Category:

Music Interviews

Mathew V

by the partae May 29, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Home base is Vancouver, Canada. I’ve been travelling a lot more recently, but it’s always nice to come home to the 604.

How did you first start playing music?

I was always singing around the house. At every family gathering, I would perform ‘Man I Feel Like A Woman’ by Shania Twain, and from there I caught the bug. I trained in opera and classical voice for 10 years after that.

What’s been happening recently?

I recently put out my EP “The Outer Circle” which was just nominated for a JUNO award, which is very cool and a bucket list moment for sure.

Your new single ‘Sick’ will be out on the 27th of May, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

‘Sick’ is a bit of a follow up on ‘Give It All’ which is from my album ‘Two Faced.’ I worked on this song with the same production team and we had been trying to make another song for years, but we kept having to push back due to the pandemic. Finally we decided that there was no more waiting, and we made it work remotely.

What does ‘Sick’ mean to you?

‘Sick’ is a playful spin on the phrase ‘you make me sick.’ It is very tongue in cheek and dances around the theme of someone giving you butterflies. The best kind of sick in my opinion.

How did you go about writing ‘Sick’?

I was writing chorus ideas with my collaborator Josh Bogert who is a wonderful artist in his own regard. I knew that this idea would be perfect to take to the producers on this one.

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

This was produced by my good friends Fly By Midnight who I am not only a fan of, but am so lucky enough to get to collaborate with. I knew after we made ‘Give It All’ that we needed to follow it up. I took the track to Kevin Peterson for Mastering who I go to at any change I get. He’s the best.

How did you approach the recording process?

We made a lot of the demo over Zoom as Fly By Midnight were in LA and Josh and myself were in Vancouver. We recorded all of the vocals here and sent everything down to the guys in LA to take it across the finish line.

You’ve received your first JUNO Award nomination for Adult Contemporary Album of The Year for your fantastic EP, The Outer Circle, how do you feel about this?

It is such a huge bucket list moment for me. I’m nominated with a bunch of artists whom I respect and hold in the highest regard. I’m taking in every moment.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Nick Wilson, Luca Fogale and Teddy Swims. I highly recommend you check them all out.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love cooking and baking a nice meal. I love any activity that requires me to step away from my phone and put all of my focus into something with no distractions.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

We have a lot coming up for 2022 and 2023. I’m working on an exciting new project over the summer, and I’ll be playing the historic Massey Hall with Royal Wood this upcoming October.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Aroma Tea & Coffee in North Hollywood is both my favourite place for food and to hangout. Wish I was there 24/7!

Website: www.mathewvmusic.com

Twitter: @MathewVMusic

Facebook: /mathewvmusic

Instagram: @mathewvmusic

May 29, 2022 0 comments

Nervous Light

by the partae May 27, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Brisbane, Australia

How did you first start playing music?

Each of us are a bit different, but we’re all self taught and picked things up fairly young playing and learning how to write in bands and high school and just kind of snowballed from there. Our bassist Rich moved to vocals after years of playing and fronted a metalcore band called The Name Of A Ghost and Antony and I (Jordan) played together in a pop punk band called Malibu Stacy for a long time before this project started to come together in early 2020.

What’s been happening recently for you guys?

Aside from the single release, we’re finally getting to play regular shows after live music being so stop start from the time we started the band. It took a year from when we released our first single Haunt to being able to play live due to lockdowns, restrictions and everything else. We

recently had the pleasure of opening for The Beautiful Monument and Belle Haven here in Brisbane which was awesome.

Your latest single ‘Coffee Stains and Picture Frames’ is out now, what or who influenced the sound and songwriting?

Rich had always wanted to write a song with a similar baseline to English Summer Rain by Placebo, so we’d come to a writing session and he had the main riff and chorus chords as well as the basic outline of the song with some cool space and dynamics ready to go. Between us we came up with the lead guitars in the chorus and second verse which were very reminiscent of Movements and their record No Good Left To Give, particularly the closing track and I think my constant thrashing of that record at the time also inspired a lot of the flow and cadence of the vocal melodies when we got to those after working together on the lyrics.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with /How did you approach the recording process?

We had spent a lot of time with our go to producer and collaborator Jake Randall (Joy In Motion/ Sol Audio) in 2020 and 2021 out of his home in Bulimba. We’d been working on the songs that would become our EP Bury What’s Left Of My Heart In Your Backyard and had just never stopped writing in between, so as those session went on it turned into us having 9 or 10 songs going, this being one of them. Given how fun and easy it is to work with Jake and how he brings out the best in us and has a great ear and mind for what we’re doing, we didn’t really have to think twice on this one.

Please tell us about any future music that’s in the works:

We still have about 5 or 6 songs left over from those 2021 recording sessions which will see the light of day in the near future. Because we had such a healthy backlog of song ideas that we were excited about, we just recorded them and figured we would worry about a release strategy later. Theres a few little bits and pieces left to do on those, but I would say a new EP won’t be far away before we dive back into the myriad of demos we have new and old.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Rich- the new Silverstein record, Can’t Swim, Otoboke Beaver and The Smiths Antony- Casey, Nothing,nowhere and The Home Team

Jordan- Counterparts, Mason Dane, Static Dress and 100 Gecs

What do you like to do away from music?

Rich is a new father to twin boys, Antony likes to hang out with his dog and suss new Coffee spots and I can usually be found watching wrestling (AEW forever, WWE never)

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

All systems go! Plenty of new music, shows and we’re hoping to be able to cross state boarders and see some of our old friends and favorite food spots in Sydney and Melbourne before the year is out.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

As a band that is two thirds Vegans, Netherworld here in Brisbane is the go to spot! Incredible food for everybody’s lifestyle choices, great beers and sodas and everything from pinball and gaming machines to board games. If anyone from Netherworld is reading, we’d love to play a show. DMs are open. Oh, and also bring back the duck roll, thank you in advance.

Facebook Instagram

May 27, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Kendra Gabrielle

by the partae May 25, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Milton, Ontario about 40mins outside of Toronto.

How did you first start playing music?

I started officially playing music at the age of 14, I started out with voice and then added in guitar and piano and finally ukulele. It’s been quite the journey learning all these instruments.

What’s been happening recently?

Honestly, recently it’s been an absolute whirlwind getting the single ready for release while completing a post-grad program. However, I’m so grateful for the response and love the single has received from all my listeners, it’s only been a couple of days since it’s been out so I cannot wait to see the new opportunities that will be coming my way.

Please tell us about your musical journey thus far:

Yes absolutely, so it started with me getting into an art high school for music where I specialized in voice, while I studied throughout those 4 years I decided music was something I wanted to pursue as a career so I applied to a couple of universities all over Ontario and ended up in the Bachelor of Music program specializing in classical voice at Carleton University. Throughout those years I got to be in choirs, guitar ensembles, songwriting ensembles and travel to China to perform, which was an incredible experience. In my last year, I decided to switch to the songwriter program to grow my writing skills. After graduating I released my debut single “Bad Boy” in the fall of 2020, and have been growing my audience all over ever since by playing local shows and posting covers on social media.

You have a new single on the way, please tell us what this track means to you:

Yes, this track is really special to me because of the messaging behind it. “Drunk On My Own” contrary to the title is a love song but to yourself. When we were writing the tune, I wanted the listener to take away a couple of things from the song:

The only person you need the most love from is yourself. Once you’re drunk on your own love, you’re unstoppable.
Value your female friendships especially when you’re in your 20s these are the years to collect all those wonderful memories to share in the future – and let’s be honest they’re gonna be the ones there wiping your tears when a boy breaks your heart.

What or who influenced the sound and songwriting?

For the sound, my producer and I have been creating a sound that compliments my voice and personality, taking direction from the country genre but putting our own spin on it and of course Taylor Swift. The songwriting influence was from women around us, in general, I tend to get inspired by real-life mostly.

How did you go about writing this single?

So the song was co-written by myself, Taylor Adams and Jessie Bower this was the first time we’d ever written together and we basically started talking about our early 20s and it is a time when you’re figuring out so many things, relationships, who you are as an adult, friendships literally everything under the sun and one thing that’s not talked about enough is just loving yourself. It’s always about “so when are you going to get married, find a partner etc”. So we wrote an empowering song that says you don’t need anyone, you’re allowed to be in love with yourself and that’s all that matters.

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

I recorded the instruments at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton Ontario, however, all the vocals were completed at my producer’s studio. We started the recording process beginning of fall in 2021 and have been working on it since then, I really enjoyed being part of every single step in the creation of the song, from the day the drums were recorded to hearing the final mastered copy. The song was produced by CMAOntario nominated producer Shawn Moore.

How did you approach the recording process?

We did everything step by step, so there was absolutely no rush in this process. But honestly, all I did was have fun with the band and with Shawn, cracking jokes and making some good music.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I am currently listening to a lot of Celine Dion and Carly Pearce but I’m always listening to Taylor.

What do you like to do away from music?

This totally depends on what mood I’m in, everyone knows music can evoke so many emotions. As an artist, I love to hear how others write their songs and the stories behind them.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

There’s so much going on this year. This summer has a bunch of shows which I am so excited for, I’ll be back in the studio finishing up another single coming out later in the year and some other exciting stuff that everyone can find out on my socials as they’re being announced.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

I literally love anything that involves potatoes haha. I just love hanging out with my friends at my home or theirs.

https://www.instagram.com/kendragabriellemusic/

https://www.tiktok.com/@kendragabriellemusic

https://www.facebook.com/KendraGabrielleMusic/

https://www.youtube.com/kendragabriellemusic

https://kendragabrielle.com/

Song Link

https://ffm.to/drunkonmyown_

May 25, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Jared Gecko

by the partae May 24, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Sydney, Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve been writing songs since I was around 3 years old. There are photos of me performing with a playschool guitar on a wall at McDonalds. I had written a number of vocal lines over the top of the prerecorded progressions haha.

I didn’t start playing music properly until I was 13 though. I switched schools and the first friend I made played drums. He pushed me into playing guitar as well as singing and I just wanted to fit in so I guess I can thank him for that.

What’s the story/message behind Jared Gecko?

We’ve both been through a lot of shit in our lives, and both had to overcome a lot to be here, to be alive. We’ve worked on ourselves a lot since starting this project to overcome or at-least manage severe depression and life circumstances. I myself am diagnosed with Bipolar & Tim has his own set of demons he’s dealing with. So we gave the project a name that sounded like a person, someone that we could aspire to be, to not only help other people with what they are going through but be a support system for ourselves.

What’s been happening recently?

We’ve been in and out of the studio getting an EP together so that we can put together our live show ready to tour. Recording is only half of it and really the hardest part, although it’s somewhere we feel very at home. We can’t wait to start playing live where we can really be in our element. I think the soundscape of what we have been creating is something that’s really going to transfer well live, and add another dimension to the songs that can only be experienced at a show.

Your debut single ‘California’ is out now, what or who influenced the sound and songwriting? I think it really came from a place of frustration. I was writing with a lot of artists that week who weren’t really my cup of tea, shall we say, and it wasn’t satisfying me creatively. I had taken the previous night off to go see The Neighbourhood play at the Greek Theatre in LA so I was still mesmerized after that. Like that’s the space I really want to be in.

How did you go about writing California?

It wasn’t something I set out to do, neither was this project, it just kind of happened in a really unexpected natural way. It’s the fastest song I’ve ever written, I was laying back in a deck chair next to a pool trying to get 30 minutes chill time before the next session but I couldn’t stop humming the chorus melody, the lyrics followed quickly behind. I guess my head was just in the right place that day.

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

Pete Holz produced, mixed and mastered the track, with Tim working on some extra production that truly made it come to life. I had worked with Pete who has done everything from Gang Of Youths to Peking Duck on a few other projects and I felt like we communicated really well. He is potentially the only person who is be able to bring what was inside of my head to through the speakers.

How did you come to work with Pete Holz and what was this experience like?

Honestly the hardest part of working with Pete on ‘California’ was deciding between dumplings or Sushi for lunch. Everything else was super easy and fast, which is usually a good sign that its well written and comes from a authentic place.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Everything to me is about vocals. Always start with a really basic demo track that was based entirely around the vocal, then we record the finished vocals with harmonies. Once that’s locked in there is a lot more freedom to shape the music to the vibe you want it sonically to be rather than wasting time writing parts that might not go with the vocal.

What’s the difference between writing for other artists vs writing for this project?

It’s a lot more personal writing for your own project. When writing for other people you are trying to tell their story by drawing influence from your life and how you can relate, where as when writing for your own project you can be a lot more accurate on the real life experience. It’s a lot more personally therapeutic.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m currently listening to a lot of Børns as well as Halsey’s first album, Badlands. I’m a huge fan of the darker side of pop, and I spend a lot of my day driving and I feel that it’s the perfect vibe in all this rain Sydney’s been experiencing. I also recently discovered local artist D’Arcy Spiller from Melbourne, really into what she’s doing right now.

What do you like to do away from music?

I don’t spend a lot of time away from music as my brain is always trying to write something new whether I want it to or not, but I’m super into sport and that’s what I watch when I’m trying to unwind. I’m a huge LA Kings (NHL) fan as well as the Parramatta Eels.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

The main focus this year is to finish as many songs as possible, release a couple more and start rehearsing the live set as the plan for 2023 is to tour as much as possible.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Anything that I don’t have to cook haha but my go to is Japanese or Indian. Can’t go wrong with Ramen or Paneer Tika masala! I used to love going out partying, a little too much. Now I much prefer hanging out at someone’s house, or somewhere quieter. I hate not being able to hear the person I’m talking to. I like having genuine connections with the people I surround myself with. It’s been a big part of working on myself and having a more stable lifestyle.

PLAY/LISTEN

Instagram @jaredgecko

Twitter @jaredgecko

May 24, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

ATLAS FRANKLIN ALEXANDER RELEASES SURREAL SHORT FILM ‘JAGUAR SERPENT’

by the partae May 23, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Newcastle.

What’s been happening recently?

Pretty much just been getting ready for the EP launch at The Oxford Art Factory June 9th, finishing up this short film ‘Jaguar Serpent’ and getting stuck into recording my second EP.

What or who influenced the concept for your recent short film ‘Jaguar Serpent’ ?

I really love Alejandro Jodorowsky ! He would have to be my favorite film maker. David Lynch is really groovy too. I just really like unique surreal films, they make my bloody day and are so refreshing to discover. Films like ‘The Holy Mountain’ and ‘El Topo’ are such a trip.

Why did you decide to create Jaguar Serpent?

I basically just really wanted to write and direct a short film to release instead of another music video single. Don’t get me wrong I love doing music videos, I just wanted to make a little unique short film so my pal Dave Fulham and myself created one.

How did you go about filming and editing?

100% DIY, youtube video tutorials mostly.

Who did you work with?

I worked with Dave Fulham to make Jaguar Serpent. Seeing as though this short was my first go at writing and directing it was really interesting because I had not much of an idea of what I was doing. Dave works in film and could help me along with the process but it happened really organically. Dave has a camera and we both have similar interests so we thought what the hell, let’s make something weird together. We shot the whole thing around my house in Newcastle one afternoon earlier this year.

Will you be creating more films in the future?

Yeah for sure, I love the idea of making more shorts. Music videos are great too but having dialogue and a story for the viewer to ride along with is terrific.

You’ll be launching your latest EP at the Oxford Art Factory on June 9th, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I like to draw inspiration from not just music, but also life in general. Traveling, relationships, bus drivers, your pets, baristas, homeless people on the street, psychedelic ceremonies, sobriety, drunken madness; anything and everything inspires me to write. Writing and recording music is almost like my form of therapy. The collection of songs I have written is like a terrarium of trinkets plucked from my brainz, one by one a narration of different events that have transpired and affected me in one way or another.

What can we expect from the June 9th show?

The Oxford Art Factory is always a bloody great time! Such a fantastic Sydney venue ! Our EP launch show June 9th is going to be nothing short of that. Pretty stoked to finally have some vinyl pressed for the show also ! Supported by two really awesome bands Miramar and Trip Fandino. Expect exceptional vibes and lovely people.

How did you go about writing the EP and the recording process?

Extremely DIY ! Everything is mostly done on my laptop. My debut EP ‘Enter Echo’ was recorded in many ways in many different locations; in the back of my car, on park benches, libraries, hotel rooms, ashrams, garages, friends lounge rooms smashing out vox takes, bus stops, monasteries, on trains, on planes. Anywhere and everywhere you can put a laptop down basically. Extremely DIY! I don’t really stick to any kind of writing process. It’s more like if something comes to me, I just write it down or record the bloody thing. I like to write and collaborate with friends on

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

I do the majority of it myself but I do love writing and collaborating with friends. William J Coleman is a pal who I’ve collab’d heaps with! William and I co-wrote a track off my EP ‘Sonder’ and also a mate Thomas Rawl mixed Sonder and Valis. Collaborating with filmmakers for music videos is something I really love doing too, it always turns out so differently to what you’d expect initially.

Please tell us about your latest video single, how it came about, where did you film and who did you work with?

The latest video single is called ‘Enter Echo’. It was shot over in Northern India with my friend and French Filmmaker Toa Doget. The video itself follows the journey of a man through the picturesque landscape, ingesting interdimensional hallucinogenic pills. It is a journey of self-discovery that leads the man to his own death that turns out to be quite transformative and he is reborn. The theme of the video is not too dissimilar to what the song ‘Enter Echo’ originally was written about. I wrote the song after a mind-altering experience on DMT, the theme of the song also has these underlying tones of self-discovery, death of the ego and a transitioning rebirth.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I listen to so many different genres and it’s always changing. Currently I can’t get enough of Ravi Shankar!

What do you like to do away from music?

I work as a disability support worker so that keeps me pretty busy away from making music.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

More live shows ! Finishing up the rest of my second EP and organising a couple of music video singles to put out at the end of the year. Stay tuned – Can’t wait !

My Short film release – JAGUAR SERPENT – https://youtu.be/ixFOdUQflJM

My SPOTIFY link – https://spoti.fi/2VdvEeJ

My INSTAGRAM link – https://www.instagram.com/atlasfranklinalexander

My FACEBOOK link – https://www.facebook.com/atlasfranklinalexander

ENTER ECHO VIDEO SINGLE (released end of 2021) – https://youtu.be/X3NYEJd9sQc

May 23, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Alex Hosking

by the partae May 23, 2022

written by the partae

We know you are from Adelaide but where in the world are you currently based?

I have been based in a suitcase for the past 6 years! But since the pandemic, i have applied for a visa in The UK and now my main two baes are Adelaide and London. But, I am always travelling.

What’s been happening on your recent trip to Australia?

Lots of music!! I am always in the studio working but this time as well i spent alot of time in Adelaide seeing family. It was the first time in a long time and it was just amazing to get to slow down and just see everyone again.

How did the success of Fake Friends with PS1 in the UK make you feel?

I have worked really hard for a long time, and i wrote Fake Friends a long time ago so for the song to finally get reconigsed and then released and be successful felt great. It was a real validation that I am doing a good job! Haha!

Your latest single ‘Need Your Love’ is out now, describe your sound

I make piano house dance bangers! And i love it! That has been the consistency with my last 3 songs and i love making up beat music that people can dance too!

What’s the concept behind the song?

I wrote Need Your Love at the start of 2020 it was my first zoom session and I had just recently been separated from my boyfriend who was in Americ and I wasnt sure when I was going to be able to see him again.

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

I started off by writing the record with Jonasu who was in Berlin and Yoshi Breen who was in Amsterdam. I recorded the vocals myself and then Joansu did the production. Then I recut the vocals with my friend Israel Amoy in Adelaide and sent them then to Majestic who then finished off the production and made it the tune it is today!

How did you approach the recording process?

It was a funny situation actually because we were all separated it wasnt like a normal session.

I recorded the vocals in my bedroom and that beginning it was all difficult because normally you would just change things on the spot, but we have time differences and geographical issues! So everything worked a little slower. Then when majestic got the track it was a little easier because we were both on the same time zone. So we were able to just go back and fourth on production ideas.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I listen to a lot of new music! I am loving the new Kendrick Lamar music. I recently was put on to Alexis Ffrench who is amazing the music he makes is my night time zen music. I just love Tove Lo, Mø, Raye, Becky Hill, Anne Marie, Fred Again, Jax Jones and so many other artists!

What do you like to do away from music?

Im a massive foodie! So i am always looking for new restaurants and hiking! When I am back home in Adelaide i do a morning hike every morning Monday through to Friday and i love it! Gotta get my steps in.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022? Will we see you back in Australia?

1000% will be back in Australia! Hopefully doing some live performances!! And lots of new music coming this year!

Favourite food and place to hang out in London?

Dishoom is my go to place to take people who come to London! Its amazing and on the weekends if im not walking around one of the many parks you will find me in The Science Museum.

www.alexhosking.com

www.instagram.com/alexandrahosking

May 23, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Nicky Roland

by the partae May 20, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m originally from London and currently based in Denver, Colorado.

How did you first start playing music?

Both my parents were heavily involved in the music scene, so it was something I was around, long before I was even born. That said, it wasn’t really until my teens that I really got interested in making music. I was a huge fan or Electro and early House and I’d jam on the decks, mixing and scratching, but not much more than that. One day a friend came over with a keyboard and four track recorder and I was hooked.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been experimenting with a bunch of different styles ranging from Classic House, to Electro, Techno and Ragga House. I love music from dozens of genres, so I tend to blend a lot of influences. I recently released a Latin House track (I Lose Myself) with DJ International on their Jackmaster 7 album. This was a huge bucket list achievement for me. I’ve been a fan of the label since the mid 80s, and being on a compilation with the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Loleatta Holloway, Paris Brightledge, Chuck Roberts, K’Alexy Shelby and other Chicago legends was like a dream come true.

Your next single ‘Feel It’ will be out on the 17th of June, what or who influenced the sound and songwriting?

I’d been thinking of doing a Nu Disco track for a while and had been listening to Suki Soul (by far one of the most talented singers on the scene today) quite a lot. I also love the dreamy trippy sounds of Daft Punk and the vocals Benoit & Sergio used in $100 bill. All of them greatly influenced the outcome of this track.

How did ‘Feel It’ come about?

As mentioned, I’d been thinking of doing a Nu Disco track, but I didn’t set out with this in mind as being the one. Funnily enough, I was working on a YouTube tute to show my workflow, but as I developed the drums, and layered on the baseline I realized that it was far too good to be used as a tute. More often that not the music guides me as to what it wants to be, I’m just a bystander following it’s orders. That was definitely how it felt writing Feel It.

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

I recoded it solo a few months ago at my home studio. Technology has made it easy to produce quality productions without the overhead of a full blown recording studio.

Please tell us about your involvement with Satin Storm and Coalesce Sound and Vision in the early 90s:

In the early 90s I got signed and sat-on by a major label. It’s a dirty trick they use to keep artists from competing with their stable/releases, so I worked with Travis of Satin Storm on a number of white label Happy Hardcore and early Jungle/Drum and Bass, and U.K. Garage releases. Going uncredited allowed me to work around the restrictions of the publishing agreement I’d been duped into signing.

Right around that time I was running a record shop in Dalston (East London). One day I was playing some tunes I’d just fished out of the distributors truck when a car pulled up outside, the driver would down his window, then jumped out and came running into the shop. The driver in question was Julian from Coalesce, arguably the greatest techno DJ I’ve ever heard, seen or met. Anyhow, Julian and I found a deep connection through music and he invited me to check out the parties he was organizing with Nick and Maddie, the founders of Coalesce. For the next ten years I helped organize dozens and dozens of warehouse parties across London and the surrounding counties. Great times!

When and why did you get back into music?

A few years ago my dad was dying from pulmonary fibrosis and I desperately needed an outlet to keep my head above water. Music was the key and I sank my teeth back in and started dedicating all my spare time to it.

How did your signing to DJ International come about?

I’ve been friends with Rocky Jones (the founder of DJ International) for many years, and he is the only person in the music industry that I’d trust with my first born (if I had kids that is). The first new track I produced was a DnB track called One Step Closer. I sent it to Rocky to get his opinion and he loved it, and asked if I could to a House version. That was quite a head trip! Anyhow, that was the start of the One Step Closer EP and opened the door to all the other releases I’ve done with DJI over the last couple of years.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 and beyond?

In addition to lining up releases with DJI, I’m releasing Feel It and several other tunes under my own label Nicky Roland Music, and have tracks in the works ranging from Classic House to Synthwave and even an early 90s French hip-hop style track. The next DJI release I do will probably be the I Lose Myself remix, which fuses the original Latin Jazz grooves with a Reggaeton beat and vocals.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of tunes from classic Chicago artists like K’Alexi Shelby & Sinclair, my all time go-to’s Juan Atkins and Green Velvet, and amazing emerging artists like Suki Soul and my brother from another mother House of Seb.

What do you like to do away from music?

I work in tech and am involved in a couple of startups (ZeLoop and NewBin) trying to fix plastic recycling. It’s a huge issue for public health, the planet and wildlife. I also love to tinker with electronics and do fashion photography on the side.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

That’s a tough one. I love food. Cooking it and eating it. My favorites are without a doubt Indian and Sushi. There are some great places here in Denver, but my favorite has to be Kampai on Lincoln Blvd in LA. I could live in that place. For clubs, it has to be London or Chicago. The best party cities in the world – IMHO (bar perhaps Berlin and Amsterdam – it’s a close call).

Feel It: https://music.nickyroland.com/feel-it

My main smart link: https://linktr.ee/NickyRoland

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nickyroland

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nrolandmusic

IG: https://twitter.com/nrolandmusic

TikTok (new): https://www.tiktok.com/@nickyrolandmusic

Website: https://nickyroland.com/

May 20, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Slow Down Sonic

by the partae May 19, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Launceston, Tassie/Lutruwita

How did the band form?

Long time friends and former band mates Alex Wadley and Alex Britton put the band together via messaging possibly every drummer in Launceston and eventually finding Daimon Shelton. After the first practise it was pretty clear that the line up was going to work both on a personality and skill level.

What’s been happening recently?

Recovering from covid, changing nappies, puppy training, and gearing up for the release of searching!

Your debut single ‘Searching’ will be released on May 20, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Definitely influenced by the new wave of Aussie rock i.e. Slowly Slowly, Violent Soho (to whom we attribute our name), and of course fellow Taswegians Luca Brasi! But mixed with early noughties emo punk sensibilities like Thursday, Thrice, Taking Back Sunday which is where my passion for songwriting(Alex W) really spawned from. ‘“Searching” is a song about finding purpose, amidst the daily grind of the working week and the insecurities that we face to make wholesale life changes. All lyrical content is based on personal experiences from my life that probably most average people go through, and in that way hopefully it is relatable!

How did you go about writing Searching?

I’m an instruments first, lyrics second type of songwriter, however in this case I had the lyrics written and needed something to inspire the instrumental. That came from playing around with different tunings which some of the students that I teach at school actually showed me. The guitar is in Open E tuning and I basically wrote four songs straightaway in that tuning which formed the basis of our live set and upcoming EP! So I can attribute this song to my students, they know who they are!

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

We worked with up and coming local launceston producer and recording engineer Doug Briton at his home studio, and started that process in early 2021 so it has been a long, but rewarding process. We then used Grammy Award winning engingeer William Bowden form “King Willy Sound” to master our tracks. William is Launceston based and it is pretty exciting to work with someone of his calibre locally.

How did you approach the recording process?

Given that Doug has been a friend for a longtime this allowed us to basically use his studio as a drop-in centre, as working around life commitments means that it is sometimes difficult to dedicate a week or two to the whole recording process. We definitely wanted a polished sound that explodes from the speakers and we think that we were able to achieve that!

Please tell us about your upcoming 5 track EP:

Our full EP will be released late June, and we’ll release a second single before that possibly in the next few weeks. There are five tracks, all with a uniqueness that will hopefully sustain interest form start to finish, and all songs inspired by deeply personal experiences. There’s dark moments, lighter moments but most importantly the music itself is (hopefully) uplifting and anthemic which for me is what I look for in my music tastes.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Turnstile’s new album is outrageously good, most recently, however, Cosmic Psychos. Put on their “Blokes You Can Trust” documentary and you will not find an hour and half of content on youtube more engaging I promise!

What do you like to do away from music?

We’re all pretty diverse in what we do away from music, Britto our guitarist is pretty busy training his new puppy and co-owning/operating local restaurant Levee Food Co. Daim our drummer is a huge car man and also a brilliant photographer. I myself love nothing more to spend time with my wife and son and as a day job teaching music!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

Ep Launch in July, then as many gigs as we can fit in before the end of the year, then write another EP! We’re really hoping to play some shows on the mainland, so contact us if you need to fill a lineup!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Sneaky walk along the Seaport (as long as the tide is in…#fixthemud) and a nice coffee and feed at Levee Food Co. 🙂

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/slowdownsonic/searching

https://www.facebook.com/slowdownsonic

https://www.instagram.com/slowdownsonic/

May 19, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Eliza & The Delusionals

by the partae May 19, 2022

written by the partae

Congratulations on the release of this album – how does it feel for Now And Then to finally be out in the world?

Thank you! It’s crazy, it’s definitely a sense of relief (in a good way) because we’ve been working on it and holding onto it for so long. It feels weird talking about it because we weren’t able to for such a long time. I just hope that our fans can connect to the record in their own way and find their own moments and stories throughout it.

What do you think the album says about Eliza & The Delusionals as a band? What are you proudest of when it comes to Now And Then?

I think it’s definitely a more mature take on our sound. Creating it definitely felt like us taking the next step and forming a new era of the band. I think I feel proud of the fact that we were able to persevere through some of the most difficult times of our life throughout 2020-21 and still find the motivation and inspiration every day to get up out of bed and write songs. It really wasn’t an easy time for any of us, but it’s kind of like our trophy for making it out to the other side. I love this record, and I’m proud of us for being able to write an album that we feel is really honest and that we love so much.

You worked with a whole stack of legends on this album (Kon Kersting, Sarah Aarons and others): what did those experiences teach you about how you want to approach songwriting and making music, moving forward?

I think the writing sessions in particular definitely taught us to be more open minded when it comes to collaborating. We hadn’t really done any sort of co-writing before we did the sessions for ‘Now And Then’, so it was definitely a learning curve in some ways to be comfortable working with other people. The experiences were amazing though, and it’s brought us a new love for co-writing and collaborating with other artists! We’ve done 90% of our releases with Kon Kersting, so that part felt really comfortable and natural and it just felt right that he worked on the debut album with us!

Is there a track/s on the album that hold specific significance to you now, even after having sat with the music for as long as you have (why)?

For sure. I think as a songwriter it’s a good thing to sort of disconnect with your songs after a while, or maybe reconnect with them in a different way in the future. To me it’s a symbol of growth, and personally think it’s cool when bands change their sound and style as their careers move forward. In saying that, I’m still feeling really connected to most of the songs on the record because I feel like I haven’t had a chance to ‘over play them’ on tour yet haha. One in particular is ‘Save Me’, every time I listen to that song I feel so many things. I’m really proud of it.

You guys recently completed an East Coast tour – what was it like finally being back on stages?

It was honestly so good. I don’t think any of us realised how much we needed that back in our lives. It really felt like a piece of us was missing and we could finally feel whole again being on stage and seeing all of our fans there together enjoying our show. We always put everything we have into our live shows, and I don’t think we’ll ever take touring and shows for granted again. Life was too weird without it.

Do you feel like the way Eliza & The Delusionals approach performance now is different to how you did before the pandemic, having not been able to for so long?

Yeah, I would say so for sure. I think because we really only got to do one or two full tours with Ruby in the band and with our five-piece on stage lineup before the pandemic hit (which feels weird to think about!), so we’ve had a lot of time to rehearse and think about how we want things to look, sound and feel when we’re on stage. I think now that we can actually bring it into reality, it’s really cool for us and definitely a different experience to what fans would have seen at a pre-Covid show.

You’re in the US now after a long period of stop starts (thanks, pandemic), is it kinda surreal to finally be back over in America?

Honestly yeah. I think it took us a bit to realise that we were actually overseas when we first landed in the USA. It kind of felt like a dream. We’ve been here for a few weeks now and starting to settle into the different time zone, and being back in LA is definitely reminding us of how many amazing memories we made and how happy we were back in 2020. It’s bittersweet really!

There’s a new stack of Australian tour dates coming up too! What are you looking forward to the most about coming back with a full album up your sleeve?

I think we’ve just been so excited to play the new songs live and show everyone shows that are a step up to what we’ve been doing. It’s going to be our biggest headline tour to date, so we’re already super pumped to get back on stage across Aus!

May 19, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Yoste

by the partae May 18, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Brisbane, Australia. I’ve toured and written in many places, mostly in the US, but home’s home.

How did Yoste come to be?

I’d experimented with various bands and projects since high school, a fairly typical story. A new band or project every other month, with whacky names: “Fox Goes Hunting”, “Violet Snow” etc. Eventually I started producing music on my own more seriously, began to finally get a strong sense of what I wanted to make and be, and that was Yoste.

What’s been happening recently?

Music-wise everything’s mostly been focused on the EP release, though I’ve continued to work away on album songs and collaborations here and there.

Your EP ‘Never The Same’ will be out on the 20th of May, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Influences fluctuate based on the day and the week and what ‘comes across your desk’ when you’re making a thing, and can be hard to pin down, but there are a foundational few that stick out in my mind: the 1975’s early EPs prior to their self titled album, and George’s Brian eno-derived production, so I suppose that’s an inspiration from another inspiration. Modern American hip hop music for its simple vocal hooks. Bon Iver’s eclectic electronic production.

What does this EP mean to you?

Beyond the perhaps expected answer that it’s a collection of personal songs much loved and laboured over, which is true, it’s just a relief to put it out. You can only hold onto a thing for so long. Releasing music is a form of letting go, as others are experiencing the songs for the first time, I’ll be moving on from them. I think that’s how it often is. It’s necessary. Once enough time has passed I’ll return to them fondly as I do now with my older music.

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

The only only other pair of hands on the record is my friend Konstantin Kersting. We spent some happy days in his studio refining some of the songs to how they are now. Some I produced entirely myself in my small studio (spare room). Mastering was done by John Greenham, of Billie Eilish (and much more) fame.

How did you approach the production process?

It’s usually a fairly consistent affair. I’ll start with fun, ambient sounds as a base layer. From there I’ll typically lay down guitar or piano chords, and then head where the song takes me. Lyrics and melodies come simultaneously once the structure and other production is almost complete.

‘Violet’ is the lead single off the EP, what does this track mean to you?

It’s been one of my favourites since its earliest version back in 2019. I took it on tour with me that year and opened my set with it each night across 30+ US cities. For whatever reasons it’s not made its way into the world, until now.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Labrinth (been a fan since earthquake in 2012 haha), Mallrat, Ethan Gruska, Dora Jar.

What do you like to do away from music?

I always liked walking, but recently I find if I’m not striding around my neighbourhood or on a hike for at least an hour a day I feel off. I’ve tried meditating in place but it doesn’t seem to work for me nearly to the same extent as a long walk. It’s necessary for a clear mind and balanced emotions.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

Once the EP is out, including all the live sessions and other content around it, I suppose the logical step will be to throw myself into the album, my first. It’s been a long time coming and it feels like a huge endeavour, but I’ve already made a big start, so it doesn’t look as large as it might have once. Of course there’ll also be shows to think about, and getting back to the US.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I’ve gone mad for English muffins recently, it’s strange, but that’s the truth haha. Although if I had to pick only one thing I’d go classic Uncle Toby’s rolled oats. I don’t really hang out, I hide out at home. Introverts unite. Man’s gotta have his castle.

https://www.facebook.com/soundsofyoste

May 18, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Baby Luck

by the partae May 17, 2022

written by the partae

Hey Baby Luck! How are things?

Things are great! I’ve had a lot of fun being the featured artist over the last 4 years, and I’m very excited to finally release my debut solo EP with Plump Records!

What role does music play in your life and how long have you been involved in the industry?

Not to sound cheesy but music is my religion. From ancestors to people I’ve never met, music is how I connect with people, and myself. For me, music is evidence that we are all connected on a deeper level. And it’s been my companion since I was a baby – I slept with a small statue of Mozart when I was 2 years old. I’ve always danced, played piano, and sang. I made mix tapes for all my friends from elementary school on, including my best friend Kevin Knapp, and now I’m mixing records and making music with people I love, so it all feels very right, natural and aligned.

You have a great relationship with the Plump crew and you now release your own EP on the label, how did this come about?

Kevin is the closest thing to a big brother I have. We’re both only children, but we are chosen family members, and have been since I was 7 years old. Our parents are good friends, so my family would fly to visit Kev’s family from Oakland, California to Katy, Texas every New Year’s Eve when we were kids. During those trips, Kev and I would perform dance routines for our parents’ entertainment. We would play each other our favorite songs, and dream about one day making music together. We’ve always connected and maintained our friendship through music, even when we’ve lived very different lives on very different continents. When I got pregnant with my daughter in 2016, he called and said, “Ok, we have to finally make music together so we can stay connected” And so it was. Our first track was “Find Me” on Rebellion. It was so good, and so fun, and of course we’ve made a lot of music together since then. I’ve also directed award winning music videos for Hutchtastic, Kev’s partner in all things, including Plump Records, so it’s a natural next step to release my debut solo EP on Plump. I couldn’t be more happy about this, and can’t wait to share these bomb ass tracks with everyone!

What was your approach for these tracks?

I thought about how I wanted to feel, and what sounds I was loving at the time, and worked to create tracks that made it impossible not to dance. For Touchy Feely, my husband, rapper Old Man Saxon, and I created a song together, and selected one lyric from the song to be featured on the track. It’s crazy how one line can be pulled from an entire song and it just works, ya know? And for Fire, I was on the mic one night free styling and it just came to me – or the spirit came into the room – and it was easy to make a beat to work with those fuller lyrics. It’s always a dance between the lyrics and the beat – until you find that sweet spot and declare the song complete!

Do you have a preference between DJ’ing, producing, singing & directing?

I think everything is everything and all the creating feeds all the creating. When I’m writing for film or TV (my other job), it helps to mix records. Mixing forces me to stay digging’ in the crates, and I’m usually like, “Ok I can’t find something I love so I’m gonna make that shit.” And singing is always amazing – using my voice to create something from nothing is everything. I highly recommend it. It’s freeing and fun – like we are allowed to play – we are supposed to play – but we forget as adults that that’s what we’re made for. For me, singing is play. Directing, for me, is everything combined. It’s taking my producing background and my love of music and building a bridge between those worlds. I love collaborating – I love writing but it can get lonely – so directing is a chance for me to be with other humans in real time and make something magical. DJ’ing is so fun – sometimes I have to remember not to dance so much while I’m mixing! But for real, I envision DJ’ing quite a bit in the near future, and hope to see you on the dance floor soon.

What would you say is the proudest moment of your career so far?

As a vocalist, my proudest moment is seeing how many people loved “Drug Birds” (Sola). I couldn’t believe how well it was received – and it gave me the confidence to continue pursuing my dream of using my voice to connect with people and bring people together. In a fun, club environment ;). And as a music video director, when we won Best Underground Video at Clubbing TV Awards for my song with Kevin Knapp, “Cute” (Desert Hearts), I was so proud of our entire team! We made that video in March, right before COVID shut down the world, and it was a real labor of love and a bold statement of body positivity, performed beautifully by Hutchtastic. I loved making that video with our amazing cast and crew, and I love the message and boldness of the song, and I love putting music to images. So it was a true love affair inside and out.

Who are your current favourite music artists?

Aside from Kevin Knapp and Old Man Saxon, obviously, I love Solange, Erykah Badu, Helado Negro, Demuir, Bach, Michael Bibi, Saweetie (I’m from Oakland so naturally I love her and hip hop), Kendrick Lamar, Shermanology, and Pote, to name just a few.

What else do you get up to outside of music?

I write for TV and film, I co-host Unsent, a live show where brave souls get on the mic to share messages they wrote but never sent! I direct movies and music videos, I dance, I’m a Voice Artist for podcasts, I do yoga, mother my two wild daughters, make bomb pesto, meditate and rest! I also write a crazy ass newsletter called The Overshare, so I stay writing. You should def check it out. I get very private in public.

What’s next for Baby Luck in 2022 and have you set any targets for the future?

I’m working on a lot of new music these days. Fun times. I plan to release more soon as a solo and collaborative artist, in both the electronic and hip hop spaces. I would love to collaborate more with artists I admire, as a vocalist, producer and music video director. I also plan to DJ at future Plump events when the stars align, so I’ll see y’all there!

Pre-Order Link: https://www.beatport.com/release/touchy-feely-ep/3730289

https://www.facebook.com/babyluckproductions/

https://www.instagram.com/imbabyluck/

May 17, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Sophia Fracassi

by the partae May 16, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m mostly based out of Toronto, Ontario in Canada.

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve been singing since before I could walk, apparently. I have always loved music passionately. I started classical voice training when I was five years old and began to teach myself piano by-ear when I was around eight or nine. I started writing music seriously when I was around fourteen, and I haven’t looked back since!

What’s been happening recently?

I have been spending a lot of time in the studio as of late. I’m currently working on a lot of special projects! This summer is going to be packed, and I can’t wait to share it all with everyone.

Your latest single ‘But I Do’ arrived on May 13, please tell us what influenced the sound and songwriting?

But I Do is one of the most vulnerable songs that I’ve written so far. It touches on pretty well every single insecurity I have ever struggled with, and forces my quiet thoughts out into the open. It’s like a page out of my diary. Sonically, it matches the lyrics. I wrote the piano part to actually sound like it’s moving in continuous circles, spinning around in a dizzy wave. There is a constant pulse throughout the track like a heartbeat, and it never settles. The entire song sounds like how it feels to be overwhelmed, full of tension that never releases, even until the very end. I cry almost every time I listen, it’s very cathartic.

How did you go about writing But I Do?

I wrote But I Do just over a year ago, last May. I was struggling pretty heavily with loneliness and was trying to distract myself, ultimately to no avail. One night, I sat down at the piano in my living room where most of my songs have been written, and the song just kind of spilled out of me. It was like an overflowing of every emotion and thought I had been experiencing.

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

I recorded the song in October, 2021 with my producer, Steve Molella, out of his personal studio in Woodbridge, ON. The track was mixed by Jay Dufor, and mastered by Joao Carvalho – both out of Toronto, ON.

How did you approach the recording process?

I started workshopping the song with Steve in September, 2021. We fine tuned a few parts and then created a simple piano/vocal demo to share with my label. Everyone really loved the song, and so we re-tracked a few parts, and built the rest of the production around the piano and vocal.

What does this single mean to you?

I think this song is important to me because it marks a really pivotal moment in my life where I realized that no matter how busy or successful, etc I was, my happiness could not come from my circumstances alone. It wouldn’t matter how hard I worked, or how many people I pleased – I had to stop and let myself think for a moment. It was really within this tension of holding on and breaking down, that I remembered the things that actually mattered to me, and it set me down the right path again.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I have been loving Sigrid recently. She has created such a fun, fresh spin on pop music. As the summer approaches, all I want to hear are her good vibes.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love hosting people! To me, it’s a lot like a concert, it brings people together and connects them. Making a delicious meal and inviting people into your space, making them feel special, it’s such a good feeling. I’m not very good at small talk either, I love to hear people’s stories.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

This year will be a busy one! I have a very special project coming this July, which I am extremely excited for. I also can’t wait to get out and perform this summer! It’s been too long.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

As long as I’m with the people I love, it doesn’t really matter where I am (to be a bit sappy). If I could choose, however, it would probably be a really massive brunch with my friends on a patio somewhere, or charcuterie on my back deck, or pizza on the beach – well, actually, I can’t decide!

Facebook: @sophiafracassimusic

Twitter: @sophiafracassi

Instagram: @sophiafracassi

Tik Tok: @sophia_fracassi

Website: https://www.sophiafracassi.com

May 16, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Dulcie

by the partae May 13, 2022

written by the partae

Your latest single ‘Nothing Left’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

‘Nothing Left’ was written on a zoom call with my friend Myles who has a background in production. When he sent through the first demo of our idea it had so many interesting midi sounds and was quite different to our style of music at the time, but we all loved it. We tried the song multiple ways – full band and stripped back but thought that the pop direction suited it best.

What does Nothing Left mean to you?

‘Nothing Left’ is a really exciting song for all of us. It was the first time we expanded our sound into the realm of production and was a whole new process of recording. This song helped us to step out of our comfort zone and be open minded which is so important as artists!

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

We recorded ‘Nothing Left’ in October last year with our amazing producer Joel Quartermain. He set up his gear in my living room and we had so much fun playing around with different synths and midi sounds. It was really special being able to record from home, we even set up a make shift vocal booth made from clothes racks and rugs! Myles sent through stems from our original demo which we worked into the track too. It was mixed by Cam Parkin and mastered by Leon Zervos.

You’re going on tour through regional Western Australia in May/June with Amy Shark, how did this come about?

Our booking agent pitched us for her supporting act and we were so excited when she said yes!! It’s going to be such a nice way to explore the WA coast, play live and listen to some amazing music!

Are there any shows in particular that you’re most excited about playing?

We all have family that live in Denmark so we’re really looking forward to the Albany show. It’s always nice seeing familiar faces out in the crowd!

What do you find most challenging and rewarding whilst being on tour?

It’s nice being able to spend so much time together and gig consistently – we really gel as a band playing live so often! It’s so rewarding to share our music with new people and play in unfamiliar places. Touring can be pretty go go go, so it’s a challenge to get in your 2&5 and 8 hours of sleep but we try our best!!

What can we expect from your live shows?

Our live show has evolved a lot in the last few months! We’ve got a bunch of new songs in the set and use backing tracks for parts we can’t play live which really enhances our sound! You can expect lots of harmonies, stripped back songs to full on pop – hopefully there’s something for everyone!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Our road trips will always have some Holly Humberstone, Olivia Rodrigo, MAY-A, Samia, Eliza & The Delusionals and Clews in the mix! We’ve created our own playlists through our Spotify if you want to hear more of what we’re listening too!

What’s planned for the second half of 2022?

Can’t believe we’re already half way through the year! You can definitely expect new music and more touring! First up we’ve got a bunch of rural WA shows supporting Amy Shark throughout May/early June. We’re looking forward to jumping back in the studio soon, working with other song writers and continuing to explore our sound.

https://www.facebook.com/dulcie.music

May 13, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

MARCUS WYNWOOD

by the partae May 11, 2022

written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m based in the little seaside town of Penguin on the NW Coast of Tasmania. It’s an amazing place with a creative community, a heap of cafes, and a couple of pubs on the main street. Oh, and we have a giant 3 metre tall Penguin, can’t forget that.

How did you first start playing music?

It’s something I’ve always done. I started playing guitar when I was 7 on an old acoustic that was pretty much attached to me. I started writing songs and playing in pubs and bars in my early teens and have just kept doing it since.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been working on a few new song ideas and preparing for a couple of shows. I’ve been blown away by the response I’ve received from my last couple of singles “Something In My Eye” and now “Little Space”. I’m lucky to be able to do what I love: make music, and it’s even better when people like it. So, recently, I’ve been working on more songs.

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

A whole bunch of things. When I’m writing a song, there is a thousand different perspectives going around my head. How does the music build, does the song structure take you somewhere, do the lyrics make sense, do they mean something, does it draw you in. Other times when I’m writing a song, my head is completely empty, and it just happens. “Little Space” is a bit of a different direction for me, but it feels good to be writing in this style. It’s also a different because it’s a song with no chorus – but I still wanted to draw the listener in. I wanted the listener to be surrounded by sound, like they are inside something. There are around 6 guitar parts in there, along with bass, drums, and a heap of backing vocals. You can even hear my daughters singing the “and I will always love you” parts. I like creating simple songs, but I also enjoy layering them up – not to add complexity, but to add depth. Jon Grace did an amazing job with mixing the vocals, which I think helps the listener sink into the track. To me, there are aspects of Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Talking Heads and maybe even The Cure in there, but chuck some headphones on and see what you think. Sink into it.

How did Little Space come about?

This song started out as a little two chord guitar riff and just grew from there. I often start with a rhythm and maybe one simple lyrical idea. I like the way the words “there’s a little space” roll off the tongue, and how it represents a place of safety that hopefully we all can find. Some people are doing it tough, but it’s a nice thought to know that there is a little space somewhere in this crazy world where you belong.

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

I have a humble little home studio where I spend a lot of time writing, producing, and recording my music. Everything for “Little Space” was performed and recorded by me in my little studio, and then I sent it to Jon Grace to mix. I’ve worked with Jon on other projects in the past, and he is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet in the industry. Jon has worked with bands like Bakers Eddy, Dear Seattle, Dune Rats and Kingswood, and I really like his creative approach to making music. The track was mastered by Samuel K Sproull who is an accomplished producer and amazing musician in his own right. I’m lucky to be working with such a cool team.

Is there an EP on the way? If so, please tell us more:

After recently releasing “Something In My Eye” and “Little Space”, I’m now taking some time to work on new material – the beginnings of an EP. I guess we’ll see where it takes me.

Will you be touring anytime soon? If so, where and when?

I have a couple shows coming up around Tasmania. I’m playing in Devonport on the 21st of May alongside Without Fail, Adapt, and The True Champions of Breakfast. Then in Launceston on the 9th of July with Slow Down Sonic. I’d love to jump on a plane and tour again (Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, everywhere!), maybe when the EP is done?

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Tassie music lately, bands like Spkezy, Adapt, Broxton and Verticoli have all got some great music out at the moment. Other Aussie acts I’m enjoying are Sly Withers, Alice Skye, Week Neez, and Totally Unicorn.

What do you like to do away from music?

Hanging out with my family and friends, going to see live music, or just zoning out and playing some old-school SNES. A bit of NBA Jam, Street Fighter, or Mario Kart – that’s always a good time.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?

I’m hoping to spend some time writing and recording, with a few shows thrown in for good measure!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

There is a place called “Wok and Roll” that do great sushi, but my favourite place at the moment is the “Penguin Beer Co”. They do live music, epic burgers, and a range of locally brewed beers. You should try the “Emperor Penguin” IPA, it’s fantastic.

May 11, 2022 0 comments

Music Interviews Music News

Topic

by the partae May 10, 2022

written by the partae

Hey Topic! Pleased to meet you and thanks for making time to sit down with us.

You’re in Australia touring for two weeks! How has the tour been so far?

A: The tour was great! Australia is definitely one of my favorite countries in the world. I visited Australia in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the country. I was very excited to be back and also play a tour, which was a first for me! It has been a great experience and a huge milestone in my career.

What was your favorite show?

A: That’s a tough one to pick, especially when I played eight shows but I guess it was the one at Marquee in Sydney. It was my final gig of the tour and also got surprised with a plaque from my label a few minutes before stepping into the DJ booth, so I was a little extra hyped that night!

How has the Australian crowd been?

A: The Australian crowd is something else! I described it as “mad” on one of my Instagram posts (check it out and you´ll know what I mean by that :D), you guys definitely go crazy and you also like to drink a lot I guess.

What surprised you most about Australia?

A: I mean, it was not a big surprise but I was traveling to a different city every day and sometimes it was like a four or five hour flight, like from Darwin to Melbourne. Of course, I knew that Australia is big and that not too many people live there in relation… but it’s just so impressive when you fly for so many hours and you don’t see any city or anything and you’re still in the same country – just in a different city. ‘Cause I’m from Europe you know, and when you fly 4 or 5 hours there you´ll fly over six countries and you’re most definitely even out of Europe 😀 That was really impressive to see.

Are you planning another visit to Australia soon?

A: Yeah, while we were there we talked a little bit with my booking agents that we might do something at the end of this year or maybe in the beginning of 2023. I am definitely up to come Down Under again.

What are your other plans for 2022 and what are you looking forward to most?

A: 2022 will definitely be the year that I’ll just go and play as many shows and festivals as possible. I just wanna get out there and finally be able to play all the shows that I missed the past two years. There’s so much I am looking forward to, there’s Parookaville coming, Tomorrowland mainstage and so many other great festivals and so many releases that are lined up, so can’t really pick.

This Friday (22.04.) you’re releasing a new track with Alvaro Solar, can you tell us a bit more about this collaboration?

A: Yeah, on April 22nd I released a track with Alvaro Soler. We have many mutual friends and we were linked up in 2020. He’s a great guy, great songwriter and it was a lot of fun working with him on a track. I am very happy that the song is out now and so far we’ve gotten very good responses about it. I am also very happy that we managed to have a nice symbiosis of like the Spanish world and the dance world.

Can we expect any more new music from you soon?

A: Yes, very soon!!! There will be an announcement very soon. You might have even heard it in my sets before, but that´s about everything I can say about it right now.

What artist do you really want to work with and why?

A: –

Can you tell us a bit more about ‘melancholic dance music’?

A: ‘melancholic dance music’ is a phrase that we came up with, just after “Breaking Me” was release as someone asked me to describe my sound. I always liked melancholic music. And even when I was a kid I was always listened to the more sadder songs but at the same time it made me happy, I don’t know why, it’s just me being weird I guess …haha. But then when I started making music and especially dance music I always loved to put the melancholic touch to it. “Melancholic dance music” – basically songs which bring up various kinds of emotion but at the same time you just can´t stop your body from moving.

What is your favorite track released by yourself?

A: It’s impossible to pick a favorite track by yourself. I mean, all those tracks have a great personal memory for me and have a story to it. So it is pretty tough to pick one. Everyone is special itself. Which one is your favorite?

What kind of music do you like to listen to in your free time?

A: I wouldn’t say that I have a favorite genre that I like to listen to. I like a lot of music. I think with Spotify and the possibility that you can listen to every music literally at the tip of your finger it made everyone’s music taste broader, I guess.

What do you enjoy most when you’re not in the studio or playing at a festival/club?

A: I like to watch and play Basketball myself. I also enjoy to spend time with my friends and family over a good meal!

You’re a big Formula One fan, who’s your favorite team and driver this season?

A: I am a Formula 1 fan again. I was into it a lot when I was a kid and fell back on love with it last year. I don’t really have a favorite driver, last year I was cheering for Max Verstappen and I was very happy that he won. But this year I am just enjoying watching Formula 1 and may the best one win. I´m impressed by Lando Norris though and I think he might be a world champion at some point.

What’s on your bucket list for 2022?

A: Playing at Tomorrowland Mainstage was always on top of my bucket list since I became a DJ. I will be able to tick that one off my list later this year, I am so excited!!!

One last question: If you could have dinner with someone, dead or alive, who would it

be and why?

A: Oof..another tough one! Maybe Avicii. He was so good, made so sick tracks and also had such an impact! He would definitely be on top of my list.

Thanks so much for your time and enjoy the last few shows this weekend!

May 10, 2022 0 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts