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Hozho

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Aveiro, Portugal.

How did you first start playing music?

I started my journey as a producer. Back in 2012, a friend of mine presented me a music production program, something I’d never heard of. So, I started experimenting and taking the first steps in FL Studio, which is the DAW I still use these days. I started producing hip hop beats, then I went to drum and bass and I ended up in minimal techno. Then in 2015 I created Hozho. Over time, I improved my own music style, in order to create something unique. Starting to perform as a DJ was a consequence of music production.

What’s been happening recently?

Recently I’ve been focusing on the release strategy for my upcoming EP together with my team. Also, I’m going to start a world tour soon and I’ve been getting ready for that. In the midst of it all, I try to find some time to produce songs for my next album.

What or who influenced your latest single ‘Troubles in Paradise’?

This track was developed from one of the dozens of projects I started in FL

Studio but I never finished. One day I was listening to the unfinished projects I had and this one stood out from the others, it had a bassline that I loved. At the time, the name of the project was Troubles In Paradise so I decided to keep that track ID and create a story around that name.

How did this single come about?

Well, one would think that now that I have gigs all over the world, tracks with millions of views and streams on digital platforms, that everything is fine and that I live a good life. But it’s not always like that. We all have everyday problems. This particular track focuses on the problems of a romantic relationship and that’s the main message of the track.

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

After the release of my single Honey Trap in February 2022 I started working on Troubles In Paradise. I think by the end of March I already had the track done because I played it for the first time in Bangkok on April 9th. The track was produced in my home studio and was mastered by Pobla Studio with whom I have been working for a few years now.

How did you approach the production process?

It’s like writing a book: you’re not gonna start putting random words on a paper and hoping they make sense. I had a clear idea in my mind about the story I wanted to tell and the emotions I wanted to transmit in Troubles In Paradise, related to breakup, that even when everything seems to be going well, problems end up happening. The challenge was to try to reproduce this message in an electronic music track, with just a few vocal lines, using the power of basslines, melodies, pads, groove, etc. The instruments, the samples, the VST’s… all of that is secondary. What matters is that at the end of the day, the music manages to awaken the emotion I was looking for. Because for me music is not just music, it’s a story. In the same way that the Mona Lisa is not just a woman smiling. There is something else.

Please tell us about your love for the Breaking Bad series:

What can I say… for me it’s the best TV series ever because it has a message that I identify with. Aside from the drugs and all that, the series focuses on a man who knows he’s going to die because he has cancer (spoiler alert). It’s interesting how we start to live our lives when we’re given an “expiration date”. We start doing today what, in a normal situation, we would only do tomorrow (or never). What Breaking Bad tells me is that we should start living the life we deserve, stepping out of our comfort zone, doing things we’ve never done before, to truly enjoy life and live it in accordance with our own terms, before it’s too late.

You’ve risen fast as an emerging act in the melodic techno/house scene, what do you attribute to this fast success?

As Charles Bukowski said: wherever the crowd goes, run in the other direction. I truly believe that the music I produce is different, unique and I think a lot of people can relate to it. When your music is good and you work with a professional team that supports you, that helps you promote your work and gets you the best shows, your name and your music starts to be recognized worldwide.

How do you feel now as a prominent emerging artist?

It feels good to be recognized across the world. It feels good to be able to make a living on music. It feels good to be able to travel the world, visit amazing places and meet amazing people, doing what I love. For all this I am very grateful. But let’s not make a big deal about it. I’m still Joel, that boy who grew up in a small village in Portugal and who had a knack for music. I’m still a working progress and I want to believe that the best days are yet to come.

Please tell us about your self-styled genre ‘Melodark’ and what it means to you:

For me Melodark goes beyond being just a music genre. Since its inception, it has become an artistic movement with an emotional, motivational and overcoming message. For me it’s a lifestyle and a philosophy. Musically speaking, Melodark is characterized by the symbiotic contrast between the beautiful melodies (melo) and the darkness surrounding the synths and basslines (dark), mostly based on a minimal techno beat.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Hozho. He’s a great artist!

What do you like to do away from music?

I like to read, watch TV series and movies, play tennis, travel and be in contact with nature.

Where and when are you playing next?

At the end of August I will start my tour in the United States and Latin America.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

In 2022, I plan to release my second solo album – Psychological Issues – and recorded my fourth DJ Mix. A collaboration with my friend and artist Droplex will also be released, a single track called Sitting In This Cage. Apart from the releases, I expect a big tour until the end of the year, with nearly 30 shows all over the world.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Favourite food: Pizza.

Place to hangout: Any place nearby the beach.

Follow Hozho:
Instagram | Facebook

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Lady King

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Gadigal Country (Sydney).

How did you first start playing music?

I started singing and playing the piano when I was 10 then picked up cello soon after. I was mostly studying classical music and playing in orchestras which I’m eternally grateful for but I found the strict parameters of classical music to be uninspiring so I studied sound and audio engineering after school whilst playing cello in a few local bands. It took some time for me to figure out my love for writing, performing and teaching music but I’m glad I got there..

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been writing and working on a LADY KING record whilst teaching and performing in a bunch of different projects including Velvet Trip and EJ Worland. Staying busy (maybe too busy) and really enjoying collaborating with new people 🙂

Your latest single ‘Play It’ will be out on August 18, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I’m a sucker for old soul records where stacked vocal harmonies, big arrangements and live instrumentation are non-negotiable like Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers and Al Green. I can’t hide the classical geek in me so I made a point of capturing big strings and harmonies. This track blends classic soul with a neo-soul twist similar to Raveena, Joy Crooks and Snoh Aalegra.

How did Play It come about?

I wrote this song a few years ago after I was slut shamed by a friend. The situation was made more difficult as this person had more feelings for me that I did not reciprocate. Rejection hit him deeply and as a result I was villainised. My sexual receipts were used to divide and pit my community against me. It took a while for me to come to terms with it all but through healing I realised that gender roles perpetuate harmful sexual double standards in society. Traditionally men are granted more sexual freedom than women and women are often penalised for being sexual so I wanted to highlight this issue and the effects this has on women. I also felt sorry for my friend for not being able to express his emotions in a healthy way so this song was how I processed it. I hope this song can open up conversations about sexual double standards and the damaging effects of slut shamming.

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

I recorded this song at Forces and Fury studios in Marrickville in 2020 before the pandemic and then covid put a pause on everything. Plans changed and the song landed in the hands of my dear friend Glenn Hopper (aka LEN20). Glenn is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, producer and has been doing incredible things, making sound beds and unique loops. In recent years Glenn has been working closely with Take a Day Trip, producing cuts for artists including Mary J Blige, Kid Cudi and Lil Nas X to name a few.

In the past year, Glenn and I have worked on producing and mixing the track. It’s been through many incarnations with lockdowns and life obstacles but we’ve managed to bring it together and I’m super proud of how it’s all come along.

How did you approach the recording process?

I usually track my songs live and then work with a producer adding layers and sound design etc. When this song was first recorded it featured horns but we eventually replaced them with strings from Lydia Swaries (violin), Ida Warhole (Harp) and myself on cello. The guitar solo worked seamlessly with the rest of the band but was in fact recorded from a separate session with the incredible Hilary Geddes (The Bouys) before I got the band (Midground) in the studio.

I sat with my friend IMI (Joseph Liddy and the Skeleton Horse) to write and record backing vocals and between the two of us we layered the vocal harmonies. Both IMI and I appreciate gospel and choirs which prompted the idea of more voices so I brought in Annalina and Ellen Mara to sing some harmonies before sending it off to Andrew Edgson (Studio 301) for Mastering. These wonderful collaborators each provide extra warmth and colour to the track and I’m inspired by all of them.

Any shows coming up?

I’ve got an exciting show at the end of the month at one of my favourite Sydney venues, Ramblin Rascal. Come through on the 27th of August. Did I mention it’s free?

Who are you listening to at the moment?

It’s always so hard to decide one – I like listening to a broad range of music from baroque to pop and everything in between but my top three artists this month Eddie Chacon, Francesca Fulmini and LOONY

What do you like to do away from music?

I love making food, playing pool and getting out – big nature fien.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

Finishing this record. I’ve also got a bunch of shows lined up with a few tours to come and hopefully I’ll tick off my London dream and head over in 2023.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Roti from the Thai queens at the Marrickville markets and hanging out beach side by any shore that meets the ocean.

 

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ZZADE

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am based in Meanjin (Brisbane), Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

I have been pretty musical all my life. My early home videos are of me banging on pots and pans and singing to hi-five. I first started writing songs when I was about ten and then started learning to play bass when I was eleven for the primary school band. My Dad played bass and I wanted to be just like him. I used to jam with my Dad and started writing songs and riffs on bass shortly after I started learning to play.

What’s been happening recently?

A lot! I have been busy planning and organising for this release, shooting a music video and making sure everything’s up to my perfectionist standard. I have also been recording new music and am in the process of finishing my next single as we speak. I’m always plotting and scheming something.

Your debut single ‘Hollywood Ending’ will be released on August 19, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? 

I first had all the lyrics written for this song but no melodies or riffs yet in mind. I remember sitting down and purposefully trying to tell myself to be open minded to whatever ideas may come because usually I am quite judgemental of them. I didn’t have a specific sound in mind writing this song other than the “ZZADE” electronic pop but still heavy sound I had been trying to curate. I think production and the main bass riff really transformed the song into something I really liked.

How did Hollywood Ending come about and what is the meaning?

Hollywood Ending came to life from two things – a therapy session and a bad dream. Out of feelings of “life is unfair” and “life sucks” bla bla, I remember telling my therapist that I wished life could be like a Hollywood movie – where the good guys always win in the end. I remember saying the words “Hollywood Ending” and thinking to myself that it sounded like a great line for a song. That night I had a dream…more nightmare…about a boy I used to (unfortunately) be involved with. I woke up confused but inspired to pick up my bass and write a song about how I hoped he got his “Hollywood Ending”. The brain is a funny thing and although that dream was a shitty reminder of that person, I couldn’t be more proud to release this song.

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

The original demo of Hollywood Ending was produced by Aaron Shanahan who I was working with at the time. He helped curate some of the poppy production elements and the base of the song. A couple of months later I took the song to my good friend and current producer Tom Megalos for the finishing production touches and mixing. It was then mastered by Matthew Gray.

How did you approach the recording process? 

I walked into the studio with the song written and a few notes on some of the ideas I had for production. The whole song came very naturally and after about three hours, Aaron and I had drums, synths, bass and vox down. That original vocal take is the same take you hear now in the song. Tom and I tried to re-record another take but I couldn’t top my first one. My overall approach to recording the song was to once again keep an open mind and try new things. I tried not to limit myself by thinking things like “it’s too poppy” or “it’s not ____enough”.

Please tell us about your early days in alternative punk band The Blockades and how it developed your songwriting and stage energy from such a young age: 

I had played in The Blockades from ages 14-18. In that time I probably played over 100 local gigs, a few sold out shows, and the climate strike rally of 5000 people. I think playing so many shows so young really helped me develop a strong onstage persona. I learnt early on to be able to feed off my own energy. Whether the crowd be 5 people or 50, I would be able jump around as if it was Madison Square Garden. I also learnt to observe the crowd and how different songwriting styles would be able inspire different crows behaviour. I now always keep that in mind when writing, I ask myself “Will this be fun to play live?” or “Can this be sung along to?”

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I feel extremely late to the party but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been on repeat this week because they just released two new singles that I love. I’ve also been vibing with locals Full Flower Moon Band and a couple of their new singles.

What do you like to do away from music?

I currently work in childcare and babysit so when I’m not making music I’m hanging out with toddlers. My class I like to think is pretty musical because of me. I write songs for them and play my guitar while they each shake little egg shakers I made for them. I also like to ride dirt bikes on the weekend with my family and am working on my jumps. Other than that, I really don’t do much of anything else but music.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023? 

I have a few more gigs planned already, including supporting SOAP this Saturday at Black Bear Lodge. I’m also already in the process of recording and planning another single release.

Favourite food and place to hangout? 

Fav food is definitely nachos or anything from Netherworld. I have a lot of food allergies so Netherworld is always a safe bet for me. Fave place to hang out would be Black Bear Lodge or the studio.

Instagram

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Thunderfox

by the partae
written by the partae

What’s been happening recently?

It’s exciting to think we’ve actually got an answer for that question now! After years of, essentially, a hiatus through COVID and everything in between, we’ve been busy trying to regain our momentum touring and writing. We’ve played a few headliners and small festivals around the East Coast this year and have dropped our first music of the year with “Hard Times” to boot, so we’re definitely well on our way to reaching our former glory.

You’ve just released your killer new track ‘Hard Times’ what influenced the sound and songwriting?

This track was initially written between myself and Pat Byrne aka Beso Palma in his studio in Coogee. We were just jamming to be honest since we admired each other and wanted to see what we could create. We spent about an hour listening to 90’s Michael Jackson before actually doing anything so that definitely worked its way into the sound. Once I brought it to the band, we were able to imbue it with our usual cacophony of influences.

How did Hard Times come about?

Hard Times was born out of that jam with Pat. We just laid down a million layers of percussion and tried to make a danceable groove to just sit in. Lyrically, I love to delineate a funky, upbeat instrumental with a little darkness so, I did just that in the studio on the day and they flowed thick and fast.

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

Once we’d rehearsed the tune as a band and made some tweaks between us to make it more unique to our sound, we headed into the studio with Pat to put down the instruments. The song was produced primarily by the band with a few naughty home sessions to build the soundscape after the main elements were put down. It was subsequently mixed by our long time collaborator and daddy, Daniel Willington.

How did you approach the recording process?

We took the elements of what we liked from the original session i.e. the percussion and guitars and built on that structure with our live instruments. We started with Bass and Drums, then horns on our studio day and vocals, along with some other auxiliary synths were done at my place using the tracks we came home with.

What or who influenced the concept for the music video?

We’ve got a bit of a reputation for funny videos, bordering on completely ridiculous so, the general consensus was to match the darker tone of this track with something a little moodier to show a different side of the band. Jesse had been doing dance lessons so was in touch with a great choreographer in Jess Innes so he had the idea to just get in a room with our instruments and some sick backing dancers to do something nice and professional for once.

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

It was filmed earlier in the year at the Egg studios. The video was directed by Nick Allen, shot by Matty Ower and choreographed by Jess Innes. We also were lucky enough to get our hands on some custom outfits designed by my good friend Romon Yang as well as some makeup looks by Georgia Vierod. All of the crew were friends so we felt very lucky to be so close to such talented, hard working creatives.

What did you most enjoy about creating the film clip for Hard Times?

For me, personally, it was surprisingly pleasant to put down the guitar and try not to make a fool out of myself in front of the camera without my usual on stage armour. Considering I’m a notoriously awkward and uncoordinated person, I did much better than I thought I would.

Any upcoming shows/tours – When/where?

As always, we’ve got shows aplenty coming up through the year. We’ll be hitting a few festivals like Relish Festival, Jungle Love and Young Henrys Fringe Festival which we’re so excited for and will most definitely be hitting a city near you to bust out a face melting headliner.

Please tell us about any new music that’s on the horizon?

As we SPEAK we’re whipping up a jam the likes of which have never been seen. We’re aiming to release in the coming months with fame and fortune following shortly after.

Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed

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RinRin

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based? 

I’m from Perth.

 

How did you first start playing music? 

One day Dad came home from a weekend garage sale with an old classical guitar. I was the first one to run outside and asked my dad if it was for me. He said yes and that was it!

 

What’s been happening recently? 

Just the usual crazy stuff I suppose. Writing music, gaming and preparing for Bigsound.

 

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

I was cramming a school project one night. Because we are using Ableton in school, the song ended up having more electronic elements in it than my previous songs. The lyrics were actually sitting in my phone for a while and I decided, “f$%& it, let’s use it”.

 

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

I recorded the song within the span of three weekends in March this year and I worked with Ryan Botha of Audax Studios here in Perth, who also mixed and mastered the song.

 

How did you approach the recording process? 

I will send the full demo to Ryan. He will then program the drum and bass parts from the demo, we then record all guitar parts. Upload the synth’s from the demo and then comes the hardest part – vocals.

 

What does Guns and Grenades mean to you? 

When I think about the song, I think about two people standing on opposite sides of the battlefield told to fight to the death. These people are having their love torn apart by other people’s selfish interest. 

 

You’re playing at Bigsound 2022, how are you feeling? 

Scared and nervous but excited! It’s my first time flying to somewhere else to perform so it’s a really big milestone in my career so far.

 

What do you have planned for this epic showcase? 

I’m excited to play “Guns And Grenades” live!

 

Who are you looking forward to seeing also play at Bigsound 2022? 

To Octavia, The Last Martyr, Future Static. 

 

What do you like to do away from music? 

PC Gaming (especially Valorant), spend time with family and my cat Mimi and also drawing.

 

What’s planned for 2022? 

There may be more singles still to come and I’ll continue writing in the meantime 

 

Favourite food and place to hangout? 

The restaurants in China Town are bussin, and gamers like me hangout virtually online with other gamer friends.

 

Facebook here

Instagram here

Website here

Twitter here

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Kaipora 

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

San Diego.

How did you first start playing music?

Ronnie and Kevin met in advanced band in middle school. Kevin playing the saxophone and Ronnie in percussion.

What’s been happening recently?

Recently we’ve just been playing bigger and bigger shows and showing people the possibilities of live electronic music.

Your latest single ‘Hold On’ will be soon, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Our friend McFiddles had this vocal he jammed over a track we were making and it turned into this deep banger.

How did Hold On come about?

It was one of those songs that just started happening with one idea and kept falling into place. Started with the vocals.

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

We wrote and produced this about a year ago with McFiddles at our studio.

How did you approach the recording process?

Our approach is to let it record, jam and choose the best and groovy parts.

Any shows coming up?

We having burning man coming up and same same but different festival.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

At the moment we’ve been listening to thundercat, kaytranada, and lots of bass music.

What do you like to do away from music?

We like to explore the outside and play the occasional video game.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

The plan is to keep grinding and recording more tunes. We are about to release a full length album of all bass hip hop vibes.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Burritos and beach.

@kaip0ra
KAIPORA.net
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Vlade Kay

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?  

It’s hard to name one place, now I’m focusing on writing new music and recording it, that’s why  we travel a lot with my team to work with different songwriters, producers and meet people from  industry all around the world. For example we had writing camps in LA, Dubai, London, south of  France and by the way, I’d love to be in LA now. For sure we will go there soon. 

How did you first start playing music?  

Music has always been a major part of my life. Mostly because I come from a musical family, my  father is a drummer and my mother is a singer, so I spent my childhood on the backstage and  from a young age I was singing and playing piano and flute. Also back then, every week we were  making small concerts at our place for all the neighbors. It was a great time! 

What’s been happening recently?  

Recently I’ve been recording a lot and preparing new materials, we finally finished the EP, so I will  release it very soon, right after ‘Dynamite’. For me it was really important to choose right songs  and get all details close to perfect. 

Your new single ‘Dynamite’ is out on August 5, what influenced the sound and songwriting?  The lyrics are based on my own experience. 

It’s about feelings that burst out and cannot be controlled. I’m sure that everyone can relate to it. So I just wanted to share my feelings with people. 

How did you go about writing Dynamite?  

Honestly, it was a team work, definitely magic happened! 

We were in studio for a couple of days songwriting. Dynamite was written 2 years ago, that time  we tried to find the right sound, but I didn’t feel that version should be released as it was. 

And recently we got back to the song again and finally made it the way you hear it now. We caught the right moment, my team was inspired by the song again, the melody got stuck in  my head for days so I realized, it’s a time to drop it.. 

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?  I’ve been working with the same crew for the last 4 years, we kinda feel each other so it’s  definitely a match. I see how they also get inspiration from what we do together, and they believe  in me, it’s very important feeling.  

How did you approach the production process?  

We changed the song few times and then realized that it would be cool to make a rock ballade  format. We got inspired by greatest rock bands and decided to use Lenny Kravitz guitar style 

As a rising artist you’ve already collaborated with DJ Snake and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike,  how was each experience and who would you like to collaborate with in the future?  I still can’t believe that we did it together, it is a big-big honor for me!  

They are huge professionals with strong teams in all aspects from music to management You need to learn from the best, right? 

Soon I will drop a new collaboration with another big name, for now I keep it a secret! The song is massive, I’m sure people will love it. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?  

I listen to different music, lately I have a lot of pop rock songs in my playlist, like Maneskin, Harry  styles. 

Can’t wait to hear some new names in the same style! I love it! 

What do you like to do away from music?  

For efficiency, in every sphere it’s important for me to switch activities.  

Currently I focus on improving my music performance. 

Everyday I have dancing classes, vocals, studio, rehearsals etc.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?  

I will release my first EP and few music videos soon. 

Planning another album, preparing new shows – can’t wait to perform on stage again!

Instagram | Facebook | Spotify

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Thousand Fingers

by the partae
written by the partae

Welcome to The Partae! How is everything in your world after the pandemic?

Everything is going much better than I planned, actually. My brands are growing fast and getting great feedback from the scene. 

Why did you start Follow The Fingers records? What was the inspiration? What was the aim?

It became one of my life goals after spending many years in the industry. I wanted to create a record label & recording studio joint brand where like-minded artists can freely express themselves.

How important is artwork and format do you think in 2022?

At the end of the day, you are selling music, but the image is important too. It should definitely reflect the total concept of the release and also link to the format of the record label. In Follow The Fingers, we work with different designers for the releases. Most recently, we worked with Italian artist Elisa. She explains of her art that the images were originally an experiment. “I wanted to explore the relationship between music and abstract visuals, and I wanted to investigate the role of technology in the production of art. I used Frax, an open source app that allows users to create their own fractals, infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. I also wanted to modify my fractals even more, so I manually modified colours, light and movement in each picture. Finally I used Runway ML, a machine learning software that allows creators to explore different uses of Artificial Intelligence. By feeding the archive of images I had from Frax into Runway, I was able to obtain new and totally unique graphics.”

And what about videos and social media? Do they play a role in getting the label out there?

Of course!

What is the signature sound of the label? What defines it musically?

Our sound draws on an image of a post-apocalyptic future, but it’s not a simple replicate of the Mad Max theme. It is more modern and in harmony with machines. It respects every theme and area of post-apocalypiıc life. There’s the post-apocalyptic love story, the post-apocalyptic world of vikings…limited by imagination only.

Tell us about the new VA. How did you select the artists for this?

A few of the artists have releases on Follow The Fingers already. However, I am always finding new artists on the internet and reaching out. They are people who I’ve come across on music streaming or download platforms.

How has the label evolved since you first started it?

The label is constantly growing its roster and getting more recognition with each release. When it comes to the releases, originality is giving us a big distinction from other labels. Every release gets a new blog feature, premiere, radio play or gesture of support from top artists. 

How do you manage that while staying true to the original and core sound?

You just work with the right artists at the right time. The industry evolves/changes all the time and I should be listening to a lot of music and foresee where the scene is going. That’s how I can pick original creatives on my same wavelength.

What have been the best releases or the ones you’re most proud of so far?

I’m proud of all our releases but my favourite three are Into The Mist EP, Poison Lips EP, and She Said EP.

What else are you doing forward to/have you got coming up?

Oh, we have a lot of exciting sounds coming along! Apart from that, nowadays, I am working on a new compilation of ADE.

 

 

FOLLOW THE FINGERS // RECORDS & STUDIO

www.followthefingers.com

SOCIALS 

Landing Page – https://biglink.to/thousandfingers

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thsndfngrs/

Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/c/ThousandFingers

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/6pDwIptiCrEeRzTfc7mLrn?si=5JqNVA38RWCM_6WrpwCNoA

Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/thousand-fingers/1474256556

Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/thsndfngrs

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thsndfngrs/

ResidentAdvisor – https://ra.co/dj/thousandfingers

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Sheph.ART & Barry Saleh

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Hey! Great to be here today, we’re currently based out in Southwest Sydney, Liverpool to be specific!

 

How did you two come together to create music?

Sheph.ART: We actually met years ago, both on a construction site as electricians! One day, we were working on a large job together when I played some of my own music on the speakers. The conversations that brewed since then have never stopped! We went on to create music together, open our own Music Studio and have lots more in the works.

 

What’s been happening recently?

Barry Saleh: As we’re both producer and artists, our lives revolve around music 24/7! At this very moment, we are working on some large scale EPs for the artists that work with us as well as planning our next release.

Sheph.ART: I mirror what Barry said! Our publicist always tells us that we need more coverage of us outside our studio, but it’s the music that drives us forward, whether it’s learning, creating or executing on what we’ve set out to do. We have a lot more in works as business owners working in the music industry. Currently, we are also expanding our team of producers, finding more talent to work with and expanding our portfolio of music!

 

‘Action’ is your debut single together, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Sheph.ART – “Action’ is a reference to the people who have doubted my musical, creative and business abilities, always being nowhere to be found when crunch time was imminent and now would like a seat at the table to bear the fruits of my labor. I specifically made the production as gritty as possible without losing its melodic essence in order to take the listener through an emotional rollercoaster to feel the hunger that I felt going through the motions of being able to get to where I am today and looking to go forward from here.”

Barry Saleh –  “In the opening verse I wrote through the eyes of my brother and the experiences that I witnessed him live through. I paint a picture of unhealthy memories in a reminiscent/braggadocious manner and take listeners all the way through to the present moment of growth and obstacles that are faced when it comes to people doubting and having ill intentions. The first person writing approach we took throughout the track strengthens relatability and understanding as it allows listeners to consume our lyrics as if they are the personas living the narrative or as if we are speaking directly to them in conversation.”

 

Please describe your collaborative process?

Sheph.ART: As Barry and I work together on a daily basis as producers, we have nailed our collaborative process down to the tee. From a production standpoint, we both have areas of expertise that we like to give to each other, for example, I love laying down the Melodies on keys and Barry is a killer guitarist! We both decide on the vibe of the track and go from there. Action’s instrumental is gritty yet melodic and takes the audience through a journey so for us as musicians, it’s all about what the track needs, we let go of any ego and do what’s right for the record.

Barry Saleh: In regard to the collaborative process for writing, we always go off the feeling of the beat, usually when we start writing together, we always end up writing about the same feeling, but if we don’t whoever nails the hook first, we go off of that as the topic. Sheph and I have had similar yet different experiences in life and so we tackle that topic from a different perspective. I agree with Sheph, when it comes to the record, we are a means of delivering a message, but if the message doesn’t sit right for the record, there are no hard feelings, you scrap it and move on. We’re tough critics of each other and so will challenge each other.

 

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

Sheph.ART – Being artist/producers, Barry and I, produced, tracked and engineered in our own studio BeatsWithSheph. I find that being a producer makes me a better artist and being an artist makes me a better producer all allowing me to have the flexibility to tell many stories in the one record. For example, Being a producer/artist, I used the melodies in the chorus and my verse of “Action”  to tell a story in itself. Although the beat and the main vocals can sound upfront and in your face, the listener has the option to listen a little more in depth and find that there is a flow of movement in the record that showcases the euphoric feeling of success through grit, hunger and hustle.”

 

How did you approach the recording process?

Sheph.ART – There are a few ways that I like depending on the feeling of the beat, sometimes, I will record melodies first and comp it together and write and record from there. Other times, I have the lyrics written, memorised (always memorised) and then when I record, it’s all about the delivery. This is not just something I hold for myself as an artist, but something I talk about with the artists that I engineer for. Engineering starts during the recording process and focusing on the delivery is everything.

Barry Saleh – Sheph and I take our engineering experience into the studio when we record, whenever we are tracking for each other, we understand even as seasoned recording artists, there are still nerves at the start of any recording process, getting that out of the way is when the recording really starts. From there it’s about finding every take that has been delivered the best. Making sure that our engineering vocalware is catered for the vocals of the artist (even if it’s ourselves), choosing a mic that suits the voice of the artist and the tone of the record.

 

What do you have planned for Action?

There is so much happening for Action! We have quite a few blogs, radios and endorsements coming our way for this record and the love is appreciated! We aren’t stopping here though, there is going to be another record dropping shortly for you all to bump to and a few other projects in the works! Keep an eye out!

 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Sheph.ART – I’ve been bumping KAYTRANADA and Anderson.Paak!

Barry Saleh – I love listening to Burna Boy, JID and a range of Arabic music!

 

Any live shows coming up?

Barry Saleh – “At the moment, there are a few live shows in the works and will be finalised in the coming months! Performing has always been part of my life since a young age and there is no feeling like performing and seeing your fans in the crowd singing the words of your records!”

Sheph.ART – “Touring is definitely on the to do list, but right now, for me, it is more about creating a strong digital presence and growing my skills for when it’s time to perform.”

 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

We love this question!

Currently, we have a fair few projects in the works, not just for our artistry, but for business! Keep an eye out for “Sheph Division” “BeatswithSheph” and everything that encompasses it! Our organisation has doubled over the past few months and we don’t plan to stop, so if you’re an artist, producer or engineer who is looking for the next step in there career, we’re on the hunt to find you and help you grow!

For our records, we plan to come out with more records that are just going to blow you away!

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Sheph.ART – I’m an avid cook so I love a good home cooked meal, but I like to spice it up so I cook at my BeatswithSheph studio haha!

Barry Saleh – Love me good meal from Classic Burger! Can’t go wrong there! With our busy schedule sometimes ordering Uber Eats is time efficient and having great options open till late in Liverpool is a plus!

 

PLAY/LISTEN

Sheph.ART  Instagram | triple j Unearthed

Barry Saleh  Instagram | triple j Unearthed

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Tied Down

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Tied Down is currently based in Perth WA

How did the band form?

We had a pretty funny startup: Deano (drums) & Kado (rhythm guitar) have been mates since they were about 4 years old and always jammed together. I (CJ – vocals) played footy with Kado and decided to head around to jam with the both of them and covered The Comedown by Ocean Alley. As soon as we finished the song we kind of looked at each other like, “ahh that was actually pretty good” haha. Steve (lead guitar) was the wild chance meeting as the boys met him on the roof of a hostel in Tokyo while over there for Fuji Rock Festival which still is pretty unbelievable how that panned out. Papa D (Dolsy – bass) was the last pickup as he went to school with Kado. They hadn’t seen each other for a while then saw each other at a local hardware store and Kado gave the invite to come have a splash with us!

What’s been happening recently?

Gigs, gigs, gigs. We’ve been on a massive run of shows in the last couple of months playing our Undefeated single launch, two gigs alongside Gyroscope and sold out shows with South Summit & Saviour! It’s been an unreal run of gigs and we’re thankful for the opportunities!

Your latest single ‘Undefeated’ will be out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Undefeated as a whole to me is a powerful anti-suicide note. We wanted to make an up-tempo, uplifting track about pushing through all the shit you have to go through in everyday life and not giving up no matter what. This track pulled a lot from our heavier influences like Title Fight, Trophy Eyes and Basement while keeping our trademark punk rock sound. We couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out!

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

We rolled this one through our mate Matt Templeman again as we did for our last single Slow.
Temps is great to work with and provided a lot of the drive for the track. We also had drum tech extraordinaire Fraser Cringle and riff king Scott Kay work with us then had it produced by Simon Struthers. Such a great time working with all of them and they really helped us get the most out of the track.

Please tell us about how important it is to you to touch on deeper topics through your lyrics:

Great question. For me, I determine what I want to touch on once I’ve completely immersed myself into the roots of the song musically. I heard the shell of Undefeated and knew instantly what I wanted it to delve into. Like I said, this song is a fuck you to suicide and all the mental breakdowns that can try and push you towards breaking point and being able to have the resilience to say, nah not today. As a collective, I think all of us at TD believe in writing meaningful music and really don’t want to be putting out standard tracks talking about the same old shit.

Please tell us about your process of lyric writing:

Haha, lyrics are a funny one for me.
I listen to the shell of our music at its birth then I generally take it home with me on earphones and start listening on repeat. I’ve always had a knack for writing hooks and melodies really easily so I’ll normally start singing made up words in the order I want them to go. At any given time I probably have 5 different topics with some choruses ready to go so I’ll place the one in there that fits the music the best and then send it to the boys, get some feedback and work on it from there. I won’t stop until I know I have the right combination of words and that I’ve packed as much meaning and punch that I possibly can. Apart from all that, the most important part of the lyrics writing process is probably coffee haha.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

We’ve got a big mixture going on at the moment. The Tied Down playlist is a mixed bag of artists and genres but I’ll namedrop a few that we’re on at the moment: South Summit, Posseshot, Angie Colman, Speed, Lilos, Joan & The Giants & Ratsalad to name a few!

What’s the Perth music scene like right now?

The place to be baby! Sick shows every week, new singles every week, loads of radio play, bands heading over east. It’s literally all happening and it feels like it’s long overdue!

Plans for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

We’re knocking up a solid end of year run including another show or two with South Summit in September, heading up to Geraldton with Ratsald in October and then hitting Sydney for a couple shows in November as our first trip to the East Coast! We’ve set some time aside for writing and recording so we can hopefully spoil everyone with some new bangers shortly!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

At the moment I can’t stop smashing the pizza. Should probably have shares in my local pizzeria the way I’m flying through it aha. I love hanging out in any creative space – jam rooms, small time acoustic gigs or literally just an air BNB with a good crew and a couple instruments. Creativity breeds creativity yo!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tieddownaus
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tieddownaus
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLa31m60YjREMf7JeFBR1wg
Triple J Unearthed: https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/tieddown/ 

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Cherie Laurent

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
 
I am Based in Melbourne Australia for the last 20 years. 

How did you first start playing music?
I started at a very young age, and I was playing the piano and singing. Back then I was singing in my mother tongue as well as dancing. As a child, I was the Diva in my school, then my mum as well as mostly everyone realized I got talent. They advised my mum to take me to a private singing teacher. My mum and dad were into opera. It was decided for me to learn to sing opera. I was trained as an opera singer from the age 9 as part of a choir and then the private singing lessons with different singing teachers.
 
What’s been happening recently? 
 
I have my TV show “Ma Cherie” on Roku TV that is now reaching so many countries, at the same time you can get it on Amazon fire TV. I do put all my songs and music on my TV show, and I use this show as a vehicle to get my music and music videos to the USA and the world.
 
As I have been releasing songs in the music world, including my music fans and lovers, I am getting to people’s houses, living rooms and even bedrooms with my TV show to promote my music and my music videos.  

I signed a contract to get the show on streaming network called gethappyiTV in California back in January 2022 so my music will take wings from there streaming platform.

By using many different streaming platforms all around the world, I managed to get approached by a fantastic music manager, personal manager and agent in West Hollywood & UK.

I have good numbers of new songs ready to be released in the pipeline and it has been a crazy amount of work putting these together during the lockdown and now it’s time to flourish. One after one each song keeps opening more and more opportunities for my music, TV and even in films. So, I need to take it all in and keep myself grounded. Take it step by step.

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

This is one of the hardest songs I ever written because it is so personal, and it touches such a painful part in my heart. I lost my Dad back in 2005 and I refused to accept his death in my mind for 5 years until I had to visit home and when I walked in to the house, I was thinking in my mind that I will see him sitting on his chair like the day I left home. 

However, he was not there. It was like a shock which I refused to believe, then my brother took me to his grave, where the song inspiration came to me. 

It took a long time to get it out as I did not have the strength to face the demons inside of me. The feeling of regret for not being able to connect with him. 

My mum and sister told me that he kept calling my name when he was on the death bed, and he wanted to see me. I feel so bad that I never went back to say goodbye. To say I love you dad. A word I was never able to say to him when he was alive.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
 
I recorded the final version earlier this year (2022) and I worked with 2 producers, first was Peter Bee and then I took it to Melodic music to work with Sam the owner. I felt I needed it to be a big and rich song. I know deep Inside me that it will be a gift to my dad and melodic did the mastering for the USA market.
 
How did you approach the recording process?
 
After I have written the song, I worked on the demo with good friend of mine his name was Dean Holtmann. Together, we created the Demo. Dean from NYC and he knew great number of people in the music business, names like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. He asked me what music I loved and I told him Guns & Roses, Queen and that was the start. We spent nights and days in the studio just trying different thing and I kept adding to it. It was like making the perfect recipe. After the demo was done, everything was easy to explain to Peter Bee when we worked together. 

I felt there was something missing, I was trained in classical music so my ears and the way I feel about the music and sound had to be satisfied, so I asked if I could take it to Sam from Melodic. After I talked to him, Sam said to me “You are such a big personality with a big voice you need music as big as your voice and your music presence”. He worked on the orchestra side. And that’s it, that was the part that was missing, when he sent me the final, I had a vision in my mind which was like I was watching a movie. I was seeing myself walking to my dad presence to get on my knees and present him with my apology and give him the song with my tears covering my face. 

Who are you listening to at the moment? 
 
In my car and my phone I’m listening to “the show must go on” by Queen but I go through all the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, & 80’s great rock songs that were created to learn and to inspire me to great music! Music that is bigger than life and lasts forever after I have gone.
 
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
 
I just got approved with an O1 visa to move to the USA “West Hollywood”.  I have been waiting to have my meeting with the US embassy and then it will be the big move to an ocean of music, film, contacts, and some of the greatest names in the arts to work with. 

There are so many promises, hopes, dreams, and plans with a music manager like the one I signed with and his contact, plus his PR team in USA / UK and a great publisher. 

The TV networks is promising to help me to take my TV show to the international level on bigger networks, which means my music is going to reach a much bigger audience, as my show is a vehicle to take my music to people homes on the silver screen in their private living rooms.

Any upcoming shows?
 
Normal singers do shows in pubs or clubs, therefore, if there are big ones that can perform in stadiums for over 50k, I’ll be there! 

I produce a TV show every week, that plays 3 night a week, 2 in Melbourne Australia on C31 Friday at 11:30pm, Monday at 11pm and in Adelaide on Wednesday nights at 11:30pm, plus I placed the show on Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV. You can stream any on these networks any place around the world.

Each episode getting over 50k view so I guess I do have upcoming shows every week that you can see me and listen to my music and watch my music videos. On top of that you can get the chance to get to know me as an artist and as human being as a person on a very personal level, 

I can tell you about the stories behind the songs and the ups & down behind the music and the music videos. You can tape it or watch it over and over on my YouTube channel “Cherie Laurent” or my website www.macherietv.com

Not so many singers have this opportunity to reach their audience as I do. With 140k followers now I am working on Spotify followers as I did not know how to play Spotify. Now I am working with some of the biggest music PR in LA and they promise a lot. So I will need to wait and see. The Australian PR is doing very well. As you may know the US and the UK market is much bigger and that is what I am dreaming of now.

So to respond to your question more clearly, there are no live shows yet because I am building my fan base using TV all around the world and one day the live shows will come, but when I am ready and know that I will have a full house of fans that love my music and what I do. 

Favorite food and place to hangout?
 
My favorite food are vegetarian dishes and especially Thai food and Japanese seafood, But the problem is I am always on a diet and very strict about what to put in my mouth to keep my body looking the way it does.  It is a full time commitment and it is a full time job (24/7). 

As for hangouts, I normally go for power walks, maybe movies or art galleries. I do visit NGV a lot. Most of the time I am working writing new songs. I like to learn as much as I can about every great song being written and at the same time, I do write scripts for TV, films, musicals and most of the time looking and studying new subjects to present to people. I guess that is my hangout. Very boring to others, I am sure.

Thank you for your time and for all these great questions. Thank you for taking the time to read all my responses.

https://www.instagram.com/cherielaurent/

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RAGEFLOWER

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m living on Gadigal land! Sydney, Australia. 

How did you first start playing music?

I started piano lessons when I was 3 or 4, I then went on to learn brass instruments (trumpet, trombone and euphonium) in highschool playing in orchestra and concert band. I was a massive band geek. I didn’t start writing my own songs until I was around 17, but I’ve always been making up little tunes to accompany my life. 

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve just come back from Byron Bay, I went up for Splendour in the Mud. Had a crazy time but now I’m home I’ll be getting back in the studio to finish off some new music!

Your second single ‘Years’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I was very inspired by Joni Mitchell when I was writing this one, the way her melodies move around like swirling Van Gogh stars. When we got in the studio to put it down I wanted to find some heavier industrial sounds to accompany and contemporise the folk-style writing. 

How did you go about writing Years?

I’d just left a 4 year relationship. I put my guitar in open D tuning and started writing down everything I wanted to say to this person. It was very accusatory starting off, the first verse is basically just saying “you’re fake. I see right through you.” (window frames and such) But as I started writing the second verse, ; I realised all the flaws I was pointing out in this person I also held myself. I was lazy, I was stubborn, I also wouldn’t let things go. I had been in the same place for years, this toxic relationship, not just because of this other person but because I had allowed myself to stay there. 

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

So this song has been in the works for quite a while now. We laid down the drums (Daryl Chin) last year at studios 301 with my beautiful friend and incredible audio engineer Nicolas Mendoza. Over lockdown we put in guitars and bass in a home studio with Max Jacobs and Grace Labrum – this took a long time with restrictions but we got there eventually. The rest of the track was mostly me and Nico Scali (producer) in his studio in Marrickville, experimenting and trying to find something exciting for our ears after sitting on the track for over a year.

Do you have plans for an EP?

I do 🙂 I’ve been sitting on a looooot of music for the last 3 years so there’s a load more to come. I’ve really pushed the sound of RAGEFLOWER out of its box. My identity is fluid, so is my sound.

Please tell us about any upcoming shows/tours:

I haven’t got a lot of shows booked at the moment, I live with chronic pain so I’m trying to get healthy so I can go on tour one day. It does look like I’m getting better though and I’ll be playing a show with SULT at the Botany View Hotel in October. 

Who would you like to work with next?

Dream songwriting collab would be with Aldous Harding or Sevdaliza. But locally I’d love to get in a session with someone like Nick Ward or Carla Wehbe. They are both individually such unique, inspiring artists with huge spirit and great vision. 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

Just recording and releasing! I wanna put as much music out there as I can before the world ends 🙂

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Pasta is life. I like to hang out in the park by myself or on a friend’s couch playing mario kart. 

Facebook  | Instagram | Youtube | Triple j Unearthed

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Man vs Synth

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?
Melbourne! The greatest city I’ve had the pleasure to live in.

How did the band form?
Hamish, Leigh and I have been mates for a dozen years at this point. When it came time to get the band rolling I knew they would be involved. All that was left was to find a keys player and fortunately I had Jason as a contact from my time studying music at Monash Uni. I had a bunch of material written and everyone was happy to jump on board and sink their teeth into it.

What’s been happening recently?
We’ve been gigging around Melbourne a lot! We sold out our first headline show and subsequently played with a variety of local and interstate acts. We’ve been enjoying making funny content for our instagram during rehearsal breaks. Learning the business side of things has been really engaging too. Making merch with Foxtrot Prints has been fun and the reception to the merch was overwhelming to say the least.

Your latest single ‘In Sheep’s Clothing’ is out on the 29th of July, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Nine Inch Nails was a massive influence for this track. Heavy pounding synth bass defines the track at its core, but Radiohead, Mars Volta, Aphex Twin and many others are also huge influences on us.

How did you go about writing In Sheep’s Clothing?

I wrote the original riff whilst brainstorming ideas for another band in my own time. But I decided it was too good to share and I was holding on to that one for man vs synth! Sometimes a song can take months or a year to write but In Sheep’s Clothing came together relatively quickly. All the parts seemed to fall into place one after the other.

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

I wrote, performed, recorded, produced, and mixed everything (except the drums were performed by Hamish). Beau McKee mastered the track for me and he performed some dark magic to make it sound as good as it does – believe me. The recordings happened all over Melbourne. From studios I was running to my bedroom to theatre spaces we hired to record the drums this production was very much all over the place.

What does this track mean to you?

This track is about realising you’re not always the good guy in someone’s story. The things about yourself that you hide from others can make you feel like you’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing at times. This song is part of the narrative structure of the album I’m writing which talks about the different hellish places people enter in their everyday lives.

You’re playing the Tote on the 29th to launch In Sheep’s Clothing, what do you have in store for this show?

We’ve got a bunch of new, unheard tracks that we’re premiering for the first time at The Tote which we can’t wait for everyone to hear! We might have a surprise cover nested within one of our tracks too. Be there to check it out!

Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Middle Eastern music. From Lina Deeb, to Elias Rahbani and everything in between. On the western side of things Flying Lotus, Tame Impala, Aphex Twin, Justin Timberlake and so many more have racked up a lot of plays on my spotify.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
We’re keen to get a few more singles out by the end of the year and then release the whole album by late this year or early next year. We’d love to tour the east coast!

Favourite food and place to hangout?
Shish Tawouk at A1 Bakery. All day, everyday.
Instagram: @manvssynth
Twitter: @manvssynth
Spotify: manvssynth
Apple Music: manvssynth
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The Mess Around

by the partae
written by the partae

 Where are you currently based?

 

The band is currently located in the most isolated (and beautiful!) city in the world, Boorloo/Perth, Western Australia. 

 

How did The Mess Around form?

 

The Mess Around were formed in the depths of the pandemic by founding members, Alex Ford (Drums), Chris Dyson (Guitar) and Joel Bradbury (Vocals). The three founded the group based on their love of Surf Rock, Australian Indie and 1990s Grunge Rock. After some lineup changes Cian Moore (Bass) and Luca Bonini (Guitar) joined to round out the group in late 2021 providing not only chaotic youthful energy, but also rhythmic drive and harmonic thickness. 

 

What’s been happening recently?

 

Recently the boys have departed on their WA “Kings of the South” tour on the back of their latest single release “Still Broke” hitting towns such as Mandurah, Margaret River and Esperance just to name a few. Being their first time playing shows outside the Perth Metro area, they are stoked to be bringing their unique brand of surf rock to WA music lovers across the state’s picturesque south west. On top of this the boys have been spending their time whilst at home in Perth to continue to record and write the music that fans have come to know and love. 

 

Your latest single ‘Still Broke’ is out now, what influenced the sound and song writing?

 

“Still Broke” tells the story of a wild time out and about on a long hot Aussie summer night. Influenced by the hectic nature of the Aussie summer and arvo BBQs that turn into sunset beach sessions, that then turn into nights out on the town and watching the sunrise from the roof of your mates 4×4. The group attempted to capture the instant nostalgia of a great time had around great people. Verses spill into choruses that then open out into a signature Mess Around bridge section before then diving back into a final outro to tie it all together. It is this dynamic flowing nature that allows the listener to feel lost inside a good time, just as you so often are when trying to wrangle the larrikins we call friends on a night out. 

 

How did you go about writing Still Broke?

 

As with a lot of the band’s music “Still Broke” started from riff powerhouse, guitarist Chris Dyson. Often he’ll come into rehearsal sessions with a smattering of riffs that the boys can choose to jam on, and the boppy chord progression that sits under the song’s melodic lines was what happened to be on offer. From there singer Joel found his way through the song’s catchy melody lines (paired with crass demo lyrics about farts and balls) whilst drummer Alex and bassist Cian locked into a groove tighter than an atomic bond. All that was left was for Luca to lay down his signature lead lines and backing vocals and the song began to really rock. The group chose to have the lyrics performed in a “call and response” style in the chorus to signify the mateship that the song attempts to portray, whilst verses remain sparse although dripping with reverb allowing the listener to soak in the lush harmonics of the tune. 

 

Where and when did you record, produce and master?

 

As with a lot of The Mess Around’s music, what you’ll find recorded on Spotify will stay faithful to what is played live, so in terms of production the band aims to be able to perfect the structure and arrangement of songs in their rehearsals to deliver audiences thoughtfully crafted music – that can then be listened to on repeat wherever they stream their music. 

 

As for recording, our incredibly talented drummer Alex handled the engineering and tracking as each member played their part and was able to beautifully capture the sonic landscape of the song and its beachy intentions. 

 

Once happy with the tracking we then sent it through to good friend of the band, and sound wizard, Jay Huxtable over at Oracle Sound. he mixed and mastered the hell out of it, providing the finishing touches that gave this song its raw surf rock goodness.
Who are you listening to at the moment?

 

Some local bands we are enjoying include Surf Shop Cops, Reef Eater, Moth Street Artists, Drowse, Solar Juice, All Day Breakfast Club and Sunny Flowers. 

 

Some national/international acts we love are Spacey Jane, Tyler the Creator, Jane’s Addiction, John Mayer, Powder Finger, R.E.M, King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizard and Ocean Alley. 

 

What do you like to do away from music?

 

The band have a very diverse set of interests outside of music. Joel and Luca are avid sports fans and are often found playing tennis, basketball or kicking the footy. Alex, Chris and Cian prefer the comfort of home and enjoy playing classic video games and building computers. Of course all the boys enjoy hitting up local venues and watching the best live music WA has to offer!

 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

 

2022 began for the band as a period of writing some of the great tunes such as “Still Broke” and “Balance” that have since been released out into the world for all to enjoy. Since then the boys began a period of heavy gigging which ramps up with their “Kings of the South Tour” from August to October of 2022. After that you can expect to see them writing and recording down at Oracle Studios once again working hard at what they love to do. 2023 will hold much more time spent in the studio for the group and who knows, maybe even a trip across the desert to visit their neighbors to the East ;).  

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

 

As a group the boys will always go out for Burgers and Mexican, and then head to the closest dive bar to soak in the sights and sounds that the local scene has to offer.

@themessaroundofficial
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Music InterviewsMusic News

Grizzlyshark

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Brisbane, Australia!

How did Grizzlyshark first start?

Liam: Three of us (Liam, Andrew and Adam) were in a band together previously, which shall remain nameless for the sake of our dignity, and we’d had Joey fill in on bass for us once before. When that band broke up we decided to keep playing music together and asked Joey to join us.
Andrew: I needed an excuse to hang out with Liam. A band seemed like the right move.

What’s been happening recently?

Liam: We most recently played a show with Glass Tides, Shangrila and Citadel at The Zoo in Brisbane which was awesome.

Your latest single ‘There’s No I In Quaranteam’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Liam: The song draws heavily from the 2008-2012 post-hardcore/emo scene, which we all grew up listening to and influenced our musical taste for years.
Andrew: I’ve been playing with the theme of this song for a fair few years. The start of it happened at a friends 18th. He had his “once a year phone call” from his father and not once was he wished a happy birthday. The train ride home broke my heart hearing how my friend had been treated by his father.

How did you go about writing There’s No I In Quaranteam?

Liam wrote the music while doing a side project that never panned out which played a similar style of music. The music itself was written first with more a Grizzlyshark spin on it than straight post-hardcore. Andrew and Joey then wrote all the lyrics and vocal melodies, though these were changing right up until we recorded the final version.

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

Back in July last year! Hard to believe it’s been that long. We recorded with Troy Brady (The Amity Affliction) who we’ve worked with for all of our releases to date. Having worked with him on 4 occasions he understands how we function (and sometimes don’t) as a unit, and it always feels like he knows how to get the best out of us.

How did you approach the recording process?

Doing a whole EP this time was pretty different compared to other times we’ve recorded. We came with 6 songs in various states of completion, one of which we’d done extensive pre-production with Alan Day from Four Year Strong (TMS). One of the songs got scrapped, and the 5th song got changed drastically in the recording process, and was built from some music Liam had written and lyrics and melodies that Andrew came up with during the recording process. Very different for us, as our writing process usually takes a while and we like to record quickly!

Your upcoming EP ‘MOSAIC’ is out on July 29, what can we expect?

Not consistency, that’s for sure! Our 3 released singles will be on there (TMS, What’s The Plan Gogglehead? and There’s No “I” In Quaranteam) along with 2 as yet unheard songs. It’s safe to say that none of the songs necessarily fit into exactly the same genre, which is pretty typical of Grizzlyshark at this stage. One in particular is very different to anything we’ve released at this point.

How did MOSAIC come about and what does this EP mean to you?

Honestly like most bands at the moment it came from the pandemic. When we released our last set of singles (Vicarious and Remember The Black Box) back in 2020 we were geared up to record an EP at the time with those songs and then right after we returned from the Vicarious launch tour that we played in QLD and NSW the pandemic hit. That took a lot of enthusiasm away from the music, until we started writing more, and eventually after discarding many demos we weren’t happy with, we had a set of songs we were really proud of. The name MOSAIC comes from the fact that this is a collections of from different genres written it different times, but all coming together to make Grizzlyshark what it is.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Windwaker, Ocean Grove, ERRA, Sleep Token, Letlive. 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?

We’ll be joining We Set Signals for the Brisbane and Gold Coast legs of their upcoming tour in August, and will have an EP release show at an as yet unannounced time. After that, who knows? We might direct a movie or start selling bootleg goods, honestly we have no idea!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Death and Taxes is the “classiest” place you will find us. Otherwise Netherworld or someone’s place for boardgames is a common hangout for the band.

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