt start looking into playing some shows. Favourite food and place to hangout? Honestly, my favourite place to hang out is in the comfort of my own home. I’m a bit agoraphobic, so the thought of going out makes me kinda anxious these days. My favourite food is dill pickles - I could (and often do) eat them all day, every day. https://www.facebook.com/harvesmusic

Harves

Where are you currently based? I currently live in Adelaide near the water! How did you first start playing music? I started playing music when I was 16ish I actually just decided to dust off my brothers old guitar and look up some YouTube tutorials on how to play songs I liked at the time. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? I’ve just finally released the EP 'Coping Mechanisms' via Dew Process which I’m super happy to be able to share. Covid has obviously impacted music and arts this year but personally it hasn’t been too bad for me.  I’ve enjoyed a bit of down time. The one thing I miss the most is playing live and touring so I’m looking forward to potentially getting back at it and doing that in the somewhat near future. Fingers crossed!  How did you go about writing Coping Mechanisms and what does this EP mean to you? I wrote the EP across 2018 and 2019. I think this EP to me is finding hope in darker times and strength in small things even when it feels impossible. Where and when did you record/produce EP? Who did you work with? I recorded the EP towards the end of 2019 in Melbourne’s Shed Studios with John Castle. Other collaborators I worked closely with on this EP are my great friends Benjamin Tamblyn and Mario Spate, as well as writing with Joel Quartmaine & Konny Kersting.   What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the process?  I think the challenge wasn’t so much the creation and writing of the music but persevering through personal issues while trying to remain creatively energised and enthused. Completing the EP and more so releasing it has been the rewarding part and seeing how it has resonated with others. Any live shows coming up? December 11th in Adelaide at JIVE I’ll be playing my first headline show of the year and I’m over the moon about it. What do you like to do away from music? Cooking, crafting, walking my doggo, binging tv series and seeing my fam and friends. 

MANE

Hot Donnas

Hot Donnas

Where are you currently based? Somewhere in Wellington, well, right now at work, but you'll find me usually in my "office-turned-apartment" building in a rectangular room creating silly symphonies with whatever I have How did you first start playing music? If I knew, I'd tell you, but honestly for as long as I can remember I've just known how to play guitar and have always just loved music, I think I started writing when I was about 13, but again, it all gets blurry. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? I've just been prepping for this debut LP, though most of the work is done now and I've gotten more of a chance to start working on the second. My Covid experience has actually been great! When we went into lockdown here I had everything set up to record the whole thing, no distractions, just me and the studio for a few weeks, then by the time it was over me and the band we're ready to start playing, so I think I may have been one of the lucky few who managed to keep super occupied during these crazy f*cking times. How did Voodoo Bloo come about? I looked at a vape juice bottle. It spoke to me. I listened and carried out its wishes. Your new single 'Ha Ha Ok' is out now from your forthcoming debut album 'Jacobus', what influenced the sound and songwriting for Ha Ha Ok and the album as a whole? Ha Ha is a bit of a black sheep, in the sense that it's influence does not stem from the same place as the rest of the LP, but I'd say it definitely still had some of the same bands I liked the sound of come into its creation, I like to specifically think of it as a marriage between early "Arctic Monkeys" and "Psychedelic Porn Crumpets" for it's punk yet kinda groovy sound, but that's just me. How did you go about writing the music for your album Jacobus? A lot of it started from lyrics I wrote while I was in Japan, everything sort of just spiralled out of nowhere in a very short amount of time, as I'd been documenting things I saw every day on my notes, and then when my friend passed while I was over there, I realised that I'd captured a single moment in my life before it even happened. Written down where I was, what I was up to, all the calm before the storm was there, then when I came home all I had to do was navigate the storm and to turn it into something really personal to me. Some of the actual songs were written before, or at least the tunes of them, then I just had to piece them all together, it was a jigsaw where every piece just fell into place with ease. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with? Jacobus was recorded at my house in the suburbs of Wellington, probably around April of this year. We spent a long time working on the production and sound of the album afterwards, but finally we ended up going with Scott Seabright, Ryan Smith, and Gregory Haver for Mixing, Mastering, and Mix advising respectively. How did you approach the recording process? This is a mixed bag, I think due to the fact that we had to record, re-record, and touch bits up so many times, but ultimately I just spent hours and hours in lockdown getting it to sound exactly how I wanted it. Some of the songs were prepped before I went in, others I had to figure out while in the studio, but for any time I sung or recorded a song that was about my mate (which is a majority of this project) I usually couldn't stay in there for long as I just got overwhelmed by everything I felt towards him. It was cathartic yet painful, lovely yet bitter, yet it came out in a way that I could never have even dreamed for, it was the perfect send-off for a friend. What programs/instruments did you use? For the most part, it's your standard 2 guitar, 1 bass, drums and vocals type deal, though I did chuck some synths and other cool trickery in the mix, some of which was done by the lovely production crew, but I'm still waiting for people to pick up on the theremin sample I used. It's out there already, go look for it! What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Jacobus? Singing "A Brother, A Son, A War that never changes" and "A Friend, Jacobus". I did the 11 minute trek in one take, and once it was over, I couldn't bring myself to do it again. I showed my friends the takes because I wasn't sure if my emotions came off as overdramatic, but they said it felt pure and honest, and ultimately I agreed, and there it sits as my dark and beautiful achievement. When will you be releasing Jacobus? December 4th, anywhere and everywhere, I think. Maybe not in starbucks or something? Though I reckon that'd be pretty cool.  Actually nah, Taco Bell, hit me up if you want these sweet tunes in your store exclusively. You make the pure hangover food I desire every Sunday. You know where to find me. Can you give us an idea of what to expect from Jacobus? No, but I can tell you how I'd like you to listen to it. 1. Lay down on your bed in your room with the lights off 2. Play the album 3. Return out into the light to a room full of friends.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I'd like to spend the remainder of 2020 forgetting about 2020, and for my 2021 to be renamed to 2020. Any shows coming up? We actually have a charity show coming up in our hometown with Miss June and Curlys Jewels, two of my favorite bands from the country, and all of the proceeds will be going to Lifeline Aotearoa, an organisation who help out heaps of kiwis daily struggling with mental health issues. It'll be an awesome night for an awesome cause. Who are you listening to at the moment? King Gizzard's new LP, King Gizzards old LP (Eyes Like The Sky, to be specific), and a whole bunch of midwest emo (with a little car seat headrest too). I'm a sucker for some dude with an acoustic guitar talking about relationship issues from illinois. What do you like to do away from music? Um. You've got me. But nah seriously, just chilling with friends, oh and I love pinball, like I have a serious addiction to the sh*t. You'll find me on my computer or down at my local coffee shop just, well, playing pinball. Favourite food and place to hangout? The food at the Coffee Shop I go to.

Voodoo Bloo

Where are you currently based? I am currently based in London, United Kingdom. How did you first first start playing music? I started spinning since I was 16 years old, from bday parties to house parties and then in clubs. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? I kinda see the lockdown as a personal isolation and time to invest in myself, even thou to have to opportunity to keep learning and experiment more with my sound. Though times for everyone but we are all in this together, so we gotta stay positive. We already wasted so much time on negative things. Please tell us about your thoughts of the importance of artist mental health awareness: I am glad this year the theme of mental illness got back up again. From an artist's point of view is kinda extreme in a sense of appreciation. We have to deal on a daily basis with rewards, rejections, opportunities, nights without sleep, expand our network and abandon the old paradigm we have been living through now. As an artist, how has Covid impacted your mental health? Honestly it is the best/worst time of my life. Like mentioned in the previous question but again it is part of the journey to shine as a musician. At the end of the day no one can kill creative souls who have been hidden in the abyss of modern society. You have a series on YouTube called 'Donut Dating' what is the concept and how did this series come about? Well, I love donuts and I love beautiful creature such as women. That serie is about self improvement I have been and I am still experiencing. My goal is at least to help/inspire someone out there who is in the same situation. How has Donut Dating been going so far? The real success of Donut Dating is to be happy by yourself in the first place in order to make your partner/partners happy. It is a value you add to your life. Who are you listening to at the moment? I am currently listening to 80s music, some goth such as The Cure, The Mission, Fields of the Nephilim. I swing from the classics Liszt/Beethoven to Motley Crue and Cradle of Filth. What programs/equipment do you like to work with when playing live and recording: I use FL Studio for production and I perform with cdjs 2000 (classic club setup) What do you like to do away from music? I eat donuts (obviously haha), I started skateboarding since I was 10 years old, I brainstorm a lot to find new ideas to finalise my creative process and I read at least 2 books a week. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? My team and I are working hard to make 2021 such a fire year. We are amplifying what was left from 2020. American tour for sure, we finalising the Asian one, getting few contacts with Australia and New Zealand. We are literally about to conquer the globe. Shoutout to my lovely team: Gabriele, Arianna, Krystle and Kayla, Julian, Boogie (Hillyhd), Dennis and Naushad. Favourite food and place to hangout? Favourite place to hangout and food? I think you have the answer already hahah (DUNKIN DONUTS MUHAHAH)

Earl The Kid

Where are you currently based? I currently live in the Gold Coast.   How did you first start playing music? I’ve literally been playing for my whole life. My family was really involved in Country music competitions when I was growing up, and I started competing when I was 3. My mum is a music teacher, so I was pretty lucky that I got to grow up learning how to play different instruments and always being surrounded by music.   What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Honestly Covid has been pretty lonely! I was definitely lucky because I never lost my job and I wasn’t as hugely impacted as I know a lot of other people have been so I am grateful for that, but I had only just moved to the Gold Coast about 2 months before everywhere started to shut down. I didn’t know anyone here before I moved, so when the restrictions started being implemented I spent a lot of time by myself, which was pretty tough. Recently though, things have been going really well! I’ve started gigging more which has been awesome, and I’ve been able to spend a lot more time working on my music as well which I’m loving. And with more restrictions being lifted all the time, it’s been really great finally being able to see more of the Gold Coast.   Your latest single 'Cut My Nails' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I feel like the emotion behind the song is what influenced the sound. I was writing about a really dark and heavy period of my life, and I think the track is very reflective of that; it gives off this kind of sinister and unstable vibe, which is definitely how I was feeling during the time that I was writing about.   How did you go about writing Cut My Nails? It was actually kind of a hard song to start. My co-writer/producer (Parker Rose)  and I were playing around with a couple of different ideas when I randomly said that I needed to cut my nails, and we kind of just decided it would be a cool lyric and then sat on it for a while before we decided to run with it. It was such a fun song to write though - super experimental which is always exciting, and it was also just really therapeutic. I feel like once we got in the zone, the whole song came together really easily as far as writing it goes.   Where and when did you record/produce? Cut My Nails was Written and Produced at Parkers old studio on the Gold Coast   Please tell us about your connection to the LGBTQI community: After I came out and had to move out of home, I didn’t feel like there were a lot of people in my life that I could really connect with about what I was going through, which was really isolating. Being apart of the LGBTQI community and meeting people with similar experiences to me and being able to celebrate who I am and my sexuality instead of wishing I could change it was so important. Going to Pride festivals and drag shows and meeting people who knew what I was going through and had come out the other side played such a huge role in me accepting myself and getting myself through one of the darkest periods of my life. I really feel so lucky to be apart of such an amazing community that celebrates love and individuality and self expression so intensely. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I just finished my third single as Cut My Nails was being released so that will be coming out soon! I’m also working on releasing an EP in 2021 so that’s something pretty exciting to look forward to!   Who are you listening to at the moment? I have a few of my all time favourites like Billie Eilish, Benee and Jessie Reyez. Right now though, I really love Alexander 23, FLETCHER and G Flip.   What do you like to do away from music? I love dancing (although I’m really not very good at it, but I don’t mind). I also really like cooking, and I love hanging out with my friends.   What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I just finished my third single as Cut My Nails was being released so that will be coming out soon! I’m also working on releasing an EP in 2021 so that’s something pretty exciting to look forward to!   Favourite food and place to hangout? I absolutely love sushi, it’s easily one of my favourite foods. Either that or strawberry pierogi. My stepmum used to make them for me when I was younger, I’m obsessed with them! As for my favourite place to hangout, I love taking my dog to the beach or going out somewhere with live music. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/its.talia.rose/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/its.talia.rose

Talia Rose

Where are you currently based? I am living/working in Melbourne, whereas Thijs has moved back to Utrecht in the Netherlands!    How did you first start playing music? My dad plays guitar, and so I had always taken an interest in watching him play music when I was a child. I think when my friends started playing guitar in about year 7 or 8 (Age 13-14?) that really motivated me to pick it up and try to play though! At one point I started learning from a book to read proper music notation etc, but then guitar tabs appeared that let me learn to play ‘Scar Tissue’ from RHCP, and then I was done with learning properly! Sort of regrettable in hindsight not to learn more music theory, but once I could play the songs I loved I just couldn’t be bothered learning the ‘proper’ way. I do often think that my lack of formal musical knowledge allows me to think outside the box a bit though in terms of song writing, without being bounded by what ‘should’ follow a certain chord etc. But it also limits me, which is why working with a classically trained musician (Thijs) worked so well for our songs, I could have the crazy idea, and then he would be able to add really clever additions to the chords/progressions to tie it all together! ☺    What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? I have been super busy with my work in science and also promoting our album! My Covid experience has been very fortunate compared to a lot of people, as I have maintained my employment throughout the entire lockdown in Melbourne. I was able to work from home for many weeks and then get back into the lab occasionally as well because medical research is an essential service. Although working from home was great for a while, I think being able to go back into the workplace was really good for me, and I feel very lucky for it. It was tough not being able to see my parents for around 6 months, as they were outside the ‘ring of steel’, but we have seen each other again now and it was just awesome to get back and say G’day! ☺    Your new album 'Yours to Lend' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? There are a huge amount of different influences on this album, as is demonstrated by the range of different sounds within the 10 tracks. The sounds on our album range through rock music like ‘Storm’ to piano ballads like ‘Dork’ and acoustic guitar/harmonica sounds like ‘Rory’. The influences behind all those sounds are so varied it’s hard to describe, but I guess for me personally, my strongest influences are probably as follows: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus (I love the percussive vocal lines in both of these bands, and I often try to include percussive vocal sections in our songs), Ben Harper, Neil Young, and basically anything that makes me feel emotions! I think I can speak on Thijs’s behalf to say his largest influence as a pianist/keyboard player is definitely Supertramp.   How did you go about writing the music? For 9 out of the 10 tracks I had lyrics/chord structures written already in an acoustic form, and I would bring these ideas in to work with me where we would find a quiet room and start putting piano lines to them. But as the songs developed the piano would quickly become the driving force behind the songs, and I would then really reduce the amount of guitar I was playing to a minimal amount to leave room for Thijs’s beautiful piano lines ☺ As a guitarist who has played in guitar heavy punk/rock bands before, it was a really fun experience actually to play in a very minimalistic way, just trying to compliment the piano and vocals. For the song ‘Storm’ our roles were switched…Thijs came in with the whole chord structure on piano and initial lyrics, and we jammed to it, I added some guitar and played around with the lyrics/vocal style until we had what you hear on the album ☺    Where and when did you record/produce? We recorded the whole album with Steve Vertigan at Soggy Dog Recording Studios in Upwey. I have worked with Steve before on some other recordings and I knew he has a great ear for mixing, and vast musical knowledge to draw from during the recording process. The bulk of the recording was done across 2 days in March 2019, where the session musicians Jason Vorherr and Peter Maslen were present to record the bass and drums. Once the ‘skeleton’ of the tracks were down, we raced to get Thijs’s piano/harmonica and backing vocals down before he had to leave for the Netherlands in about May! After that, I basically went back into the studio once a month or so to add in my parts and work on the mixing with Steve. I also had around 7 weeks overseas in the middle of 2019 where I could listen back to the mixes and come back with fresh ears. The final mixes were sent off for mastering with Ross Cockle from Sing Sing Studios in about March 2020, so it really was an album recorded across an entire year! ☺ Although an unusual process, I love writing/recording and it was really great to have a creative project going along on the side whilst I continued working in science.    How did you approach the recording process? I like to approach recording with an open mind to the fact that the songs might take on completely new forms during recording. It’s actually what I love most…the spontaneous things that arise in the studio, whether it’s a little guitar line or a particular take of the vocals, I just love it when you can drive away from the studio listening back to something that didn’t even exist when you drove there in the morning! ☺    What programs/equipment did you use? I have no idea! (Steve?)   What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the album? Most challenging was probably holding back from rushing the recording. After almost a year of recording/mixing there’s a real desire to get the music out and show it to people, but I really tried to hold on until the music was absolutely finished and mastered before I showed it to most people. I really wanted an end product that I was completely happy with, and it was totally worth the wait in the end, so I guess that is the most rewarding part…there really isn’t anything on the album that I listen to and go ‘Oh no! What were we thinking! Why didn’t we change that bit?’ Which has always been my previous experience with more rushed recordings. Who are you listening to at the moment? Spotify tells me that recently I’ve been switching mainly between Thundercat, Bad Mother Nature, Jackson Browne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, John Frusciante, Karnivool and Queens Of The Stone Age.   What do you like to do away from music? I’m a mad scientist in most of my hours away from music. I actually really enjoy my work and particularly microscopy. I get to make time-lapse microscopy images of immune cells attacking their target cells and it’s just an incredible thing to visualise. I have a lot of fun and pour a lot of my creativity into trying to develop new techniques of visualising these events more clearly so that we can learn more about them ☺   What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I think like most people I just want to get through 2020 and then have an awesome 2021! It’s actually been pretty handy getting all of the album out this year, so that hopefully if gigs are allowed in the new year, I can start to focus on remembering how to play guitar and get a band together to perform Dutch Monks songs at live gigs! I’m actually really excited about that, can’t wait to perform these songs!   Favourite food and place to hangout? Oh gee, anyone that knows me knows that I love most food! (a little too much tbh). But I think my favourite would have to be home-made pasties that my Mum makes ☺ As for a place to hangout, this year it’s probably been the research laboratory that I work in at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre! Other years it would be a quiet place in the bush though…as a kid who grew up in the country the city is far too busy for me, I like to get away from it and gather my thoughts ☺  Website https://dutchmonks.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DutchMonks Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dutch_monks/ Twitter https://twitter.com/DutchMonks YouTube http://bit.ly/DutchMonks_YouTube Spotify http://bit.ly/DutchMonks_Spotify Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/artist/dutch-monks/1522421212 Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/user-305369583 Triple j Unearthed https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/dutch-monks Bandcamp https://dutchmonks.bandcamp.com/releases

Dutch Monks

Where are you currently based? Gold Coast, QLD. How did you first start playing music? We all picked up our instruments in our teens and played around in multiple bands before forming this one.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Recently, we have been rehearsing constantly in an effort to tighten up our sound for once restrictions lift and we can tour again. We took it as an opportunity to fine tune our live show so that we can be better than we were before.  How did The Silencio form? Originally it was a solo effort from Vocalist/guitarist Jan Nicholas Blom. After playing a few shows here and there I determined that my style was very rhythmic so it would be a benefit to have a rhythm section with me. Once the lineup was solidified, we started pushing the acoustic rock genre into new territory and ended up here.  Your new single 'Apology' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Once our guitarist, Dylan Brann, switched to the electric guitar and started to have more input in writing, this new sound was born and Apology was one of the first tracks written for the new album. As for the message behind the song, a good friend of mine has been battling with transitioning into sobriety for a long time and with the on again/off again nature of his habits I wanted to put into perspective for those out there who have turned their backs how hard it is for him in his situation and attempt to promote more love, forgiveness and understanding towards the situation.  How did you go about writing Apology? Our drummer, Kurt Winter, has a little home studio where we tinker with our ideas until they become full songs. This particular track was born out of the reverse piano sound you can hear during the intro. Dylan had nothing else written but by the end of one session walked away with this track in the bag.  Where and when did you record and who with? We recorded the whole album this time last year with Nik Carpenter at Core Studios on the Gold Coast.  How did you approach the recording process? We had the album fully written and recorded during pre-production months before we got into the studio so that the time spent in there would be productive rather than second guessing ourselves. We like to consider ourselves to be over-organised at times haha.  Please tell us about your experience whilst working with Danny Saber: Danny has been lovely to work with and has ideas that we hadn't considered before which has been important considering we have been mostly self produced up until he got involved. Though, Nik Carpenter had helped us with bits and pieces along the way. Danny has been shaping our arrangements and helping us to understand through his years of knowledge as to how to best position our newer material moving forward to appeal to a wider audience.  Who are you listening to at the moment? We all have varying tastes but recently, I have been listening to a lot of Eden, Greyhaven and Bring Me The Horizon.  What do you like to do away from music? Music is pretty much everything for all of us. Outside of it is only really time for our families and day jobs. Jared owns several restaurants, Dylan is in landscaping and Kurt and I both have office jobs within the building industry. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? We have more music to release and are in the process of approving several music videos being shot to determine which song comes next. With a bit of luck, restrictions will ease and we can take our show on the road! Favourite food and place to hangout? It's no secret to those that know me that the only food that exists is pizza and my favourite place to hang out is in the recording studio.  https://www.instagram.com/the_silencio/ https://www.facebook.com/the_silencio/ https://www.youtube.com/the_silencio/ 

The Silencio

SHACKS & PALACES RETURNS WITH UPLIFTING NEW SINGLE 'GOD MADE YOU STRANGE', WITH VIDEO

SHACKS & PALACES RETURNS WITH UPLIFTING NEW SINGLE ‘GOD MADE YOU STRANGE’, WITH VIDEO

Where are you currently based? I'm currently living out of my car, so I guess kinda based nowhere atm. I'm on a road trip along the central coast from Sydney, completing my mixtape, stopping in towns along the way from Sydney to work with artists like Airports, Lovemedo, Doolie and more.  How did you first start playing music? I started writing my own songs in 2013. I was selling handbags out of the back of my station wagon to ladies boutiques along the south coast and was listening to Bertie Blackman's 2014 'The Dash' album on repeat. When I couldn't listen to it anymore, I started singing my own songs I'd make up on the drive and then record voice memos on my phone in motel rooms, using cutlery and plates to create beats. I posted an ad on gumtree and met Ben and started my first band, Bec and Ben. Ben was a music teacher so he taught me to play the drums and I converted my floor kit to stand up kit with my bass drum on legs and full body configuration so I could dance and sing whilst playing. Then I taught myself acoustic guitar on a cruise ship I went on with my brother (who bought a 21-day romantic cruise for him and his girlfriend, but then they broke up so he took me). From there I started RACKETT and moved towards the electric guitar and now I take my midilab and laptop with me everywhere.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? At the start of covid, I conceptualised, cast and produced a digital TV series called 'Loud n Queer TV' in partnership and with Heaps Gay and Create or Die, which I just found out has been nominated for an FBI SMAC AWARD. It was focused on giving artists from LGBTQIA community a platform during venue foreclusore and I produced over 60+ artists on the show over 3 seasons. Once that wrapped in September I started making my mixtape. At first, it was just an opportunity to refocus on writing music, but I was exploding with melodies and lyrics and every session I did with a new artist would produce a song that felt ready to release. Over 8 weeks I've worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more. Covid gave me an opportunity to fully focus on what my life might look like as a full-time songwriter and cement my desire to make that happen.  Please tell us about why you've changed from your name from Rackett to Beks:  Beks is an extension of myself personally. I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery through music, writing with producers and artists from all around the world. I’ve been writing so much music that has informed me more about who I am as an independent songwriter and what I can create with confidence in myself. I’ve chosen to adopt my new artist name Beks to signify a new era for me as a songwriter. A new beginning, one that will carry my new work cohesively into the future. Your new single 'Stars in My Eyes' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Stars in My Eyes is based on a personal confession or realisation I had the day before entering the studio. I’ve always struggled to balance my personal life with my music, the latter taking priority. Finding myself in a familiar cycle of imbalance, holding onto the threads of an unravelling relationship, revealed a phrase that felt symbolic of my fantastical obsession with music; ‘I’ve got stars in my eyes’. This phrase became the closing statement of the relationship and the beginning of the story told in the song. Sound wise, this song was really inspired by my playlist, its a mash-up of all these influences - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mNERTaaSsvBBuRXPE0f8W?si=tivkVcL3TS28xT4oow1l3Q How did you go about writing 'Stars in My Eyes'? Tasker and I had never worked together so I wasn't sure what would come out of the session. We both went into the studio in Marrickville with no pre-made ideas and walked out 4 hours later with 'Stars in My Eyes' completed top to bottom.  You have a single coming out on December 11, please tell us a little about what to expect: Expect full pop vibes.  Please tell us about your recent collaborations: I've worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more, both in person and over Zoom, to create my upcoming, 12 track mixtape set for release in 2021. Who are you listening to at the moment? Everything I'm listing to is here, it's a pretty rad playlist with mostly pop artists from Australia and some OS icons like Charli XCX, Dorian Electra, Caroline Polachek. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mNERTaaSsvBBuRXPE0f8W?si=tivkVcL3TS28xT4oow1l3Q What do you like to do away from music? I love fashion and design and film so when I'm not actually making music, I'm working with local designers and filmmakers for visuals for my music, so umm, music. I have no balance, I work 7 days a week on my art, so it's music or sleeping and going on the occasional date if I'm lucky.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I'm the road finishing off my mixtape. Writing a lot of KPOP songs for briefs for other artists OS and trying to have a love life/personal life to draw inspiration from. Generally doing my daily affirmations and trying to connect with more people through my music and sustain the indie grind.  Facebook | Spotify | Instagram | Youtube

Beks

Where are you currently based? Right now I’m based between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.  How did you first start playing music? I started playing guitar first when I was 13. I use to be obsessed with the game guitar hero and wanted to try and see if I could actually play the songs on real a instrument. From there everything else progressed purely out of curiosity to learn more.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? Since I got back from America things have really slowed down as I’m sure they have for everyone. I have been very lucky during Covid to be living in Queensland as the virus hasn’t really affected our state as drastically as other states and certainly as it has other countries. I have mostly been working on new music here and there and unwinding from the past few years of being non stop in LA. Your new single 'Sick World' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I wrote Sick world in my first week of quarantine in Australia. I’d just gotten back to Brisbane from LA and everything was very raw and the world wide panic around Covid had only just started. It was a very uncertain time and still is of course . I wanted something musically that sounded sad but also had a feeling of hopelessness and disappointment . I wanted the song to not only be about how terrible the virus has affected so many lives but also how divided everyone has been about not only this but so many other important topics.  Where and when did you record/produce? I wrote the song partly in my parents house and then in the studio with my mate Magnus Murphy. I had finished the song pretty much when I started it however when the George Floyd video came out I was so shocked by the video but inspired by the reaction of everyone standing up together. I went to a Black Lives Matter march in Brisbane a few days after the video came out and was so moved by how many people came out to support such an important issue. After that I had to mention the subject in the song. Me and Magnus then produced it from his home studio and in a few days it was finished.  Who did you work with during the recording/production/mastering of Sick World?   I worked with Producer and songwriter, Magnus Murphy who is also one of my best mates. We had been working on songs pretty much the second I got out of quarantine in Brisbane. He has a studio at his house so I would just drive to his place every day and work from there. I’ve had some of the most fun recording with him and the quality of music has only kept getting better and better. We wrote produced and mixed the track and then sent it to Sterling sound for mastering.  How did you approach the recording process? I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Not get too tricky with what instruments I chose. Most of the core of this song is the vocal and telling the story so I didn’t want to over shadow that. If anything I try and highlight it. I’m a big believer in trying to take the feeling of what it sounds like to play the song live and bring that to the recording. So we kept it simple  and used  space to our advantage, by using ambient noises to highlight certain lyrics such as “sirens blazing through these streets” and even the intro we found noises of police and ambulance cars. Because when I was in La that’s all you would hear from your apartment. All in all I think the term “keep it simple stupid” could pretty much be applied to anything I make, just let the song talk.  What does Sick World Mean to you? It reflects not only the struggle of the year that has almost passed but the struggle that still lies ahead. We need to really look at ourselves seriously and try and find some common ground with eachother. The world is so divided and not United. But I know that at the end of the day we still hold those traits of compassion and empathy we just need to find ways to show it to eachother and stop fighting and start listening. Hopefully 2021 won’t be as divisive. Who are you listening to at the moment? At the moment I’ve been listening to a lot of UK rock like Nothing but thieves and Sam fender. I also recently got into a local band Selfish Sons one of my mates Jordy sings for them his voice is insane.  What do you like to do away from music? I recently got obsessed with Golf. Had a lot of down time while I’ve been back so I decided to pick it up and now I can’t stop. I’m usually like that when I get into a new hobby I get very obsessive and can’t focus on anything else. Maybe I’ll quit music and head to Augusta next year!  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? The plan is to focus on new releases and collaborating. I’ve been lucky enough to run into some really talented Aussie artists since I’ve been back and I’m super keen to get stuck into writing with them. As for me I’m not pumping the brakes it’s full steam ahead on new music out as soon as a possible and then touring!  Favourite food and place to hangout? I’m a sucker for grilld although since I moved to the goldy I’m pretty much down in Burleigh at the Pavilion every second day!  Socials – https://www.facebook.com/JoelAdamsMusic/ https://www.instagram.com/joeladams/

Joel Adams

Where are you currently based? Vancouver, BC How did you first start playing music? We both started off with free writing and poetry. That eventually led to us writing our first songs together in our junior years of high school. It wasn’t until late 2016 that we formed Snotty Nose Rez Kids, but it felt like it was a long time coming. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? The 2020 experience has been a weird ride that has taken a lot of adjustments to say the least. We were originally slotted to perform our first headline US Tour in April and had plans of returning to Australia this fall, but 2020 had other plans for us and our tours were derailed. We are working on new singles and collaborations with artists that we have a growing relationship with like Drezus, Dj Shub, Electric Fields and Mo’Ju. We’ve been taking our time with our new album too, figuring out concepts, themes and sounds that we want to explore. Your new single 'Where They At' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? If you are just getting familiar with our music you'll come to realize there is an “Atlanta Trap” influence when it comes to the beats we use. Our latest full length album “TRAPLINE” is the perfect example of this and artists that want to collaborate with us have taken notice of our sound and often come to us with beats that fit our vibe. This is one of those instances, Drezus came to us with the “Where They At” beat from Canadian producer “Pops” and as soon as it played through those studio monitors, shit popped off!!! A lot like our critically acclaimed “Snotty Nose Rez Kids” sound, our lyrics and songwriting have their own signature style. The majority of our catalog comes with thought provoking lyrics that are meant to either challenge or empower the listener. “Where They At” is the mood we felt coming off an extremely busy 2019 into what we thought was supposed to be “our year,” 2020!  How did you go about writing Where They At? “Where They At” is pretty much a lil’ flex on a society we were forced to grow up in, that often looks at indigneous people as less than. A society that think indigneous people either come from poverty or come from casino and government money. We tell ‘em we’re doing just fine in this world we were forced to live in while letting our fans/youth know there are financial opportunities in the arts. This is a celebratory song where we raise a toast toast to indigenous people succeeding in a world that was built for us to die out. We understood there would be a bit of backlash from some of our fans that hold us to a certain standard but we also have come to realize that this is our artform and that not every song we put out is like this one.  Where and when did you record/produce? We recorded this near the end of this summer (2020). Pops and K Notes produced the beat and we all got into Nova Studios, based in Vancouver, with Jamie Kuse, who engineered, mixed and mastered it. Who are you listening to at the moment? 'Say Wait' by Willow 'Baptize' by Spillage Village What do you like to do away from music? Covid has made life away from music kind of difficult but usually we like to get in the gym and get a few runs in a week on the (basketball) court. We have a lot of homies here in Vancity that we make sure we see regularly and a lot of them are musicians so we grab some drinks and vibe out.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? We are finishing the year with a couple singles and videos. ‘Where They At’ is getting a video. We got a new track called ‘Screaming Indian’ out November 27th. We did that one with South Asian producer, Skinny Local, and the track blends Indigenous and South Asian cultures and sounds. We got a dope video for that one too. And, finally, we got a track with DJ Shub called ‘War Club’ dropping December 4th. The year has been rocky, but now we’re getting back into album mode and we’re eager to get more music out next year.   https://www.facebook.com/snottynoserezkids

Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based in Melbourne, Australia. How did you first start playing music? I’ve pretty much been singing ever since I was born. My parents have hours and hours of home videos to prove it. I have this really vivid memory of singing Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne at a school assembly when I was in Prep. I guess it all started from there. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been? Lockdown was intense, not gonna lie. For a while there, we were really reconsidering whether or not 2020 was a good year to release a debut single. In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense for someone like me to launch an artist project in such a chaotic year. It’s also been really cool finding new ways to collaborate with people, using Zoom and Facebook. I guess, in short, my COVID experience has been like any other: challenging, but we’ll all be stronger for it. Your new single 'Matches' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I listen to a lot of Scandinavian music. My own music is heavily inspired by artists like Sigrid, NOTD, Boy In Space and SHY Martin - just to name a few. There’s still a stigma around pop music in Australia which needs to be addressed. That’s why I look overseas, particularly to Europe, for inspiration. Pop music there feels less inhibited. How did you go about writing ‘Matches’? It’s funny you ask. Matches is actually quite an old song. I remember coming up with the hook while catching the train to a writing session in Sydney back in 2018. It’s a song that kept evolving every time I revisited it. For that reason, I knew it deserved a release. I describe it as angsty pop with a drop. I’m a firm believer in that heartbreak is the secret formula to writing a good pop song. Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with? Matches was well underway by the time my first single Dopamine dropped. At the time, Melbourne was still in lockdown so most of the production came together remotely. Matches was produced by my mate Ben Field. He’s an absolute legend. We first started working together when I finished high school. Prior to that, he worked on a bunch of really cool projects, including Mallrat’s Uninvited - EP. Ben has produced all my material so far. I’m so lucky to be able to work with him. How did you approach the recording process? Most of the vocals for Matches were recorded at the start of 2020. By the time Ben started working on the song, all that was left for me to record were the harmonies and ad-libs. That’s my favourite part. That’s what really brings a song to life. Vocal production, in general, is so fascinating to me. It’s my favourite part of the production process. How and why did your transition from songwriter to artist come about? Truth be told, I never intended to release my own music. I was quite happy writing for other people. Slowly but surely, however, music bureaucracy started to wear me down. I had hundreds of songs piling up, looking like they’d never be released. Conversely, as I started to deal with more personal subject matter in my music, songwriting began to feel suffocating. It felt like I was bottling up feelings without a means for expressing them. I guess I needed a little extra breathing space. That’s how TRYHARD came to be. Please tell us about your law degree and how you manage to juggle music and law: My law studies were a huge consideration when it came to releasing my first single. I guess it also factored into why I got my start writing for others as opposed to writing for myself. I was under the impression that music and law were totally incompatible. That if I wanted to pursue one, I would have to give up on the other. To be honest, my reasoning there was totally flawed. I think the idea that a person can only be ONE thing is crap. I never want to stop learning. That's a value my dad instilled in me from a very young age. If I want to be a lawyer/pop artist, you best believe I’m gonna do it! How are you feeling about not being able to play or attend festivals? It’s pretty depressing. Festivals are like therapy. They were also super formative in my development as an artist. I love the platform they give to new and emerging artists. There’s something so magical about the atmosphere festivals create. It’s the marriage of good music and good people. I miss sharing those moments with my friends :( Please tell us about your European influences, especially that you write songs in French: I grew up learning both French and Italian. I was lucky enough to spend a few months on exchange in Belgium towards the end of high school. Then, one of my best friends moved to Paris. Languages, French in particular, have opened a lot of doors for me, so releasing music in French is definitely on my to-do list. I’m really excited by that prospect, especially considering the demand for multilingual music in the streaming age. Who are you listening to at the moment? I’m obsessed with everything Kota Banks has released lately. Cheat Codes have also been dropping bop after bop. There’s so much exciting music coming out right now. It’s really made 2020 bearable. What do you like to do away from music? Away from music, I’m usually studying or hanging out with my mates. Going for long drives is also a vibe. What's planned for the remainder of 2020, going into 2021? I’ve got a lot of new music planned. And I mean A LOT. Hopefully as Melbourne starts opening back up, additional opportunities will present themselves too. There may also be a few collaborations and co-writes in the works… Favourite food and place to hangout? Ahhh, that’s hard. Either entrecôte or HSP haha. Fave place to hangout? Probs the local pub with my mates, otherwise anywhere picturesque late at night. I’m a sucker for a good aesthetic. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tryhardsongs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tryhardsongs/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tryhardsongs Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz_JEfJQxxS34PGY_QjmZdA Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QA3BVbH7oWcItPDe1SGXy?si=wmDLM_z6RV63im79at-Bfw Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/artist/tryhard/1526707336

TRYHARD

Tia Mellow

Tia-Mellow

Quail & AISHA

Quail & AISHA

The Kids

The Kids

Joe Turner

Joe Turner

Where are you currently based? I’m currently in Los Angeles during Covid but I’m back and forth to Vancouver a lot otherwise.  How did you first start playing music? My mom was given a guitar from a boyfriend prior to meeting my dad. She had taken a stab at learning guitar when she was younger but the guitar had become a decoration for the house rather than an instrument.  I was around 11-years old when I picked it up and got the music tablature for STP - Plush  from a family friend. The following year there was a band program that all students had to participate in and there were 4-5 friends that all took up the guitar at the same time.  We were all fairly competitive which helped push each other. I recall and passed around music books like “The Jimi Hendrix Experience”, “Tom Petty Greatest Hits” and “Bob Marley - Greatest Hits”. My first songbook was a simplified version “Eric Clapton - Unplugged” album which was frequently spun growing up.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Covid has been eventful. My wife is due January 3 with our firstborn. This has been a light at the end of the tunnel for us. We also built a recording studio in the garage of our house. Other than that we have been lucky enough to explore California and neighboring states.  Of course woven in the good news are trials and tribulations of living during a  global pandemic.   Your new album 'Bloom' will be out on November 13, what influenced the sound and songwriting? ‘Bloom’ is perhaps the product of not having a tight grip on the musical concept of what I am or where I’m going. I’m sort of allowing music to dictate my direction in a way. Trusting the journey to be cliche. It has led me to the place I am now which is not much clearer than where I started except that perhaps with each step forward I can be more free in my musical choices. The stakes seem to be lower or somethin and the concept feels more free. Like most creatives, I suppose I’m a product of everything I’ve listened to and studied to date. My musical taste is broader than ever as I see past the artist and more to the song. I think as a youngster I would be much more attached to the artist and it would dictate how I felt about a song. Now I feel the song and less about the artist. I think these sorts of realizations came with learning who wrote some of the biggest pop songs 90’s to now. It’s sort of wonderful learning the journey of a song. Sometimes it touches 10 artists before it makes it on an album into the hands of say someone like Beyonce. I think that’s a beautiful thing.  How did you go about writing the music? I had prepared 25 to 30 songs approaching the booked studio dates. Dan Klenner, the producer and I went on a little boat he had at the time out in North Vancouver and listened to  the songs through some speakers and then swam and thought about each musical idea. From there we decided which ones were the most cohesive and scribbled notes. Following that we hit the studio 2-weeks, and broke down the songs, and built  them from the ground up. As we got into the creative flow of things, we allowed that to take over and songs were sort of born out of that. For example “Bloom” and “Don’t Turn This Bus Around” were just improvisations on the spot edited down. Other songs like “Philly Night”, “Avalanche”, and “Million Pounds” were more developed before. I will say that lyrics were mostly all written/changed in the studio. I also experimented more with co-writing. I wrote with Thomas Hoeller, Erik Alcock, Greg Bevis, Dan Klenner to name a few that made it on the album.  Where and when did you record/produce and who with? ‘Bloom’ was recorded in 2018 in Vancouvers’ Space Studio with Dan Klenner whom I’ve worked with for the last 2-albums.  What programs/equipment did you use? I used Teenage Engineerings’ OP-1to create the drum idea for “Found It” and for a bunch of other ideas. The Roland XP-60 we used a lot for the synth sounds and arpeggios.  The TC Helicon Voicelive 3 we used to create the vocoder effect used on “Don’t Turn”, “Bloom”, and “Tow the Line”. The software used to produce was Protools. How did your single 'Avalanche' come about? Avalanche started as sort of a funk-ish type song. I brought it to Greg Bevis first from a band called Bear Mountain whom we were doing some co-writing together at the time. We worked on it for an afternoon, then I believe Thomas Hoeller, and I worked it out live and toured it for a while to flesh it out before bringing it into the studio.  There it changed and lost the funk sort of side and became more vibey with an avalanche finish.  What does Avalanche mean to you? A metaphor for life; If you allow your life to flow and take chances and walk forward, then it can really take you. And it can swallow you whole or you can glide and land on top.  What do you like to do away from music? These days I enjoy gardening, surfing, building things, and playing with my dog, Loki.  Who are you listening to at the moment? I’m all over the place on this. Anything from acoustic fingerpicking songs, Indian music, Paul Simon, Beatles, old rap and new age artists pushing boundaries.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? The next 4 months are going to be very eventful with the release of ‘Bloom’ Nov 13, followed by a baby boy due Jan 3, and renovating our bathroom. That should be enough to keep us busy. I’m hoping to start planning some touring as the world opens back up eventually.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Northeastern Thai food is my favourite and favourite place to hangout is maybe a good set of stairs where you can people watch.  Website | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube 

Terence Jack

Where are you currently based? I’m originally from Auckland but moved to Wellington 5 years ago and have been loving it ever since! I live right on the beach and very close to the CBD too. It’s a magical hotspot for developing creatives - the music scene especially. I’ve been so lucky to live in NZ during covid times, my band and I are back gigging, planning tours and going to a bunch of shows every week. How did you first start playing music? I started writing poetry when I was about 15 or 16. I looked back at some of it recently and the parts where I didn’t cringe I actually felt a bit touched. I listened to a lot of music at that age and it drew something out of me. I began by finding chords and writing poetry to it, then it was the bones of a song. For a few years when I was 8 or 9 I played a little bit of piano - nothing substantial, I got bored from lessons. Later I taught myself through YouTube, learning my favourite tracks and discovering how each note related to each other etc. It was quite an organic experience for me. Like many teenagers, I tried guitar lessons but it didn’t stick. I’m still sort of teaching myself (slowly and only to try to look as hot on stage as Julia Jacklin with a guitar). What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? This year has been WILD. First off I’m sooo lucky to have recorded in the UK in November last year before Covid hit. I’m pretty lucky, I had a pretty stable 7 week lockdown with my best friend and her family. They were so welcoming and I felt like family. It was a wonderful space for me to get the drive back I needed and begin the work on my EP ‘this dream i had’. I’ve been fortunate to be back working with my awesome band, working on our live set for an upcoming release show (and maybe even working on a 2021 tour). We filmed a music video a few weeks back and I’m dying to share it with you guys, collabing with the incredible, stylish director Veronica Crockford-Pound (Vogue, i-D). Also have quite a few projects cooking up in the studio at the moment - it’s sort of my fun safe space. How did you go about writing Blue Boy and what influenced the sound and songwriting ?  Blue Boy was quite an intense song to write. I was so infatuated by this person I had just met, nothing beats summer love. Then he moved away, I remember sitting on my bed on a summery blue sky day and feeling so numb. That’s when I wrote the chorus. I wrote it on ukulele and took a break from writing to head to the beach with my friends. Whilst dipping my feet in the water I wrote the chorus lyric ‘lover swimming in the deep blue’. The song gets complicated because my life was seemingly complicated. I was seeing someone else at the time. It wasn’t working and I knew it wasn’t after falling in love with someone else. I felt so stuck at the time, so many conflicting emotions of love and guilt because I feel for someone else. For two weeks straight the sky was this incredible shade of blue. I tried bathing in this new feeling of summer love and despite spending most of the time and the beach, there was an overriding sense of guilt because I didn’t know how to tell my partner. Sonically I was so influenced by the sound of summer. I wanted it’s romantic verses to be surrounded by glittery, pop production then as the pre-chorus kicks in for it to progress into turmoil and melancholy. I was listening to a lot of Father John Misty, Sufjan Stevens and Harry Styles at the time. They somehow must’ve helped shape Blue Boy’s direction. Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with? I recorded ‘this dream i had’ over 2 weeks with Ian Barter over in the UK. I was in the UK for around 4 weeks overall, doing meetings over the other 2. I was so honoured to work with Ian, I was pretty damn nervous entering the studio on the first day, to me he was this producing god. He has this beautiful, well kitted home studio just outside of Reading. Being out by the countryside was pretty unbelievable and a great spot to get fresh air and take breaks from the studio when it was very much needed. What programs/instruments did you use? It was all recorded and mixed on Logic Pro and put  through a lot of the hardware Ian has in his studio. One of my favourite things about working with Ian was his guitar skills, he’s incredible. 5 out of the 6 tracks on the EP all had electric guitar as a main instrument. To me there’s something so sonically colourful and moody about the guitar. The rest were a lot of layered drums, synth pads, electronic textures and the occasional vocoder.  How did you approach the recording process? I let Ian take the reins with a lot of the recording process. We started around 10:30 every morning, which gave us both time to wake up, go through notes and come up with a game plan for the day. We mostly worked by doing a track a day, a surprisingly fast process for me! We’d then go till about 6pm each evening. The hardest part was already done, I had written the tracks already so it was very much just getting straight into it and laying down the parts. We started with the chords, then did drums and bass, then guitar followed by electronic textures. After that we’d then record the vocals.  Your video for your single 'Blue Boy' will be out on December 4.... It sure is. I’m SO excited for it too How did the concept for the video come about? Blue Boy was the first song for me where I wrote so openly about my sexuality. I thought I needed to find a way to do it justice, explore myself more creatively and push myself further with my different aesthetic directions. Where and when did you film and who with? Blue Boy was filmed in Kingsize Studios in Auckland, it’s well known as the place to shoot a lot of fashion shoots etc. We had an incredible, stellar team on the shoot. It was directed by one of my favourite directors and collaborators, Veronica Crockford-Pound (aka Pictvre), shot on 16mm and Super8 film by Veronica and the incredible Joseph Griffen. Featured in the video is myself and the icons Rob and Roxie. Rob also styled us all, wearing stunning brands such as Penny Sage, Zambesi, Rick Owens and more. Make-up by Global Senior Artist M.A.C Cosmetics and sweetheart Kiekie and Hair by the wonderful Sophy. How was the filming experience from concept to the final edit? I’m actually still mid filming experience hahaha, I’m yet to see the first edit! It’s so exciting working in film though as I have no idea how it’s going to turn out. Filming and coming up with the concept with Veronica was so much fun, probably my favourite part. Please tell us about your EP which will be out on November 13, what can we expect? Like it’s namesame, ‘this dream i had’ all began from an intense, vivid dream I had about the partner I had at the time, which also inspired the track ‘This Dream’. I wrote this EP spanning over 9 months, during the time I was in a toxic, long distance relationship. The tracks from start to finish tell the story of different epiphanies I had during this time. The EP begins with love songs, travels through into the complications that come with a long distance relationship and ends with ‘Crawl’, an intimate song about realising that the ball is in someone else's court to act better. It’s accepting your situation, remembering it’s a two way street. Who are you listening to at the moment? Recently I’ve been super fueled by listening to the likes of: Joji’s new album - fave tracks include High Hopes, Upgrade, Afterthought & Tick Tock LEON’s new album - faves are Die For You & Crazy/Stupid Omar Apollo’s new EP - faves include Kamikaze & Hey Boy (it’s SO refreshing to hear a major artist talk openly about their sexuality in their music) Lianne La Havas’ new album - tracks to look out for Please Don’t Make Me Cry & Courage Special mention to BENEE, very excited for her debut album, the singles are incredible I’ve been listening to a lot of R&B influenced pop and it’s certainly rubbing off on me.. What do you like to do away from music? I love spending time with friends, going for night drives and getting out of Wellington to go on walks. My weekends usually get a bit chaotic as I love going out for drinks or to parties but I guess that’s just part of being in your early 20’s…?  The older I’ve gotten the more I realise that my closest friends and I always seem to talk about philosophical things. Partly I think it helps us try and understand us as these confused creative children are suddenly forced to grow up pretty quickly. I spend a lot of my money on going out for food too... Dinners and brunches… it’s dangerous  being a good friend of mine What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Very busy couple of months ahead, VERY exciting though. It’s just jumping from one project to another. It’s great though, I love to keep busy. May or may not be releasing a music video Dec 4th. May or may not be releasing a couple of stripped back versions of tracks from ‘this dream i had’. May or may not be planning a tour early 2021. May or may not be releasing a new single early 2021. May or may not be recording new content this coming couple of months…. As I said, busy but so exciting, I reckon this EP is just the beginning. Favourite food and place to hangout? I’ve been vegetarian for around a year or so. It’s kinda new to me still, so it’s exciting finding ways to keep it exciting for me, working with lots of different alternatives and recipes.  Ooooh I am a sucker for Italian food (like fresh four cheese ravioli mmmm…), Mexican food (with 3 glasses of Mezcal pleaseeee), Indian food (with a garlic naan ofcourse). In Wellingtonhere’s this incredible vegetarian restaurant/cafe called Aunty Menas. Their roti chani (with soy slice) absolutely slaps… it’s on Cuba St, in the heart of the city. I’d recommend if you’re ever visiting! For coffee I love Swimsuit. IT’s a great little relaxed cafe with great coffee and it’s super chill to meet friends and catch up. Most Wednesday’s I go to the gig night called ‘Eyegum’ at San Fran. It’s free and features some of the best up and coming musicians in Wellington. $5 beers too, can never go a miss…  Weekends I’m pretty all over the place…  https://jackpanthermusic.com https://www.facebook.com/jackpanthermusic/ https://www.instagram.com/jackpanthermusic/ https://twitter.com/JackPantherMus https://open.spotify.com/artist/2uSgBrZHrd1cZDZKZX0PDN?si=nChsxDJJR4Kf8Qx2QYPn2Q

Jack Panther

Where are you currently based? Melbourne   How did you first start playing music? Since I was a young kid - I come from a big music family, so when I was around 10 my father started teaching me guitar.   What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Covid experience at the beginning was rough as I had to properly isolate. Not so used to being on my own. But it’s been one of growth and learning about oneself as well.   Please share how you developed your eclectic style on the decks: I was a big party scene gal before I became a DJ; so I guess my development case from that experience of being on the other side of the decks. I could put myself in the shoes of those I’m playing for and learnt to have a better ear for the crowd. Playing sets that people enjoy make me happy.  Who or what influences your sound and personal style? I was raised by tv. I grew up on old reruns and movies from decades ago - not to mention having very young parents that loved oldskool rnb and hip hop. That had a lot of influence on my music and the way I dress.   Soju Gang was the Patron Saint of Bucket Hats for the latest Saintly Hard Seltzer campaign, how and why did this come about? Saintly Hard Seltzer launched a campaign leading up to Halloween & All Saints Day. I was dubbed the Patron Saints of Bucket Hats because I design them and love to wear them. I hosted a Halloween Trap DJ set on my Instagram and confession session stories on All Saints Day.  What is the Summer of Seltzer all about? Indulging yourself with Saintly Hard Seltzer!    Seltzers are having a huge moment globally and they have just hit Australia in time for summer. Saintly Hard Seltzer is delicious, with zero sugar or carbs, and has the most epic flavours including Hail Mango,  Holy Watermelon & Mint, Blessed Lime and Forbidden Pink Grapefruit.    What do you have planned for your upcoming Sunday sessions? A lot of sun and hopefully catching up with people I haven’t seen in months.   How have you managed to stay productive and creative in lockdown? Managed - not really. But I try to do what I can when I have the energy, making sure I’m not really pushing myself too hard.   Please tell us about how you started you streetwear line and what's been happening lately with it: I just finally decided I wanted to cement a vision I had for myself rather than always talking about it. I wanted to create a line for those around me to enjoy the things I enjoy in street wear; colour, comfortability, and a tool to create your own visual personality. Lately it’s been back in the works - had a set back this year with a fire burning up everything I had, so I’m back on the rebuild.   Top 5 tracks for this summer seltzer season? Kobi Spice - Shakin Ass Lauryn Hill - Ex Factor Mulatto - Bitch from da Souf Meg thee Stallion - big Ole freak Genuwine - Pony (Some are old but summer classics) What do you like to do away from music? Just enjoy others presence. I’ve missed being around people.   Who are you listening to at the moment? Lot's of Indigenous artists like Nooky, Tasman Keith, Barkaa, Kee’ahn and Mo’ju  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Just to get back to seeing family and friends.   Favourite food and place to hangout? Korean fried chicken - Gami   https://www.instagram.com/soju_gang https://www.instagram.com/saintlyhardseltzer

Soju Gang Talks Covid, Saintly Colab, Style And More..

Constant Follower

Constant Follower

Where are you based? Montreal, Quebec, Canada Your debut album ‘The Second Renaissance’ will be released November 6 2020, what influenced its sound? Every emotion in my body and my love for Metal. In this album, the tracks are made anywhere from a couple of months ago to 8 years ago. Older tracks I revisited and cleaned up. The sum of it all tho is a collective of my emotions that express me.  What is the inspiration behind the title of the album? It expresses change, understanding one's past, and moving forward in a new light. A lot of the inspiration came from the animated series The Animatrix. We are entering a new era. How did you approach the recording and production process? Considering it was all done over an extensive amount of time there were many different processes at the beginning full digital and eventually a healthy mix of analog, vst, and samples.  How did you first start playing music and how did this evolve into electronic music? I first started playing music when I was 6 learning the piano, I eventually moved over to drums, later I joined a metal band called Bleeding Halo. We did some small shows and "tour" which was just one other province but In Montreal, we had many shows. From there I moved over to electronic music which became my obsession.  What’s your creative process like? I like to start my day with music. I open Ableton on an empty canvas and usually start with a kick. I take some time with the kick as the kick brings different emotions, heavy bass rumbling kick reminds me more of aggression as a small light kick with attack may bring something more melodic. From there I complete the drums and focus on the leads and hooks. All this is layered until I have the peak of the track. Once that's done I move over to layout.  Your label Starskream is named after DJ Starscream - Slipknot’s turntablist. How much do bands like Slipknot influence the techno you create?  An incredible amount, a large portion of my day is listening to Metal, I get so many ideas that I want to incorporate in my techno, from guitar riffs to drum rolls, screams, effects, and song titles.  Why did you decide to start your own label? As much as I love finding new music to share with the world, I wanted to do the same with talent. I wanted to be a platform for individuals to have a shot at showcasing their art. As well, I wanted a label that represents metal, healing aggression.  How has 2020 felt for you creatively? It has had its ups and downs, full of doubt, second chances, and ambition. Each day is never the same but I push through. I also have 2 alias which helps me stay creative. Melora is synthwave and Three Faces Of Eve is faster-paced techno.  What artists are you most excited about right now? Remy-X has been on my radar for some time I'm loving his music, Alexander Wittenby is swimming in talent, and Aahan another artist I've been watching climb to the top. These 3 are the first to come to mind. 

Atroxx

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have today returned with a new set of brilliantly warped visuals to match their latest single, ‘Tally-Ho!’. Taken from their forthcoming fourth studio album SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound, ‘Tally-Ho!’ has proven a massive and successful return from the West Australian psych heroes.   In a year where they have been kept from their usual hectic tour schedule, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have instead been pouring their efforts into the preparation of their next chapter and with the release of ‘Tally-Ho!’, the band is reminding fans that they’re ready and raring to go.   The video for ‘Tally-Ho!’ is another masterful Oliver Jones concoction, part of a music video trilogy the artist will complete in the New Year. The ‘Tally-Ho!’ video is an intergalactic affair, brought to life with great claymation effects.   “It was super fun to work on another video for the guys . That said I thought Mr Prism was a full on/intense video to produce, however this is on a whole other level. Last time I was given an idea to go on, this time I was given a blank canvas. And me being me I made it even more difficult for myself by having triple the locations/characters/vehicles/shots. You always want to push what you have done before, try new things and do it even bigger and better before and I hope between Brandon and myself we did just that!” Oliver Jones, Better Feeling Films    “If you like Wallace & Gromit, Star Wars and big bulbs of meth then boy we've got a treat for you! This video is the exemplar of Porn Crumpets' existence. The attention to detail is absurd, the whole animation is teeming with extravagant effects, ridiculously well crafted props and sets with highly imaginative character designs. I've always loved music which features those extra intricacies, it lets the listener realise you're aware of what you're crafting and when you're in tune together that's where the fun begins. We're in his world now and he'll take us where he wants. Pretty sure Pixar will be knocking on his door soon (If people still knock on doors). This is the second instalment of a trilogy of music videos with Ollie. In my opinion this is the best collaboration we've ever scaled, piss ya pants good.” Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Jack McEwan   The release of ‘Tally-Ho!’ in the second half of 2020 has positioned Psychedelic Porn Crumpets well to embark on their new SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound era, upon its release in February 2021. Off the back of ‘Mr. Prism’, the single has not just provided another early taste of the new album, but has reaffirmed the band’s love for the craft - making music that not only speaks strongly to their unique musical identity, but has long lasting appeal.   Drawing recent domestic and international praise from the likes of Spotify, Apple Music, Triple J, BBC Radio One, Radio X and titles including NME, CLASH, The Line Of Best Fit and Rolling Stone Australia, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are continued masters at generating hype and intrigue around their projects.  PRAISE FOR PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS   “A surrealistic psych-rock anthem that showcases the band’s frenetic compositional style.” Rolling Stone Australia   “Utterly face-melting!” BBC Radio 1, Jack Saunders   “...The energy they pack into their live shows is incredible and it’s all backed up by soaring melodies and expert riffwork!” Louder Than War   “Besides having one of the greatest band names in the country, PPC are one of Perth’s best live acts, building headbanging spectacles from their fuzzy psych rock nuggets.” Triple J   “Who needs a roller-coaster when PPC are out here producing the same adrenaline? It’s always such a rush listening to ya’ll.” Triple J, Bridget Hustwaite   “As Summer 2020 continues to crawl along a flat line of dread and uncertainty, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are back to show that an alter-ego could be the cure for all our pandemic blues.” Vanyaland   September 2020 saw Psychedelic Porn Crumpets make an initial return to touring in WA, thanks to easing of restrictions; a way for the band to reconnect with fans, and restart their engines ahead of their national tour with Ocean Alley, scheduled for February and March 2021.   PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS TOUR DATES   Supporting Ocean Alley Saturday, February 6th Hordern Pavilion Sydney SOLD OUT Sunday, February 7th Hordern Pavilion Sydney Tickets Friday, February 12th Fortitude Music Hall Brisbane SOLD OUT Saturday, February 13th Fortitude Music Hall Brisbane Licensed All Ages 6.30pm Show Tickets Friday, March 5th Fremantle Arts Centre Fremantle Tickets Friday, March 12th Thebarton Theatre Adelaide Tickets Wednesday, March 24th Melbourne Arena Melbourne  Tickets   ‘Tally-Ho’ is out now!  SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound  is released Feb  5th 2021 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS reveal twisted new music video for their blistering new single ‘TALLY-HO’!

Where are you currently based? I’m currently based up in Northern NSW. I’ve been spending a lot of time in Byron finishing off a few EP’s this past year. Before Covid I was commuting fortnightly between Sydney and the Gold Coast for 2 years for DJing. How did you first start playing music? I started writing songs when I was 14. For me music saved my life, it was something I could turn to when I felt like I couldn’t talk to anyone. It was always there, it never judged me & it made me feel good. I wasn’t a very popular kid in school so I kept to myself and spent a lot of time writing music during lunch times or in my bedroom at night. Your new single ‘On My Mind’ Feat Amela is out now, what influences the sound and songwriting? There was never really anyone we looked to as an influence for this track. I usually just sit down and see what sounds inspire me & the song always writes itself depending on what situation I’m dealing with in life. Making music is like having a therapy session. I feel like working with Amela and her voice inspired me to re-work the production, especially in the chorus. I re-sampled Amela’s voice to create the low sounding vocals in the chorus and I made the synths to complement her voice. This was a song that we just kept chipping away at until we were both happy with it. How did you go about writing On My Mind? I made it about a year ago and had written a top line for it although I felt like it didn’t suit me as an artist. So I decided to reach out to Amela and we re-wrote the track together. Amela and I first started writing together when we were around 15, so we’ve always had this great chemistry when it comes to writing. We did a few zoom calls back and forth and once we solidified it I got Amela in the studio to lay down the vocals.  It’s been 10 years since your last release, how did you get back into releasing? I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I wanted to master everything in production before I felt like I could put my music out. Thankfully I had a lot of friends and family who pushed me to release my music and I finally accomplished my goals this year. I was sitting on it for a while and didn’t know whether to approach labels or just release it myself. It’s a bit overwhelming when you do everything yourself but collaborating with Amela helped me to get past that fear and just put it out. You have an EP coming soon which will include some more massive singles, please give us an idea of what to expect. I’ll be singing on the rest of the tracks for this EP. The next single is called ‘Good Life’ & I did everything from making the sounds, writing, producing, mixing & singing. To me it’s something I’m really proud of because it's a very self accomplished track of completing my long term goals as a producer. I’ve basically based all my EPs around the consistency of how the songs I’ve made ‘sound’ and this is my most commercial sound. You were the winner of Your Shot DJ Competition in 2018, how did things change for you as a result of this great accomplishment? I feel like winning Your Shot gave me credibility as a DJ where people took me seriously. As a full time DJ I played a lot of commercial gigs over the years which kind of pigeon holed me as being super commercial. I wanted to show people that I could play Trap & Bass music so it was a great platform to show people that I’m not just a commercial DJ & I can play any genre. You have been writing music from a very young age, how did you first start and learn how to write music?  I started getting keyboard lessons at the age of 6 but I always loved guitar. I was shown some chords at the same time I started keyboard and after a few years of begging my parents they finally bought me a guitar when I turned 10. During school I wrote a lot of poetry and won a few competitions for it. So writing songs came quiet naturally to me when I would hear chord progressions and writing music was something I started doing every day. Who are you listening to at the moment? I came across a really incredible rapper named Phora. He’s lyrics are like poetry. I kind of listen to anything and everything depending on how I’m feeling on the day. Amy Shark, XXXTENTACION, Alison Wonderland, Flume, Willaris.K, Elton John, Tash Sultana are my most recent listens.  What do you like to do away form music I love keeping active to keep my sanity. Working out, meditating, hanging with the people I love & surfing keeps me sane. Music takes up a lot of my time so I don’t get to do it as much as I’d like. what’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I’ve got about 6 EPs I’m solidifying which cross over to a few other genres like trap & R&B/Grime. So the main focus is getting as much done as possible so I can just keep releasing music over the next few years. Favourite food and place to hang out? Favourite food is definitely thai or Japanese. I love hanging out in Byron or being by the beach when I’m not making music.

Tiny

Where are you currently based? We are currently based in North London. How did Théa Marie form? I began my music carrier as a singer songwriter simply called ‘Théa’. As I started studying in the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London, I realised I needed a band to portray my songs exactly how I wanted. One thing lead to the next, my flatmate Julianna became my drummer and our friend Peter became my guitarist. They both add a ‘rock style’ to my soul/jazzy compositions, which I absolutely love. Two years later, we created Théa Marie - a soul rock trio from London.  Your band members are based around the world, how does Théa Marie operate as a band? Yes, Julianna is Franco English, Peter is American and I am Franco American! It’s crazy to think we all just randomly met in our uni in London. We are very good at getting the job done and concentrating on our music. We operate very well together because we are first of all friends and have the same work ethic.  For rehearsals, I will bring a new song, sing and play it on the guitar and we’ll all just jam on it and feed off of different ideas.  You released an album a few months ago, what influenced the sound and songwriting? Some songs on the album were written about five years ago, while others were written two years ago. They all express the emotions I used to have like homesickness, loneliness, falling in love for the first time… This is why the album is called ’THEN’ - emotions of the past. The songwriting was influenced by folk artists like James Vincent McMorrow and soul artists like Amy Winehouse.  How did you go about writing the music? I find a progression of chords first, then melodies and lastly lyrics. Usually, my best melodies and lyrics will be written late at night. For some reason, the emotions that I’ve felt throughout the day become more intense in the evening… I don’t know why. In a way it’s great because it means I have more inspiration for my writing.  How did you approach the recording process? So we recorded the album in two different sessions: one in December of 2018 and one in April of 2019 - we took our time. I kept all the stems of the album for a long time because I wanted the perfect person to mix the tracks - someone who understood the atmosphere I was going for. Luckily, I spent the London lockdown with my flatmates and Jimmy, a brilliant sound engineer and producer. He was nice enough to mix the whole album within 2 weeks - amazing! He now has his own mixing/mastering/production studio called Vakant Studios, you should check him out!  Where did you record? We recorded in the recording studio of my university.  Please tell us about your latest collaboration: I wrote ‘Settle Down, Love’ with The Dunwells, two brothers from Leeds. We met in 2018 during one of my school’s events and have kept in touch since. During our songwriting session, I was very anxious by my life. I was explaining to them that I wished I could calm my mind and tell it that everything will be okay. That’s how the idea of ‘Settle Down, Love’ started. We personified my anxious mind and built a conversation with it trying to settle it down.  As soon as we finished writing the song, we knew we had to release it. We knew that so many people would connect with it.  Who are you listening to at the moment? I am still listening to James Vincent McMorrow, I love all of his albums. I recently discovered Lucy McWilliams - her sound is so groovy, chill and elegant. What do you like to do away from music? I love finding new places to hang out at. When I’m free, I love walking around London and finding cute places I can come back to later.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? We’re preparing a new set up for our live sets: I play bass instead of guitar, and Julianna and Peter do backing vocals while they play their instruments. It’s fun to change it up and it adds more spice to our authenticity and style of music.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Théa: Favorite food is the Bufala pizza from the Salusbury Food Store in Queens Park. Favorite place is at the top of Alexandra Park on a clear day.  Julianna: Favourite food is the veggie breakfast at La Diva Kilburn and favourite place to hang out is on Primrose Hill on a warm evening. Peter: Favourite food is a vegetable red curry from Spicy Basil - Kilburn's hidden culinary gem, and favourite place to hang out is Hampstead Heath on a sunny day. Settle Down, Love links:  https://songwhip.com/thea-marie/settle-down-love www.theamariemusic.com www.facebook.com/itstheamariemusic  www.instagram.com/itstheamariemusic  www.soundcloud.com/itstheamariemusic  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1J-AWLVi7TYPdmMFug6xQ?view_as=subscriber https://open.spotify.com/artist/4bPS3pOEMswsAkEFPU4g1b?si=LS95K871TpWdYoxrj9l7lQ

Thea Marie

Cara Bateman

Cara Bateman

Are you still based in Canberra?  Born and bred! Besides a brief stint living in London town back in 2006 (some cracking parties back then). Canberra is not a particularly big place, how’s the underground scene there? Canberra has always had a thriving, close knit underground scene since way before I was old enough to go out partying.  Unfortunately, I have personally witnessed the demise of nearly every single last left night club and festival venue in the city over the years due to a rapid rise in rental costs, liquor licencing costs and residential properties spreading too close to the last pockets of music venue hope - which of course comes with sound complaints. To top that off a global pandemic hit and we are left with just two last venues in the city that regularly offer electronic music. It’s a real shame to think that when I started Djing there were countless pumping nightclubs and late-night venues in Canberra and now we are left with nearly none at all. The positive side to this is that the ‘underground’ scene is building up and forming together stronger than ever with new ideas for the future. What’s it like trying to make a name for yourself in a place like that with deep house and breaks? I started Djing and dabbling in music production in way back in 2002 when I was still in high school. I have been fortunate enough to have held residencies, helped promote parties and have awesome friends who ran some of the best parties this town has ever had and still do. The scene was quite strong in Canberra in the early to late 2000’s, so I had many great festivals and late night venues to play at! The scene here has always been very open minded to different forms of electronica, so I find the vibe here less biased towards one genre to the other here than some other AUS cities tbh. How did you first start playing music and how did you evolve into electronic music? The first music I ever loved was The Prodigy’s ‘Music For the Jilted Generation’ when I was literally in primary school! I got into Gatecrasher style trance in my first year of high school. So I have basically had a love in electronic music since I knew about music. I started making tunes with Fruityloops v1 and have stuck to it till this day. There are a lot of breaks in your portfolio, where did they come from? It is an interesting story. I moved on from my passion of Trance music on to Progressive House and Techno in the early 2000’s. Then in early high school years I actually randomly won a crate of vinyl full of the entire Finger Lickin’ Records discography via a competition on the ‘In The Mix’ website. I didn’t even know I was in a competition! But I just got home from school one afternoon and there I was with all of the best Breakbeat the world had to offer at the time. This basically got me into Breaks and then as I was already into Progressive, it merged to become my real love of ‘Progressive Breaks’. I always wonder if I would have DJ’d and Produced so much Breaks if I never won that random crate? Which artists have been your biggest influences?  In reality, there are way too many to name through many genres, though I have to mention the big guns like: The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, John Digweed, Sasha, Nick Warren, Andy Page, Hybrid, Phil K, Hernan Cattaneo, Underworld. The list goes on but they have to be some major inspirers. What's been happening recently? Due to the pandemic, no DJ gigs besides the odd livestream and recordings on Mixcloud and select radio shows. Though lots of music production has been happening which is a plus. Oh and I got engaged! (Congratulations! - Anthony.) Any upcoming releases we should keep an eye out for? I have an EP coming out on ‘Late Night Music’ in November with two new originals ‘Distant Source’ and ‘Fargone’ with some fantastic remixes from Jamie Stevens, B-Tham, Kazuki and Tidy. I have had some great feedback on these tracks so far! It’s a fun EP as every track in the package is quite different so it makes for an exciting release. Do you prefer to DJ or play live? Djng is always fun and less stressful, but live shows which are much more rewarding. I aim to do much more live stuff after the pandemic. I also do a side project live show with Tidy under our name ‘Stact’ which has been the best fun I have ever had performing live. Its more of an experimental breaks/drum and bass/ idm project that we do completely live and improved on the spot with pallets of sounds, synths, vinyl and drum samples we have made. Basically, a live jam that never sounds the same twice. https://soundcloud.com/stact What are your top 3 plug-ins to use in the studio, and why? They change over time but at the moment I’m loving Gulfoss. It is a live eq that balances out the sounds on the fly as they play. It’s really smart AI in a simple interface. It does wonders to the mix. Native Instruments Guitar Rig has always been something I use on all sorts of sounds to re shape and texture. I use it in a much more subtle way than its designed for, but it really works for me. I’m also loving Pigments by Arturia at the moment also, it’s a really full textured synth. The Arturia range is amazing. Where can we hear you DJ? Do you have any future ambitions for your music? The last gig I was billed for was to warm up for Booka Shade in back March but that got cancelled due to the pandemic, so at the moment you can only hear me on various livestreams and radio shows that I will always announce on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fourthstate The future is shrouded in mystery at the moment. Is there anywhere you’d really love to play, or any labels you’d love to release on? I’d love to play at Rainbow Serpent festival for sure!  And my main goal is to support John Digweed one day and especially feature on his Transitions radio show.   Getting a release on Johns label Bedrock would be paramount. What do you like to do away from music? I love to get away from the electro-concrete jungle and head into real nature. camping, the beach, bushwalks etc. Who are you listening to at the moment? I’m always finding new tunes and shazaming ones I love in mixcloud and soundcloud sets of artists that I keep adding and following on those platforms. And I’ve been listening to John Digweeds Transitions radio show religiously every week for years and years now. What's planned for the remainder of 2020? Write more tunes, try and play at a real gig and get to the beach as often as I can. www.mixcloud.com/fourthstate www.soundcloud.com/fourthstate www.facebook.com/fourthstate Interviewer: Anthony Huttley

Fourthstate

Where are you currently based? Hello! I’m in Melbourne, I’ve lived here for 7 years and am originally from the Northern Rivers of NSW. How did you first get into music? I first got into music pretty young. An early memory was going with mum to choir when I was 5. I still recall most of the songs, some were African, in different languages and were really rhythmic. It was pretty magical to hear all the different melodies and rhythms of the voices coming together as one. What influenced the sound and songwriting for your new single ‘Sweet Mellow D’? With this song, I'm not exactly sure as it was pretty intuitive. I resonate with alternative folk artists like the storytelling of Adrienne Lenker and Angel Olsen, the abstract and quirky characteristics of Aldous Harding, the melody and lyrical style of Hand Habits, the finger picking of Jose Gonzalez, and endless inspiration from local queens Maple Glider, Nai Palm, Angie McMahon and Harmony Byrne. When and where did you record it? I recorded SMD in June during Lockdown, with legend friend Nick Herrera in his studio known as The Grove, in Coburg.  How do you usually go about writing music? There's no rules and honestly my ‘process’ is pretty random. I usually pop my phone on record, and then forget about it and just go stream of consciousness for ages. Then I listen back and deconstruct little gems that I can collage together and workshop. The improvising helps me say what I actually feel. What instruments do you use? I play guitar and I’m hoping to get a piano soon, which has been on the dream list for a while. I play my lovely old nylon, which I picked up second hand in Tasmania, or I play my ‘85 Japanese Strat which I found in a flea market, that was a good day! I’m left handed and originally learned left, but 4 years ago started playing right handed. Not only can I now jam at parties, but also all the chord shapes I play are upside down and I like the different fingerpicking patterns, and new chord shapes I find. All the songs on my record are written this way. How do you approach recording/production? I first found freedom in demo’s. I see them as a carefree and messy thang where there is no room for perfectionism, which can hinder me. As I don't have a laptop at the moment (sad story) I keep things simple with an ipad and Garage band. It is the perfect way to get a vibing demo as a reference for proper studio time. I quite like the inbuilt mic, and I feel rebellious by not having a monster set up. Then in the studio is where the music is expanded upon and that is so satisfying. Nick really dug the lo-fi sound of the iPad demo’s and it ended up becoming a stylistic feature in the music -  hi-fi lo-fi if you know what I mean. Please tell us about your new video, how was it filmed and where? The video was a rapid fire creation, that timed itself well with the lockdowns. I teamed up with my friend Joli.vision, and we managed to get it filmed the day before stage 4 came in. He suggested the time-lapse idea with ‘masking’ elements, I don’t have much language or experience in video, so Joli is the man behind all the tech. The vision was to set up my lounge room pretty much exactly how it exists in my room somewhere in coastal nature. We found an incredible spot looking over the water to the mountains of Wilsons Prom in the background, which is a prehistoric nature reserve to the south east of Melbourne.  Who are you listening to at the moment? Today I was listening to Godtet from Sydney, and their live performance at the Opera House. I found Duval Timothy whose mostly instrumental sample-based piano music had me in the feels. Also Maple Gliders debut track ‘As Tradition’ has had many plays this week.   What do you like to do away from music? I make stained glass earrings and during Covid I started Studying Glass and glazing which is cool. I build stuff from wood, I work as a carpenter’s labourer and want to upskill so I can build a shack in the bush one day. I take my dog on adventures and I’m getting into spearfishing after Covid. I’ve been reading a fair bit- I’m super interested in how trauma affects the body, and also the ability for the brain to unlearn and relearn. Also learning about this country in terms of colonisation, the untold history, current issues and my place in it all.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Most common shnack at the moment is A1 Lebanese Bakery for the stretched zaatar  - Favorite spot is Eddie Gardens beers in the sun, or Warrandyte River for summer swimming.  What’s next for you that you’re really excited about? In terms of music, I have this unreleased album that I'm so excited to share. It’s quite a thing of beauty and experimentation, so I’m looking forward to setting it free. I hope to tour to the UK/Europe but that’s all pretty unknown at the moment, so patience is key. I’m really excited to go free diving and GTF out of the city. Danika Smith Facebook Danika Smith Instagram Danika Smith Spotify Danika Smith Bandcamp

Danika Smith

OLY SHERMAN returns with soulful new single, 'THE WORLD IS IN A BAD ROOM' Sydney artist performs two SOLD OUT shows at The Vanguard in October

Oly Sherman

Lauren Mann

Lauren Mann

Where are you currently based and what's the music scene like there? I’m currently based in Osaka, Japan. There are a lot of bands playing — rock, punk, heavy metal, noise, hip hop. There are a few clubs — drum n bass, techno, house, bass music. There are some spaces for more experimental music, ambient, IDM, modular. So there is a good music scene, but it’s all quite hidden and underground. Only certain people go to these kind of places which is a shame. You recently spent a prolonged period in London, what took you there? I actually came back to Osaka in 2012.  The love of music took me there. I found myself getting into music from the UK when I was in Japan, and I was curious to experience the music scene and culture for myself. I wasn’t really into electronic music until I experienced it in London. I had some many memorable nights there. How is it being back in Japan? Did you experience any reverse culture shock?  A: When I came back to Japan, I stopped making music for a while and worked full time as an English teacher. Having a routine and not having to think too much was quite nice, after my more free-like lifestyle in London. The first year was fine, but during the second year, I started to feel like I was starting to miss something. I missed something so much, I can’t explain what that something was, but I knew I wanted to create music again. How has it been getting back into the music scene there? It has been really great. I saw Andy Stott, Mala and DBridge amongst others, and I have played in various venues around Osaka, such as Circus Club supporting Machinedrum. How did you first start playing music and how did you evolve into electronic music? I first got into music writing songs with my acoustic guitar, and being in a band. I still love bands. I got into electronic music after I experienced some amazing nights at clubs in London. I also became a member of Nedry (electronic band). How would you describe your sound/the music that you play? My music, especially, the latest album sayonara dance is like you are under the water. Swimming slowly, trying to get to the other side. Last year you released a new album 'Sayonara Dance’. Can you tell us a bit about it?  I did everything except mastering, so it was a challenge and it took me 4 years to make this album. I wanted to paint feelings with the sound. I was interested in the feelings in between.  Between the light and the darkness. I was very inspired by Four Quartets by T.S.Eliot The track in the middle of the album “The lights are extinguished “ has the lines from East Coaker by T.S. Eliot. ——So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing———— Then at the end of last year, dBridge made a remix of this song, and I was blown away by it. The titled song sayonara dance is saying sayonara to your love by dancing together for the last time. Was there anything in particular that influenced the sound behind it? Not really, nothing in particular. Can you tell us a bit about the process? I first bought a new computer, a good audio interface(RME) and monitors Then after that it was pretty much, trying, failing, trying , failing until I was happy with it. Did you record the parts yourself? Yes, I did everything in my bedroom. What programs/instruments do you use? Ableton Live mostly, I used to use pro-tools but I got Ableton Live and taught myself to use that. I also used KORG MS200, and Gibson acoustic guitar Tell us about your live set up, what do you use? A:I use Ableton push, a guitar with various effect pedals, vocal with voice live, a RME interface, and MacBook Where can we see you perform? A:At music venues in Osaka such as Socore Factory, environment 0g Follow me on instagram @ayu_okakita What do you like to do away from music? I love swimming and going to sentos (Japanese public bath) Being in a sauna after a cold bath feels so good, and after that I love taking a walk with a drink. Who are you listening to at the moment? I’ve been listening to a lot of UK Grime because of my boyfriend, he has introduced me to some other music too. My favorite songs of the month are Patience by RHYE and Dismantle by Andy Stott. What's planned for the remainder of 2020? I’m working on my next album!! And I’m planning to organise a music event with Jack, called 深音(shinon), a night that focuses on deep sounds. Favourite food and place to hangout? I love going to standing bars, one of my favorites is Ushitora in Minami. Base Island Kitchen serves great vegan food. And for a late night Bar Muffin is a fun intimate bar with an amazing sound system. Website—ayuokakita.com Bandcamp— https://ayuokakita.bandcamp.com/ Instagram—ayu_okakita Facebook— https://www.facebook.com/ayuokakitamusic     

Ayu Okakita

Uone & Western 

Uone & Western 

Mark Roma

Where are you currently based? I am based between London and Miami where I’m currently recording  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? When Covid first came about I quarantined out in Spain with my family for a few months. It was hard to begin with being stuck indoors everyday but I just used the opportunity to work on my project creating new music and ideas. How did you first start playing music?  I started writing my own material when I was 14 after finding out my mum had cancer. It was a rough time for me but music really saved me. It was the only thing that could take my mind off all the bad things that I was experiencing at that time. Your mixtape 'Long Time Coming' is out now, what were the influences behind the Mixtape? I have many influences ranging from classic R&B to modern afro beats with a hint of latin rythm and melodies right back to 80’s hip hop and I love my Drum & Bass! Please tell us about the process: The music flowed nicely during the creative process of the mixtape. I didn’t really think too hard, it was more a case of just making music I love and making sure the record has a wide range of sonics and vibes. How did the concept for the music video come about? The concept for the video was to have something dark and edgy with a sexy feel to it. The video showcases the storyline that is told through the lyrics of the track with a constant movement which is what gives it that rolling vibe. Who did you work with and where did you film? I work with various different film crews from Miami, LA, Spain and the United Kingdom depending on and what we are trying to achieve with each project, I love Kaz Ové’s work and I’m working with a cool Jamaican director at the minute on my next video.  What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the creation of 'Long Time Coming'? To be totally honest I wouldn’t say it was challenging as I enjoyed every part of creating this piece of work. The rewarding feeling was to finally finish up the project ready for release! Who are you listening to at the moment? I am currently listening to mostly latin urban artists ; people like Farruko, Sech and Myke Towers.  What do you like to do away from music? I like to work out in the gym, go for a bike ride or some basketball or hit the beach, if there is one close by of course! What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I am currently working on finishing up my latin project which I have been working on for some time now and I’m feeling great about it. Favourite food and place to hangout? Jerk chicken with rice and peas and a good movie binge on the sofa! Twitter - https://twitter.com/officialxnilo Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xnilo/

XNilo

What is your name and role within The Wilderness?   My name is Nicholas Lennox, but most people call me Nick! I play saxophone and percussion, and I also sing background vocals! Where are you currently based?   Kingston, Ontario, Canada. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?   Being a band in the era of COVID-19 is incredibly challenging. To say our whole industry has shifted around us is an understatement; much like musicians around the world, we’re doing our best on the streaming front, but we miss live music terribly. Ultimately though we’ve got to keep our heads up, so we’re just doing our best to make the most of the whole scenario by staying creative and focusing on content-creation and songwriting! How did you first start playing music?   I started playing guitar when I was maybe twelve; I was really into Metallica and I wanted to learn nothing but riffs. That was my official start, and I’ve dabbled with other instruments (keys, bass, drums) since, but I picked up the sax in tenth grade because it was kind of a rock ‘n roll instrument and fell in love with it. I learned to read music on it, and I could do things with the sax that I couldn’t with the guitar, so I’ve been playing the sax for about ten years now. How did The Wilderness form?   The Wilderness started with Jonas Lewis-Anthony (vocals/guitar), Karl Tombak (bass), Sacha Lansky (lead guitar), and Henry Lawrence (drums) at an open-mic here in Kingston; Jonas reportedly saw the other three performing and begged them to start a band. Liam Neale (keys/percussion) joined after coming on tour as a roadie. I was essentially absorbed into the band; I had jammed with the guys a handful of times and performed with them once or twice, so they eventually just started saying I was in the band. Your new single 'Graveyard' and Album 'Until Tomorrow' are out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for the album?   All six of us come from a variety of musical backgrounds and that really shines through on this record. “Graveyard” specifically is one of Karl’s tunes, and really showcases an almost pop-punk flair. Karl has a background in metal, so the kind of riff-focused writing and fast-paced lyricism come naturally to him. On the album at large, loads of styles and influences shine through. Jonas shows off his folk chops with tunes like “Pick You Up” and “You Look So Good When You Cry”, “Hurricane” is almost a country tune, songs like “If I Have to Die” and “Citalopram Blues” are hard hitting rock songs, I managed to sneak a little soul in there with “You, the Ocean”, there truly is something for everyone in there.   How did you go about writing the music?   Everyone in the band has a different style of writing. Jonas, for example, seems to need nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a pen; he really channels his folk influences and is an excellent storyteller. I’m quite the opposite; I write out charts for the band to play along to and really go into things knowing exactly what the full band should sound like. Ultimately, there always comes a point where we come forward with our creation and release it to the rest of the band, and that is perhaps the most important part of the experience, because that’s where our songs become Wilderness songs. Where and when did you record and who with?   We recorded “Until Tomorrow” at the Bathouse Studio in Bath ON right at the beginning of March 2020, about a week before the COVID-19 lockdown hit. Our producer was Rob Baker of The Tragically Hip, and Nyles Spencer was our engineer. We couldn’t have asked for a better team.  What programs/instruments did you use?   Too many to count! I myself played three saxophones, a grand piano, a Hammond B3, two tambourines, two shakers, and an EWI. Jonas and Sacha were slinging guitars like gunmen in the Wild West. Liam tickled more keys than a locksmith and Henry laid down more snares than a fur trapper. I’m pretty sure Karl only played one bass but we won’t talk about that. Oh, and everything was recorded in Pro Tools. How did you approach the recording process?   That completely depends on the song! Some tunes were performance ready—“Where I Roam” for example had been in our live performance canon for years—whereas others like “You, the Ocean” had never been performed as a band. That one required me to lay down a piano track, conduct the rhythm section of Karl and Henry, and then direct Jonas’s vocal performance.    Rob’s guidance was also imperative for us. He really brought out the best in us as players and arrangers, offering everything from coaching on guitar parts to tambourine arrangement advice. On songs some songs, like “Twenty-Five” for example, we took the approach of throwing as many layers at the wall as we could and seeing what sticks; Rob was absolutely a beacon of light through that process, as he seemed to know exactly what each song needed. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the album?   The process of bringing it all together was the most rewarding for me; taking a song from a napkin sketch and letting your best friends take it to new heights with their own personal touches is truly special. The challenge there of course lies in that dance; it takes a certain vulnerability to trust others with a creation that’s personal and dear to your heart, but again, that’s what it takes to make something really shine. Please tell us about how Graveyard originated and what this song means to you:   Graveyard was born out of those nights one spends at a local pub until well past last call. It grapples with the monotonous rhythm of working, getting paid, drinking your pay away, and repeating that cycle. As musicians, our work environment is often those dimly lit bars, and we have a special privilege to be doing what we love in those venues, but even then it’s possible to feel stuck in your hometown, playing the same old songs for the same old faces and hearing the same old praises. Graveyard is about just that. You have a LIVE EP to be release later this year, please tell us more:   This EP is a collection of songs from “Until Tomorrow”, recorded live-off-the-floor at the Bathouse. We really thrive as a live band, but since we haven’t been able to play live shows, we wanted to bring a live flair to the music from that album. This project has allowed us to capture our music in a more nuanced way, and each song will have a corresponding video so that listeners can also watch the performance of each tune!  Who are you listening to at the moment? I’m a huge jazz addict! I’ve been listening to a lot of Bob Reynolds, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, and Joshua Redman, all of whom are saxophonists I admire a lot. I’ve also been heavy into Herbie Hancock lately, specifically the more fusion-type stuff on albums like “Thrust”, some of which I’ve had to learn for my jazz quintet, “Relatively Minor”. What do you like to do away from music?   Honestly, I use other music as a distraction from whatever music I’m working on; I switch genres to distract myself. I practice jazz regularly to escape from band stuff and it fills my cup right back up. Other times, I write heavy metal, and it absolutely obsesses me. Of course, when the hour doesn’t allow for that stuff I read lots; I’ve really been into Frank Herbert’s “Dune” series recently. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?   We’re just hoping to keep creative as possible! As we’ve mentioned, we have those live-off-the-floor videos we’re working on, and we’re in the process of writing our next album! Once performing live can safely be a thing again, we’re going to hit the ground running. Favourite food and place to hangout?   I am an absolute fiend for sushi, and the best place in Kingston has to be Kame. Favourite place to hang out has to be Musiikki Cafe, right downtown K-Town.

The Wilderness

What is your name and role within LIMBS? Hey I’m Austin and I sing in LIMBS. Where are you currently based? And how did LIMBS form? I’m currently based in Tampa, Florida, as is one of our other members, Tyler. The rest of the band lives in northeast America (two in Connecticut and one in New York). At one point all of the members still lived in Florida when the band branded to LIMBS in 2014.  What’s been happening recently and how has your COVID experience been so far? Being in quarantine has been challenging to say the least, but thankfully I’ve still been able to do a few of things I love other than music like go surfing, fishing and learning new recipes. I absolutely love to cook and all this down time has allowed me to try new ideas in the kitchen and perfect some of my favorite home cooked meals.  You have just dropped a surprise EP called ‘Only The Lonely Know’, what influenced the sound and songwriting behind this release? I’m so excited to share this EP with everyone. We wanted these songs to be a representation of us at our very best as musicians. We were able to collectively write these tunes together, having a unified theme of going heavier and a little darker than our previous releases while still retaining catchy post-hardcore influenced choruses that hopefully get stuck in your head. :)  Where and when did you record/produce and who with? This EP was a massive collective effort: starting with Jordan, Tyler and myself recording most instruments and vocals with our friend/producer Matt Johnson in Florida. From there, our drummer Joey teamed up with engineer Nick Bellmore to track drums in Connecticut. After all instruments were tracked, the songs were sent to our man Sam Guaiana in Toronto, Canada to work his magic in producing and mixing. And FINALLY, from there, the EP was sent to Mike Kalajian in New York for mastering. Writing and recording an entire EP between multiple states and countries remotely and on COVID lockdown was one of the most tedious but insanely rewarding experiences ever. I’m so thankful for everyone who had a helping hand in bring OTLK to life and I couldn’t be prouder of the results! The summer of 2020 was a wild ride but in the end, we came out with what I feel is our best material to date. How did the concept for the releases’ music videos come about? Our bassist, Chris, is a videographer and is also our visual/social curator. He took the themes from our EP and created the visualizations accurate to lyrical content. Who are you listening to at the moment? Currently I’m listening to the record ‘tryhard 'by The Band Camino on repeat. It’s just a flawless album front to back. What do you like to do away from music? Away from music, most of my time is spent going on surf trips, antique shopping with my wife and working on boats. What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? It’s still too up in that air to know for certain. Obviously we’d love to be touring again but people’s safety through the pandemic is top priority. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.  Favourite food and place to hangout? Favorite food: Yellow Curry with chicken // Favorite Place to hang out: the beach! facebook/com/whoislimbs instagram.com/whoislimbs Spotify

LIMBS

Albert Salt

Albert Salt

Where are you currently based? Melbourne. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? We’ve started writing songs about extra terrestrial life because there’s nothing going on worth singing about on planet earth. How did Groove City form? Cal’s previous band had just broken up and he was looking for someone to funk down with… who else was he gonna call? Your new track 'This Evening' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? We’d been loving Mayer Hawthornes latest releases. He seems to have figured out how to make break up songs sound upbeat and funky. We were going for that vibe with This Evening. Where and when did you record? We recorded it all in the studio we have in our house which is lucky because unfortunately a lot of other musicians in Melbourne can’t get into places to lay new tunes down. How did you approach the recording process? We have it down to quite a fast process now. Once the song is fleshed out enough to put it into the computer, we usually try not to spend more than one or two initial sessions to get everything in. Then sit on it for a few weeks and make little tweaks here and there until we get what everyone else hears. ​ Who are you listening to at the moment? Mayer Hawthorne, Djo, Frank Sinatra, billie eilish. What do you like to do away from music? Cal loves making Coffee, Dan loves roller skating & we have both been playing ping pong between studio sessions. Favourite food and place to hangout? The last bag of rice from the Coles down the road & we are loving hanging out anywhere within our 5km radius.

Groove City

Online tutorials have grown ten-fold in popularity and prevalence since covid took hold. Ardent fans, however, will no doubt note that most of these simply aren’t worth their salt. One that most definitely is however, is Starsky’s videos for Clubbing TV. In a nutshell, it shows viewers how they can replicate the sounds of some of the world’s foremost artists, all the while showcasing how to use some of the world’s coolest new machines. We caught up with Starsky recently, as he gave us an insight into his life in music and the production of the shows... Hi, can you please introduce yourself and describe your occupation? I’m Starsky and I’m a musician and producer and currently have a Youtube channel and weekly show on Clubbing TV demoing music tech and production techniques That sounds like a great role. Is this something you always dreamed of doing? Or how did it come about? I’ve always been into music since I can remember.  Once I started writing and producing tracks when I was in my teens I’ve had an interest into music technology, not because of the technology itself, but because it’s a way to help you as a musician to bring your ideas to life.  I remember buying my first 4 track tape recorder and synth, purely as a way to record my ideas… but the more you understand the technology, the more creative you can be.  And can you tell us about your alias -- it it a Starsky and Hutch thing?  Starsky and Hutch definitely played a part - but it was a nickname that stuck. I’ve had quite a few cats called Starsky which was a bit of a joke.. I thought the ‘S’ sound was attractive to them … SSStarsssky – and there I am always thinking about the sound!..  And I’m allergic to cats!! Do you see yourself as having to educate a younger audience? Or what do you see as the main idea behind the videos? Haha, I can educate old people as well! But it’s not about educating anyone, just helping out.  I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when starting out, and everything I know was self taught.  I started my YouTube channel just to give a helping hand to the music community.  I use YouTube for everything from changing a light bulb in my car to fixing a synth and realised there were things I could do to give back.  The videos got quite a good response, so I did a couple more.. and built up a reputation of making easy to follow, but knowledgeable demos and comparisons that are also a bit of fun.  So you’ve done some really great videos, showing people how to get a Daft Punk or kINK sound for example. What is it about these artists that excite you so much? They are two great examples of something that’s actually quite simple once you know how to do it, but creating the idea in the first place was a stroke of genius.  Taking the Daft Punk example, the Da Funk track is ridiculously simple, and anyone with a computer and some software can recreate it, but it takes real creativity to come up with the idea in the first place. It’s the same with KiNK.   And do you understand their genius even more when you try and replicate what they do? Absolutely. What KiNK does is essentially pretty simple, but the way he does it is so effortless. Try and do it yourself over an few minutes and you’ll see how many hours must have gone into honing those skills into a fluid set.  It’s the same with Daft Punk,  take the same equipment and ideas and try to write something as good.  A classic drum loop, a single note on a bass, nasty lead and a bit of acid on top.  That’s it, but it all comes together to create a classic. Anyone hearing a single note of that synth sound instantly knows the track.  Thousands of people have that synth, there’s an infinite number of sounds you can make on it.. but that one sound is instantly recognisable and unique.  Are you a producer yourself? And who do you look to for inspiration yourself?  I produced, remixed and wrote tracks professionally for years, and made a decent living with stuff in the charts etc, and love all sorts of music.  If you like a wide range of styles and have the tools to create whatever you like it’s difficult to pick a single artist or genre, but if I had to pick one stand out artist I’d say Sasha’s tracks pretty much encompass everything I like all rolled up into a single package.  Great musicianship, really inventive and creative ideas, all produced flawlessly. If he could only get a bit of Echo and the Bunnymen in there it would be perfect! Have you released on any labels then? What’s the best thing about putting music out do you think? I’ve got a stack of 12” records I made for loads of labels including Mute, Distinctive, Multply, Xtravaganza, 3 Beat, and all Around the World.. all dance labels you’ll notice!  The best part is hearing them in the background when you’re out and about, or driving the car, and you’ll hear something familiar and be humming along then suddenly realise why you recognise it. Of course, seeing thousands of people jumping up and down is pretty cool too. So tell us a bit about Clubbing TV and covid 19. Has it affected what you’re doing much? Or does the format remain the same? COVID has meant I’ve actually had more time to spend thinking about the episodes, and having a bit more fun with them.  Adding a few comedy moments is great fun, but you need to take a step back to see where you may be taking things too seriously or where there’s a glaring bit of irony. Having a bit more time on my hands has made this much more of a feature than I’d originally anticipated. Like sampling a famous street rather than using a famous sample of a street in the Daft Punk episode. It took a whole morning to record everything – all for a few seconds of footage, but hopefully it takes the format somewhere most others don’t.    How do people tune in to your videos?  The show is broadcast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings on Clubbing TV and is then uploaded to our “From the Studio’ playlist on the ClubbingTVOfficial YouTube channel.  My own youtube videos can be found on the StarskyCarr youtube channel. What’s next for you that you’re really excited about?  I’m really excited to see where the Clubbing TV show can lead.  It’s a bit of an unknown to me, and I always like taking a jump into something new to see where it leads.   Keep up with Clubbing TV on Facebook and Instagram and tune in to Starsky show on Clubbing.tv 

Starsky

Where are you currently based? I am currently based in Melbourne, Australia. How did you first start playing music? I’ve been singing since I was a kid! There is a video that my family always talks about of me singing “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion when I was maybe 4 or 5 years old. I started lessons when I was about that age too, so even growing up, its always been a really huge part of my life.  What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? COVID has been…. intense. I was really struggling at the start, but i’ve just been trying to see the little silver linings and be grateful for all the things that I do have during this time. Although I will say, I’ve had a lot of time to write which has been cool. Your new single 'Need From You' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? When I first started writing music, I was super into ballads. Everything I wrote was Ed Sheeran inspired, Adele inspired, Sam Smith inspired. As I got older, and got more involved in the music scene, I realised I really loved RnB/Soul and all the elements of those genres, and ever since then my music has been slowly evolving into an acoustic RnB kind of vibe. With that being said, I never stray too far from my roots. Those ballad themes are still underlying in all of my music, and it's been really cool to keep that part of my songwriting with me.  How did you go about writing Need From You? I wrote “Need From You” when I was in a very vulnerable place. I was facing a lot of stuff about my current relationship that I didn’t really want to see, which was hard for me. This song kind of just came out of nowhere. I don’t think I was even trying to write a song, I was trying to write a letter.. and "Need From You" was born. Where and when did you record/produce and who with? I produced this song maybe about a year ago in a very intimate little studio with my producer Rino Darusman- who is amazing at what he does. He’s produced all of my tracks.  What programs/instruments did you use? I wanted it to feel really stripped back, so we recorded a guitar track, and vocals, and that was pretty much it.  Who are you listening to at the moment? I’m listening to a lot of H.E.R, she is so damn cool. I also listen to a lot of Summer Walker, Daniel Cesar, Jorja Smith and J Cole What do you like to do away from music? I’m still at uni so that takes up a lot of my time, I also spend a lot of time with my friends, but to be honest, most of my close friends are musicians too so even when we hang out, we’re usually writing together, which is really cool.  What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? At the moment, all future plans are currently on hold. I’m just counting down the days until lockdown is over to be honest haha Favourite food and place to hangout? My favourite food is pasta, and I don’t really have a favourite place to hang out, but my favourite thing to do is get in the car with my friends and just go for a drive and see where we end up. Always down for an adventure.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viamusiic  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viamusicc/  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/27bcltpXTQQBPbGlFXLBfU?si=Sxc35NoUQFySP07aiWnNqA 

VIA

Paria

Where are you currently based? Hi Partae! I live in Seattle. How have you been navigating the current situation around Covid? Having to stay at home has forced me to spend more time in the studio & be more creative. I have a day job which keeps me pretty busy as well, I work in the aviation industry. When did you first start getting interested in music and making music? Well I got into music in my early teens. I was a total metalhead. Listened to lots of thrasher & death metal, things like Sepultura, Slayer, Megadeth, etc. Once I got a little older in my teen years, I started to listen to lots of other stuff. I think it was around 15 when I discovered electronic music. I listened to things like Hardfloor, Front 242, Orbital, Juno Reactor, Kraftwerk, The Orb, etc. I started learning to DJ when I was around 20 or 21. I was really into psytrance at the time, but I also liked tech house, techno, progressive, etc. So I was back & forth with my djing styles. I think it was probably in my late 20's/early 30's that I got interested in making my own music and I'd mess about with Logic & Ableton. I would kind of do it on and off as I was focused on my career mainly. When I moved to San Francisco and started clubbing again, I think it helped rekindle my interest in making music again and started getting a bit more serious about it and started buying some gear to make music with. I just started actually getting serious in the past year and finishing up productions. Your first EP on Superfreq will arrive on Friday, talk us through the 'Alebrijes' ep. Yeah! I'm pretty excited to have my very first ep out. So the first track I did for that was 'Purrr'. I had a cool sample of a lion roar and a fat sub I had done. I had a pretty cool loop going with some tribal drums and those other elements in it & I finished the track up. Next I had a loop I liked for 'Tomorrow' which I had actually done on a modular system. I was going for something a little darker, edgier and more aggressive with that one. I had a cool vocal sample which I had been wanting to use for quite some time which I used in that track. Next I did 'Spirit Animal'. With that one, I was going for something with a more organic feel & an acid bassline in it. It is something that I would play earlier on in a set with a more minimal style to it. I like trying to keep things sounding different and I prefer not to be associated with any particular one style, so I try to use different elements and styles in every production. Where did you record the EP and what programs and gear did you use for it? I recorded the EP in my home studio with Logic Pro. I used a variety of gear on all of the tracks. I tend to use a mixture of both analog & digital. For 'Purrr', I used a Prophet 6, some drum loops/samples I tweaked and a kick & sub I made. With 'Tomorrow', I made it almost entirely on a modular system with one of my favorite vocal samples. With 'Spirit Animal', I used an MFB Tanzbar 2 drum machine, some VSTs and an Avalon Instruments Bassline (a 303 clone) for the acid bassline in it. Who are the most inspirational peers and figures in the industry right now? That's a tough one. I've drawn inspiration from countless artists and influences over the years across my musical journey. I can't name any single one that just stands out for me at the moment. I've been inspired by so many artists over the years. A couple of big influences for me were always Depeche Mode & The Cure for instance. And as for electronic artists in the dance scene, well, that list would be endless! What are you listening to at the moment? Well, I've been listening to a lot of older stuff lately from my younger years. Artists like Megadeth, Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, Depeche, Trentemoller, Shpongle, etc. I've also been listening to a lot of more indie electronic stuff lately. And I'm always listening to some new tech house & minimal grooves. What do you like to do away from the DJ booth & studio? I enjoy creating art and traveling quite a bit. I like to illustrate & sculpt although I haven't created a sculpture since forever. I'm also a big movie buff. And of course the typical stuff, I enjoy hanging out with my family & friends which is always a treat. Favourite food & places to hang out.  I love spicy food. I love Mexican, Indian & Japanese food. I don't think you can beat an amazing taco! As for places to hang out, I travel a lot to Guadalajara, Mexico. It's home for me, so I have family and all my old friends there. From there you can drive to a lake, go to the mountains and a drive to the beach which is only a couple of hours away as well. I tend to do quite a bit of traveling, but when I'm at home, I like to spend time with friends, go to the record shop, go clubbing or to a cool bar, go for a good cup of coffee, go out and try new restaurants, etc. Thanks for the interview and for your time, Partae! Stay cool & stay safe! http://www.instagram.com/brad_jehr https://www.facebook.com/superfreqrecordlabel/

Jehr

Howlite

Howlite

Pocketmoth

Pocketmoth

Emersxn Louis

Emersxn Louis

Keary

Keary

Cinema Heaven

Cinema Heaven

Beyond The Willows

Beyond The Willows

What is your name and role within the band?  Molly: I’m Molly (1/3 of The Buckleys), I play mandolin, vocals, keyboard and percussion. Sarah: I’m lead vocals, bass, guitar and sometimes piano Lachlan: on the lead guitar! Where are you currently based? Lachlan: We are based in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Australia (Byron Bay). We are incredibly lucky to be in such a beautiful part of the world, surrounded by lush nature and beaches.  What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?  Sarah: We’ve been super busy lately gearing up for the launch of our debut album ‘Daydream’. It's been a really interesting and different experience releasing new music during this time, but I think right now is when the world needs music and art the most, so we are going ahead full force and continuing to do what we do best - make music! We’ve had so many amazing opportunities come up like our World Virtual Tour with Live Nation, which was an insane experience! Being able to connect with people all around the world and really utilizing social media is something our eyes have really been opened up to. You’ve just released your debut album “Daydream” what influenced the sound and songwriting? Sarah: I feel like this album is a combination of two things: it’s almost a subtle wink at all our influences and the things we love that have laid the foundations for us as artists and writers and 2; it’s us really diving out into new territory to try create something fresh and exciting that is truly who we are, as we define our own unique sound. As a songwriter, I’m constantly falling in love with new music and try to be inspired by everything around me. I love Carole King, Hall and Oates, Elton John, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and all those classics that have stood the test of time. My goal as a songwriter is I want to create something timeless and I try to keep in mind that amazing feeling I get when I listen to those incredible songs that have connected with so many people over every generation. I want to write songs that come from real life and real experiences that can translate and relate to everyone who hears them and connect with their own stories. How did you go about writing the music? Sarah: I love collaborating and I was so fortunate to be able to do quite a lot of it for this album. I wrote with some of my favourite songwriters in the world and some friends in Nashville who have been a big part of my journey as a songwriter. The idea of putting two people in a room together having lived two different lives, experiences, stories, perspectives and then writing a song together - if you happen to have the right chemistry it’s truly magical! I also love writing on my own and that is a really important part of my process as well. Where and when did you record/produce and who with?  Molly: We recorded our ‘Daydream’ album November last year with Chad Carlson, our amazingly talented producer, in Nashville! It was such an incredible experience recording our very first album in Nashville at the Sound Emporium Studios, where so many legends and artists we look up to have recorded in the past. I mean, Kenny Rogers recorded ‘The Gambler’ in the room that we recorded in. What?! What programs/instruments did you use? Lachlan: We tracked the album live in the studio with a full band including Bass, guitar, drums and keyboard. I was playing my 1993 Fender Mustang guitar that I bought off someone at the carpark of a McDonalds! Mandolin is also a big part of our sound, played by Molly. There’s some other instruments sprinkled throughout the record - one being a sitar, featured in ‘Woodstock69’! What did you find most challenging and rewarding? Sarah: I would say that just overall - recording our debut album - is generally the most challenging and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life! I pushed myself harder then I ever have and truly poured every bit of myself and my creativity into this record. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it which is why it’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and been a part of! To see and hear these songs I’ve written come to life - I can’t tell you the feeling and happiness it gives my heart. What’s planned for Daydream?  Sarah: Our performance concert ‘Daydream with The Buckleys, Live from Byron Bay’ is airing all around the world and we are so excited for people to watch it! We’ve worked so hard on this show with an amazing team and crew who have put so much effort into making it visually and sonically stunning. It’s going to be a real cinematic experience for people to watch and I can’t wait. As a young band you have succeeded very well internationally, what do you attribute to this success? Sarah: I think staying true to who we are has been a big part of it, as cliche as it sounds. There’s been a million times over my life and career ever since I first started playing guitar and writing songs, where people have tried telling me or us what we should be doing differently, or that we’re not ‘supposed’ to be doing something a certain way. I can honestly say that if we listened to a single one of them I would not be talking to you right now! There are no ‘rules’ and it’s really important to surround yourself with a team that believes in you and your vision and who trusts in your passion and art. We are so blessed to be in that position and to be releasing music we really love and that represents exactly who we are and what we want to say. For me, following my gut has never let me down. Who are you listening to at the moment? Lachlan: Recently i’ve been listening to a band called “Khruangbin” who have an extremely unique and beautiful sound and I’ve also been digging Miley Cyrus’ songs “Slide away” and “Midnight sky” as well as the performances she’s been doing on IheartRadio and Jimmy Fallon. The cover she did of “Maneater” “Hall and Oats” is wicked! It was also so cool because that week she performed the Hall and Oates cover, we interviewed THE John Oates of Hall and Oates, who wrote ‘Maneater’ as a part of our ‘12 Days Of Daydream’ facebook and instagram series! What do you like to do away from music? Lachlan: when we’re not playing music i generally like to get out into nature, usually i’ll go for a surf or a hike/bush walk. Somehow it always has a way of clearing my head or inspiring me to make music.  What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Sarah: We’re going to be busy! We have lot’s planned and something we’re super excited about is our tour next February with the ‘Country Roadshow’! We’re playing alongside some fantastic acts, so make sure you get your tickets for that! Favourite food and place to hangout?  Molly:  Ooo this is dangerous territory. I mean you can never go wrong with a classic pad thai in my book and I dont mind where I am, it's all about who I’m surrounded by.

The Buckleys

The track is a manically high energy and anthemic piece of synth-rock, with a punchy ear-worm chorus and scything vocals. ‘I wrote Eyeliner when I was at rock-bottom and involved in some really toxic relationships.’ says lead vocalist Patrick. The lyric “Sitting on my bedside, I need to ask myself, where to my ambition go?” is literally what I did everyday at the time.’ Gone Sugar Die are Patrick McWilliams (vocals, drums and synth) formerly of The Cut Losses and Mike Hindert (bass) who was previously a notorious member of hit NYC band The Bravery. McWilliams has recently become a voice for the penalized youth of his native Canada after speaking out against backlash from an alleged ‘Party Bus’ incident that was falsely reported to have caused violent scenes in Vancouver city. He has also previously received a letter from the office of John Horgan, the Premier of British Columbia, to recognize and commend his activism, charity and advocacy work. Eyeliner is released on September 18th via Pet Shop Records and is the first new single from a forthcoming EP by the band. The track was exec-produced by Skip Curtis and the music video was made by the band’s bassist Mike. Gone Sugar Die have toured the US and Canada and are planning another run of live performances as soon as it is safe to do so. Social media: https://facebook.com/gonesugardie https://instagram.com/gonesugardie https://twitter.com/gonesugardie

Gone Sugar Die

Amela

Amela

Edapollo

love drunk hearts

Love Drunk Hearts

Where are you currently based? We're all based around the inner-west of Sydney City. How did Grids & Dots form? We were originally sort of an art project between myself and Carmen Minikus, before going through a number of different iterations over the next few years few years to becoming the band we are now. I feel like we've really just found our feet (and our sound) over the past year and a half or so. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Like everyone else, our live shows came to a grinding halt as the world turned upside down in Feburary or March, but I think we were really lucky in a way as we had already just booked in recording and mixing time for our debut EP and we were able to get a lot of done just as the restrictions came into place. There was some down time as we isolated like everyone else, but we've still managed to keep moving! How did you first start playing music? Myself and Carmen first started playing together in a flat share near Chinatown about six years ago, coming from completely different musical backgrounds. She was a classically trained pianist, and I was a guitarist more used to playing in noisy post-rock types of bands. We somehow found some kind of connection in each other's music, but it really took shape when Carmen started playing guitar. We haven't looked back since. Your new single 'The Great Divide' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I feel like the sound of the song really sits in that pocket of being dream pop, with the reverb-drenched guitar and floating melodies, but it definitely has a driving element to it coming from the rhythm section which makes it sort of an uplifting tune and stops it from being too melancholic, I think. The songwriting itself was influenced by personal experiences of people you care about or used to care a lot about who have become physically or emotionally distant to where you can't find them anymore.  How did you go about writing the single? When I was writing the initial melody and structure, I definitely thought about having Carmen becoming more involved in the singing and writing process and trying to harmonise together. I have always loved bands who used multiple vocal harmonies drifting in and out with each other, like the Byrds or maybe Teenage Fanclub, and I really wanted to try some of that approach in our music. The song was actually still unfinished when we brought it into the studio, and our producer, who is a great songwriter himself, helped give it a few finishing touches. We taught it to the rest of the band on the spot and ran with it. Where and when did you record/produce? Th EP was recorded and produced with Wayne Connolly, at Hercules Street Studio in Surry Hills. The main instrument and vocal tracks were recorded in early March, and then we added more overdubs and layers when we could over the partial lockdown months, before going in and starting to mix everything in the months afterwards. We're still mixing the EP now actually, but hopefully it will all be done soon! How did you approach the recording/production process and who did you work with? Some of these songs had actually been ready for a couple of years before we went into the studio, so they had been demoed a few times already, and we were dying to get them out there. Then there are a couple of songs like the Great Divide which are really new comparatively. We worked with Wayne, whose production work with a number of Australian indie-rock bands we were really big fans of, as well as admiring the bands he himself had played in as well. What do you most enjoy about writing and playing music? For me writing music is pure catharsis. Some people just need some kind of outlet for their happy / sad feelings or else they go a bit nuts, and I think that I am one of them. I write a lot of stuff in the songs that I sometimes find difficult to say. Then there's just the thrill of playing the music to an audience, with some people who you really care about playing with you, and literally creating something out of nothing with them. Nothing can beat that feeling, really! Who are you listening to at the moment? I've been obsessed with Ruby Haunts latest album for about half a year now. Black Marble are another go to band of mine, and I've recently started listening to an old Alt-rock band from 80s New Zealand called The Clean. They were on that amazing Flying Nun record label and the music is just fantastic. What do you like to do away from music? I'm a digital designer by trade, and I like photography and reading a lot, and occasionally playing retro video games. We also go out camping a lot in summertime. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? We have a new single which is a cover of a song by Nick Drake out next month through Scenic Drive records, and then our debut EP will be out early next year. We have an albums worth of material we're writing now which we hope to record in Feb or March next year which we are literally so excited about. Favourite food and place to hangout? One of my favourite restaurants is a small Italian place on Cleveland St. in Darlington called Kindred. Just a super nice local atmosphere and the best food. Our favourite place to hang out and chill is the dog beach behind the main strip in Rose Bay! ‘The Great Divide’ is out now! Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed

Grids & Dots with Daniel Handaru

YOURS TRULY ANNOUNCE ALBUM RELEASE LIVESTREAM + 'SELF CARE' TAKES OUT FEATURE ALBUM ON TRIPLE J THIS WEEK + LIMITED VINYL COPIES SELLING FAST

YOURS TRULY ANNOUNCE ALBUM RELEASE LIVESTREAM + ‘SELF CARE’ TAKES OUT FEATURE ALBUM ON TRIPLE J THIS WEEK + LIMITED VINYL COPIES SELLING FAST

Luiz Faria

Luiz Faria

Sydney hip hop artist Lanstan debuts new single, ‘Trophy’

Lanstan

“Velvet Bloom consistently gives me shivers. Her music is enchanting and laidback. It’s always a pleasure finding out what’s in store  with this artist.” - Nkechi Anele (Triple J Roots N All)  - “Your voice is stellar. It's got so much character and soul to it. It's so clear and it just oozes with star power.” - Claire Mooney (Triple J  Unearthed)   Hailing from Melbourne, Velvet Bloom releases a slinky new single ‘7Hundred25’  encompassing the very essence of longing and the prospect of loss.   Oozing with lush vocals and honey dipped stripped back acoustics, ’7Hundred25’ takes  listeners on a journey, subtly introducing elements until you realise that you are in the  midst of an electronic strings section with choir like harmonies, rolling cymbal crashes  and droning bass notes.   The single speaks to the fact that an acoustic style song can be entirely full without a  major drum and bass section.  Velvet Bloom is a neo-soul, alternative-pop and jazz-rock music project with captivating  ballad style vocals. The project is fronted and founded by Maddy Herbert, she performs  solo and with different variations of her live band “The Vito Collective”.  This intricate single will be released as a part of a ‘Cousin Will Records’ compilation  album with artists like ‘The Grogans’, ‘Auntie Leo And The Backstabbers’, ‘Polly And The  Pockets’ and the like.  The band had a huge 2019 with the re-release of Maddy’s debut EP ‘Bitter Sweet’, as well  as the release of singles’ ‘Isobel’s Song – Live At Box Hill’, ‘Teach Ya’ and ‘DM ME’  receiving praise and airplay from Triple J/Triple J Unearthed. Velvet Bloom also won  Listen Up Music Org’s 2019 national ‘Songs That Heal’ competition. In early 2020 saw the  release of ‘Standards’, an up beat alternative-rock, soul- pop track that showcases  Maddy’s raw and powerful vocals.   During COVID-19 Maddy was accepted into the MIME mentoring program through Boxhill  Institute and is currently being mentored by Kylie Auldist.   If that’s not enough the band has also supported many established Australian acts like  Kim Churchill, Josh Cashman, Death By Denim, Dulcie, The Grogans, Great Gable, Ben  Wright-Smith, Zoe Fox And The Rocket Clocks, Teenage Dads to name a few.  https://www.facebook.com/velvetbloom.music/ https://www.instagram.com/velvetbloom.music/ https://velvetbloom.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLsOjd3he7oB58TqtCDNkgg?view_as=subscriber

Velvet Bloom

Follow & Stream RICHARD Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube

Richard

Tenise Marie

Tenise Marie

Where are you currently based?  We’re from inner Sydney Australia. How did you first start playing music?  Olive started playing violin at 5 years old and was in many orchestras/school bands, while I was a choir nerd. In high school we became band nerds that rebelled and dreamed of being in an indie rock band. How did Egoism form? So those two rebellious band nerds realised they had a really similar taste in music and decided that they could maybe sorta form a real band! What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? It’s been just busy with us recording, writing and producing this Ep as well as a whole bunch of other songs! Your new single 'Here's The Thing' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? We’re both very influenced by British pop, particularly trip hop but also some modern artists like No Rome and the 1975. Just the idea of chopping up these dirty sampled instruments and putting them over the top of an emotional guitar based song feels so exciting.  How did you go about writing Here's The Thing?  Olive wrote the song as a reflection on a really hard time in their relationship. They had this sad melody and lyrics but decided to play it on top of this cool breakbeat sample they were obsessed with at the time. You have an EP on the way, please tell us what we can expect:  A whole bunch of sad ass songs with good pop sensibilities! Where and when did you record/produce? It’s pretty darn DIY, cause recorded and produced pretty much everything (other than the drums) on this EP ourselves, at either Scout or Olive’s house.  How did you approach the recording/production process? Our songs almost always start off as weird little demo on Logic that we’ll show each other before the other says “hmm, it’s good but keep working on it”. Then we tinker and tinker until eventually it’s ready to be mixed and mastered!  What did you find most challenging/rewarding during the creation on the EP? Going into the production of each track we’d often have a really specific sound we wanted. So there was a lot of fiddling and trying wild stuff until we got the sound we were looking for. Matthew Neighbour mixed all the songs on the EP and honestly he’s a trooper for working with us to get it right.  Who are you listening to at the moment?  Really loving the singles from the upcoming Vacations album, but other than that I’ve been on a bit of an electronic binge so mainly Four Tet. What do you like to do away from music?  Olive has been really getting closer to their hipster roots by diving into the analogue photography world. I really love having a million other hobbies that I don’t take seriously nor get that good at (like baking, hand-sewing and gardening I’m terrible at them but they’re darn fun). What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?  Oh definitely writing and recording more, hopefully playing shows and just trying to enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Favourite food and place to hangout? I can say with confidence that our fav food is definitely banh mi and fancy woodfired margarita pizza. And I’d say we both like to hang out at either a friend’s house or on a walk in a really pretty place.

Egoism

Where are you currently based? I live in the Czech Republic, and I like it here so far, but who knows what the future brings. How did you first start playing music? I started playing music when I was about 2 years old because I was highly influenced by my siblings who are great musicians. They played at home often so I became familiar with different tones and sounds. They used to play punk, which may explain why my music is alternative. What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? I don´t know how to correctly explain that as it was a very new experience, but for me it has been a disaster. The economy is in trouble and Covid PR is unbelievable. We are constantly being fed information 24/7. There have been a lot of restrictions put in place and this has created a worldwide panic. It’ll be interesting to see the information and end result of everything once things settle down. Your debut album 'Discovery' will be coming out in the next few months of 2020, what influences your sound and songwriting? This is something connected to my inner self. A bit of my life, but mostly, imaginary stories or ideas. I like imagination and the concept of dreaming. It’s as if you feel that there can be another part of yourself which is struggling through the world. Do we know who we really are? I think that there is a new phenomena in this world and we actually aren´t supposed to be ourselves. We are just parts of a machine and our inner selves are hidden somewhere behind that chaos of malicious thoughts and ideas coming from the outer world. And I suppose my songwriting is highly influenced by the unrecognizable inner motions that keep me alive, separated from things happening outside. I have to say, music is protecting me from going crazy sometimes, especially when I think about what´s been happening around the world. How do you usually go about writing music? Technically, I start with rhythm, then I do some music, like melodies and other components. Then I think about lyrics and so on. This is all technical, but there is the question of mood, a very important topic for me but it´s hard to say, this is a process of random behaviour. Please tell us about the way you approach recording the process that you go through: There is actually no process I go through. Our current state is the one we have been living in since birth and we have to just “enjoy and live”. The whole process is a manifestation of joy. What programs/instruments do you use? I play the bass, guitar, drums, piano and I use my voice mostly. As for programs, I use various ones that I discovered mostly one my own. Each artist has a different style so I’ve definitely found the programs that work for me personally. What do you find most rewarding and challenging when creating and recording music? To create the best piece of music I have ever heard. What do you like to do away from music? I like travelling, partying and meeting new people. Who are you listening to at the moment? It's hard to say because there isn’t much that I connect with. The other day I listened to ZHU and Radiohead, who I’ve always liked. Apart from that, nothing brand new that has caught my attention. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? To save the world, maybe, because this is the most important thing, and I am not the only one. There are many people who would like to do the same. So, when we all try our best, we will achieve that, and everything will be fine. There are many ways to accomplish that. Favourite food and place to hangout? I love a lot of pubs here in the Czech Republic. One of the greatest Mexican restaurants is situated in Pilsen where I used to live. When I want to go out for a meal, I like to choose that one. When I want to hang out, I prefer going to Zach´s Pub, which is an Irish pub, or other local places such as Raven.

Keoni

Okkaido

Okkaido

Where are you currently based? I'm currently based in the humble western suburbs of Sydney. What's been happening recently and how did you first start playing music? I recently released my EP "Warm Blooded" and very happy with the reception and attention it has been receiving. I'm currently working on some photo shoots and collaborative projects with talented people, and hope to release more visuals to support the EP. I started exploring music as a child playing piano, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons which I didn't really like. From that point onward I started to teach myself music as a hobby which eventually led to creating my own brand of music. How did you first start playing music? During high school I started to teach myself guitar and explored musical hardware. I purchased some synthesisers and started playing around with Garageband. A couple years later I picked up Ableton and taught myself how to create songs and produce. It's the year of 2018 and at this point I wanted to learn how to rap and sing. I was very inspired by Brockhampton and their DIY approach to releasing amazing visuals and creating music, and I knew If I put some work in I could create projects which would could display everything I've taught myself. Your new EP 'Warm Blooded' is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? The EP was highly inspired by Artists such as Brockhampton, Jpeg Mafia, Sade and various other artists. The song writing elements and theme of the EP is based around my personal experiences with people I've met, situations that tested me and love. I wanted to continue to create instrumentals that reflected the moods of my circumstances. The EP was created during some tough times, and for most artists trials and tribulations have a strange way of inspiring us to express and make something of the hardships. How did you go about writing the EP and who did you work with? I collaborated with Thinkbot films for the production of the film clip, and also worked with Evergreen Artists to push the release. In relation to the musical and graphic elements of "Warm Blooded" I worked alone. I love working on musical projects because I can produce and write the story of the project with full control. I am also a digital artist and designer, and love that I can make two worlds collide under one concept. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with? I have a home studio where I do all of the above. The project was written during late 2019 and the duration of 2020. How did you approach the recording process? It changes with every song I create, Sometimes I jump straight into the booth, other times I spend a lot of time crafting the lyrics and then build the song around the narrative. Having constant access to my studio is a highly valuable resource and I do my best to spend as much time as possible recording or writing. At times I do hit obstacles and have to encourage myself to keep working. What programs/instruments did you use? I use a variety of instruments and software to create my music. I love Ableton and software instruments, having a whole orchestra at your finger tips is pretty wild. I liked to use my Roland electronic piano to start melodies and occasionally pick up my Electric and acoustic guitar to also lead the direction of my songs. What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Warm Blooded? The challenging part was to create something that still had elements of my last album "Planet Cool" whilst evolving it at the same time. I don't like boxing myself in and want to be able to grab elements of all the genres I like to create my work. When I wrote "Genuflect" and "Apple" I knew I was on to something different and I started to nourish that seed. Releasing "Aversion" was very fulfilling and I was stoked that I finally let the project loose into the world. Who are you listening to at the moment? A lot of Latin lounge/jazz, Freddie Gibs, Action Bronson, Brockhampton, Soulection radio and Nujabes. What do you like to do away from music? I love creating art both digital and traditional, I read a lot books and comics and love video games and film. Any form of digital entertainment really. I'm always on my road bicycle and spend a lot of time with my friends. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? At this point in time I can't really say, I tend not to think too far ahead. I'd like to release some more film clips possibly for songs from "Warm Blooded". I'm currently working on another musical project with a friend of mine and plan to release that hopefully this year or early next year. Favourite food and place to hangout? I am a fiend for dumplings and you can often find me lurking around Parramatta CBD. https://www.facebook.com/raroisraro https://www.instagram.com/raroisraro/

Raro

What is your name and role within Pelts? Hello! I’m Ralph, and I play keys in Pelts. I also run Iffy Folk Records, our record label. Where are you currently based? Just outside Glasgow (Scotland), near the river Clyde. The rest of the band are also based in or around the edges of Glasgow. It’s a great city for playing music. How did you first start playing music? I don’t remember there being a specific moment of clarity, but I was around 17 and really wanted to learn to play the guitar. We had a piano in the house, and I ended up learning piano and guitar at the same time, which turned out to be a good combination. I couldn’t get a handle on reading music, so I used to work out how to play songs by ear, which was pretty good prep for being in a band. How did Pelts form? Pelts rose from the ashes of a band where many of our paths crossed. The driving force was Graham, who was looking for something fresh and new, and wanted to play with old friends again. Graham, Stu, and Olly had been in bands together years before, and Ben and I met Graham along the way. Natasha met Graham through a book group and discovered that their voices worked realty well together. That became a great focal point. You have an album coming out on the 18th of September, what influenced the sound and songwriting? We’d like to think the album has a ‘Pelts’ sound, that only really happens when we all make music together. We all bring our own individual influences to the melting pot. The 8 songs on the album are thematically linked, and there’s a lyrical thread that runs throughout, charting the last few years of our lives, big and small life events, hope, redemption, and love. How did you go about writing the music? We’re a very open band when it comes to ideas. Some songs arrive from a single source fully formed – ‘Haunted’ was written by Graham and was the very first Pelts song. Songs like ‘Dolphin Road’ have existed in various, mad incarnations until we found the right fit. ‘London Runner’ was one of my home demos, then Ben added lyrics and melody and the band worked it up in the studio to make it an album-closing behemoth! So, pretty much anything goes, and nobody is too precious about music & lyrics ideas, which makes it a joy to make music with this band. Where and when did you record and who with? We recorded the album in autumn 2019, at Anchor Lane studios in Glasgow with Luigi Pasquini & Melanie Dutton in the control room. It was great working with that team. The bulk of the recording went quite quickly, but we spent some time recording our vocals, editing and mixing. We all have day jobs, so that slows things down a bit. We mastered the album in early 2020, so it’s amazing to finally hold it in physical format, especially with that beautiful artwork (by Beth Cowey). How did you approach the recording process? We spent a long time on these songs, rehearsing in practise rooms and road testing at gigs, so when we took the songs to the studio we wanted to record as live as possible. So, drums, bass, guitars and keys were all recorded live, with guide vocals, to give everything the right feel. Then we added additional layers of instrumentation, and Graham & Natasha’s vocals. What programs/instruments did you use? I love technical questions, but I’ll keep this short, and not take us down a guitar pedal or plugin rabbit hole! Logic was the DAW of choice in the studio (although I prefer ProTools in my home studio). I got to play a beautiful upright piano, and the two synths I used were my trusty microKorg and the amazing Waldorf Streichfett String Synthesizer. Your single 'Throwing Sticks' is out now, how do you go about deciding on which track to release as a single? Doodle poll! Although Throwing Sticks was a unanimous choice, and it’s a song we’ve always known would be a single – it’s a real favourite to play live. Deciding on the second single will be trickier. What do you like to do away from music? The label means I’m never far from music, but I do love running. I never listen to music when I’m running (I’ve never liked that), so I use it as a chance to power down my brain for a while. Who are you listening to at the moment? Our label recently released Pure Concrete, an amazing new album by Kevin P. Gilday & The Glasgow Cross, so that has been played a lot in our house as we tested the vinyl & CD pressings (sorry for the plug!). But I’ve been listening to a lot of other great stuff this year, new and old, and a lot of beautiful instrumental and ambient albums since working at home became a thing. This is a short list of current favourites, in no particular order; Björk, Nils Frahm, Alice Coltrane, Le Groupe Obscur, Brigid Mae Power, William Basinski, Jill Lorean, Julianna Barwick, KOKOKO!, Khruangbin, Tindersticks, Joanna Newsom. Loma are my favourite band in the world right now, and I can’t wait for their new album to come out. What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? A Little Less Lost comes out later this month, so we’ll be trying to get that into as many ears as possible. It would be lovely to play live, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen for a while, unfortunately. We’ll be releasing another single (or two) from the album and making some home-made videos. We’ve already got a healthy-looking demo folder for Pelts album #2, so there will be a lot to get our teeth into when we eventually all get together as a band again and start making some noise. Favourite food and place to hang out? Seafood at Inver, a rural restaurant on the west coast of Scotland, would be a perfect meal. I’m going to pick some Glasgow gig venues, which we miss so much! The Hug and Pint and The Glad Café are two of our favourites – great food, and great venues. We’ve all had so many good nights there. https://www.facebook.com/Peltsband https://www.instagram.com/peltsband/ https://twitter.com/peltsband https://www.pelts.band/

Pelts

Where are you currently based? We're currently based in sunny Brisbane and suspicious of anyone that bails to arguably better interstate music scenes, so it'll probably stay that way for now. How did you first start playing music? I'll be honest, I was only 50% interested in being in another guitar-based rock band and only went along for a jam but it was so good right from the start, it was love at first strum.   What's been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far? Apart from having some shows cancelled earlier in the year, we've been busy where we can, trading ideas though group chats, doing responsible video content and I think a rehearsal was booked the second day the studio was open. With restrictions lifting, we've been starting to get things rolling again, finally releasing the EP, merch etc Your new EP God Damn! is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting? I think that's pretty obvious, haha. One thing that we've been conscious of is making the tunes swing and not being too heavy or plodding. That's fine but there's enough of that round at the moment. We want booty-shakin' toe-tappers in our set. How did you go about writing the music? Everyone has a stockpile of riffs laying around, so it's just a case of bringing them to rehearsals and seeing what works. Sometimes things get re-worked a lot, change key, tempo etc. The opening riff for Coup de Grace was something I've had for years but that chorus was worked out on the spot by everyone and took about 10 minutes to come together. Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with? We recorded with Brock Weston at Bedlam Studios and got it mastered at Truth Studios. What programs/equipment did you use? I can't comment on the recording set-up. I should've paid more attention but I trusted Brock knew what he was doing and just focused on the guitar-playing. That was a Les Paul through the house amp. I'm not really a gear/tech guy; as long as it sounded good and had the energy, that's my main concern. What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the creation of the EP? It wasn't really that challenging because we were well-rehearsed and knew what we were doing heading in. I'd had a good idea of what I wanted for the guitars so I just went and did it. Reward-wise, hearing the songs without playing them was great and listening back to all the guitar ideas come together. But I think hearing the harmony vocals getting layered up was really great to hear as I've never been in a band that did anything like that before. What do you like to do away from music? Worry that I'm not doing enough music. Who are you listening to at the moment? Right now, Beastie Boys-Check Your Head. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of stuff that's not Void-related; Bohren and Der Club of Gore, Air, William Basinski, Ennio Morricone...got to keep a balance! Can't be all late 60s/early 70s rock. I suppose it can......   What's planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? Got a couple of gigs lined up, release of the EP and a clip and already talking about going back to record. We've got a few new songs in the set ready to go, so always moving forward. Favourite food and place to hangout? Well, I'm the only non-vegetarian in the band so it's not very representative. That's a big question.....I do love a good wood-fired pizza. Favourite cuisine is probably French but Spanish and Italian goes pretty hard too...all the cheese...and now with all the burger joints around....can I just say I love food. The worse it is for my health or wallet, the better Favourite place to hang out is Junk Bar! Such a wonderful atmosphere, great staff, amazing drinks. Just an overall cool vibe. It's a shame that we're probably a bit loud for it but maybe we could re-arrange the set to something a bit more acoustic and stripped-back. https://www.facebook.com/VibrationsFromTheVoid/

Vibrations From The Void

Caspia

A Is For Arrows

Phil Stack

Phil Stack

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