Backstage With RUBY FIELDS - Newcastle 13/11/2020"

“AW THAT SHTINKS!”

This year has been a Pretty Grim year, but live music IS BACK!

Much loved indie-punk/rock-babe RUBY FIELDS and her fellow lads of musical honour, ripped the bandaid off of the concert dry spell for Newcastle and Brendan the blind guy, with two epic shows at the Cambridge Hotel during Great Southern Nights throughout November 2020!

Brendan was thrilled to hang out with Ruby and the band for a chat after the show to find out how they've been through the pandemic, new music lurking in the near future, and lots of banter that will leave a suspicious taste in your mouth as you wonder how a dishwasher got on his leg!

Follow Keen Eye 4 Concerts on social media and via our newsletter at www.keeneye4concerts.com/sign-up

“I had goosebumps during the show from the purity and earnestness of Ruby and the band’s performance!! It felt like my first gig all over again!

Being a table-seating, atmospheric, candle-lit setting gae the show a special intimate feeling to it, which the way Ruby was able to speak to and connect with everyone personally, not just to a crowd of people in the same way she’d speak and connect with you in any other one-on-one setting made for a truly special night!

- Brendan -”

Josh Pyke 'Rome' - Podcast Interview

“YOU CAN’T ESCAPE WHO YOU TRULY ARE IN YOUR CORE”

They say everything leads back to Rome, so it's fitting that one of Australia's best story-tellers, Mr. JOSH PYKE has returned to his home in music after a three-year hiatus! Brendan the blind guy caught up with Josh to chat about his new album 'Rome' plus upcoming intimate tour, projects on his hiatus and more! Like, Share and follow Keen Eye 4 Concerts via our e-newsletter at www.keeneye4concerts.com/sign-up

They say "all roads leads back to Rome", with "Rome being a kinda metaphor for yourself" so it's fitting that one of Australia's best story-tellers, Mr. JOSH PYKE has returned to his inner home in music after a three-year hiatus!

Brendan the blind guy caught up with Josh to chat about his new album 'Rome' plus upcoming intimate tour, projects on his hiatus and more!

Like, Share and follow Keen Eye 4 Concerts via our e-newsletter at www.keeneye4concerts.com/sign-up

Check out the press release announcing Josh Pyke’s new album, intimate tour and more here.

TRAVALLEY 'Dear Babe' Single Q&A

MEDIA RELEASE:: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, THURSDAY MAY 7

TRAVALLEY DROP RAUCOUS NEW SINGLE AND BONKERS VIDEO DEAR BABE

Aussie brothers, Travalley have today dropped their seriously fun, raucous new single, Dear Babe.  The track is accompanied by a fittingly bonkers video that sees the duo, Levi and Sam Mellington, munch through as many chillies as possible throughout the duration of the clip, and they’ll be celebrating the release with a livestream single launch on Saturday May 23 at 7pm on Instagram.

Upbeat and hooky as all getout, this driving indie rock track will be lapped up by fans of Lime Cordiale, The Jungle Giants, Hockey Dad and Skegss, and will have listeners toe-tapping, singing along with the insanely catchy backing vocals and coming back for more.  Recorded in a Melbourne home studio, engineered by Fabian Hunter and mixed and mastered by Austin Asvanonda (The War on Drugs), Dear Babe is about lead singer Levi’s lack of ability to be able to flirt or express how he feels. “I always manage to say the wrong thing or give too much away too early which tends to end up in the “what if I said this” situation happening over and over again and then repeating the process with the same results,” Levi explains. “About a year ago, I finally stuck to my guns and held back from blurting out everything about myself to a girl, I was so impressed with myself that I decided to write a song about all my past experiences, and now here we are! We just hope people really enjoy the song and get a laugh out of the film clip.”

Filmed and edited by Gareth Harrison (DJ for Yacht Club DJs who also tours regularly with DZ Deathrays and Dune Rats), the concept for the Dear Babe video was inspired by the DZ Deathrays The mess Up film clip where the guys drank as much alcohol over the duration of the song.  An extrapolation of this was then released by Dune Rats in Red Light Green Light where they smoked as much as they could.  Pretty chuffed with their ingeniousness with this video concept that is sure to set tongues wagging, and rightfully so, Levi explains, “We decided to continue the trend that these two amazing bands created, and stupidly ate as many chillies as we could within the time of the film clip. Little did we know that we ate far more than expected and experienced all sorts of pains for days after the video was filmed!”

Having spent a lifetime together, and the greatest part of it playing music together, the visceral bond present in their playing and their vocal harmonies is obvious, and their onstage banter is infectious.  And though the brothers have been combatting a heap of change during the Covid19 madness, they’re also able to see the positives. “We’ve had a lot more time to write new music and expand our sound, and we’ve had to come up with more creative ways to keep our fans engaged, but it’s also given us the opportunity to sit back and relax for the first time in a long time,” says Levi. “But like many other bands out there, we had to cancel our entire tour and a bunch of bookings too. The biggest thing we’ve missed is playing live to our amazing fans that travel to come see us play. Once this has passed and we are able to start playing music in front of people again, we can only imagine how amazing and hyped everyone will be to get out and have a great time.”

Dear Babe is released today.

Stream: Dear Babe

View: Dear Babe

DEAR BABE | LIVESTREAM INSTAGRAM SINGLE LAUNCH | SATURDAY MAY 23 | 7PM

CONNECT WITH TRAVALLEY

TRAVALLEY Q&A

What’s the inspiration behind Dear Babe? 

 “The song was inspired by my inability to get my message across to someone that I like. I'm sure everyone has experienced something like this over the years so it’s an ode to everyone who freezes up or becomes awkward in those tough times in life.” 

Who are your greatest musical influences?

 “Jungle Giants and Hockey Dad for sure. We have looked up to these 2 artists ever since we started making music really. They both make absolute bangers and their live shows are super  high energy. We have taken bits and pieces from both artists. More so chord progressions from Jungle Giants as they suit our sound better. “

What do you bring to the live stage? 

“ We bring a very high energy to each show and generally bring audience members up on stage to enjoy the time with us. We have found by being welcoming to the crowd and acknowledging them quite a lot, they generally become more involved with the show. Our best shows are always the ones where the crowd are dancing and singing. “

How was the recording process? 

 “The recording process was extremely quick. The entire process of writing, recording and releasing the track was incredibly quick to be completely honest. It was fun though. We recorded  through a guy in Melb just before lockdown happened so we got in just at the right time. We were able to get the entire song recorded in about 4 hours. Because it is short and fairly simple there wasn’t anything exciting to happen.” 

What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

“We got inspiration from DZ Deathrays and Dune Rats. They did very similar videos to us except what they consumed was  a little different, check them out if you are curious. For us, eating chillies was the next best thing and boy did we regret it the next day.” 

How would you describe your writing process? 

 “The writing process I use is pretty bizarre but it works. I use a shitty 5 string guitar with a huge crack through the body of the guitar. IT sounds horrible.. However, if i can get it to sound good on that, it will sound good on anything. After I write the guitar section I will generally write the vocals and then bring it to a jam session.” 

Give us an interesting personal fact!

“I can hold my breath for a really long time, we are talking like the entire length of Dear Babe.” 

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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!”

KIT (All Our Exes Live In Texas) 'Good Guy' Single Q&A

THE GOOD GUY IS BEST!

KIT ANNOUNCES DEBUT SINGLE AND VIDEO GOOD GUY

An integral part of the beloved Australian group All Our Exes Live In Texas, Kit (otherwise known as Katie Wighton) has today announced her debut solo release, Good Guy.  A gritty, guitar-led powerhouse of a single, Good Guy calls out every dude who’s ever gotten away with bad behaviour.  Kit has also released a stellar clip to accompany Good Guy, created in collaboration with Gina Somfleth of Pop Candi Films (Merpire, Peach Noise, Press Club).  

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, Kit has had to be creative with her single launch shows. After performing at ISOLAID on March 22 she was inspired to do her single launch show live on Instagram. With support from Bonnie Songs , Nancie Schipper & Hannah Blackburn, Kit will perform live from her livingroom on Friday April 17 at 7pm AEDT. She will have a Bandcamp set up with the idea that people can buy the single and donate what they may have paid to come to the show, and a percentage of the proceeds from the night will also go to Support Act to help those who are seriously suffering in our musical community."I find it very interesting that at the moment the things we seem to be talking about are our healthcare workers and hospitals, schools and universities and The Arts. In a crisis, these things become the most important and I hope that when we get through this awful time we will remember that.” Kit remarks.  “Being creative can sometimes be a burden but right now, it's our biggest asset. I've been doing the crossword on Instagram live and also have started an insta-choir – which is so much fun. I was sitting in my room playing a Hank Williams song and really missing the harmonies, so I chucked it up on my socials and asked people to send in their harmonies. The second week has really taken on a life of its own - we did Two Strong Hearts and had drums and bass and even a wine bottle solo! It’s so beautiful to connect with people safely and bring a little smile to people across the interwebs!”

Co-written with Ali Barter (also featured on backing vocals) and created with producers Dave Symes (Boy and Bear, Sarah Blasko, Missy Higgins) and James Seymour (Merpire, Eaglemont), Good Guy is a sharp, hard-hitting track with a vital message.  One for fans of rockers Alex Lahey, Angel Olsen and Ruby Fields, Good Guy leads with its heart on its sleeve; with amps cranked and driving percussion alongside clever and playful melodies, this track is impossible to ignore.  Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Kit explains, “I wrote this song with Ali Barter last year after having one too many conversations with amazing women about men in the entertainment industry getting away with bad behaviour.  There is a long and specific story behind it, basically I was tired of hearing sad songs by incredible women about other remarkable women who were wronged – I just wanted to get mad about it. The chorus is kind of a G-rated ‘fuck the patriarchy’.  One of the lyrics is 'it's bigger than us both’.  The conversations stopped just being about my own sadness, anger, disappointment and horror and turned into ‘What the actual shit is going on around us?  How can we fix this?’”

The clip for Good Guy reinforces the message behind the track wholeheartedly.  Reflecting on the video, Kit says, “It's kind of alluding to the experience of someone seeming like a lovely person at first and lulling you into a semi-false sense of security.  Then bam, they do something shit and you're all confused.  And I feel like it's so common now.  Sometimes it's not even something that bad.  Ghosting and not replying to texts, not going straight for a condom, not being honest and open about where they're at.  Anyway, it's that.  In a film clip.  You'll just have to watch it to get the full scoop!  And it's shot in Melbourne at some of my favourite spots!  The patriarchy is giving me a lot of creative fodder, ha!”

Good Guy is a far cry from the exquisite folk stylings of All Our Exes Live In Texas that fans might know Kit best for, but it’s all a melting pot of influences as she explains, “I've been listening to different music – more rocky, raw stuff.  We played folk songs for a long time and I got to a point where I wanted to yell a bit.  Get my punk on!  And have my own voice too.  The band has definitely been a part of KIT, even if it isn't conscious.  Those women are a really important part of my music and emotional history and it would be naïve to think it hasn't influenced KIT.”

Good Guy is out April 3 through Believe.

Listen: GOOD GUY

Watch: GOOD GUY

 FRIDAY 17 APR @ 7pm AEDT | LIVE ON INSTAGRAM WITH BONNIE SONGS, NANCIE SCHIPPER & HANNAH BLACKBURN

Q&A WITH KIT

What’s the inspiration behind your new single Good Guy? 

“I wrote this song with Ali Barter last year after having one too many conversations with amazing women about men in the entertainment industry getting away with bad behaviour. There is a long and specific story behind it, basically I was tired of hearing sad songs by incredible women about other remarkable

women who were wronged – I just wanted to get mad about it. The chorus is kind of a G-rated ‘fuck the patriarchy’. One of the lyrics is ‘this is bigger than us both’. The conversations stopped just being about my own sadness, anger, disappointment and horror and turned into ‘What the actual shit is going on around us? How can we fix this?”

Who are your greatest musical influences?

“Phoebe Bridgers, Merpire, my mum. “

What do you bring to the live stage? 

“I HOPE good banter and open, honest music. “

How was the recording process? 

“Long haha! But so fun. I was just so picky about this first single that it took awhile. Thankfully I had a lot of very kind, patient, BRILLIANT musicians and friends around me so that helped. And in the end I’m really proud of where we got to so it was all worth it!”

What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

“Well we’re tackling what I think is pretty heavy subject matter so Gina Somfleth (from Popcandi and who I made the clip with) and I were keen to stay away from that. We wanted to find a humourous route to take so we went with going on a date with the devil - except I don’t know he’s the bad guy!!”

How would you describe your writing process? 

 “I think it changes all the time. BUT I would say I mostly start with an idea or a melody. Then I usually build it from there. Honestly there’s no one way though! “

Give us an interesting personal fact!

“I once baked a cake with a BB8 (Star Wars) on the top of it for a friend’s birthday. I still sleep with a teddy bear called White Bear and he’s actually a cat. “

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. 

The Dandy Warhols - Podcast Interview with Brent (Drums), October 18 2019

“HORSHACK!”

All you girls and boys better listen closely, because if you like 90's psychedelic-pop, than this will make you get off! Brendan the blind guy got to live the highlife chatting to Brent the drummer from legendary psych-pop band THE DANDY WARHOLS, about their 25th anniversary Australian tour, their new album 'Why You So Crazy?' and its inspiration and much more! Listen and you'll feel like you're having dinner with some of music's greatest, and as if you're caught in a 70's TV show! Check out the official Keen Eye 4 Concerts website www.keeneye4concerts.com

All you girls and boys better listen closely, because if you like 90's psychedelic-pop, than this will make you get off! Brendan the blind guy got to live the highlife chatting to Brent the drummer from legendary psych-pop band THE DANDY WARHOLS, about their 25th anniversary Australian tour, their new album 'Why You So Crazy?' and its inspiration and much more!

Listen and you'll feel like you're having dinner with some of music's greatest, and as if you're caught in a 70's TV show!

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

The Run - Podcast Interview with Will (drums) & Sab (bass), September 10 2019

THIS IS EVERYTHING YOU’RE LOOKING FOR!

Everyone who doesn't check this out really doesn't know what they're missing out on! Brendan the blind guy recently had a fun chat to Will the drummer and Sab the bassist from Melbourne indie-soul band, THE RUN about the band's new single 'Missing Out On' plus launch show and much more! This is everything you're looking for in an interview and will make you do a backflip with joy! Check out the official Keen Eye 4 Concerts website www.keeneye4concerts.com

Everyone who doesn't check this out really doesn't know what they're missing out on! Brendan the blind guy recently had a fun chat to Will the drummer and Sab the bassist from Melbourne indie-soul band, THE RUN about the band's new single 'Missing Out On' plus launch show and much more!

This is everything you're looking for in an interview and will make you do a backflip with joy!