DIP ROAD DOGS 'Shakshuka EP' Q&A

PERFECT FOR A LAZY SUNDAY LISTEN!

DIP ROAD DOGS 
DROP NEW SINGLE ‘LAZY’ 
AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING EP ‘SHAKSHUKA’

Reemerging from that dusty dirt track deep in the Mallee are the Dip Road Dogs, who have today dropped their dreamy new single, Lazy, a comforting, hypnotic journey into Americana.  Lazy is the third taste of their new EP, Shakshuka that is set for release on May 21. 
 
Dip Road Dogs are back with some of their finest music to date. Lazy is exquisite Americana folk rock from the fun loving Aussie country boys.  For fans of The National and The Church, haunting cello, and mesmerising, deep vocals will entice the listener, but it’s the unassuming emotional force that will sock you right in the feels and keep you coming back for more.  Contrastingly, Lazy is a song about a relationship where one partner is not pulling their weight with the household chores and the other becomes fed up with this behaviour and finally leaves for greener pastures. “It’s a warning to everyone to make sure you mow the lawns and do the dishes or you will end up alone!” Jests lead singer and songwriter Dave Chirnside.
 
Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee between The Amber Sound Studio, The Secret Genius Studio and producer Josh Frigo’s home studio, and mastered by John Davis (The Killers, Gorillaz, Royal Blood, The XX) at Metropolis Studios in London, the EP is a real mixed bag, with all six tracks working as a commendable package that showcases the band’s diversity and capability.  “The EP title Shakshuka is a very apt analogy for the EP as it is a delicious tomato-based dish that can be served at dinner or breakfast and you can throw nearly anything in to make it work. Our EP is a collection of old and new ideas that have created quite a variety of genres and sounds, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag but we think the songs gel well together,” explains Chirnside. “Once we had recorded the demos we got in touch with Josh Frigo in Nashville and set a date in June 2019 to head over and start recording. Josh’s time was very tight between touring so I locked in the dates without asking Matt, Ollie and Jack - better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission, Jack had been travelling around Australia and was in Rockhampton when I called him to ask if he would come and record in Nashville, he had to put his trip around Australia on hold, but there wasn’t a whole lot of objection!”
 
Dip Road Dogs are a group of friends who once shared a house on Dip Road in the Mallee – now living miles apart from each other all around regional Victoria, they are one of the few bands that haven’t been hugely affected by these bizarre Covid19 times.  “We have been practicing isolation all our lives, so we feel we are well placed in these interesting times. There are a lot of challenges living so far away from each when it comes to live touring, but it doesn’t affect our writing, as long as our internet doesn’t cut out!  And we have a studio in Appin where we can put our collective ideas together - demos for the next release are well underway.”

Dip Road Dogs is Jack Pay, Dave Chirnside, Oliver Close and Matthew Close.
 
Lazy is out now and Shakshuka will be released on May 21.
 
Stream: Lazy
View: Lazy lyric video
Stream: Shakshuka

DIP ROAD DOGS - LAZY (lyric video)

DIP ROAD DOGS - LAZY (single artwork)

DIP ROAD DOGS - SHAKSHUKA (EP artwork)

Q&A WITH DAVE CHIRNSIDE (LEAD VOCALS)

What’s the inspiration behind your new single & EP? 

“The EP is a bit of a mixed bag of ideas stemming back from around 6 years ago up until early last year but the main inspiration was to create music that people can enjoy, whilst challenging ourselves musically.  it sounds very cliché, but it’s pretty much all it came down to!”

Who are your greatest musical influences? 

“I’m a big Tool fan so I’d have to say Maynard James Keenan, his story is pretty impressive and not your typical “rock star” story. I also love that he’s in Agriculture as well with his vineyard in Arizona! The Brian Jonestown Massacre is another big influence for the band.”

What do you bring to the live stage? 

“The Dogs bring plenty of Fazazz to the stage that’s for sure. If you have been to any of our concerts you have most likely been on the stage with us or played an instrument for us. We love to get everybody involved!”

How was the recording process?

“The process was amazing and a little unconventional I guess. We found our producer Josh Frigo online and he liked our demos and invited us to record with him in Nashville, because of his touring requirements we had a week to get the EP done. This meant our time in Nashville was very full on but we loved every minute of it. We still managed to fit in some honky tonks of a night.” 

What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

“Nate Hill was the man behind this one and we love it, he had about 3 nights to get it done as we were very disorganised and what he came up with was terrific. He really bought our album cover to life and the video is incredibly soothing.”

How would you describe your writing process? 

“Our writing process to date usually starts off with a riff on guitar or a drum beat and then thrown to the band for input, once we have the song basically done the lyrics are usually the last thing that comes to us. With the exception of our latest single, Lazy where the lyrics came pretty early on in the writing process.”

Give us an interesting personal fact! 

“I’m a scorpio!”

Check out Brendan the blind guy’s review of Dip Road Dogs ‘Shakshuka EP’ here.

Harper Bloom 'Mary' Q&A

HOLY MOTHER OF MARY!

HARPER BLOOM SHARES DEBUT SINGLE & VIDEO MARY 

Upcoming folkster Harper Bloom (otherwise known as Hayley De Pledge) has today announced her debut single Mary, a gorgeous, empowering romp about taking control back over your life, out April 2.  Harper Bloom has also announced a moving clip to accompany the release, directed by David Hansen (notable for his short film Anija).  

For fans of Alex The Astronaut, Courtney Barnett and Paul Kelly, Harper Bloom’s Mary is a wonderful example of brilliant Australian songwriting from beginning to end.  Deeply personal, affecting and sweet, Mary shines with acoustic guitars, driving percussion and Harper Bloom’s wonderfully unique, gentle vocals.  Working alongside Benjamin McCarthy (G Flip, Thelma Plum, Megan Washington) to bring Mary to life, Harper Bloom is sure to impress with this brilliant single.  Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Harper Bloom enthuses, “The single is essentially about not being afraid to be vulnerable and take risks, no matter who you are or how old you are.  It’s about having the strength to leave a comfortable, mundane existence behind in search of enriching experiences and a new lease of life.  The idea really came from observing people on trains and buses…some of the verses came from overheard conversations or things I saw on public transport, and watching  the body language and expressions of people doing a job they didn’t really want to be doing.”

The clip for Mary is so well done, so touching, that it will absolutely stay with the viewer for hours after viewing.  It follows the story of an elderly wife, who finally liberates herself from the hum-drum nature of daily life, bucking all expectations for what elderly people should and shouldn’t do and having a ball all throughout.  It’s a beautiful, cinematic clip – every freeze frame looks like a spectacular photograph.  Reflecting on the narrative of the video for Mary, Harper Bloom says, “The story begins in Mary’s run-down suburban home – which was my sharehouse at the time – with her husband drunk and unresponsive on the couch.  After moments of taking in her life over the past 60 years, she gains clarity and decides to finally leave.  The story then follows Mary on her journey of rediscovery.”

Mary is set for release on April 2. 

“Loving this debut release from Harper Bloom.  Good luck resisting this song’s stirring pull and Harper Bloom’s storytelling nous” Dave Ruby Howe, triple j unearthed

“Fans of Alex The Astronaut should keep an ear out for your charming, stream of consciousness, observant songwriting and the fun-as-hell musical bits and bobs that accompany it” Abby Butler, triple j unearthed

Listen: MARY

Watch: MARY

   Q&A WITH HARPER BLOOM

What’s the inspiration behind your new single ‘Mary’? 
”It’s a narrative about an older lady who is living a mundane existence who finds the courage to leave in search of enriching experiences and a new lease of life. I think subconsciously the initial idea came from working with a few middle-aged women who weren’t happy with their lives and had a lot of regrets about avenues they didn’t pursue. So, its just about having the courage to move forward and make a change, which is scary because change is uncertain. The song was then glued together by things I had seen or conversations I had heard on public transport between New York, Perth and Melbourne.”

 Who are your greatest musical influences?
”I would say artists whose music has longevity and resonates with multiple generations. A huge influence has been Bob Dylan because of his ability to take observations from the world around him to convey thought provoking messages about society in his songs. Then there’s the metaphorical writing style of Stevie Nicks. I think by being more symbolic in lyrics, their meaning can be inferred differently by different people and in that way the songs can be more personal. Also, the Beatles and their ability to push out catchy hooks that resonate with people. They also got me into arranging fingerstyle melodies.”  

 What do you bring to the live stage? 
”I have formed a full 4-piece band early this year, which I am really excited about. All the band members are extremely seasoned and talented musicians (Keyboardist- Jack Saward, Bassist- Joe Kniepp and Drummer- David Quested) and I am stoked to have them on board. As I was formerly playing solo or as a duo, it’s nice to have a full band as it helps bring the single and debut EP to life. The live show is pretty energetic and upbeat with acoustic-pop driven songs and a couple of open-hearted ballads in between.”

 How was the recording process? 

“It was a lot of fun. I was lucky enough to work with an amazing producer called Benjamin McCarthy! He has worked with a bunch of talented artists such as G-flip, Thelma Plum and Alex The Astronaut. He has a studio set up at his Carlton house which is where we recorded the track. Ben arranged keys and the driving drum beat which really made the song pop.”

 What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

“I think the narrative of the song inspired the foundation of the music video. I also worked with an amazing director called David Hansen who was able to generate a storyline that didn’t follow the lyrics so literally, instead he used the general message of the song to form the story-line in the video. So, we came up with ideas of scenes that represent freedom and then ended on a scene that was symbolic of moving onto a new chapter in life.”

How would you describe your writing process? 

“Most of the time I catalogue lines in my notebook or phone. Maybe it’s something that I thought of, or read or heard somewhere. I am kind of obsessed with doing that. I won’t watch a movie or go anywhere without my notebook. Then when I am feeling inspired, I write sections of songs or a melody. Most of the time, I write a little bit then sit on it and let it stew and then come back to it. Then other times, but not as often, a whole chorus or verse can come out of no-where.”

 Give us an interesting personal fact!

“I worked as a beach lifeguard for 4 years and was lucky enough to work and live on an Island off the W.A coast!”

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT 'Unbroken' Q&A Interview

“I’LL REMAIN UNBROKEN!”

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Q&A INTERVIEW WITH CLINT BOGE

Hey everyone, Brendan the blind guy here! In these “unprecedented times” that’ve Gone and issued at least One Second Of Insanity over our lives like  A Slow Descent of darkness, we Crave and Reach for freedom and normality. Although the World’s On Fire at the moment, we will rise again out of the ashes like a Phoenix, because no matter what, we Always have the lifeline that is music, which remains Unbroken! 

So, consider these guys your saviours! Ladies & gentlemen, lords & ladies, I give to you Australia’s favourite rockers, THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT!

Brendan; Last August, you warmed up fans with your first new musical offering in over a decade, the fiery powerhouse single ’Unbroken’. As fitting as this song is for these hard times, point in case the first verse“when all that you’ve known, is taken away, inside a heart that died, living a lonely life”, this song was written before this current crises, even before the recent national bushfire crisis. So what was the inspiration for this song?

Clint – “Unbroken” was inspired by the emotional rollercoaster that is life. I drew on some really dark and turbulent times in my life for some of the lyrical content. But I also wanted to highlight the fact that I gotten through every bad day of my life and I was still standing. We all have a fight and I wanted people to know that they are not alone and I hope that every time they listen to Unbroken that they feel a little better knowing that.

Brendan; This song definitely has a more powerful, anthemic drive to it musically speaking I find, with a major-tone in the chorus to lift up the spirits and help carry the soaring vocals. What are the influences and musical flavours you’ve drawn on for this song, and are any in contrast to previous influences?

Clint – There is so much great music that is always out there floating around in the ether, you can’t help but be inspired by it. I don’t think there was any one influence I could put my finger on though. We really wanted to sound like a band that had grown and matured, whilst still sounding like us, just fresher and reenergised after our little holiday.

Brendan; I’m sure we’re all keen to find out if this song is a taste of a possible new album coming soon, and if so, what can fans expect from the new music to come?

Clint – It definitely is and we are working hard on a brand new full length album as we speak. We have demo’d about 6 or 7 songs to date, so we are hoping to have an album ready for release some time next year. 

Brendan; Recently you dropped the video clip for Unbroken which gives viewers an in-your-face experience on-stage and backstage, featuring footage from your performances at Good Things Festival in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. What inspired you to take this approach for the video? 

Clint – I don’t think we’ve done a live crowd footage based clip since “One Second of Insanity” from Begins Here. I’ve always loved those kinds of clips as you get an insight into what it’s like for the band both on stage and back stage. We had the best time on the “Good Things” festival and really wanted to share that great experience with everyone.

Brendan; Right, if this interview is a meal, we’ve served up the tasties, now time for the veggies. Seeing as we’re all going a bit stir-crazy stuck in isolation cut off from our surroundings and thus physical contact with people, we have to be a bit more creative with our time and methods of coping and living. Over on the Let’s Talk blog page, I asked people to share how they’re coping with the help of music and what creative projects fans and artists are undergoing. So, despite not being able to perform at shows, have these times been opened up any new creative pathways, and how have you all been coping and staying sane?

Clint – I’m sure for a lot of musicians and creative people out there, this time has been used to create new art. I’ve had time to get more lyrics written, finished songs that have been kicking around for ages, working on demos for all of my projects, so it’s that little bit of down time some of us needed. Other than that playing a shit load of COD, drinking responsibly and annoying my friends :P

Brendan; Now time for dessert! Let’s get exclusive guys, just me and you… So, what is an exclusive fun-fact about yourselves? (anything you want music related or not)

Clint – I don’t know about “fun fact” and I really wish I had some crazy stuff to tell you but we’ve become really boring ha ha! We’ve traded late nights and partying for eating well and getting enough sleep. We are leaving the crazy stuff to the next generation of musos coming through!

Brendan; Want more dessert? Good, ‘cause it’s time for my favourite question of all! It’s WTF time y’all! So, guys, you must have some pretty priceless moments on your music journey, but what’s the one that takes the cake as the most hilarious, priceless, WTF of them all?

Clint – We’ve seen the world, played some amazing shows, been on some amazing tours, there has been partying, nudity oh so much nudity ha ha, so much fun, it really does play out like the immortal words from ACDC in it’s a long way to the top. But the one that takes the cake for me and it’s pretty simple really and didn’t involve any nudity (well I think) was the time someone lost the masters to one of our albums in transit from LA to Brisbane. I’m still scratching my head about that one and they’ve never turned up, both parties involved still blame each other, ha ha 

Brendan; Thanks so much for taking the time to chat guy’s! Let’s wrap things up with a message to all fans out there, particularly those struggling in these hard times, what would you like to say to them?

Clint – Thank you so much for all of your continued support, you guys are the best. We have new music on its way and I gotta say some of the new tunes gave me goosebumps. You know that’s a good sign after 20yrs, the vibe in the band room has never been better. Everyone is inspired and energised to deliver a great album that we hope you will love just as much as the others. Hang in there guys, it’s on its way. Big luv always C

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT DROP VIDEO CLIP FOR FIRST NEW MUSICAL OFFERING IN OVER A DECADE

UNBROKEN

Off the back of a sold out tour, a towering new single, and killer sets at Good Things festival, Australia’s favourite rockers The Butterfly Effect have today served up the video for their first new musical offering in over a decade, Unbroken – giving viewers a AAA pass to life on stage and backstage.  Featuring behind the scenes footage and on-stage rampaging from their performances at Good Things Festival in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, the video will allow everyone to relive their festival-going days, and is an in-your-face reminder of just how staggeringly powerful and relevant this band is, and offers a genuine insight in to the comradery within.  
 
True to name, The Butterfly Effect is indeed a force, and they have clearly been missed by a patient and loyal fanbase who were right back there with them the moment it was revealed the band were back together.
 

“Releasing Unbroken was a pivotal moment in itself for us. We're so happy to have been able to write more music as ‘The Butterfly Effect’. To then be added to the Good Things bill really topped off 2019 for us, "lead vocalist Clint Boge says.  “To be honest, stepping out onto those festival stages again was a real uncertainty for us. It'd been 10 years between festival performances so to see that many faces, young and old in the audience really solidified to us that pushing forward with new material was an absolute must.”
 
Formed in 1999, The Butterfly Effect have enjoyed an illustrious career racking up some impressive stats, including three massive albums – all certified Gold – multiple appearances at renowned festivals including Livid, Falls Festival, Big Day Out and more, countless national and overseas tours, six consecutive years in triple j’s Hottest 100, three features on triple j’s Live at the Wireless, and a number one-selling DVD documentary and concert film.  Despite sustained successes throughout the 00s, the rigours of band life took their toll on the band – and in 2014 The Butterfly Effect went on indefinite hiatus.  After reconnecting at a rock show, the guys decided that a beer and a chat was in order. That catch up eventually led to a sold out national tour, and an ongoing desire to continue making music, which saw The Butterfly Effect jump into the studio, and as a result, the bold new single Unbroken was born.  The melancholic track is a refreshingly honest and impassioned offering from the experienced hard rockers, and one that proves their creative connection is stronger than ever. 

“We're having a blast!” Boge enthuses, “Obviously we can't all be in the studio together at the moment but writing music online is going to be the new normal for us for the next few months. It's sounding like us, which is exciting! The feeling is reminiscent of when the band first started writing together back in the early 2000s.” 

And in more thrilling news for fans, the band are hopeful to have some new music to dish out before 2020 is done, with Boge saying, “We’re obviously in uncharted territory in terms of when life will get back to normal for everyone, but for now – dropping new music before the end of the year is our plan, and Unbroken sets the tone for what's to come.”

The Butterfly Effect is Ben Hall (drums), Clint Boge (lead vocals), Glenn Edmond (bass guitar) and Kurt Goedhart (lead guitar).

Butterfingers 'Bad News' Q&A

BAD NEWS? HARDLY!

AUSSIE HIP HOP LEGENDS
DROP NEW ALBUM BAD NEWS TODAY
ANNOUNCE NEW OCT/NOV/DEC DATES FOR POSTPONED NATIONAL ALBUM TOUR

MEDIA RELEASE:: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, WEDNESDAY APRIL 8

Australia’s favourite musical misfits and legends of noughties Aussie hip-hop, Butterfingers are back with their outrageous and fittingly titled new album Bad News, out today, April 8.  Confident and with more rapturous energy and piercing lyrical wit than ever before, the band’s first album in 14 years is bold and adventurous, while still retaining that classic, clever, inimitable Butterfingers sound.  To celebrate the album’s release today, they have very kindly delivered another gold nugget of true blue entertainment in the form of a video for their new single – the album title track - Bad News, directed, filmed and edited entirely by lead singer and songwriter, Evil Eddie.
 
But wait, there’s more, Butterfingers have today announced their postponed national tour dates for later this year, set to kick off at the Prince of Wales in Bunbury (WA) on October 29 before moving through Perth, Scarborough, Fremantle, Hobart, Launceston, Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane, Burleigh Heads, Adelaide, Melbourne, Frankston, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and finishing up at Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns on December 12.
 
“What a time to be releasing an album called Bad News!” Jests Evil Eddie.  “It’s crazy to think it’s been 14 years since our last album, cause it doesn’t feel like it all. We are super pumped to finally be getting it out there, but the actual process - eventhough it’s been so long - feels like it’s our regular routine, and it will be from now. The new album is out today and we’ve got waaaaaay more to come straight after, we’ve got a lot to say right now.” 
 
True to form, the Bad News album encompasses hip hop, punk, reggae, drum & bass, stoner rock, electronica and just about anything that makes you want to shake your bones, into a cohesive mash-up all of their own creation.  From potty-mouthed gutter rhymes to heartfelt crooning odes to love lost, this is an album that will keep old fans happy and will entice new followers at an alarming rate.
 
Inspired by the film Anchorman, the video clip for Bad News is downright bonkers and offers fans some further insight in to just how weird and hilarious the workings of Evil Eddie’s brain really are. “Being that the album and the single are both called Bad News, it made sense to us to dress up as news readers and deliver the bad news in a proper and professional manner, crazy timing too with everything that’s going on in the world at the minute. In a weird way it feels like somehow it’s meant to be,” explains Eddie. “Anyway, hopefully it can serve as a lighthearted distraction from all the gloom we’re drowning in within the media at moment. This really is the time that people actually need entertainment just to keep them sane. We’re probably not the heroes you asked for, but we’re the ones you’ve got!”
 
Having rediscovered their unified passion, and with an impressive haul of new material under their belt, Butterfingers are officially back to blow minds, bend genres and push the boundaries of good taste with their rare blend of obscenity, wit and charm on stages across Australia. “The great news is that we have rebooked the Bad News album tour to run over Oct, Nov, Dec, and your tickets are still valid in most cases and we are absolutely fanging for these shows,” Evil Eddie enthuses. “The silver lining with the Covid19 postponement is that now you guys will actually have a chance to get familiar with our new bangers before we show up on your doorstep. Keep your ears peeled folks, we’re coming to get ya.”
 
Butterfingers is Evil Eddie (vocals, guitar), Olly Thomas (keys, samples, percussion), Bradzilla Cochrane (bass) and Tony McCall (drums).
 
Bad News is released today through Bewilderbeats
 
Tickets to the Bad News Tour are available now.  Hit up the band’s website for more information: http://butterfingers.info
 
STREAM BAD NEWS ALBUM
VIEW BAD NEWS VIDEO
 
DISCOGRAPHY
2003 – Everytime EP
2004 – Breakfast at Fatboys
2006 – Deeper You Dig
2010 – Welcome To Flavour Country (Evil Eddie solo release)
 
NEWLY ANNOUNCED NATIONAL BAD NEWS ALBUM TOUR DATES
 
THU 29 OCT | PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 30 OCT | BADLANDS, PERTH WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 31 OCT | INDIAN OCEAN HOTEL, SCARBOROUGH WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SUN 1 NOV | MOJO’S, FREMANTLE WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 6 NOV | ALTAR, HOBART TAS | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 7 NOV | ROYAL OAK HOTEL, LAUNCESTON TAS | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 13 NOV | CAMBRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 14 NOV | LANSDOWNE HOTEL, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
FRI 20 NOV | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 21 NOV | MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, BURLEIGH HEADS QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THU 26 NOV | CROWN & ANCHOR, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 27 NOV | HOWLER, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 28 NOV | PELLY BAR, FRANKSTON VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 4 DEC | RACEHORSE HOTEL, IPSWICH | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 5 DEC | NIGHTQUARTER, SUNSHINE COAST QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
FRI 11 DEC | OTHERWISE, TOWNSVILLE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 12 DEC | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.ticketlink.com.au | 1300 835 855 | All Ticketlink Outlets

Q&A With Evil Eddie

Q; What’s the inspiration behind your new single and album? 

A; As much as I hate concept albums, this is kind of a concept album and the concept is basically like a film of all the major things that have happened to me/Butterfingers between the last album and now. Every song is like a scene but it’s not super literal so if you didn’t know it, you could happily enjoy the record without being necessarily aware of the concept. I guess it grew from the fact I’ve been doing some study into script writing techniques of late. Can you tell?

Q; Who are your greatest musical influences?

A; The real base layer would have to be all the blues and heavy rock that my parents listened to when I was a kid (like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Black Sabbath and Led Zep). The next layer would have to be all my 90’s influences from Beastie Boys to Nirvana to NWA to RHCP. On top of that is all the stuff that’s circling around now. I put it this way because I feel that even when approaching newer genres I still filter everything through the lens of all my past influences and I think that serves to bridge some gaps which is really what this band has always been about. Bridging the gaps between old and new, rock and hip hop, underground and pop.

Q; What do you bring to the live stage? 

A; Energy and good vibes. I know that sounds super hippy and that’s not really the image of the band but I’ve always felt that creating that feeling of ecstatic fun is the goal for nearly everything we produce. Songs can have a positive or negative focus but laughing at all of it while you’re dancing, sweating and surging with energy is kind how I like to view it metaphorically.

A; How was the recording process? 

We’ve done it all ourselves with a little help from our friend Matt (from the band Loathing Sea) when it came to the initial drum tracking and it’s coming up really well so I’ve found the whole thing challenging but mega rewarding. I’m mixing the album as well the learning curves have been steep but it’s nice to have control of how your vision is executed.

Q; What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

A; I dreamed the whole thing. Start to finish. I just woke up and wrote the whole thing down then turned it into a shot list, bought some costumes, put it out there on Facebook that we needed extras and boom, it was happening.

Q; How would you describe your writing process? 

A; Feeling my way around in a dark room til I find something that feels nice. Sounds gross but it seems to work for me.

Q; Give us an interesting personal fact!

A; My regular job is skydive instructor. No deaths as yet so gimme a call if you’re keen to have a jump.

PARKER 'Become The Fool' Q&A

YOU’LL BECOME THE FOOL IF YOU DON’T CHECK THIS OUT!

           PARKER ANNOUNCES ARRESTING SINGLE & VIDEO 

BECOME THE FOOL

Visual artist, songwriter and musician PARKER has today announced her devastatingly beautiful new single Become The Fool, a heartbreakingly powerful song about an unbalanced relationship in which one person ends up sacrificing too much of themselves and their dreams for another, set for release January 24.  PARKER has also announced a gorgeous Bauhaus-inspired clip to accompany Become The Fool.  This affecting new single is the first taste of what is set to be an incredibly exciting 2020 for this innovative artist. 

Become The Fool is about as vulnerable as a song can be.  Everything from PARKER’s delicate, glassy vocal delivery, to the melancholy synths and deep, arresting percussion, bleeds with heavy emotion, and will speak to anyone who has gone through a complicated heartbreak – one that perhaps they wondered if they would ever recover from.  Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, PARKER reflects, “This is the first song that was co-written with my writing and production team, Hans Van Vliet (QLD) and Becki Whitton (VIC), across three states and I’m really excited about it.  When a relationship ends it can be devastating.  But what happens afterwards can be a beautiful mess of experiences and vivid feelings.   When I got to the end of my longest relationship, I realised I had lost so much of myself.  I had been living for someone else and their dreams for so long I didn’t know who I was without them.  But through this experience, I was set free to find myself again, to pursue my creative practice with all my heart.”

The video for Become The Fool is a stunning journey that explores the depth of emotion behind this extraordinary song.  The viewer feels connected to the main character as someone who is left behind in a world built for someone else.  The narrative begins in sepia tones, and as the clip progresses and the character reclaims the city for herself through expressive dance, the scene begins to fill with colour as an empowering metaphor for this story.  PARKER explains, “The clip for this song is so incredible!  It was made in one month on a super tight budget.  It was made by Hans Van Vliet (7 Bit Hero + HUNZ) in just three weeks.  We took inspiration from bauhaus design; we wanted to create something that felt nostalgic yet contemporary.  Every single element in the clip has a meaning and a reason to be there.  Nothing is superfluous.”

This wonderfully considered release is just the beginning of what is set to be a spectacular year for this multi-disciplinary artist, as she gives fans a taste of what is yet to come, “I’m really excited about all the singles and music videos we have lined up to release this year.  I’ve also got a number of live videos in the making!  I feel so lucky to be working with so many great film makers, musicians and audio engineers on these projects.” 

PARKER is Tash Parker. 

Become The Fool  is out January 24.

Stream: BECOME THE FOOL Watch: BECOME THE FOOL

 PARKER Q&A

Q; What’s the inspiration behind your new single ‘Become The Fool’? 

A; This song was originally inspired by the hit TV series The Marvelous Mrs Masel.  We took inspiration from the story but made the lyrics more personal to my own narrative of heartbreak.  Become The Fool is about taking ownership of loosing myself in a relationship. 

Q; Who are your greatest musical influences?

A; For voice - Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks are the artists who I have sung along with the most.  I love how they sing with their own voices and don’t sound like anyone else. 

For production - I love anything from the 80s.  Peter Gabriel, The Cars and The Eurythmics are at the top of my list. 

For a challenge - I love listening to Arthur Russell because I really believe he wrote great pop melodies. The complexity of his arrangements and song structures really challenge my brain in an enjoyable way. 

Q; What do you bring to the live stage? 

A; I have always performed self accompanied on guitar until now.  Next week I will be debuting my new live show at the Earl Arts Centre in Launceston.  The band consists of a drummer playing SPD and a Keys player playing Nord and Prophet X.  I will be able to focus on performing these big vocal parts we’ve written for these songs and probably be wearing something very sparkly. 

Q; How was the recording process? 

A; This track was written and recorded across 3 states.  Hans worked on production in Brisbane.  The lyrics were written in Launceston and we recorded the vocals in an on the Mornington Peninsula.  I actually recorded the vocals in the studio owned by the person the song is about so it was quite a healing experience for my heart and that relationship. 

Q; What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

A; We wanted to honour female artists in history who had not been recognised as much as their male counterparts.  The Bauhaus movement had many female artists, photographers, weavers and painters who contributed significantly but were not as well known. We used bauhaus design theory and referenced iconic photographs to create the world the dancing cloaked figure is in.  The cloak is made from Denim which is a direct reference to the opening line of the song.  The martyr pose is significant to the sacrifice the character had made for another.  They dance through the world to reclaim the space that was built around them and that they were left behind in. 

Q; How would you describe your writing process? 

A; I love to collaborate.  I often sketch out song ideas and then take those to my writing team.  I write in 3 different projects and they are all very different.  I don’t like pinning myself to one genre so when I write a country pop song I take it to Runaway Belles and when I write an 80s heartbreak ballad I take it to the Parker team. All the other experimental vocal arrangements I work on I take to Ladychoir so there is always something exciting that we are creating at any given time. 

Q; Give us an interesting personal fact!

A; I’m a really great waterskier.  I grew up on Lake Kununurra so I would ski with fresh water crocodiles most weekends.  Knowing they were in the water made it really easy to learn how not to fall off. 

Nic Rollo 'Monster' Q&A

LET THE INNER MONSTER OUT!

  NIC ROLLO ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO MONSTER 

Perth based producer and songwriter Nic Rollo has today announced his driving, eerie new single Monster, about identifying and quelling the monster within us all, set for release on February 5.  Accompanying the track is a dark, revolving film clip, directed by Alex Montanari (Cub Sport, What So Not, Khalid) and Matthew James.  Monster follows the 2019 release of Nic’s brilliant, iridescent EP What Happened to the Kid. 

Monster will feel familiar to anyone who has said something in frustration or anger that they regret after the fact – the track is an introspective interrogation of that remorse, and what it’ll take to tame the inner monster who is responsible for those biting remarks.  Reminiscent of synth-pop auteurs M83 and indie rockers The Wombats, and mastered by pop royalty Chris Gehringer (Harry Styles, Rihanna, Halsey), the track is buoyed by glistening synths, hooky guitar and driving percussion – while Nic’s gentle vocals and arresting lyrics take centre stage.  Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, Nic explains, “Monster was written during a previous relationship of mine when things were a bit shaky.  There were a few times that I’d said something to my ex that had started to cause fractures in the relationship and unnecessary conflict.  Monster is about that side of myself that I don’t always like  - the part that is impulsive and lashes out when I should just hold my tongue instead.”

The video for Monster feels like the beginning of a horror film – there’s a sense of suspense, as though the calm atmosphere of the night-driving scenes will not last for much longer.  It’s a beautiful watch, too – the lights passing in the night as the song plays out feels like a perfect representation of the moody nature of the music.  Speaking about the clip, Nic says, “The video for Monster is a narrative based video that features a lot of driving and aims to be aesthetically pleasing.  Matthew James, Alex Montanari and I came together to think about the video a few months back and we all had this vibe of the song revolving around driving and having dark colours. The story itself is supposed to be slightly confusing - am I driving to the burial or from the burial?  Am I burying the monster or is the monster burying me?”

The release of Monster is a killer way to kick off 2020 for this exciting young artist, as he enthuses, “It feels fantastic to finally be releasing Monster.  I wrote the song over a year ago and have been sitting on it for what feels like forever now.  To date, it is probably my favourite song that I’ve written, and I’m super stoked to finally be able to share it with people.”

Monster is out February 5.

Listen: MONSTER

Watch: MONSTER

Q&A Interview with Nic Rollo.

Q; What’s the inspiration behind your new single Monster?

A; I wrote Monster during a pretty turbulent time in a previous relationship where it felt like I kept saying things that would damage it, and inevitably caused fractures in the relationship itself.  The song is also commenting on how often, we shouldn’t be worried about other people, we should be more cautious of our own monsters.  I think the song came from the guitar line that goes throughout the song - I vaguely remember coming up with it whilst in the studio with a band I play in and instantly knew I could write something around it.

Q; Who are your greatest musical influences?

A; I used to listen to so much Radiohead when I was younger that I’m sure they’re still impacting some of my musical decisions today.  I think there’s something exciting about having weirder elements in pop music, so Radiohead definitely helped a lot there.  In terms of synth sounds and all of that, bands like Tears for Fears, Fleetwood Mac and Tame Impala all gave me a look into that world about 5 years ago (starting with Tame).  More recently artists like The Weeknd, Drake, Charlie Puth (and many others) have been really big influences on me as I’ve gotten more and more into writing pop music.  

Q; What do you bring to the live stage?

A; Aside from INCREDIBLE musical prowess (I’m kidding), I feel like the live show is pretty fun.  We’re all just up there having a good time, trying to not mess up too badly.  I’m planning on upgrading the live show over the next few months with another member and potentially starting to look into incorporating lights and visuals, which I’m super pumped about.  I’ve always been so fascinated by lighting and visuals in music.

Q; How was the recording process?

A; I love the recording process, I feel most comfortable when I’m in the studio.  Working on Monster was good fun since I had been so fond of the song in its demo form.  I was really excited to polish it up and see how it sounded.  I recorded it at Blackbird Studio in Perth with Dave Parkin, and had Felix Parker with me (who played those ripper guitar solos).  Some songs have historically been an emotional rollercoaster in the studio due to a number of reasons, but luckily Monster was pretty easy going.  

Q; What was the inspiration behind the music video?

A; I caught up with Alex Montanari and Matthew James, who both worked on the clip, a few months before we were planning on beginning filming to figure out the story and what we wanted to achieve.  Alex and I both had this idea in our heads about the film revolving around driving… something about Monster had a ‘driving a car’ kinda feel.  After that point the hard part was figuring out how to incorporate driving into an interesting story line and keep the video interesting over nearly 4 minutes.

Q; How would you describe your writing process?

A; Sometimes it’s manic, sometimes it’s relaxed.  I’ll typically just shit down at a keyboard and start playing chords until I come up with a chord progression or melody that inspires me to keep working on it.   At that point I’ll begin to build a track from there.  Sometimes I’ll write the bulk of the song in 20 minutes and be done with it (spending the next month or two producing it), other times I’ll spend 3 weeks trying to finish the actual songwriting (the chords, melodies, lyrics).  I guess it can be hard to put a method to being creative, so to an extent you just have to let it happen as it does.

Q; Give us an interesting personal fact!

A; I’ll give you two - I’m a literal caffeine fiend, like I drink enough coffee to be considered ¼ coffee myself.  It’s in my blood now.  I also get a stupid amount of nose bleeds during summer, I think I have really weak nose lining or something, but damn does it suck.  I’m surprised I’m not dead yet from blood loss.

Cloning 'All Rise' Single Q&A

ALL RISE!

              CLONING ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ALL RISE

+ LAUNCH SHOW ON MARCH 13 

Emerging WA band Cloning have today released their ethereal new single All Rise, an introspective track that questions morality and is influenced by Nordic mythology.  The group have also released an impressive self-made cosmic claymation film clip to accompany the song.  To celebrate the release of All Rise, Cloning will be playing an exclusive show at the Indian Ocean Hotel in Scarborough on March 13.

All Rise pays homage to triphop auteurs Portishead while also evoking influences from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds to Radiohead.  Recorded and mixed by Dave Parkin (Gyroscope, Karnivool) and mastered by Brian Lucey (Cage The Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood), this atmospheric track is the perfect soundtrack to a warm, hazy summer, with shining synthesisers, ample mandolin, cinematic guitar and idiosyncratic vocals.  Speaking on the intricate meaning behind the track, guitarist and lead vocalist Felix Parker says, “All Rise is about how groups of people can think their intentions are purer than they actually are, and end up committing morally questionable acts in the name of their chosen cause.  It's also about what gets left in the wake of pursuing a goal and how noble intentions can be corrupted by the pursuit of this goal.  The imagery in the lyrics is influenced by Nordic mythology and stories about the Yggdrasil which is a mythical ash tree at the centre of the cosmos.  I read way too much as a kid and a lot of that just seems to naturally flow into my lyrics.”

Following the Nordic mythology theme, the video for All Rise was cleverly and masterfully worked in-house by the band, from conception to completion, excluding the editing which was completed by Jake Crawford (Psychedellic Porn Crumpets). From set making, to directing, to filming – the band did it all.  With over forty hours of footage filmed over one very long weekend, and after almost setting fire to Felix’s living room twice, the video was taking shape.  “We wanted to create visuals that complemented the lyrics and the myths they were influenced by. We came up with the concept first and were trying to think about how we could pull it off. We thought about hiring an animator to make an animation video at first, but we couldn’t afford it. Bevan made stop motion videos as a kid and does photography in his spare time, so we decided to make the video ourselves using Claymation,” explains Felix.  “And we are really happy that we decided to do it ourselves because we ended up making something that is way more us than if someone else had done it,” adds guitarist Bevan Green, “But it definitely pushed the limits of our sanity. We spent ages gluing fake leaves to sticks to make trees which is really finicky when you’re dealing with things this small. And we had to be careful when filming not to move the clay figures in the wrong way or knock the camera, because one dodgy photo would ruin the hundreds of photos we had already taken up to that point for the scene.” 

Cloning formed among friends Nic Rollo, Felix Parker and Jack Brett during their final years at school.  The untimely loss of a close friend and musician around this time drove them to invest heavily in their musical pursuits.  They were soon joined by guitarist Bevan Green, who grew up in the goldfields mining town of Kalgoorlie; joining the band when he moved to Perth.  Though in relative infancy, Cloning have already been notching up some impressive achievements - touring nationally and scoring a WAM Song of the Year nomination last year – it’s safe to say 2020 is set to be a big year for this talented alternative act out of Perth!  

All Rise is out February 3.

Cloning is Felix Parker (lead vocals and guitar), Bevan Green (guitar and vocals), Nic Rollo (bass and vocals), Jack Brett (drums).

Listen: ALL RISE

Watch: ALL RISE

CLONING ALL RISE LAUNCH GIG

FRI MAR 13 | INDIAN OCEAN HOTEL, SCARBOROUGH WA | 18+

Tickets from Oztix https://heatseeker.oztix.com.au/

 Q&A Interview With Felix, Jack & Bevan.

Q; What’s the inspiration behind your new single ‘All Rise’?

A; Felix - All Rise is about how groups of people can place a lot of significance on their beliefs, but be quite misguided in doing so. I was reading a fair bit about nordic mythology at the time and some of the lyrics are influenced by that. In particular the Yggdrasil which is a mythical Ash Tree was something I tried to incorporate into the imagery of the tune. 

Q; Who are your greatest musical influences?

A; Radiohead, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Portishead, The Doors, Everything Everything. 

Q; What do you bring to the live stage?

A; Bevan - I think theres something in there for everyone in our live shows. We like so much different styles of music and we try to make our music reflect that. 
A; Felix - We've spent a long time getting our live set tight so now we're just trying to have fun and give the audience a good experience. 

Q; How was the recording process?

A; Bevan - We recorded with Dave Parkin at Blackbird studios. 
Jack – Dave is great. He's so experienced and easy to work with. He fits in so well with our band band. The song took a couple days to record.
A; Felix - We spent the longest time getting the drum tones sounding nice before we recorded. They're the foundation of the song so once we're happy with how they sound everything else usually flows smoothly from there. 

Q; What was the inspiration behind the music video?

A; Felix - The video draws from nordic mythology like the lyrics. We tried to make a video which complemented the words in the song and gave some more life to the ideas they were influenced by.  

A; Bevan - In the video a traveller is attempting to find ‘The Yggdrasil’, which is a sacred ash tree that features a lot in Nordic mythology. But on the way he has to face a series of challenges designed to stop him from reaching the tree. 

Q; How would you describe your writing process?
Felix - Usually a song starts with Bevan or I recording ideas at home. If we're vibing then we get Jack and Nic to come in to flesh out the song more. 
A; Bevan - Felix started 'All Rise' when he recorded a mandolin riff and some guitar chords on his computer one night so I came over a couple days later and wrote my guitar parts for the song. We thought it was sounding cool so we got Jack and Nic involved to finish off the song. 

Q; Give us an interesting personal fact!
A; We should win an award for most pizza eaten by a band. We eat a lot when we're together and if pizza could be a muse it would be ours. 

RACKETT - 'Machinations' Single Q&A Interview

READY OR NOT, HERE IT COMES!

Hey everyone, Brendan the blind guy here! Chatting to awesome musicians is like a drug, and even if I Tried To Quit… well, we all know I’d re-lapse, because like it or not, I Please Myself at the end of the day, and honestly, it makes me feel so Alive! If your brain hurts from the onslaught of interviews, well this will Kiss It Better for you surely! So Ready Or Not, ladies and gentlemen, RACKETT!

Brendan; Recently you recreated the name Rackett to be a solo project, and released your innovative new track ‘Machinations’, taking a more untethered electronic-punk approach to your previous pop/alternative-punk style. Apparently you’ve really found your happy place with this song, so what inspired the new direction/flavours? Has working with and promoting other artists with Beehive PR helped you with this?

Bec; I was inspired by pop music. I was listening to a lot of pop artists redefining pop and creating sounds and structures that seemed to push back against what was expected of pop. I was inspired by A.I and developing technologies and virtual realities and I wanted to create art music that was concurrent with a plastic future.

Brendan; As for the lyrics, I know first-hand you’ve got a copious amount of stories and experiences to write about, but what exactly was the story behind this track?

Bec; The track is about going out of my mind. Machination means to scheme. I had to go into the pits of myself, the illusions I had created, the delusion and find a way through the turmoil and into a future self. I had to scheme a way out.

Brendan; Currently you’re taking over the stages in Japan on quite an extensive run of shows, that must be such an amazing experience! AND THEN, after you get back from Japan, you’re hitting up Sydney and Melbourne only five days after you land home, barely enough time to shake off the jet-lag! So how are the crowds there in Japan responding? Is it a bit contrast to your Aussie fans? I mean, I can’t imagine the Japanese ladies would be as inclined to flash their boobs at you like the wild Aussie ladies here do?

Bec; Well I haven’t seen any flashing boobs, but I have seen a band give their lead singer a bubble bath mid-set. I’m actually only back in Australia for 1 day before my Australia single launch shows begin. I’ve learned so much and their are contrast in priorities here verss Australia. In Japan you must be on time for soundcheck and be present for a pre show meeting where everyone is introduced to each other There are no riders or free drinks, but the schedule is very proficient and support bands on this tour have been the highest calibre of musicians I have played with.

Brendan; I know I kind of gave a bit of a teaser to what a Rackett show brings, (you did say last time you see a lot of tits) But give us a taste of what this new Rackett brings to the stages? Will I still be compelled to flash my chest at you?

Bec; I think you’ll be compelled to dance. My new music is hyper fun, fast and nothing really below 128 BPM which is prime dance tempo. Its still punk in attitude but a future-punk that has those digital elements more present in dance music.

Brendan; Right, now I reckon it’s time we get exclusive Bec, just me and you… and all the readers. So, what would be an exclusive fun fact about yourself

Bec; A fun fact about myself? I don’t know that I can say I have fun facts, I guess that’s in the eye of the beholder. I love a random dance on the street, I love to Heely, I mix up names a lot. For example, there was a Japans band covering Blitz Screen Bob by the Ramones and I got up on stage and thanked them for their cover of ’Split-screen Bob’.

Brendan; Now for my favourite question of all, that’s right people, it’s WTF time! I know I’ve asked you this before, twice actually, and you said how early on you found a dirty nappy in your travel bag on the plane, and last year you told me how at one show, a girl you kissed during ‘Kiss It Better’ took you quite literally, to the point where you had to reluctantly pull away from her to catch up to your singing. But this time, has there been any WTF moments in Japan?

Bec; WTF moments for me have been pulling an all-nighter in Shibuya, doing the rounds of bars and ending up in a party in Love Hotel. Actually this tour has been an all-around WTF moment. Every night has been an adventure, seeing really weird support bands. Another one aside from the bubble bath one was a band that dressed as ‘Where’s Wally’ and sang Queen covers.

Brendan; As always it has been a pleasure chatting to you Bec, but we’ll leave it with one more. So, what’s next for Rackett?

Bec; What’s next is more music! I have another single out in January next year and will be reassessing more and more next year. I’ll be touring, working on my Heelys game and waiting for the future to arrive.

Carthasy - Q&A Interview

JOIN THE ASCENT OF ROCK GREATNESS!

Hey everyone, Brendan the blind guy here! We all know it gives me Endless joy and an Endorphin rush when I get to Connect with talented bands on The Ascent in the Aussie music scene! Today, ladies and gentlemen I have the distinct pleasure of chatting to an alternative rock band breaking down all Walls in their path, CARTHASY!

Brendan; Thanks for being here guys! First up, the name Carthasy, what’s the story and meaning behind this intriguing name?

Lindsay; Cheers Brendan, thanks for having us. I think we were going for something which reflected the idea of catharsis, of releasing strong emotions, of everything coming together in huge moment. I think that when we're at our best we can get there with our music. Having that name has unfortunately led to a 'career' of having it pronounced a hundred different ways by everyone we meet, but it's always fun to see what people come up with.

Brendan; You guys recently unleashed your second studio album ‘Revolve’, a dynamic power-house of booming angst and furocity accompanied by fierce driving riffs, cracking beats and confronting vocal edge. So, what does this album and the songs on it represent to you, individually and as a band?

Lindsay; For me the album is a really nice testament to what we can achieve as a band. We went into the writing process with a really clear idea of what we wanted out of it, the sounds we were chasing, and the end result that we wanted to achieve. Getting to that goal required taking a lot of things away. We wanted an stripped back, raw, aggressive album, which meant there was no room for ego on any of us. We wanted a really huge guitar sound, which meant everything else had to get out of the way. We wanted a really consistent theme and impact on the songs, which meant that we weren't able to indulge some of our proggier tastes. I've always thought that the hardest thing to do in music is to write a simple song that's really good, and I think that at our best points on the album we've achieved that. Directionally, "Revolve" was also another step down a much heavier road than we've taken before, which required a bit of a recalibration in the vocal delivery and the tones we were using. Our vocalist Garry did an incredible job of adapting his vocals to the sound we were seeking for this album, and for me his performance is the highlight of the album.

Brendan; When I personally listen to this incredible album, I’m treated to stylistic attributes reminiscent of Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Something With Numbers’ first album ‘Etiquette’ and even the mighty Tool. So, are these incredible bands key influences for you musically?
Man, 'Etiquette'! I absolutely thrashed that album in high school, I haven't thought about that album in years. There's definitely chunks of that album buried in Garry's and my DNA which are probably still coming through in 2019. I'm going to listen to it now, I bet it's still buried in my memory somewhere. 'Sunshine Showers' is an eternal jam. Born too late to explore the pop-punk universe...

Lindsay; Aside from forgotten and underrated millenial Australian pop-punk bands, our main influences on this album were Norma Jean, Rosetta and, for me at least, early Pelican. The album was also written during a period where I was listening to Architects' 'All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us' more or less on repeat so there are probably some thematic cues that have bled through there. We've also been trying to write a song with as much melody as an Oceansize track for some time. We'll get there one day.

Brendan; More exciting stuff that Revolve around the album’s release! You guys recently played an album launch show on July 12 in North Perth. How’d that go?

Lindsay; Playing live is always an absolute thrill and it was great to have a chance to play the new album stuff for more or less the first time. Being significantly stripped back, the new album tracks translate significantly better to a live environment, it was nice to not have to play 10 minute prog jams. We were lucky enough to be joined by our great mates in Altona who were launching an album on the same night and it was a pleasure to share the stage with them.

Brendan; For those of us who couldn’t make it to this show, tell us what we missed out on? Did you guys blow the speakers? Was there any brawls? Did you break everything in sight? Or was the atmosphere tame, civilized and full of elderly Bingo-enthusiasts complaining that it’s too loud?

Lindsay; Perth has its share of people moving into new apartments which overlook live music venues then complain about the noise, and Garry's amp does go to 11 (genuinely - Soldanos do for some reason), so I'm surprised the last one didn't happen. Nothing too crazy from us, I think most of the crowd we get down are now a bit past the brawling stage and guitars are expensive. I'm also tied to a laptop these days for samples and such so I can't even run too far from the drumkit. I think the whole big rockstar move of smashing shit is fun if your parents are buying your guitar or you're getting them for free from the manufacturer - neither are true for us yet unfortunately!

Brendan; Right, I reckon it’s time we get exclusive! So, what is an exclusive fun fact about each of yourselves?

Lindsay; Ha ha, we all have reasonably professional lives so I'm going to duck that question - nothing too scandalous or doxxable sorry!

Brendan; Now it’s time for my FAVOURITE question! That’s right people, it’s best cat-video on Youtube time!... just kidding, it’s W.T.F time! (although who doesn’t love a good cat video right?). So guys, what is THE MOST hilarious, priceless W.T.F moment on your musical career thus far?

Lindsay; It's gotta be our last album launch, where our bassist Jack launched himself off a cab and immediately shredded his ACL. He managed to get through the rest of the set on adrenaline and beer but realised what he'd done as he was trying to give me a hand carrying my drums out at the end of the night. The best part of a year worth of rehab and he was ready to play again without sitting on a stool on stage. He makes his living now as a stage manager in the UK for awesome bands like the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets so clearly he's still able to carry heavy shit. A credit to his physiotherapists.

Brendan; And last but not least, what else can fans look forward to from you guys lurking around the corner?

Lindsay; Life's getting in the way for all of us a little bit at the moment and we're spread across the world - I'm the only one in Perth most of the time - but we'd love to put out some more music when the time's right. Rumour has it there might be a few more tracks from 'Revolve' that were trimmed from the release, I'd love to get them out at some point - if nothing else because one of them has a pretty sick drum part. It depends on whether finances or my ego win out in the end I guess!

Lindsay; Thanks for having us mate, much appreciated.

The debut single from Carthasy's upcoming album 'Revolve'.

Shelley Segal - Q&A Interview

HOLY MOLY!

Hey everyone, Brendan the blind guy Here! I Don’t Believe In Fairies, but what I do believe in, is artists who’s musical essence fills me, running through my Blood like a holy spirit, and No, I’m not a Holy Man! Ladies & gentlemen, I’ve got the distinct pleasure of catching up with an artist drawing near to the Eve of her EP launch and thus greatness! All the way from San Antonio and back, SHELLEY SEGAL!

Brendan; How’ve you been since we last spoke in November 2017 Shelley?

Shelley: Hi Brendan! What an awesome intro, hehe! I’ve been really well since then, thanks. I’ve been super busy, lots of writing, touring and recording! 

Brendan; Last time we spoke, you’d just released your single ‘Someone Like You’, a defiant, powerfully commanding track about not being able to love who you’re “supposed to”. Now, you’ve released your new track ‘No’ off your upcoming EP ‘Holy’., conveying flavours of pop, indie, rock, folk and country. ‘No’ seems to portray a wanting for an end without confrontation, is that the story behind the song lyrically, or am I way off? (likely)

Shelley: With ‘No’ you are totally right, that is definitely part of what the song describes. The song depicts different scenarios where it is hard to say “no” for different reasons. Maybe your safety or your job is at stake, or maybe you just don’t have the experience to assert your boundaries. I want the song to be part of the wider conversation that we are having around consent. In the song I am encouraging myself and others to have the strength to assert our own boundaries but also expressing the idea that sometimes it can be more complicated than that, to hopefully encourage deeper awareness, consideration and compassion. 

Brendan; ‘No’ and ‘Blood’ are the two tracks that really grab my attention on your upcoming EP ‘Holy’, with a sharp rock edge and catchy vocal hooks in both. Is this why you chose ‘No’ to be the first taste of the EP for fans?

Shelley: I’m so glad those tunes are resonating with you! Blood is one of my favourites!!! It’s hard to pick a single really because I feel like the tracks stand alone and all have something different to offer. I felt like ‘No’ would be a strong foot forward, it’s catchy and also is very directly engaging with a serious issue and I love the chance to get to talk about these kinds of things with press! 

Brendan; As I previously mentioned, there’s lots of musical flavours swirling around in the EP’s mix of styles. What was the inspiration for all the musical diversity, did the songs’ stories simply yearn for their respective sounds?

Shelley: The songs on the EP were all written since moving to the US. I think being here has really influenced me in both the content of the songs, often around political discussions present here such as consent, religious freedom, gun control, tribalism/racism and also stylistically. I’ve spent so much time on tour driving around the US listening to country radio and absorbing those sounds and styles. I think each song really called for its own sound but I can hear the influences of being here and the music I’ve been seeing and listening to in each track. I drew on the artists that I love and I don’t feel the need to stay in one sonic palette.

Brendan; I can’t help but notice, from what I can tell, you still haven’t made your way up here to Sydney *sniffle-sniffle*. Is there any plans lurking for an Aussie tour in the near future?

Shelley: I KNOOOOOOOOW!! I’m so sad that I haven’t been on a big national Aussie tour for a while. I did get to do a regional VIC tour last year. I’m hoping that next year I will be able to come up! Hopefully will see you at a show :D

Brendan; Since we last spoke, I can imagine your performances have grown immensely. So paint us a word picture of what you bring to the stages these days?

Shelley: I've been really honing my show these last few years, I've been playing with my partner Rob on guitar and added a stomp pedal to the mix which has given me a lot more drive and energy on stage. I've also been learning to have more quiet subtle moments so I feel like overall the dynamics have really grown. I love to be vulnerable and open and to connect with my audiences to give them a space to reflect on their lives and how they see the world.

Brendan; Right, I reckon it’s time we get exclusive Shelley, just me and you… and all the readers. So, what’s an exclusive fun fact about yourself?

Shelley: So one cool (I think!) fact about me is that I used to play table tennis competitively!! I love it so much - it’s the best sport hehehe!! My father, uncle and my brother play and I still play casually. But when I was younger I used to go to tournaments and I even played on the state team a few times. At one point I was ranked #9 in the country for my age group. So don’t call it ‘Ping Pong’ or you’ll get my back up :P :P :P

Brendan; Now it’s time for my favourite question of all, that’s right people, it’s WTF time! So Shelley, you being a very active musician traversing the world with your music, winning the hearts of people here in Australia and abroad. This said, you must have some pretty priceless moments on your music career, but what’s the one that takes the cake as being the most hilarious, priceless, WTF of them all?

Shelley: So back in 2015 I released my single ‘Morocco’. It was about my experiences travelling briefly in Marrakech and Essaouira, looking at my place there as a tourist and what experiences were afforded to me contrasted with how things were for some locals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHBWr2x0rrY I touched on some difficult issues that I had seen such as child homelessness and drug tourism.

After I released the music video a blog in Morocco wrote (incorrectly) that I had denounced the kingdom of Morocco. Thousands of people read that article and then watched my video through that lens. I copped a lot of online abuse and the story was picked by the national press in Australia and also the Moroccan World News. It was a very strange and interesting experience culminating with a story on the front page of the Age Entertainment Online with a picture of me and my dad underneath the headline ‘Australian Artist Causes Drug Furore In Morocco’.

Brendan; And finally, after your EP is launched on November 1, what else can fans look forward to, give us a teaser?

Shelley: Well I have some super exciting projects in the works. I’m creating music for a documentary called 'Transmission Love’ about a young transgender girl and her family in Los Angeles. 

I’m working with my dear friend Prince Chapelle on a collaborative album. Prince is an incredible songwriter, producer and vocalist. Our album will be a meld of styles, folk and country melodies and guitars mixed with pop production and some fantastic local musicians joining us. 

I’m also working on a conservation themed EP that is very close to my heart. ‘Great Loud Sound’ will be co-written with Dan Lombardo - a biologist and science communicator and educator from Tacoma in Washington State. The project will educate people about the stunning and unique Puget Sound Watershed, the animals who live there and the issues they face.

We are currently raising funds for the project here which we will eventually share online as a free resource: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-puget-sound-conservation-ep

I also share new music every week on my Patreon page! www.patreon.com/shelleysegal

Brendan; Thanks for your time Shelley and hope to catch you in Sydney soon!

Shelley: Thanks so much for having me, for your great questions and for helping me share my music <3