Music Interviews

Where are you currently based?

Beautiful Brisbane.

How did you first start playing music?

I got a guitar when I was 16 and worked my way through a Cat Stevens song book. Then started writing my own stuff.

How are you getting through Iso?

Haha it’s a bit loose at our place. I have a day job where I normally work from home, but now I also have a 5-year-old doing home learning and a husband who is trying to teach from home too. It is definately not what I thought the year would look like, but we are lucky to live in a lovely place, with lovely neighbours.

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

‘Hiatus’ is a collection of songs that have been written over a few years. We spent a few months travelling, particularly in Italy and Bali, and most of the songs were started then. I’m a bit of a people watcher so I love telling those stories. And having a baby definitely influenced a couple. We have incorporated sound worlds from artists we love like James Vincent McMorrow, Iron and Wine, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Lisa Hannigan, Glen Hansard and Angus and Julia Stone.

How did you go about writing the music for Hiatus?

I really enjoy the craft of songwriting. I love telling stories that connect with people and make them think. The song ‘Our Lady of the Highway’ is a reflection of seeing highway prostitution in Italy and diving into news articles about who these women are. It ended up being two stories: hers, where she is doing what she needs to but won’t let it define her, and mine: we become what we drive past; we shouldn’t.

The song “This is forever” is a personal one. It tells the love story of a cousin and his widow. It’s about grief and love and good times and the worst of times. I was pretty happy with it but Pennay kept saying very annoying things like: “It’s great, I just don’t think it has a chorus.” After collecting my ego from the floor I wrote what I think is the best chorus I’ve written, so I guess he was right.

I wrote “Little eyelashes” as a lullaby for my son. It tries to capture what I hope for him. Thankfully he likes it.

It is amazing how songs written in a totally different context seem very relevant right now. “So, where does that leave me” is about the end of something significant. “This is not free” is a statement on how undervalued the arts are and what a bleak world we would live in without artists. I think that is particularly relevant now as the creative industries are in free-fall. “Heading home” and “Juniper trees” are about finding peace being at home.

A number of the songs were either finished or started while I was doing an online songwriting challenge with the I Heart Songwriting club. Having a weekly assignment really helped me keep the creative thoughts flowing.

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

The only song we didn’t record at home was “Someday”, which was recorded as part of QUT’s Indie100 project with the wonderful producer Paul Pilsneniks.

All the rest was performed, engineered, produced, mixed and (in most cases) mastered by my husband/producer Andrew Pennay and I in our home studio.

How did you approach the recording sessions?

We approached recording this album differently to anything else we have done. I write on guitar. We would record the guitar and vocals as a guide to get the song structure, then essentially get rid of the guitar and build the song from scratch. There was a lot of trail and error to find the right sound for each song. We just focused on how we wanted each song to sound so that it captured the intent of the lyrics.  We included elements from our travels like a (very effected) Balinese Gamelan recorded on a walk in rural Bali in “Heading home” or a car on gravel at the start of “Our Lady of the Highway”.

Most nights we put put the small person to bed and then head into our home studio and try different instruments and sounds. Most of the songs sound very different to when they were written.

What programs/instruments did you use?

We recorded it all at home so used ProTools and lots of plugins. Everything is just the two of us: all the instruments, production, engineering, videos. There are very few real drums on the album, mostly due to necessity rather than intention. I always thought we’d get real drums in the end, but we really liked the mix of electronic drums with organic snare, toms, home-made percussion. There’s a ring on a wine glass on one song. A honey jar filled with the right mix of rice and baking paper.

Pennay is a keyboard player so this album has a lot more keyboards, organs, synths etc. than our previous work. Often I would go to bed and Pennay would work into the night. When I’d listen to what he had done in the morning sometimes he’d put a string quartet on something, or a double drum kit! One morning he had added an analogue synth to the song “So, where does that leave me” and it blew me away. I loved the rawness it brought to the track and I can’t imagine the song without it now.

Towards the final stages of mixing we called in the big guns in a few music friends to get their advice on a few of the tracks, but no one had heard the entire album when it was released.

What did you find most challenging whilst creating Hiatus?

We recorded the whole album in the evenings after the small human went to bed, so the most challenging thing was probably finding time, energy and persistence to get it done. It took a year-and-a-half in the end.

You have a live show on May 8 at 8pm via the Live on Mars Facebook Page, how will you prepare for this show and what can we expect?

Firstly, we are watching a few livestream shows and talking to people who have done them to figure out the best sound. At this stage it will probably be a striped down version of a few songs. We can’t do full band with the two of us anyway, so it will be fun to reinterpret or pair back so tracks. The dog will also probably bark in the middle of it.

What do you like doing away from music?

Hanging out with my small human and dog. At the moment we are doing a lot of wandering around the neighbourhood, bush walking, putting on unrehearsed and unscripted shows in the lounge room and reading. I also really like good TV, so I have been watching way too much lately!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m watching a few great livestream concerts where the artists are either getting paid directly or raising money for great charities. Glen Hansard did a gorgeous solo show from his home to celebrate his 50th birthday.
Other than that, I’m really enjoying the new Laura Marling album, Thelma Plum, new Bon Iver and Calexico & Iron and Wine. Holy Holy, pretty much anything that Sarah Aarons has written, Grand Salvo, Darren Hanlon, Gillian Welch, Jason Isbell, Sufjan Stevens, Taylor, and the Teeny Tiny Stevies are all pretty much on high rotation in our house.

 Your Bad Guy cover is out now, please tell us the story behind the track:
We love covering songs in unexpected ways. Pennay came up with a version of Bad Guy in a major key and we rolled with it. We wanted to do something fun using a mix of the instruments we used on ‘Hiatus’ so it’s a mix of folk and electro sounds. We call it folktronica. All instruments are by him, apart from my vocals. He has also made it into a game (on our website) where you can mix your own version and make it as folky or electro as you want.

How did the concept for the video come about and who did you work with during the filming/editing?
It was really Pennay’s idea. We just had to work with what we had available to us. We made the video at home on the first Saturday night we went into covid lock-down. We had one camera, a black background, a fan, a spinning chair and that was about it. I edited it (from the same room) the next day and we uploaded it that night. It’s meant to be fun. We didn’t want to overthink it.

What’s planned for 2020?

I guess we will see? If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that we need to expect the unexpected!

I will be promoting ‘Hiatus’ as much as possible. Connecting with friends and family online. Hopefully doing good work in my day job (raising money and sharing stories of those much less fortunate than us). Writing. Growing veggies. Spending time with my family.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Most weekends (in normal times) you can find us loitering around the West End or Northey Street Markets in Brisbane. At the moment, we are enjoying loitering outside our house in the afternoon and waiving at the neighbourhood going for their afternoon walk/ride.

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Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

Currently I’m Based in Toronto and the music scene here is absolutely awesome! There’s a huge sense of community and people are so down to earth and friendly.

How did you first start playing music?

My dad was a musician so it was kinda baked in to me as a kid.

I remember when he bought me my first guitar when I was 10 and I never really put it down.

What have you been working up to recently?

Currently I’m putting out singles from my upcoming EP!

Your latest single ‘Help Me’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? 

The song comes from a very real place of when I was going through one of the hardest times in my life. It was a late addition to the album and really tells my story. The sound was something we focused on a lot; we wanted something dark, edgy, and powerful.

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

We recorded this back in may of 2019 and it was produced by the super talented Joel Stouffer

How did you approach the songwriting for Help Me?

Help me was the very first person. It was really easy to write actually it pretty much just says everything that was on my mind at that moment.

How did the recording take place?

We actually recorded the whole song in the basement of my house. I built a home studio a while back so everything besides mix and master was done here.

What programs/instruments did you use?

This song was produced on ableton with the help of Joel Stouffer. This song was mainly digital instruments as we wanted a very lo-fi sound to it.

How did the concept for the Help Me video come about?

The video concept came to me very easily. I really wanted this desolate desperate feel and for that me and my team agreed to head out to the dessert in LA.

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

We filmed in one day at the El mirage desert in California, just outside of LA. I worked with my incredible video guys who came on the trip from Toronto called Red Tip Productions. The director’s name is Dave Redman and he is an absolute genius.

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

The most challenging was the fact that I was sick and it was about 100 degrees fahrenheit out there so that was super hard. But after powering through that, when we wrapped up, I felt so happy that I pushed myself through it. Other than that it all went down pretty smoothe.

You have a new album coming out in a few months, what can we expect?

In my opinion, You can expect a little bit of everything from mental health to heart break. This album is special to me and I hope that everyone can relate to at least one of the records.

Where are you at in the creation of your new album?

It’s finished! Now we’re just putting out music consistently, and putting the full album out early summer.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Currently on my most recent played is: The 1975 cause im a die hard.. The band camino cause they’re perfect, and Bazzi!

What do you like to do away from music?

During the winter I snowboard quite a bit, I love cooking, hiking and spending time with my dog Mika! I also love working out and meditating.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Easily North of Brooklyn Pizzeria in Toronto such a great spot for a pint and a pie!

Where are you currently based?

 I’m based in Brooklyn, NY.

How did you first start playing music?

I started strumming a guitar at the age of 13, just learning all the tunes to covers that made an impression on me like Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everclear and so on.

You’ve started a new project ‘Shacks & Palaces’, how did this come about?

OH, dang a hard question. So there’s many ways to look at it I guess, but one way it started is because of my love for lyrics. When I heard different lyrics dropped, like the song from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Wait, they don’t love you like I love you,” the hammer dropped. I think everyone is an artist and has something to say that is beautiful and can lift you up.  A lyric can dance with you, so in my belly I’ve always wanted to give that piece of myself that may make you feel something.

How do you go about juggling the your commitments with The Temper Trap with this new project?

Well, at the moment The Temper Trap has set ambitions to release more music, but the juggle lies with us all being in different parts of the world! We are all in each other’s corner with the different releases we have coming up and projects in the works.

Who else is in Shacks & Palaces and what instruments do they play?

Although this is released as solo record my lady Britni had an integral part in these songs.  She is singing on the whole record and has been able to be in the development of the songs and help me to turn on the wind screen wipers, so to speak, to see what is in front of me. Oscar Dawson, an up and coming Aussie and legend,  is an incredibly gifted multi-instrumentalist and we also hit this task together.

Your debut single ‘Once Upon A Hilltop’ is out now, what influenced the sound and song writing to for this track?

I’d say I dared myself to use a simple chord structure to write something imaginative. I’ve always been such a fan of the Flaming Lips and it feels like there’s a little bit of magic in everything they do, so with this song I used them as frame work and thought, what would they sound like if the wrote a folk song?

How did you go about writing Once Upon A Hilltop?

Well on the road touring you’re always riffing away and I don’t what country I was on when I came up with the riff but many years later I decided this was a song bed worth fighting for. Some songs come easy over years.  This was a song I’ve been writing for years trying to understand what it should be

Where and when did you record/produce?

I recorded in Melbourne and Brooklyn…

I met up with Oscar Dawson, band member of Holy Holy and producer for a bunch of what you’re hearing on triple jjj, at the moment.  We started in Melbourne, I texted him and said do you want to work on this tune and he loved it, so we started there 6 months later he met up with me in Brooklyn to finish it.

What programs/instruments did you use?

Oh, this song is a marriage between organic foot stomping and to mellotron synths.

Oscar records on Logic

What do you like to do away from music?

I’ve been keen on playing b-ball here in NYC, there’s always pick-up games here. I’m not that good, but I love it! I tell you what the games here go straight to people’s hearts and they never forget so if you’re not that good aka me sometimes it’s hard to get on the court again!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Oh well with everything going on right now I’ve gone inwards and not listening to much except a nice a DJ playing all sorts of tunes to keep you comfy at home.

How are you spending your days in this very unique time in history:

Well, Britni and I have two kids, so I’ve become a total school teacher and it’s hands-on now.  Outside of that we just got Disney Plus and I’m watching Mandalorian which is pretty epic.

Any advice for aspiring professional musicians?

I’d say in a band setting, you grow together and you develop together and your ability to stay connected in your personalities is as equally, if not more important to understand and resolve if possible then the music your making. I’ve seen some awesome bands never make the light of day and I’d dare say it’s because of this.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

Ha-ha coronavirus times so my home is my hot spot for now!

What is your name and role within Big League?

Travis, I sing, play guitar, and write the songs.

How did Big League form?

Marie (vocals/bass/wife) and I started messing around with a 4-track recorder, playing and writing at home. When we had enough material to share we got a couple of mates involved to complete the sound.

What’s been happening recently?

We’ve had a bit of a line-up change recently, our mate Jackson has joined us on guitar, and Marie broke her ankle, so we’ve been spending most of our time rehearsing new music from the comfort of our lounge room. We played a show at the Tote just before the city went into lockdown and Marie did it from a chair!

Your new single ‘Earth = Active Neutral’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 A mate told me I should try EADABE tuning, and said a new tuning always gets you a couple of new songs! Lyrically, the planets impending doom was definitely on my mind, and once I had the vocal melody it sounded right to layer up the singing. I try to let the music get a little weird while still being hooky, I want it to rock without being cliché.

Where and when did you record?

We recorded at home in our makeshift studio. Drums, guitar, and bass were recorded live, with everything else dubbed over the top. It’s part of the album we’ve been recording and piecing together over the last two years.

How did the concept for the music video come about?  – Where and when did you film and who with?

I think Gordon (Holland) wanted to draw on the shoegazey, dreamyness of the song so we just let him do his thing. It was filmed at our friend’s house early in the year, we didn’t have to decorate at all, it was a cool place to shoot. Gordons partner Cassie brought a heap of lights for us to play with and we took turns keeping our hungover mates company in the backyard!

You also have an upcoming album, how did the songwriting take place? – What influenced the sound and songwriting for the album?

Yes! Our new album’s called A Symbol Like A Cloud. I did most of the writing during stages of semi-unemployment in our living room with my Les Paul, and a coffee or beer.

I’ve been a fan of lo-fi recordings for a long time, and I’d just started listening to Car Seat Headrest’s album Twin Fantasy, a relatively recent, and boldly lo-fi record I thought. Seeing as our last album had been well rehearsed prior to recording, and was laid down in just a couple of days in a studio, I decided I wanted to go in the opposite direction; record weird ideas as they came without rushing to get an album out.

Some of the songs were written and recorded in a day, some were ideas that sat for a year before being completed. I just kept going until the album felt finished.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I never gave the Lemonheads a proper go, but I have recently, they’re really good!  I’ve also been listening to a bunch of US 80’s bands, X, Gun Club, Dream Syndicate.

What do you like to do away from music?

I tinker, we have a house that I’ve been renovating for the last few years, I’ll finish it one day.

What’s planned for 2020?

We’ll try and do as many shows home and abroad as we can, we were gearing up to tour Japan midyear but now that’s canned we’ll have to see how the lockdown plays out… like a lot of people right now, all our plans might push into next year.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Love a good pizza, although once we’re allowed to go out again, I’ll be frothing for a beer and a burger somewhere. The Union in Fitzroy’s great, and so is Leonards House Of Love in Prahran.

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Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

Currently in Narrabeen in Sydney, the scene on the beaches isn’t too bad and Sydney overall is really pretty good, The last few years have seen a heap of really good rooms of all different sizes really flourish.

How did you first start playing music?

I started learning guitar when I was about 12, I’d had piano lessons a few years before that, but I was never really that interested in the piano, wish I’d stuck with that now though.

Started playing in bands around 13 or 14 at school, mainly cover bands, which I found a bit boring so started writing some of my own stuff.

What’s been happening recently?

We’ve just been flat out rehearsing for the upcoming Album tour in April / May, as well as starting to sort songs for the next album, can’t wait to start playing this tour though, Hoping the dreaded Covid19 doesn’t stop people heading out to local shows.

Your new album ‘World Keeps Turning’ is out on the 27th of March, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this album?

We really wanted to make an album that would be listened to as an album, not just a bunch of songs or a few singles and fillers, we worked pretty hard to pick the 10 tracks that we thought fit together best and also kept interest throughout the whole LP, Influences for this one have come from all over the place, we’re 90’s kids at heart, bands like Dinosaur Jr, Sugar, melodic pop punk had a big influence on a lot of the guitar sounds, I would like to think that we have found our own sound by now too and the album also sounds pretty unique to the Tshitaki sound.

How did you go about writing the music?

I’ll usually get a riff or melody stuck in my head and we are pretty luck these days with things like iPhones that we can just put the idea straight down into a voice memo and then work it out later, I find lots of songs come along while travelling or walking, I guess it’s a repetitive rhythm sort of thing, once I have the riff and melody down it’s a matter of demoing at home then bringing the idea in to jam it after that, lyrics usually come after for me, I find it’s easier once the song has a feel to write about a particular subject or theme.

Where and when did you record and who with?

Early last year we built a studio in my factory where we rehearse, I have the control room there as well, the 2 rooms are separated by about 30 meters of multicore that runs across a driveway through a pvc pipe, we did all the tracking there between August and September, We had heaps of fun trying out different mics, different amps, different direction set ups, took us a couple of months to finish tracking, then we sent to Lachlan Mitchell to mix, I’ve worked with Lachlan before and really like the mixes he’s done, from there it went to Joe Carra’ at Crystal Mastering down in Melbourne for a fine polish in mastering.

How did you approach the songwriting process?

We took our time with this bunch, I’d bring a riff or an idea in and we’d jam it for a bit and see if it worked, if it did I’d start trying different melodies over the top of it and then we’d feel it out and structure it from there, there were a bunch of songs that didn’t make it on, not because they weren’t good songs, more because they didn’t feel right with the rest.

How did the concept come about for the ‘Inside Out’ film clip?

We wanted it to be create a raw, pretty live feeling clip, the original idea was to have ½ the clip inside and then the other half outside, unfortunately our Aussie summer served us up about 2 weeks of straight rain in the window we had to shoot the clip, so change of plans and location, we ended up at an amazing property in North Western Sydney that Mullo’s (bass) had been working on throughout the summer installing a bushfire sprinkler system, It kind of turned out really well because if it wasn’t for the rain, we probably wouldn’t have gotten to use this awesome space. The song is about the internal battle we go through of what we want and what we really need, We’re pretty stoked to get this one out there!

Where and when did you film and who with?

North West Sydney in an amazing recycled timber barn, this place was really quite amazing in the middle of the bush with no houses for miles,

We pulled our old mate ‘Fox’ Damien Foxton up to direct and edit the clip and Ash Brennan was behind the camera, these guys are awesome, Shelly, who’s Ash’s partner was assisting for the shoot as well, Heaps of fun!

How was the filming/editing experience?

It was heaps of fun; we left most of that to Fox.

You have an Australian tour kicking off In April, how do you prepare for live shows and what do you have planned for this tour?

It’ll be loud, full of melodic fuzz and the drums will literally beat whatever is left of this Corona Virus within 100km to a pulp, we’ve had a pretty hectic rehearsal schedule leading up to these shows, I think we’ve been in the rehearsal room for about 15hours a week for the last month, Going hard.

Any show that you are really looking forward to playing?

All of them really, It’s our first time in Melbourne and QLD so we’re really looking forward to those legs, And we always love playing in our hometown Sydney, We’re just really keen to play these songs into of a whole bunch of new ears and hope to make a bunch of new friends along the way.

What do you like to do away from music?

Surfing, love just being in the water, Camping and going on adventures with my dogs, I have a cattle x and a dingo, we love tracking into the bush and getting in touch with nature, besides that, work, but we all gotta eat ;-), works not so bad, I run a screen printing company, so it’s a lot of fun too.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Tropical Fuck Storm, Amyl and the Sniffers, Plants from Wollongong, Don’t Praise the Machine, Major Arcana have all been getting a regular spin lately, but during the recording, especially while I was writing the lyrics, I was going back to old favorites like Paul Kelly, Gareth Liddiard, the Drones and Steve Poltz gave me a lot of a good kick in the pants to write better songs lyrically.

What’s planned for 2020?

Cure for COVID-19 hopefully!!, then we can get back on the road, we’ll start working on the new album around August, until then we are on the road around Australia, (virus permitting), we had plans to head to Japan and Indonesia in June/July but it looks like the world may be in a total shutdown now ;-((

Favorite food and place to hangout?

The Beach and the Mountains, I did a 2 week road trip in February and found some awesome spots on the mid north coast of NSW, such a magical part of the world, favorite food, how can I pick, Chocolate, Humus and Mexican, Love a Taco salad with a nice Pale Ale! Yes!

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

Sydney. I think the scene here is really interesting. Although the lockout laws hit us pretty hard, the quality of music is astounding. There are some killer jazz and funk bands, but it’s a shame those genres don’t get as much exposure as they do in other cities and countries.

How did you first start playing music?

I picked up the guitar at around 14 to be part of a high school rock band. From there it was just a process of exploring my own curiosity while trying to understand how the guitar worked. I was obsessed with metal for a few years, then moved on to blues which led me to jazz, funk and R&B.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been in writing mode for a bit. It comes in waves but this last batch sounds really promising. It’s always super interesting when you stumble across new ideas or different sounds.

Your new single ‘Crazy’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

Tame Impala definitely turned me on to more synth based sounds, but after spending time in London I was drawn back to the guitar, so I wanted to blend the two. I tried put in a lot of R&B influences in there too, but still maintain a rock feel. In terms of songwriting, I was reflecting on the state of the world and how we seem to be headed for further isolation and disconnection. Although it was written before the coronavirus broke globally, it has some eerie parallels. It touches on mental health because I felt it was important to talk about a subject matter that often feels uncomfortable to discuss. Music has an incredible way of opening you up to things you could never express normally. Ultimately the song carries a positive message – you’re never alone when dealing with mental health issues because they’re universal.

How did you go about writing Crazy?

I was staying with some friends in London for a few months in 2019. I played some shows in Europe and by the end of the trip I had run out of money. I couldn’t afford to do anything but stay in the apartment and write songs all day. I ended up with about 40 songs and Crazy seemed to be a stand out. It started out as a simple demo with just the chorus and a verse. Once I got back to Sydney I rewrote a lot of parts and recorded everything again, but the core of the song is still the same. The lyrics were written in Sydney once the instrumental was finalised. I kept rewritting them up until the last minute before I had to send it off to be mixed.

Where and when did you record and who with?

My friends Nick Twiney and Siebe Pogson from the band Funk Engine play keys and bass. I did all the guitars, vocals, synths and drums. We recorded most of the track in my bedroom studio at the end of 2019/start of 2020. Then I sent them to be mixed by Jackon Barclay who is a wizard at making things sounds great.

What programs/instruments did you use?

Logic as the DAW, Diva for the synths and samples for some of the drums. The guitars, keys and acoustic drums were either straight DI instruments or recorded live.

How did you approach the recording and production?

I wanted to blend rock with R&B, so I’ve got those huge synths and fuzzed out guitars in the chorus mixed with 808s in the verse. I usually record everything just as demos first in my room then eventually reach out to other people when necessary. The recording itself is pretty straight forward. I use basic Logic plug-ins and a focusrite audio interface for instruments. At the end of the day the song is the most important thing for me. If it’s a great song it should stand on its own.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Theophilus London, SZA, Stormzy, Brian Eno and a 60s Argentinian band Sandhy and Mandhy.

What do you like to do away from music?

It’s all music for me at the moment. I teach guitar and do a lot of cover gigs on the side for regular income.

What’s planned for 2020?

I had a few releases planned but with everything in lockdown who knows. Maybe just songwriting quarantine.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Fruit smoothies in the studio.

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Tell us about your management company?

I have been an artist manager for over eight years. I have mainly focused in the genres of pop and country. I am self employed and have had a few partnerships with other management companies over the years. I have managed artists such as : Eleven Past One , Eric Ethridge. I now manage Meghan Patrick , Buck Twenty , Nicole Rayy , Dylan Burk , Kris Barclay and consult for many other artists. 

What do you do in re: to not only managing your artists, but to empower them as well?

I am very passionate about the acts I work with. I believe it’s my job and duty as a manager to help an artist feel confident and strong when showing off their talents. I try to really make sure my artists are comfortable discussing struggles and frustrations so I can try to find solutions to over come those obstacles with them. There are a lot of highs and lows in the industry and I really believe in celebrating all of the small victories too.  All of the artists I associate with and work with are very hardworking and I give them the encouragement to reach their goals and achieve success in all its forms. An artist / manager relationship is extremely important if not the most important in an artist’s career. Artist managers should be your biggest fan of your music and be able to sell your music and brand as well as you can. It takes one yes over a thousand rejections and it can really be hard for artists to find security in their path without a stable manager and sounding board. 

What drew you to the music management business?

I actually worked for a manager/ promoter as his personal assistant for my first job. I observed him for a year and became interested in his day to day operations. He trusted me to help build tours for his artists and gain experience. It was after that job I knew I had the personality and networking skills to be able to live out the dream of artist management. I couldn’t see myself doing anything but managing now. No plan B for me ! 

How do you want to grow your business?

I am trying to expand my business to the USA. I am predominantly working in the country genre and Nashville is where I hope to call home. I’m hoping to expand on the artists I have by building their careers and growing their audiences to create successful businesses in North America. I love developing acts and I think I’ll always have a development project within my roster if all of the artists I currently work with grew to stardom ( that’s the dream !). I hope to have some help with hiring staff and eager people who share the same values and skills as I do in artist management. I would also like to have an actual office ! I have been working out of my home since I started.  

Where would you like to see your business ten years in the future?

I would like to help create other managers within a successful company. I would love to have a stadium artist or break multiple artists by that time. It’s important as a woman in the industry to show other females that this industry can be a place for a women to create a career within. I would love to be travelling world wide and having a great team to be able to share in any success. The dream would to be different offices around the world supporting music of all genres. 

What has been a pivotal moment for you in re: to building your business?

Age and experience. I was never taken seriously until the age of around 25 or 26. I worked hard networking and building good relationships that I still have and remain. It took a lot of my money and time developing acts I believed in to gain or start to gain a name now. I knew when I began having artists I had developed reach the radio waves that people in the industry cared to play the music. One moment in particular that stands out was when I began consulting.. I had artists coming out of the wood work who actually really wanted to hear my advice and work with me. I think then my confidence grew and manifested in to a now a great business and it’s helping the artists in turn. 

What have been some of your favourite memories so far?

Ahhhh there have been so many. I think when Eleven Past One reached GOLD status on pop radio across Canada and they soon after got signed to Warner Music Canada ! . Meghan Patrick took a chance on me two years ago when she was fully established but it was a big win when she was nominated this year for a Juno and asked to perform on a record I got to work with her. Eric Ethridge independently reaching millions of streams independently on his debut album we released in the summer of 2018 ! The list goes on but these ones I’ll always remember !

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I’m in Ottawa, Ontario. There’s always work to be done to improve the local scene, but I feel like it’s getting there. There’s never been a lack of talent in the region, and I’m pleased to see so many thoughtful artists trying to support one another. 

How did you first start playing guitar/music?

Initially, I started out on drums. I guess I wanted to be Peter Criss or something, so my parents enrolled me in drum lessons for a few years. Eventually I decided guitar was my true love, but those early lessons have proven valuable as a writer and an overall musician. 

What’s been happening recently?

I have been working on the 5th music video in support of my new album, “Lifting the Curse”. I’m hoping for an early-May release date – keep an eye on my Youtube channel! I’m also working on a follow up album, with plans for a fall 2020 release. 

What influenced the sound and songwriting for your new album?

The album was a form of personal therapy and healing for me during the recovery of a car accident that profoundly complicated my life, to put it mildly. I spent a lot of time trying to connect with nature, and the entire summer of writing and recording was almost like a sort of spiritual awakening – not meaning to get all deep here or anything – but that is why I called it Lifting the Curse. By the time it was done, I realized I had a piece of work I was tremendously proud of, and in the process of creating it, I had left a lot of the negative energy in the past. 

How did you go about writing the music?

Most songs started out with guitar parts and expanded from there, although I will occasionally start with a drum groove to stimulate some creativity. I am always writing little notes and ideas on my phone, or using the voice memo feature to capture an inspiration before it disappears. I’ve been writing songs with lyrics and vocals for as long as I can remember, so my approach to writing this instrumental album was actually very similar. Most of the music follows similar arrangements that we are already familiar with – verse, chorus, etc., and I don’t think any of the songs even surpass four minutes in length. Obviously I took the liberty to spill over the structural edges a little because the confines of a vocal composition were absent, but I don’t see it as a progressive album at all. 

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

Other than the fantastic Emily Dolan Davies, who played drums on the track “was it something I said?”, no other musicians were harmed during the recording process. I recorded the bulk of the album over the summer of 2019, entirely from my home studio. I set a deadline for completion, and for certain goals to be met during the process. There’s certainly some self-discipline required when you’re producing it all yourself. It’s important to be realistic though, when setting those goals, otherwise you’ll get discouraged when life gets in the way. Allow yourself sick days, and days when you really aren’t into it, because that will happen. 

What programs/equipment did you use to record?

I actually recorded everything through Garageband. You can do a lot with programs like that if you spend enough time learning the details. I have a long way to go, but I’m still really pleased with the overall production! The cherry on top is always getting the music professionally mastered, which I did through H-Bomb Mastering. I used some of the stock instrument plug-ins with the program, and also my live guitar rig, to get a nice blend of guitar tones. The guitars were almost entirely tracked with my Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul. The bass was all played on a Fender Precision. 

What do you like to do away from music?

I try to read as much as possible, and I love all kinds of movies (I lean toward the horror genre a lot). That keeps me occupied during the winter when I don’t enjoy the outdoors very much! In the warmer months, I try to get out in nature every chance I get, cycling, hiking, kayaking, and herping (Google it – it’s not what you think! Haha!) 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to The Darkness and The Muffs. I have also been alternating between Youtube videos by Skating Polly and Fleshgod Apocalypse. 

What’s planned for 2020?

The release of my second instrumental solo album, along with plenty more troublesome music videos! I am really hoping to get this show on the road too, if time permits! 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Well, I’m not sure if this will give me street cred or not…. But if I’m actually hanging out anywhere, it will probably be the library. I also work there, so I’m definitely not winning any wild rockstar points! I love lots of different food, spicy and sweet. I make a killer plate of nachos. I’m a huge fan of ice cream and have an incurable weakness for sweets. 

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Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I’m based in Sydney, Australia. There’s always been a strong electronic scene since the early 2000’s with artists like The Presets, Bag Raiders, Grafton Primary, Van She, Flight Facilities and Bag Raiders. 

Today there are so many established and up-and-coming artists adding a lot of diversity to the scene including Hayden James, Touch Sensitive, Fluir, Tilda and I Know Leopard. 

How did you first start playing music?

Before I got into music production I was a DJ for a few years and did a lot of warm-up sets around Kings Cross at venues like Candy’s Apartment, La Roux and The Club. I played a lot of Nu-Disco, Electro Pop stuff like Cut Copy, Louis La Roche, Bag Raiders, Chromeo and Lifelike.  

What’s been happening recently?

I spent all of last year finishing the new album so 2020 has been crazy but also really exciting! I recently wrapped up an East Coast Australian Tour with Dream Coast and Sol Flare and have just released a new single.

You’re new single ‘Without You’ Feat. Gryff is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

A lot of my songs take a modern approach to 80’s electronic music and are more cinematic/soundtrack focused. I wanted to create an upbeat synth pop song that sounds like it could have been released in 1984.

How did you go about writing Without You and how did you come to work with Gryff?

I wrote the track with the intention of adding vocals. I finished it as an instrumental and sent it straight over to Gryff to see if he’d be interested in singing on it. I’ve always been a big fan of his powerful 80’s style vocals so I was stoked he was up for a collaboration.

How was it working with Gryff?

We had a couple of reference tracks for mood and feeling, but I stressed he should do what felt natural to him. I think it’s really important in collaborations to just let the artist add their perspective and value to the songwriting process.   

With that said and after a few iterations of the recordings he pretty much wrote the lyrics and finished vocals in two weeks! He was really efficient! It also helped that Gryff was based in Brisbane, as he was able to join me on tour to perform our song live, which was a really cool experience.

Where and when did you record/produce?

I write, record, produce and mix everything in my bedroom. 

What programs/instruments did you use to record/produce?

I own a Roland Juno 60 and Yamaha DX7, which are very archetype keyboards from the 80’s. Funnily enough, I haven’t used them in ages! There’s just so much you can do with VSTs these days. For me it’s really not about what you use, but how.  

I use Ableton Live as my DAW with a handful of plugins that I’ve come to know very well. These include TAL-U-No-LX, heaps of Arturia products mainly the Prophet V, CS-80V and Jup-8V. I also use a lot of Korg M1 and the Emulation II by UVI. 

For mixing and production I use Fabfilter Pro-Q, Pro-MB and Pro-DS, Waves API 550, The Glue by Cytomic, Soundtoys EchoBoy and Valhalla Vintage Verb. I buy new VSTs occasionally but I always end up going back to the stuff I know really well.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Com Truise, Gunship, Tangerine Dream and Touch Sensitive. I’ve really been digging the new Tame Impala and Tycho records lately.

What do you like to do away from music?

I got a puppy late last year so I pretty much am taking him out all the time to the park or beach if I’m not in the studio. 

Please tell us about your passion for synths and the whole retro aesthetic:

It’s quite hard to pinpoint where it all came from but I think playing a lot of Nu-Disco stuff in my DJ days subconsciously informed my curiosity for vintage drum machines, italo basslines, brass stabs and synth solos. 

I purchased Ableton Live at a point where I was gradually losing interest in DJing. I was making all sorts of electronic music but nothing really stuck. One day I came across a blog called Disco Champagne who released monthly mixtapes with artists like Miami Nights 1984, Lebatman, Com Truise, College etc and I was immediately drawn into the nostalgia and emotion these songs created. 

You’ve done soundtracks for Netflix tv shows, how did this come about and how do you go about writing music for a series?

It was all pretty random to be honest. I received an email from a music film supervisor asking if they could license two existing songs for a film. Literally that was it. 

Their email signature had a Hollywood address so I searched the name and the person had been a film music supervisor for Inglorious Bastards, Kill Bill, Django Unchanged and heaps of others. 

After we sent the tracks over we didn’t hear much from them other than they were shortlisted for the final cut for the move Death Note. Then on the day of release I was advised my tracks were on the film…it was a surreal experience!  

Your previous work has racked up millions of streams, what do you attribute to the success of your music?

I’ve been making this style of music since 2010 so I think starting out early when the genre was relatively niche has allowed me to refine my own sound and style. Today there are so many artists making this style of music so you have to really make something exciting and fresh to stand out.

There’s also been a general interest in nostalgia lately, which has seen this sound and style make its way into the mainstream with films like Drive and Stranger Things contributing to its popularity. 

Your about to embark on a European tour, where are you headed and when do you go?

I’ve locked in gigs in Stockholm, Berlin, Darmstadt and London. The tour will run from 23 May to 6 June. I’m still pinching myself it’s happening I can’t wait! 

What can we expect from your live show?

A mix of my earlier instrumental outrun stuff blended with some newer dance floor vocal-driven tracks. I actually remake all my songs for live performance so they’re more dance friendly and have a consistent flow. I also like to add different synth builds, drum fills and transitions into my set to make it feel like one continuous electronic odyssey. 

Please tell us about any future music:

My fourth album is out in May 2020, which will be 12 tracks with 7 feature vocalists. The album represents a process of personal transformation…expect a mix of styles in this one! 

What’s planned for 2020?

Aside from the album release and UK/European tour I haven’t though much else beyond that! Maybe a few more Australian shows to wrap it up, a few remixes or collaborations and then probably back to writing some new music. 

Favourite food and place to hangout

I’ve always loved Japanese food but lately I’ve become a huge dumpling fan…there’s an amazing tea shop near where I live so it’s perfect for a Sunday cleanse.  

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Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I am based in Trail, a small town in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. There’s a pretty good live music scene in Rossland and Nelson which are close to here! I can often sell out our Charles Bailey Theatre as I have a lot of home town support here! It’s fun!

How did you first start playing music?

I started singing at 8, but when I was 15, I started playing jam sessions at a local bar. The legal drinking age is 19, so I would wait outside for my turn to sing and then be escorted to the stage. For me, it was a great chance to learn how to connect with an audience through music.

What’s been happening recently?

Besides the time I’m spending promoting my new single, “Wait on Me”, I am a huge podcast nerd. Naturally, I released a podcast. It’s called “Wild Hearts” and you’ll find me chatting about the music business, health, fitness, self love, and lifestyle! You can listen to it on any of your favourite streaming platforms.

Your new single Wait On Me is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

This songwriting is influenced from my own journey of balancing a music career and my relationship back at home. The sound was influenced by the writers (Dave Pahanish and Jason Thomas – my guitar player of many years), the musicians and my producer, Jeff Johnson.

Jason played all the guitar parts to the song, while Jeff added a pop influence that fit in well with a new musical direction that I was eager to take.

How did you go about writing Wait On Me?

I wrote this down in Nashville in March of 2018 after I had moved there. Jason had accompanied me for our drive across Canada and into Nashville. Once we got there, we connected with Dave Pahanish, an amazing hit songwriter, and the song was a natural extension of my own personal and professional circumstances and artistic goals.

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

This was the first song we recorded from my new album coming out, which is called “Where the Wild Hearts Beat”. We recorded the whole album in the beautiful Okanagan region of British Columbia last spring with Jeff Johnson.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

This song was probably the quickest to record because Jason and I have been playing it since we wrote it. We couldn’t not. It didn’t need any lyrical or melody changes. We started with a drum groove, acoustic guitar and a rough vocal. From there Jeff built the track and did the piano, bass and programming. He even got Travis Toy from Rascal Flatts to play the Banjo and Steel Guitar. To make it even more special I had my “band mom”, Tonnie Stewart sing all the background vocals on this one.

Please tell us about your experience with working with Jeff Johnson:

He’s the best. He worked me hard and we dug deep to get exactly what we wanted. He really took the time to get me into the right zone. Even pumped me up by doing push-ups one day in the studio, haha – He’s super comfortable to work with. But basically he’s a musical ninja.

How was your time living in Nashville?

I love Nashville. It was so good for me to spend that time writing and singing every day. It was the best way to hone in on and focus on my craft. I felt very at home there.

You recently sang on stage with Keith Urban, how did this come about?  How has this experience affected you?

It came about when I asked him! haha – partially kidding. A few years ago, he was playing a pop up/word of mouth show that I knew about. I signed my CD to him in the line, called my family back home and told them I was planning to sing with him. Once the concert started, I made my way to front stage, waited for a quiet moment and asked him! It really literally was a dream come true. Not everyone can say they sang with one of the best male Country artists on the planet and I was fortunate to do it in Nashville of all places!

The experience affected me deeply as it inspired me to go back to Nashville to live a year later. Now with my new music, I feel more determined as a result of my own choices, but they wouldn’t have happened the way they did if I hadn’t had that moment of inspiration.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I love Miranda Lambert’s new album “Wild Card”, Maren Morris’ “Girl” and Taylor Swifts album “Lover”.

What do you like to do away from music?

I do Crossfit about 5 times a week, and also ride horses as often as possible – a couple of times a week if I can! I also love hiking and being outdoors!

Please tell us about your podcast ‘Wild Hearts’:

I really wanted to invite my fans in on a deeper level, open up and be more vulnerable and real. I thought what a better way then this! And I’m loving it! I am almost 15 weeks in and have talked about topics such as “How The Music Industry Can Make You Feel & 5 Reasons for A Hit Song” to “Peanut Butter, Crossfit And An Eating Disorder” and “How To Produce Your Own Music Video”.

What’s planned for 2020?

I’m so excited for this year! We are getting ready to hit the road in March for a Radio & PR tour throughout Canada. Of course, I will be continuing with the podcast and we will be releasing another single in time for summer. This is going to be a fun one! Throughout the summer, I will play various festivals and venues and by the time the fall comes around, we will be heading back out to Hamilton, Ontario for Canadian Country Music Week, and more shows. The album release will be after that, so stay tuned!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Oh my favorite food… I love Adams peanut butter and apples as a snack! Or blending a frozen banana with peanut butter – it’s like ice cream! Also when I feel like cheating, I love fish and chips!!

Favourite place to hang out, well.. I am a bit of an introvert. So I love being at home because I’m always out being social the rest of the time. BUT I do love going to the cutest town of Nelson BC about an hour away. It’s full of cute coffee shops, boutique shops and great restaurants. It’s fun to restaurant and bar hop and try different food with friends!