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Music Interviews

GEORGIA DUTTON
Music InterviewsMusic News

Georgia Dutton

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am currently based in Brisbane!

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve always had a passion for music, long before I was even aware of it. I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember and I played guitar, piano and percussion in school. I always knew I wanted to be a full time musician and I’m so grateful that dream is working out for me.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

I just dropped a new single so I’ve been enjoying seeing the reaction to that! My Covid experience has been bittersweet, I’ve had so much time to work on music but I really missed performing. I had my first gig since Covid a few weeks ago and it was so magical.

Your new single ”I Wish We Met When We Were 25′ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I was really inspired by classic, pop breakup songs. I wanted to have my sassy breakup moment so I definitely did some exaggerating with the lyrics. My producer and I took inspiration from artists like Charli XCX, Taylor Swift and Caroline Polachek. We wanted to add an element of electronica to give more texture and depth.

How did you go about writing the single?

I got the idea for the title randomly one day and wrote it down in notes then didn’t touch the idea for another month. I started humming the melody one night and recorded a voice memo then fleshed it out on the piano the next day. The lyrics definitely came out naturally, I think my best songs are the ones that only take me 5 minutes to write.

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

I recorded 80% of it at my home studio with my producer Levi Kohler at the start of this year then added finishing touches at Airlock Studios with producer Steve Kempnich a few months ago.

How did you approach the recording process?

I always like to finish the structure and lyrics before recording so I have a vision of the finished song. I basically just show my producer some reference tracks and examples of what I want the song to sound like, then we just do what comes natural from there!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

I want to squeeze in some more gigs and focus on recording more tracks for the future

Any shows coming up?

I have a show on December 17th with Sir & Lydia at Tomcat

What do you like to do away from music?

I got into making jewellery during Covid so I’ve been enjoying that!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been loving The Neighbourhood’s new album at the moment, it’s so catchy and fun!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I am a sucker for a good picnic, it’s the ultimate no pressure hangout situation in my opinion!

Links to socials:

www.instagram.com/georgiaduttonmusic

www.facebook.com/georgiaduttonmusic

www.twitter.com/gduttonmusic

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

SHYJANA

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Sydney, Australia.

How did you first get into music?

When I was 7 years old I was listening to channel (V) used to be my favourite on a Saturday morning and I’d sing along to all the songs.

“I wish I was a punk rocker” by Sandi Thom had just finishing playing I started singing it and my family relative came out of the kitchen saying she loved the song but stopped when she realised it was me singing and not the TV.
She turn to my mum and said “you need to put her in singing lessons” my mum ended up working three jobs just to put me into singing lessons.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

The past couple of months have been pretty crazy for me prepping for my single release as well as writing new songs and coming up with concepts and ideas for music videos as well as other releases.

I remember when everything first started getting serious with COVID I felt so strange definitely deflated because there were certain plans that I had made that got put on hold.

Your house burnt down, please tell us how things have changed for you since:

I tend to tell people that my house burning down in one of the best things that ever happened to me. They call me crazy of course but before my house burnt down I was not in a good place at all.

When I was 16 years old I was on The Voice Australia.

After being eliminated in the battle rounds I didn’t cope well at all.

I suffered from depression & anxiety for 4 years, I couldn’t keep a job, I couldn’t write any music, I didn’t even want to leave my bed.

That all changed when my house burnt down.

It wasn’t over night, I couldn’t just forget about all the things lost.

It was one of the hardest things I ever had to watch.

My mum and I lived in a homeless shelter for 4 weeks following the fire, it really opened my eyes.

Your new single ‘Top Spot’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I was working as a housekeeper when I wrote Top Spot, I remember the day like it was yesterday.

I remember being so tired whilst driving from one hotel to the next I was working a double shift and had been working crazy hours all week.

I knew why I was doing it I knew that the long hours, the sore feet it was only for one thing and that was so I was able to make music.

I started to think about all the crazy stuff people do to get where they want to be and started writing.

I wanted it to be relatable, quirky & new.

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

My producers name is Philippe-Marc Anquetil.

We have been working together ever since I was on the voice.

We recorded & mastered Top Spot in his Studio.

Top Spot was recorded in April this year.

How did you approach the recording process?

I always like being prepared when heading into the studio.

I normally go in with 3-5 songs that I have recorded a demo to at home.

We listen to all of the song and make the decision, I was really nervous about Top Spot because it was unlike anything I had ever written before.

What does Top Spot mean to you?

Top Spot reminds me of where I was when I wrote it and how far I have come in that time.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Post Malone for sure I love all of his stuff.

Saweetie is also on repeat SZA, Kiana Lede and Mali-Koa’s new album.

What do you like to do away from music?

My life pretty much just music if I’m not in the studio I’m usually thinking about going into the studio. I love food so cooking & baking when I get the chance.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

I’m heading back into the studio over the next couple of weeks and starting to prep for my next release which will be early next year.

I’m hoping to be able to perform Top Spot live by the end of the year if not really early next year.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food is a pepperoni pizza for sure.

Favourite place to hang out would have to be my studio.

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

Harves

by the partae
written by the partae

What is your name and role within Harves?

 

My name is Matthew Wright and my role in Harves includes singing/songwriting, playing keys and panicking about things I don’t need to.

Where are you currently based?

 

Based in Melbourne, Australia.

How did Harves form?

 

Sam and I spent many years sending song files back and forth and loosely collaborating over the internet. Until mid-2020, we didn’t really have a clear vision for what we were attempting to do. Our first single (Do Your Worst) was placed in a film through our publishers, and that was really the catalyst for us getting our shit together.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

 

We’ve mostly been writing and preparing for our next release. Covid has certainly made things tougher for us. We’ve worked together in person only a handful of times this year, but in that time we’ve managed to launch the band, and finish and release 2 songs. We’re adapting I guess.

Your new single ‘The River’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 

Harves take influence from wherever we can. Between the two of us, our taste in music is incredibly broad. We don’t really make a conscious effort to sound any particular way. I think our music is a perfect blend of everything we like, and the River is a great representation of that.

How did you go about writing The River?

 

Sam sent through the instrumental idea about a year ago and the vocal came to me almost instantly. It was one of those songs that takes on a life of their own. Apart from some changes the chorus, nearly everything was written within a couple of hours.

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

 

We record and produce our own songs. Sam is also Produces/Mixes/Masters by trade. Harves are a pretty self-sufficient unit.

How did you approach the recording process?

 

Due to Covid, The River was recorded entirely from our respective houses. I did the vocals in my bedroom and Sam took care of mostly everything else in his home studio.

What does The River mean to you?

 

The River is a metaphor for the place that my mind goes when I create music. It can be a really dark and often lonely place, but coming out the other end is almost always worth it.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 

Right this very second I’m listening to John Coltrane. Also been giving the new HEALTH record a lot of love. We’re both massive fans of nearly everything they do.

What do you like to do away from music?

 

We’re both pretty avid gamers. I’d say we’re nearly as passionate about video games as we are about music. We draw a lot of inspiration from that world. Writing for video game soundtracks is a big goal for us.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

 

We’ll be spending the rest of the year writing and preparing for our next release. We’re still undecided on what that release will be, but time will tell. Now that Covid restrictions are easing, we’ll no doubt start looking into playing some shows.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

 

Honestly, my favourite place to hang out is in the comfort of my own home. I’m a bit agoraphobic, so the thought of going out makes me kinda anxious these days. My favourite food is dill pickles – I could (and often do) eat them all day, every day.

 

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

MANE

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I currently live in Adelaide near the water!

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing music when I was 16ish I actually just decided to dust off my brothers old guitar and look up some YouTube tutorials on how to play songs I liked at the time.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

I’ve just finally released the EP ‘Coping Mechanisms’ via Dew Process which I’m super happy to be able to share. Covid has obviously impacted music and arts this year but personally it hasn’t been too bad for me.  I’ve enjoyed a bit of down time. The one thing I miss the most is playing live and touring so I’m looking forward to potentially getting back at it and doing that in the somewhat near future. Fingers crossed!

How did you go about writing Coping Mechanisms and what does this EP mean to you?

I wrote the EP across 2018 and 2019. I think this EP to me is finding hope in darker times and strength in small things even when it feels impossible.

Where and when did you record/produce EP? Who did you work with?

I recorded the EP towards the end of 2019 in Melbourne’s Shed Studios with John Castle. Other collaborators I worked closely with on this EP are my great friends Benjamin Tamblyn and Mario Spate, as well as writing with Joel Quartmaine & Konny Kersting.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the process? 

I think the challenge wasn’t so much the creation and writing of the music but persevering through personal issues while trying to remain creatively energised and enthused. Completing the EP and more so releasing it has been the rewarding part and seeing how it has resonated with others.

Any live shows coming up?

December 11th in Adelaide at JIVE I’ll be playing my first headline show of the year and I’m over the moon about it.

What do you like to do away from music?

Cooking, crafting, walking my doggo, binging tv series and seeing my fam and friends.

https://www.facebook.com/manemusicofficial

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Hot Donnas
Music InterviewsMusic News

Hot Donnas

by the partae
written by the partae

What is your name and role within the Hot Donnas? 

Jacob – Frontman syndrome

George – Animal/drummer

Gene – Unemployed/bass player

Mitchel – Lead Guitar

Where are you currently based?

Out of the Dirty D (Dunedin NZ).

How did you first start playing music? 

We all picked up an instrument at an early age. Primary school years spent taking lessons and gradually improving, developing a deep passion for music in our own ways. George and Mitchell played together in high school and Jake was also in a band. Hot Donnas seemed like such a natural fit for four dudes who needed a more social way to keep the practice up.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

We’ve all been pretty lucky being based in New Zealand during covid. Though there was a pretty big stoppage in the music/gig scene here we’ve been out of lockdown for a while now and been able to pick up the odd gig here and there. Stoked as to be able to release a long awaited EP about a week ago that we’re all really happy with! Keen as to rip into some summer gigs over the next couple of months and get loud on stage.

Your new EP ‘The Adventures of E-WAN’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

This EP was a long time coming. We are always writing songs and have always got something that we’ve jammed sitting in the wings just waiting to be finished off. “Adventures of E-WAN” was a collection of the best songs we had written over the course of 2019, inspired by our continued progression into a more Rock’n’Roll sound and determination to make sure we got the overall sound right. Over the past few years our sound has changed a lot and it has been a massive learning experience for us to redefine it in the studio. Drawing influences from punk and metal, while also still trying to maintain melody and keep our tunes approachable for all humans, we did a lot of listening back to our old stuff and basically tried to fill all the gaps that we thought were made evident through our previous releases.

How did you go about writing The Adventures of E-WAN?

We’d had these songs locked in the chamber for well over a year before the release. George and Jacob lived in a flat together in 2019 and were able set up a spacious jamming area for us to practice, and after the release of our second album ‘Dirty Paradise’ we were all very keen to take our time and really knuckle down some solid tracks over the course of that year. We were jamming 3-4 times a week at peak and playing gigs every other week on top of that, which allowed us to develop our sound nicely.

Where and when did you record/produce?

We recorded the EP down at Radio One Studios in the University Campus just down the road with sound engineer Steven Marr – really stoked to be able to work with such a talented guy! This was around August/November of last year. Once we got the tracks laid down we took the stems to our mate Dan Harris who then mixed em up. This process all took roughly 3/4 months.

How’s the reaction from fans been so far?

We’ve had a pretty good reception so far! Along with the EP we were lucky enough to make up a couple of music videos which people have seemed to enjoy. Had some sick as write ups from some Aus and New Zealand horns which compare us to the sounds of Arctic Monkeys and Queens of the Stone Age – how good is that one!

You toured Australia once before, how was the tour and what were are your thoughts on playing the Aussie shows?

Our Australian tour was a lot of fun and definitely something we want to do again real soon. We learned a lot while we were over the ditch and grew a lot as a band also. We love how hard the Australian crowds mosh and get into the music, makes playing live a lot of fun. Can’t wait to get back over the ditch.

What did you most enjoy about being in Australia?

Easily our best memories were with The Darrans, who we met and toured with while in the country in 2019. We learnt a lot from that trip, and made some of the best memories. Having some top tier blokes like that dumped into our laps like that was the best luck we could have asked for, because having some locals on the ground who have been around the place once or twice before really helped our confidence and ability to soldier through to the end.

Do you have plans to head back to Australia any time soon?

It’s all covid dependent really. We would have been super keen to head back over this year but that all turned to custard. As soon as the opportunity arises and it’s all safe and sound we’ll most definitely be taking it!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Loads of hip hop, like NAS, Big L, Mobb Deep and revisiting Kendrick for the 1000th time…

Parkway Drive, Meshuggah, Gallows, Pearl Jam etc.

What do you like to do away from music?

We enjoy playing and watching sport. A couple of us play basketball and follow the NBA. Most of us follow Rugby union as well, like all good New Zealanders do. Jake likes trying to skateboard but he sucks.. Only one way to get better though. We also watch a bit of t.v as well.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

We have a gig on crate day (If you don’t know what crate day is then definitely google it) and we are also lucky enough to play at Rhythm & Vines Festival in Gisborne. Next year we are gonna pull our fingers out and start gigging and practicing like there’s no tomorrow. We wanna release another album and play as many shows as possible, hopefully jump the ditch if Covid allows us.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

We eat a lot of rice balls, they’re nutritious and cost effective. There’s a shop in Dunedin called Cafe Tokyo that make the best rice balls, perfect ratio of rice and chicken. Nachos are also a favourite in the Hot Donnas camp. It’s the only meal George knows how to cook so hes perfected the recipe.

Official Website: www.juicyhotdonnas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Juicyhotdonnas/

Twitter:  N/A

Instagram: @juicyhotdonnas – https://www.instagram.com/juicyhotdonnas/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDDm74MwFzegrJocZRJ9MvQ

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

Voodoo Bloo

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?

Somewhere in Wellington, well, right now at work, but you’ll find me usually in my “office-turned-apartment” building in a rectangular room creating silly symphonies with whatever I have
 
How did you first start playing music?

If I knew, I’d tell you, but honestly for as long as I can remember I’ve just known how to play guitar and have always just loved music, I think I started writing when I was about 13, but again, it all gets blurry.
 
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

I’ve just been prepping for this debut LP, though most of the work is done now and I’ve gotten more of a chance to start working on the second. My Covid experience has actually been great! When we went into lockdown here I had everything set up to record the whole thing, no distractions, just me and the studio for a few weeks, then by the time it was over me and the band we’re ready to start playing, so I think I may have been one of the lucky few who managed to keep super occupied during these crazy f*cking times.
How did Voodoo Bloo come about?

I looked at a vape juice bottle. It spoke to me. I listened and carried out its wishes.
Your new single ‘Ha Ha Ok’ is out now from your forthcoming debut album ‘Jacobus’, what influenced the sound and songwriting for Ha Ha Ok and the album as a whole?

Ha Ha is a bit of a black sheep, in the sense that it’s influence does not stem from the same place as the rest of the LP, but I’d say it definitely still had some of the same bands I liked the sound of come into its creation, I like to specifically think of it as a marriage between early “Arctic Monkeys” and “Psychedelic Porn Crumpets” for it’s punk yet kinda groovy sound, but that’s just me.
 
How did you go about writing the music for your album Jacobus?

A lot of it started from lyrics I wrote while I was in Japan, everything sort of just spiralled out of nowhere in a very short amount of time, as I’d been documenting things I saw every day on my notes, and then when my friend passed while I was over there, I realised that I’d captured a single moment in my life before it even happened. Written down where I was, what I was up to, all the calm before the storm was there, then when I came home all I had to do was navigate the storm and to turn it into something really personal to me. Some of the actual songs were written before, or at least the tunes of them, then I just had to piece them all together, it was a jigsaw where every piece just fell into place with ease.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

Jacobus was recorded at my house in the suburbs of Wellington, probably around April of this year. We spent a long time working on the production and sound of the album afterwards, but finally we ended up going with Scott Seabright, Ryan Smith, and Gregory Haver for Mixing, Mastering, and Mix advising respectively.
How did you approach the recording process?

This is a mixed bag, I think due to the fact that we had to record, re-record, and touch bits up so many times, but ultimately I just spent hours and hours in lockdown getting it to sound exactly how I wanted it. Some of the songs were prepped before I went in, others I had to figure out while in the studio, but for any time I sung or recorded a song that was about my mate (which is a majority of this project) I usually couldn’t stay in there for long as I just got overwhelmed by everything I felt towards him. It was cathartic yet painful, lovely yet bitter, yet it came out in a way that I could never have even dreamed for, it was the perfect send-off for a friend.
What programs/instruments did you use?

For the most part, it’s your standard 2 guitar, 1 bass, drums and vocals type deal, though I did chuck some synths and other cool trickery in the mix, some of which was done by the lovely production crew, but I’m still waiting for people to pick up on the theremin sample I used. It’s out there already, go look for it!
What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Jacobus?

Singing “A Brother, A Son, A War that never changes” and “A Friend, Jacobus”. I did the 11 minute trek in one take, and once it was over, I couldn’t bring myself to do it again. I showed my friends the takes because I wasn’t sure if my emotions came off as overdramatic, but they said it felt pure and honest, and ultimately I agreed, and there it sits as my dark and beautiful achievement.
When will you be releasing Jacobus?

December 4th, anywhere and everywhere, I think. Maybe not in starbucks or something? Though I reckon that’d be pretty cool.
Actually nah, Taco Bell, hit me up if you want these sweet tunes in your store exclusively. You make the pure hangover food I desire every Sunday. You know where to find me.

Can you give us an idea of what to expect from Jacobus?

No, but I can tell you how I’d like you to listen to it. 1. Lay down on your bed in your room with the lights off 2. Play the album 3. Return out into the light to a room full of friends.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

I’d like to spend the remainder of 2020 forgetting about 2020, and for my 2021 to be renamed to 2020.

Any shows coming up?

We actually have a charity show coming up in our hometown with Miss June and Curlys Jewels, two of my favorite bands from the country, and all of the proceeds will be going to Lifeline Aotearoa, an organisation who help out heaps of kiwis daily struggling with mental health issues. It’ll be an awesome night for an awesome cause.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

King Gizzard’s new LP, King Gizzards old LP (Eyes Like The Sky, to be specific), and a whole bunch of midwest emo (with a little car seat headrest too).
I’m a sucker for some dude with an acoustic guitar talking about relationship issues from illinois.

What do you like to do away from music?
Um.
You’ve got me.
But nah seriously, just chilling with friends, oh and I love pinball, like I have a serious addiction to the sh*t. You’ll find me on my computer or down at my local coffee shop just, well, playing pinball.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

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

Earl The Kid

by the partae
written by the partae
Where are you currently based?

I am currently based in London, United Kingdom.

How did you first first start playing music?

I started spinning since I was 16 years old, from bday parties to house parties and then in clubs.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

I kinda see the lockdown as a personal isolation and time to invest in myself, even thou to have to opportunity to keep learning and experiment more with my sound.
Though times for everyone but we are all in this together, so we gotta stay positive. We already wasted so much time on negative things.

Please tell us about your thoughts of the importance of artist mental health awareness:

I am glad this year the theme of mental illness got back up again.
From an artist’s point of view is kinda extreme in a sense of appreciation. We have to deal on a daily basis with rewards, rejections, opportunities, nights without sleep, expand our network and abandon the old paradigm we have been living through now.

As an artist, how has Covid impacted your mental health?

Honestly it is the best/worst time of my life. Like mentioned in the previous question but again it is part of the journey to shine as a musician. At the end of the day no one can kill creative souls who have been hidden in the abyss of modern society.

You have a series on YouTube called ‘Donut Dating’ what is the concept and how did this series come about?

Well, I love donuts and I love beautiful creature such as women.
That serie is about self improvement I have been and I am still experiencing. My goal is at least to help/inspire someone out there who is in the same situation.

How has Donut Dating been going so far?

The real success of Donut Dating is to be happy by yourself in the first place in order to make your partner/partners happy. It is a value you add to your life.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I am currently listening to 80s music, some goth such as The Cure, The Mission, Fields of the Nephilim.
I swing from the classics Liszt/Beethoven to Motley Crue and Cradle of Filth.

What programs/equipment do you like to work with when playing live and recording:

I use FL Studio for production and I perform with cdjs 2000 (classic club setup)

What do you like to do away from music?

I eat donuts (obviously haha), I started skateboarding since I was 10 years old, I brainstorm a lot to find new ideas to finalise my creative process and I read at least 2 books a week.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

My team and I are working hard to make 2021 such a fire year. We are amplifying what was left from 2020.
American tour for sure, we finalising the Asian one, getting few contacts with Australia and New Zealand. We are literally about to conquer the globe.
Shoutout to my lovely team: Gabriele, Arianna, Krystle and Kayla, Julian, Boogie (Hillyhd), Dennis and Naushad.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Favourite place to hangout and food?
I think you have the answer already hahah (DUNKIN DONUTS MUHAHAH)

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

Talia Rose

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I currently live in the Gold Coast.

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve literally been playing for my whole life. My family was really involved in Country music competitions when I was growing up, and I started competing when I was 3. My mum is a music teacher, so I was pretty lucky that I got to grow up learning how to play different instruments and always being surrounded by music.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

Honestly Covid has been pretty lonely! I was definitely lucky because I never lost my job and I wasn’t as hugely impacted as I know a lot of other people have been so I am grateful for that, but I had only just moved to the Gold Coast about 2 months before everywhere started to shut down. I didn’t know anyone here before I moved, so when the restrictions started being implemented I spent a lot of time by myself, which was pretty tough. Recently though, things have been going really well! I’ve started gigging more which has been awesome, and I’ve been able to spend a lot more time working on my music as well which I’m loving. And with more restrictions being lifted all the time, it’s been really great finally being able to see more of the Gold Coast.

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

I feel like the emotion behind the song is what influenced the sound. I was writing about a really dark and heavy period of my life, and I think the track is very reflective of that; it gives off this kind of sinister and unstable vibe, which is definitely how I was feeling during the time that I was writing about.

How did you go about writing Cut My Nails?

It was actually kind of a hard song to start. My co-writer/producer (Parker Rose)  and I were playing around with a couple of different ideas when I randomly said that I needed to cut my nails, and we kind of just decided it would be a cool lyric and then sat on it for a while before we decided to run with it. It was such a fun song to write though – super experimental which is always exciting, and it was also just really therapeutic. I feel like once we got in the zone, the whole song came together really easily as far as writing it goes.

Where and when did you record/produce?

Cut My Nails was Written and Produced at Parkers old studio on the Gold Coast.

Please tell us about your connection to the LGBTQI community:

After I came out and had to move out of home, I didn’t feel like there were a lot of people in my life that I could really connect with about what I was going through, which was really isolating. Being apart of the LGBTQI community and meeting people with similar experiences to me and being able to celebrate who I am and my sexuality instead of wishing I could change it was so important. Going to Pride festivals and drag shows and meeting people who knew what I was going through and had come out the other side played such a huge role in me accepting myself and getting myself through one of the darkest periods of my life. I really feel so lucky to be apart of such an amazing community that celebrates love and individuality and self expression so intensely. What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021? I just finished my third single as Cut My Nails was being released so that will be coming out soon! I’m also working on releasing an EP in 2021 so that’s something pretty exciting to look forward to!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I have a few of my all time favourites like Billie Eilish, Benee and Jessie Reyez. Right now though, I really love Alexander 23, FLETCHER and G Flip.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love dancing (although I’m really not very good at it, but I don’t mind). I also really like cooking, and I love hanging out with my friends.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

I just finished my third single as Cut My Nails was being released so that will be coming out soon! I’m also working on releasing an EP in 2021 so that’s something pretty exciting to look forward to!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I absolutely love sushi, it’s easily one of my favourite foods. Either that or strawberry pierogi. My stepmum used to make them for me when I was younger, I’m obsessed with them! As for my favourite place to hangout, I love taking my dog to the beach or going out somewhere with live music.

 

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

Dutch Monks

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I am living/working in Melbourne, whereas Thijs has moved back to Utrecht in the Netherlands! 

 

How did you first start playing music?

My dad plays guitar, and so I had always taken an interest in watching him play music when I was a child. I think when my friends started playing guitar in about year 7 or 8 (Age 13-14?) that really motivated me to pick it up and try to play though! At one point I started learning from a book to read proper music notation etc, but then guitar tabs appeared that let me learn to play ‘Scar Tissue’ from RHCP, and then I was done with learning properly! Sort of regrettable in hindsight not to learn more music theory, but once I could play the songs I loved I just couldn’t be bothered learning the ‘proper’ way. I do often think that my lack of formal musical knowledge allows me to think outside the box a bit though in terms of song writing, without being bounded by what ‘should’ follow a certain chord etc. But it also limits me, which is why working with a classically trained musician (Thijs) worked so well for our songs, I could have the crazy idea, and then he would be able to add really clever additions to the chords/progressions to tie it all together! ☺ 

 

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

I have been super busy with my work in science and also promoting our album! My Covid experience has been very fortunate compared to a lot of people, as I have maintained my employment throughout the entire lockdown in Melbourne. I was able to work from home for many weeks and then get back into the lab occasionally as well because medical research is an essential service. Although working from home was great for a while, I think being able to go back into the workplace was really good for me, and I feel very lucky for it. It was tough not being able to see my parents for around 6 months, as they were outside the ‘ring of steel’, but we have seen each other again now and it was just awesome to get back and say G’day! ☺ 

 

Your new album ‘Yours to Lend’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

There are a huge amount of different influences on this album, as is demonstrated by the range of different sounds within the 10 tracks. The sounds on our album range through rock music like ‘Storm’ to piano ballads like ‘Dork’ and acoustic guitar/harmonica sounds like ‘Rory’. The influences behind all those sounds are so varied it’s hard to describe, but I guess for me personally, my strongest influences are probably as follows: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus (I love the percussive vocal lines in both of these bands, and I often try to include percussive vocal sections in our songs), Ben Harper, Neil Young, and basically anything that makes me feel emotions! I think I can speak on Thijs’s behalf to say his largest influence as a pianist/keyboard player is definitely Supertramp.

 

How did you go about writing the music?

For 9 out of the 10 tracks I had lyrics/chord structures written already in an acoustic form, and I would bring these ideas in to work with me where we would find a quiet room and start putting piano lines to them. But as the songs developed the piano would quickly become the driving force behind the songs, and I would then really reduce the amount of guitar I was playing to a minimal amount to leave room for Thijs’s beautiful piano lines ☺ As a guitarist who has played in guitar heavy punk/rock bands before, it was a really fun experience actually to play in a very minimalistic way, just trying to compliment the piano and vocals. For the song ‘Storm’ our roles were switched…Thijs came in with the whole chord structure on piano and initial lyrics, and we jammed to it, I added some guitar and played around with the lyrics/vocal style until we had what you hear on the album ☺ 

 

Where and when did you record/produce?

We recorded the whole album with Steve Vertigan at Soggy Dog Recording Studios in Upwey. I have worked with Steve before on some other recordings and I knew he has a great ear for mixing, and vast musical knowledge to draw from during the recording process. The bulk of the recording was done across 2 days in March 2019, where the session musicians Jason Vorherr and Peter Maslen were present to record the bass and drums. Once the ‘skeleton’ of the tracks were down, we raced to get Thijs’s piano/harmonica and backing vocals down before he had to leave for the Netherlands in about May! After that, I basically went back into the studio once a month or so to add in my parts and work on the mixing with Steve. I also had around 7 weeks overseas in the middle of 2019 where I could listen back to the mixes and come back with fresh ears. The final mixes were sent off for mastering with Ross Cockle from Sing Sing Studios in about March 2020, so it really was an album recorded across an entire year! ☺ Although an unusual process, I love writing/recording and it was really great to have a creative project going along on the side whilst I continued working in science. 

 

How did you approach the recording process?

I like to approach recording with an open mind to the fact that the songs might take on completely new forms during recording. It’s actually what I love most…the spontaneous things that arise in the studio, whether it’s a little guitar line or a particular take of the vocals, I just love it when you can drive away from the studio listening back to something that didn’t even exist when you drove there in the morning! ☺ 

 

What programs/equipment did you use?

I have no idea! (Steve?)

 

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the album?

Most challenging was probably holding back from rushing the recording. After almost a year of recording/mixing there’s a real desire to get the music out and show it to people, but I really tried to hold on until the music was absolutely finished and mastered before I showed it to most people. I really wanted an end product that I was completely happy with, and it was totally worth the wait in the end, so I guess that is the most rewarding part…there really isn’t anything on the album that I listen to and go ‘Oh no! What were we thinking! Why didn’t we change that bit?’ Which has always been my previous experience with more rushed recordings.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Spotify tells me that recently I’ve been switching mainly between Thundercat, Bad Mother Nature, Jackson Browne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, John Frusciante, Karnivool and Queens Of The Stone Age.

 

What do you like to do away from music?

I’m a mad scientist in most of my hours away from music. I actually really enjoy my work and particularly microscopy. I get to make time-lapse microscopy images of immune cells attacking their target cells and it’s just an incredible thing to visualise. I have a lot of fun and pour a lot of my creativity into trying to develop new techniques of visualising these events more clearly so that we can learn more about them ☺

 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

I think like most people I just want to get through 2020 and then have an awesome 2021! It’s actually been pretty handy getting all of the album out this year, so that hopefully if gigs are allowed in the new year, I can start to focus on remembering how to play guitar and get a band together to perform Dutch Monks songs at live gigs! I’m actually really excited about that, can’t wait to perform these songs!

 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Oh gee, anyone that knows me knows that I love most food! (a little too much tbh). But I think my favourite would have to be home-made pasties that my Mum makes ☺ As for a place to hangout, this year it’s probably been the research laboratory that I work in at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre! Other years it would be a quiet place in the bush though…as a kid who grew up in the country the city is far too busy for me, I like to get away from it and gather my thoughts ☺ 

 

Website
https://dutchmonks.com/


Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DutchMonks


Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/dutch_monks/


Twitter
https://twitter.com/DutchMonks


YouTube
http://bit.ly/DutchMonks_YouTube


Spotify

http://bit.ly/DutchMonks_Spotify


Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/au/artist/dutch-monks/1522421212


Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/user-305369583


Triple j Unearthed
https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/dutch-monks


Bandcamp
https://dutchmonks.bandcamp.com/releases

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

The Silencio

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Gold Coast, QLD.

 How did you first start playing music?

We all picked up our instruments in our teens and played around in multiple bands before forming this one. 
 
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

Recently, we have been rehearsing constantly in an effort to tighten up our sound for once restrictions lift and we can tour again. We took it as an opportunity to fine tune our live show so that we can be better than we were before. 
 
How did The Silencio form?

Originally it was a solo effort from Vocalist/guitarist Jan Nicholas Blom. After playing a few shows here and there I determined that my style was very rhythmic so it would be a benefit to have a rhythm section with me. Once the lineup was solidified, we started pushing the acoustic rock genre into new territory and ended up here. 
 
Your new single ‘Apology’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Once our guitarist, Dylan Brann, switched to the electric guitar and started to have more input in writing, this new sound was born and Apology was one of the first tracks written for the new album. As for the message behind the song, a good friend of mine has been battling with transitioning into sobriety for a long time and with the on again/off again nature of his habits I wanted to put into perspective for those out there who have turned their backs how hard it is for him in his situation and attempt to promote more love, forgiveness and understanding towards the situation. 

 How did you go about writing Apology?

Our drummer, Kurt Winter, has a little home studio where we tinker with our ideas until they become full songs. This particular track was born out of the reverse piano sound you can hear during the intro. Dylan had nothing else written but by the end of one session walked away with this track in the bag. 

Where and when did you record and who with?

We recorded the whole album this time last year with Nik Carpenter at Core Studios on the Gold Coast. 
 
How did you approach the recording process?

We had the album fully written and recorded during pre-production months before we got into the studio so that the time spent in there would be productive rather than second guessing ourselves. We like to consider ourselves to be over-organised at times haha. 
 
Please tell us about your experience whilst working with Danny Saber:

Danny has been lovely to work with and has ideas that we hadn’t considered before which has been important considering we have been mostly self produced up until he got involved. Though, Nik Carpenter had helped us with bits and pieces along the way. Danny has been shaping our arrangements and helping us to understand through his years of knowledge as to how to best position our newer material moving forward to appeal to a wider audience. 
 
Who are you listening to at the moment?

We all have varying tastes but recently, I have been listening to a lot of Eden, Greyhaven and Bring Me The Horizon. 

 What do you like to do away from music?

Music is pretty much everything for all of us. Outside of it is only really time for our families and day jobs. Jared owns several restaurants, Dylan is in landscaping and Kurt and I both have office jobs within the building industry.
 
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

We have more music to release and are in the process of approving several music videos being shot to determine which song comes next. With a bit of luck, restrictions will ease and we can take our show on the road!
 
Favourite food and place to hangout?

It’s no secret to those that know me that the only food that exists is pizza and my favourite place to hang out is in the recording studio. 
 
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SHACKS & PALACES RETURNS WITH UPLIFTING NEW SINGLE 'GOD MADE YOU STRANGE', WITH VIDEO
Music InterviewsMusic News

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

by the partae
written by the partae
“Shacks & Palaces sounds like if MGMT were actually made up of Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and The New Pornographers’ A. C. Newman. Aherne utilizes a slightly off-kilter cadence on the verses, reaching high for a hook of pure indie pop bliss as the synths finally take over for the chorus.” – Consequence of Sound
The Temper Trap‘s Jonny Aherne has released the third single from his new solo project Shacks & Palaces today. Timely in its celebratory spirit, ‘God Made You Strange’ is a joyous and infectious anthem of self-acceptance.

“‘God Made You Strange’ is about letting go of the trappings of social acceptance or the rejection that houses you! And when I say you, I also mean me! It’s about embracing all of those unique things that put you outside the box, the beauty of your authenticity and nature … and not hiding away.

“I started writing this song knowing, it could easily be a letter to my teenage self or to my son or just plain old anyone with shoes. High school to me, felt like I was walking down a broken escalator, in a busy mall while (for some reason) just in my underwear, as people all around me started coming over to point and laugh. I was super awkward and I was uncertain of my future. I was dropping out of school, failing my classes, pretending I needed to go to the bathroom just to breathe. God Made You Strange is a call out to anyone who needs to keep stepping out, a little bit of encouragement… it’s a personal anthem of some my story.”

The song comes accompanied by an official music video directed by Andrew Sundberg (pre-COVID). Through the video, Jonny embraces his oddball intuition across a hearteningly vibrant New York City, his longtime base from which he recently relocated to Portland, Oregon. It was premiered by US publication Atwood Magazine, who described it as “An indie pop anthem of self-love and acceptance, ‘God Made You Strange’ is a catchy, groovy reminder to own our identity and embrace our unique sparks for making us who we are.”

Today’s release follows earlier songs ‘Once Upon A Hilltop’ and ‘Alone Together’, from Shacks & Palaces, two colourfully spirited tunes premiered at Billboard and Consequence of Sound respectively.

The Australian-born, Brooklyn-based artist creates buoyant, folk-informed indie pop, sparkling with likenesses to eclectic icons from Modest Mouse to Beach Boys, Dr. Dog to Hamilton Leithauser. The music ranges from infectious to truly exultant, a blissful blend of bouncing melodies, boomerang hooks and colourful production. Aherne’s voice —  a jubilant, stony sort of roar — is recognisable from his contributions to the mid-aughts sensation, but here rings absolutely reckless with spirit.

LISTEN/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CX1LqXonRs
‘God Made You Strange’
Shacks & PalacesSingle out now through Liberation Records

Available to buy/stream here

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

Beks

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently living out of my car, so I guess kinda based nowhere atm. I’m on a road trip along the central coast from Sydney, completing my mixtape, stopping in towns along the way from Sydney to work with artists like Airports, Lovemedo, Doolie and more.

How did you first start playing music?

I started writing my own songs in 2013. I was selling handbags out of the back of my station wagon to ladies boutiques along the south coast and was listening to Bertie Blackman’s 2014 ‘The Dash’ album on repeat. When I couldn’t listen to it anymore, I started singing my own songs I’d make up on the drive and then record voice memos on my phone in motel rooms, using cutlery and plates to create beats. I posted an ad on gumtree and met Ben and started my first band, Bec and Ben. Ben was a music teacher so he taught me to play the drums and I converted my floor kit to stand up kit with my bass drum on legs and full body configuration so I could dance and sing whilst playing. Then I taught myself acoustic guitar on a cruise ship I went on with my brother (who bought a 21-day romantic cruise for him and his girlfriend, but then they broke up so he took me). From there I started RACKETT and moved towards the electric guitar and now I take my midilab and laptop with me everywhere.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

At the start of covid, I conceptualised, cast and produced a digital TV series called ‘Loud n Queer TV’ in partnership and with Heaps Gay and Create or Die, which I just found out has been nominated for an FBI SMAC AWARD. It was focused on giving artists from LGBTQIA community a platform during venue foreclusore and I produced over 60+ artists on the show over 3 seasons. Once that wrapped in September I started making my mixtape. At first, it was just an opportunity to refocus on writing music, but I was exploding with melodies and lyrics and every session I did with a new artist would produce a song that felt ready to release. Over 8 weeks I’ve worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more. Covid gave me an opportunity to fully focus on what my life might look like as a full-time songwriter and cement my desire to make that happen.

Please tell us about why you’ve changed from your name from Rackett to Beks:

Beks is an extension of myself personally. I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery through music, writing with producers and artists from all around the world. I’ve been writing so much music that has informed me more about who I am as an independent songwriter and what I can create with confidence in myself. I’ve chosen to adopt my new artist name Beks to signify a new era for me as a songwriter. A new beginning, one that will carry my new work cohesively into the future.

Your new single ‘Stars in My Eyes’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Stars in My Eyes is based on a personal confession or realisation I had the day before entering the studio. I’ve always struggled to balance my personal life with my music, the latter taking priority. Finding myself in a familiar cycle of imbalance, holding onto the threads of an unravelling relationship, revealed a phrase that felt symbolic of my fantastical obsession with music; ‘I’ve got stars in my eyes’. This phrase became the closing statement of the relationship and the beginning of the story told in the song. Sound wise, this song was really inspired by my playlist, its a mash-up of all these influences – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mNERTaaSsvBBuRXPE0f8W?si=tivkVcL3TS28xT4oow1l3Q

How did you go about writing ‘Stars in My Eyes’?

Tasker and I had never worked together so I wasn’t sure what would come out of the session. We both went into the studio in Marrickville with no pre-made ideas and walked out 4 hours later with ‘Stars in My Eyes’ completed top to bottom.

You have a single coming out on December 11, please tell us a little about what to expect:

Expect full pop vibes.

Please tell us about your recent collaborations:

I’ve worked with Taka Perry, Kim Moyes (The Presets), Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding, EAST), Muki, No Frills Twins, Tasker, Clara Fable, Joesph Delahoyde, Korkey Buchek, Airports, Lucy Nevile, Cam Nacson, Xira and more, both in person and over Zoom, to create my upcoming, 12 track mixtape set for release in 2021.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Everything I’m listing to is here, it’s a pretty rad playlist with mostly pop artists from Australia and some OS icons like Charli XCX, Dorian Electra, Caroline Polachek. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mNERTaaSsvBBuRXPE0f8W?si=tivkVcL3TS28xT4oow1l3Q

What do you like to do away from music?

I love fashion and design and film so when I’m not actually making music, I’m working with local designers and filmmakers for visuals for my music, so umm, music. I have no balance, I work 7 days a week on my art, so it’s music or sleeping and going on the occasional date if I’m lucky.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

I’m the road finishing off my mixtape. Writing a lot of KPOP songs for briefs for other artists OS and trying to have a love life/personal life to draw inspiration from. Generally doing my daily affirmations and trying to connect with more people through my music and sustain the indie grind.

Facebook | Spotify | Instagram | Youtube

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

Joel Adams

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Right now I’m based between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing guitar first when I was 13. I use to be obsessed with the game guitar hero and wanted to try and see if I could actually play the songs on real a instrument. From there everything else progressed purely out of curiosity to learn more.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

Since I got back from America things have really slowed down as I’m sure they have for everyone. I have been very lucky during Covid to be living in Queensland as the virus hasn’t really affected our state as drastically as other states and certainly as it has other countries. I have mostly been working on new music here and there and unwinding from the past few years of being non stop in LA.

Your new single ‘Sick World’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I wrote Sick world in my first week of quarantine in Australia. I’d just gotten back to Brisbane from LA and everything was very raw and the world wide panic around Covid had only just started. It was a very uncertain time and still is of course . I wanted something musically that sounded sad but also had a feeling of hopelessness and disappointment . I wanted the song to not only be about how terrible the virus has affected so many lives but also how divided everyone has been about not only this but so many other important topics. 

Where and when did you record/produce?

I wrote the song partly in my parents house and then in the studio with my mate Magnus Murphy. I had finished the song pretty much when I started it however when the George Floyd video came out I was so shocked by the video but inspired by the reaction of everyone standing up together. I went to a Black Lives Matter march in Brisbane a few days after the video came out and was so moved by how many people came out to support such an important issue. After that I had to mention the subject in the song. Me and Magnus then produced it from his home studio and in a few days it was finished.

Who did you work with during the recording/production/mastering of Sick World?

 

I worked with Producer and songwriter, Magnus Murphy who is also one of my best mates. We had been working on songs pretty much the second I got out of quarantine in Brisbane. He has a studio at his house so I would just drive to his place every day and work from there. I’ve had some of the most fun recording with him and the quality of music has only kept getting better and better. We wrote produced and mixed the track and then sent it to Sterling sound for mastering.

How did you approach the recording process?

I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Not get too tricky with what instruments I chose. Most of the core of this song is the vocal and telling the story so I didn’t want to over shadow that. If anything I try and highlight it. I’m a big believer in trying to take the feeling of what it sounds like to play the song live and bring that to the recording. So we kept it simple  and used  space to our advantage, by using ambient noises to highlight certain lyrics such as “sirens blazing through these streets” and even the intro we found noises of police and ambulance cars. Because when I was in La that’s all you would hear from your apartment. All in all I think the term “keep it simple stupid” could pretty much be applied to anything I make, just let the song talk. 

What does Sick World Mean to you?

It reflects not only the struggle of the year that has almost passed but the struggle that still lies ahead. We need to really look at ourselves seriously and try and find some common ground with eachother. The world is so divided and not United. But I know that at the end of the day we still hold those traits of compassion and empathy we just need to find ways to show it to eachother and stop fighting and start listening. Hopefully 2021 won’t be as divisive.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

At the moment I’ve been listening to a lot of UK rock like Nothing but thieves and Sam fender. I also recently got into a local band Selfish Sons one of my mates Jordy sings for them his voice is insane.

What do you like to do away from music?

I recently got obsessed with Golf. Had a lot of down time while I’ve been back so I decided to pick it up and now I can’t stop. I’m usually like that when I get into a new hobby I get very obsessive and can’t focus on anything else. Maybe I’ll quit music and head to Augusta next year!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

The plan is to focus on new releases and collaborating. I’ve been lucky enough to run into some really talented Aussie artists since I’ve been back and I’m super keen to get stuck into writing with them. As for me I’m not pumping the brakes it’s full steam ahead on new music out as soon as a possible and then touring!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I’m a sucker for grilld although since I moved to the goldy I’m pretty much down in Burleigh at the Pavilion every second day!

https://www.facebook.com/JoelAdamsMusic/

https://www.instagram.com/joeladams/

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

Snotty Nose Rez Kids

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

Vancouver, BC.

How did you first start playing music?

We both started off with free writing and poetry. That eventually led to us writing our first songs together in our junior years of high school. It wasn’t until late 2016 that we formed Snotty Nose Rez Kids, but it felt like it was a long time coming.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

The 2020 experience has been a weird ride that has taken a lot of adjustments to say the least. We were originally slotted to perform our first headline US Tour in April and had plans of returning to Australia this fall, but 2020 had other plans for us and our tours were derailed. We are working on new singles and collaborations with artists that we have a growing relationship with like Drezus, Dj Shub, Electric Fields and Mo’Ju. We’ve been taking our time with our new album too, figuring out concepts, themes and sounds that we want to explore.

Your new single ‘Where They At’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

If you are just getting familiar with our music you’ll come to realize there is an “Atlanta Trap” influence when it comes to the beats we use. Our latest full length album “TRAPLINE” is the perfect example of this and artists that want to collaborate with us have taken notice of our sound and often come to us with beats that fit our vibe. This is one of those instances, Drezus came to us with the “Where They At” beat from Canadian producer “Pops” and as soon as it played through those studio monitors, shit popped off!!! A lot like our critically acclaimed “Snotty Nose Rez Kids” sound, our lyrics and songwriting have their own signature style. The majority of our catalog comes with thought provoking lyrics that are meant to either challenge or empower the listener. “Where They At” is the mood we felt coming off an extremely busy 2019 into what we thought was supposed to be “our year,” 2020!

How did you go about writing Where They At?

“Where They At” is pretty much a lil’ flex on a society we were forced to grow up in, that often looks at indigneous people as less than. A society that think indigneous people either come from poverty or come from casino and government money. We tell ‘em we’re doing just fine in this world we were forced to live in while letting our fans/youth know there are financial opportunities in the arts. This is a celebratory song where we raise a toast toast to indigenous people succeeding in a world that was built for us to die out. We understood there would be a bit of backlash from some of our fans that hold us to a certain standard but we also have come to realize that this is our artform and that not every song we put out is like this one.

Where and when did you record/produce?

We recorded this near the end of this summer (2020). Pops and K Notes produced the beat and we all got into Nova Studios, based in Vancouver, with Jamie Kuse, who engineered, mixed and mastered it.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

‘Say Wait’ by Willow

‘Baptize’ by Spillage Village

What do you like to do away from music?

Covid has made life away from music kind of difficult but usually we like to get in the gym and get a few runs in a week on the (basketball) court. We have a lot of homies here in Vancity that we make sure we see regularly and a lot of them are musicians so we grab some drinks and vibe out.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

We are finishing the year with a couple singles and videos. ‘Where They At’ is getting a video. We got a new track called ‘Screaming Indian’ out November 27th. We did that one with South Asian producer, Skinny Local, and the track blends Indigenous and South Asian cultures and sounds. We got a dope video for that one too. And, finally, we got a track with DJ Shub called ‘War Club’ dropping December 4th. The year has been rocky, but now we’re getting back into album mode and we’re eager to get more music out next year.

 

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

TRYHARD

by the partae
written by the partae

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Melbourne, Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve pretty much been singing ever since I was born. My parents have hours and hours of home videos to prove it. I have this really vivid memory of singing Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne at a school assembly when I was in Prep. I guess it all started from there.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

Lockdown was intense, not gonna lie. For a while there, we were really reconsidering whether or not 2020 was a good year to release a debut single. In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense for someone like me to launch an artist project in such a chaotic year. It’s also been really cool finding new ways to collaborate with people, using Zoom and Facebook. I guess, in short, my COVID experience has been like any other: challenging, but we’ll all be stronger for it.

Your new single ‘Matches’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I listen to a lot of Scandinavian music. My own music is heavily inspired by artists like Sigrid, NOTD, Boy In Space and SHY Martin – just to name a few. There’s still a stigma around pop music in Australia which needs to be addressed. That’s why I look overseas, particularly to Europe, for inspiration. Pop music there feels less inhibited.

How did you go about writing ‘Matches’?

It’s funny you ask. Matches is actually quite an old song. I remember coming up with the hook while catching the train to a writing session in Sydney back in 2018. It’s a song that kept evolving every time I revisited it. For that reason, I knew it deserved a release. I describe it as angsty pop with a drop. I’m a firm believer in that heartbreak is the secret formula to writing a good pop song.

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

Matches was well underway by the time my first single Dopamine dropped. At the time, Melbourne was still in lockdown so most of the production came together remotely. Matches was produced by my mate Ben Field. He’s an absolute legend. We first started working together when I finished high school. Prior to that, he worked on a bunch of really cool projects, including Mallrat’s Uninvited – EP. Ben has produced all my material so far. I’m so lucky to be able to work with him.

How did you approach the recording process?

Most of the vocals for Matches were recorded at the start of 2020. By the time Ben started working on the song, all that was left for me to record were the harmonies and ad-libs. That’s my favourite part. That’s what really brings a song to life. Vocal production, in general, is so fascinating to me. It’s my favourite part of the production process.

How and why did your transition from songwriter to artist come about?

Truth be told, I never intended to release my own music. I was quite happy writing for other people. Slowly but surely, however, music bureaucracy started to wear me down. I had hundreds of songs piling up, looking like they’d never be released. Conversely, as I started to deal with more personal subject matter in my music, songwriting began to feel suffocating. It felt like I was bottling up feelings without a means for expressing them. I guess I needed a little extra breathing space. That’s how TRYHARD came to be.

Please tell us about your law degree and how you manage to juggle music and law:

My law studies were a huge consideration when it came to releasing my first single. I guess it also factored into why I got my start writing for others as opposed to writing for myself. I was under the impression that music and law were totally incompatible. That if I wanted to pursue one, I would have to give up on the other. To be honest, my reasoning there was totally flawed. I think the idea that a person can only be ONE thing is crap. I never want to stop learning. That’s a value my dad instilled in me from a very young age. If I want to be a lawyer/pop artist, you best believe I’m gonna do it!

How are you feeling about not being able to play or attend festivals?

It’s pretty depressing. Festivals are like therapy. They were also super formative in my development as an artist. I love the platform they give to new and emerging artists. There’s something so magical about the atmosphere festivals create. It’s the marriage of good music and good people. I miss sharing those moments with my friends 🙁

Please tell us about your European influences, especially that you write songs in French:

I grew up learning both French and Italian. I was lucky enough to spend a few months on exchange in Belgium towards the end of high school. Then, one of my best friends moved to Paris. Languages, French in particular, have opened a lot of doors for me, so releasing music in French is definitely on my to-do list. I’m really excited by that prospect, especially considering the demand for multilingual music in the streaming age.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m obsessed with everything Kota Banks has released lately. Cheat Codes have also been dropping bop after bop. There’s so much exciting music coming out right now. It’s really made 2020 bearable.

What do you like to do away from music?

Away from music, I’m usually studying or hanging out with my mates. Going for long drives is also a vibe.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020, going into 2021?

I’ve got a lot of new music planned. And I mean A LOT. Hopefully as Melbourne starts opening back up, additional opportunities will present themselves too. There may also be a few collaborations and co-writes in the works…

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Ahhh, that’s hard. Either entrecôte or HSP haha. Fave place to hangout? Probs the local pub with my mates, otherwise anywhere picturesque late at night. I’m a sucker for a good aesthetic.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tryhardsongs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tryhardsongs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tryhardsongs

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz_JEfJQxxS34PGY_QjmZdA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QA3BVbH7oWcItPDe1SGXy?si=wmDLM_z6RV63im79at-Bfw

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/artist/tryhard/1526707336

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