‘My Way’ feels like a defiant anthem—raw, confident, and rebellious. Can you talk us through the message behind the track and what inspired its lyrics?
Yes, it’s definitely all of those things for us too. Different people will take different things from it, but one of the messages in this song is about not feeling the need to do what everyone else is doing and not being afraid to be yourself. This may sound weird but we were actually inspired a by all of the rock n roll stories that you hear about that have gone wrong. A lot of people tell us “don’t do this, don’t do that”. “Don’t fall into the same trap as X”. This song is a bit of a reassurance to us that if we stay true to ourselves, work hard, and chase our dreams, it will all be fine in the end.
At just 13–15 years old, your sound is already incredibly tight and full of attitude. How do you balance school, music, and everything in between?
Our parents help us stay on the straight and narrow. Ha ha. But seriously, our folks did tell us that if our school grades suffer too much, all bets are off, so we do our best to keep up with our school work, and our teachers are very supportive.
We also practice a hell of a lot together as a band and as individuals on our instruments and vocals, so that keeps us tight musically.
And we know that if we forget about everything else, we’re not going to feel balanced, so we spend the rest of our time getting outdoors and doing other stuff that we love like soccer, surfing and skating. This seems to work, but we’re not going to lie, we are very busy!
You’ve worked with some seriously seasoned producers like Steve James and had your track mastered by Leon Zervos. What was it like being in the studio with names who’ve worked with Aussie rock royalty?
At first, we were a bit nervous, and we were trying to impress them, but now we’re just ourselves and we’ve formed a really close friendship with the team that we work with. We’re so grateful that we get to work with such awesome professionals.
There’s a strong DIY energy and surf-rock psychedelia vibe in your music. Who are your biggest musical influences, and how do they shape your sound?
Pretty much every Aussie rock n roll legend from the last 40 years has influenced us in one way or another. But some bands that come to mind are Silverchair, Grinspoon, Spiderbait, The Screaming Jets, The Chats, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. And then overseas, there’s Greenday, The Offspring, and Tool, to name a few.
From local RSL gigs to major festivals like Bluesfest and support slots with The Screaming Jets and The Superjesus—you’ve had a wild ride so far. What’s been the most surreal moment of your journey?
Being invited up on a main stage by Spiderbait in front of 10,000 people and playing with them at the age of 10 – 12 years old has been the most surreal experience so far. It was a life changing moment for us. It encouraged us, and everyone around us, to really believe in our band, and to take things to the next level.
You’ve mentioned facing “artificial barriers” in the industry because of your age. What kinds of challenges have you had to push through, and how have they shaped your identity as a band?
When we first started, we were too loud and energetic for cafes and restaurants, and a lot of pubs and clubs wouldn’t allow us to perform because we were too young. Then there were festivals that didn’t want to take a risk on us because they perceived that we wouldn’t be any good due to our age. We don’t think that good music has an age limit and we’ve been determined to chip away at some of these artificial barriers and incorrect perceptions. Slowly but surely, more and more doors have been opening once people hear us and see what we’re capable of.
The upcoming ‘My Way’ launch at Solbar sounds like a huge all-ages party. What can fans expect from the show—and what’s your goal when you step on stage?
(Suggested replacement question: Tell us about your all ages ‘My Way’ launch party at the Solbar. What was your goal when you stepped on stage and how did you think it went).
Our aim was to throw a sick party celebrating our single launch and live music in general, that everyone was welcome at, and could be themselves at, regardless of their age. We had little kids from the age of 5 all the way up to bigger kids at 65 having an absolute ball. At one point there was a massive circle pit in the middle of the crowd, and we really fed off everyone’s energy and excitement. We’re so grateful for the support we have, and we can’t wait to throw another single launch party again soon!
You’ve already collaborated with Sarah McLeod, played to 10,000 people, and released multiple singles. What’s next creatively for Wave Raiders—more singles, an EP, or even a full album?
We have another single coming out later this year, and we’re currently working on some new tunes in the studio with Steve James and Pete Robinson from Electric Mary. We’re aiming to release an EP by the end of this year, and hopefully an album by the end of next year.
Your live shows are becoming known for being explosive and unpredictable. How do you prepare for gigs, and how important is performance to your band’s identity?
One thing that we learnt early on is that it’s not just about the music, it’s about the show. We want to be known for going all out on stage and we want people to be excited to see what we’re going to do next. We spend a lot of time off stage working on our stage presence, and a lot of effort on stage trialling new things. We’re always mixing it up. No two gigs are ever the same.
You formed the band at ages 10–12, and now you’re on the radar of some of the country’s biggest acts. Looking back at that Caloundra Music Festival moment with Spiderbait—how did it feel to crash the stage and totally own it?
It was pretty funny when we first got on stage with Spiderbait. Janet asked us side stage whether we could actually play ‘Calypso’. Pete was playing Wit’s guitar and the strap felt like it was down to his ankles. Jayden was shorter than Janet’s bass amp. And Tom couldn’t reach the drum peddles from Kram’s seat, without half standing up. We’d practiced ‘Calypso’ earlier that day in our bedroom around 10 times and we only got it right once. To actually be called up on stage by Spiderbait and to nail it in front of all those people at such a young age was like nothing we’ve ever felt before. It really was one of those moments that makes live music and the magic that happens when people get together, so special.
