MAYFAIR KYTES - Exclusive Video Premiere

Melbourne four-piece, Mayfair Kytes have today announced the release of their debut album, Animus (out April 1), alongside quirky and musically dazzling single, Sleepyhead which came out March 18.  The folk-art-pop band will be hitting the road to celebrate the release with album launch shows at The Workers Club (Melb) on April 8 and The Vanguard (Syd) on April 28.

Layered with exquisite vocal harmonies and opulent string scores by Willow Stahlut (Cinematic Orchestra), the single is perfectly textured by bold, discordant guitars accentuating the song’s inimitable musical brilliance.  “Sleepyhead is a meditation on two themes, one being the creative process versus the logical world and how choosing your own destiny can lead you down a long road of self-discovery that might clash with more pragmatic streams of life,” lead vocalist and songwriter Matt Kelly explains, “and secondly, it is about dealing with the depression that often comes with such a way of being.”

Storyboarded, hand-animated, filmed and directed by Melbourne artist, Thomas Russell (Hiatus Kaiyote, Chet Faker, Flyying Colours), the fittingly artistic video for Sleepyhead follows contemporary dancer Geoffrey H Watson as he saunters his way around an empty white room, tearing off layers of bulky clothing in an act of defiance, musing as his heavy steps become joyful skips with each layer shed.  “The film-clip is about coming out of a dark place, shedding the things that hold you back, not being constrained by male stereo types… shedding the past,” says Kelly.  

Recorded in just over a year with close pal, Nick Herrera between his notable home studio and a converted chapel in Melbourne’s inner north, the album features performances from string players from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as extra synths and production added by Hiatus Kaiyote’s Simon Mavin and Paul Bender.  “We employed Nick for his highly creative streak, his love and respect of tonality and the way he works hard to achieve sounds,” enthuses Kelly, “And we used the chapel to record all the string scores as it had a long reverb and delay so we could use the authentic room sounds in the recordings, no extra effects needed.”   

A dense mosaic of flourishing strings, jangly guitars, tape-driven beats, synthscapes and samples, this impressive debut album shows extreme consideration and depth as it touches on themes of loss, acceptance and reprieve.  Kelly explains, “It's kind of a reverse break up album, beginning at the separation and working its way forward to reconciliation.”

And as you’d imagine, fans can expect a very distinctive live set, showcasing interesting and different vocals and harmonies, otherworldly guitar sounds, captivating ambience and explosive-to-the-point-of-post-rock climaxes, as well as a dense layer of modular synths.

Mayfair Kytes are Matt Kelly (vocals, guitar), Austin Busch (vocals, guitar, keys, samples), Jack Nicholson (drums, samples) and Phoebe Jacobs (vocals, samples).

Debut single Sleepyhead was out March 18, new album Animus is out April 8. 

AND NOW... we have the exclusive premiere of their new live recording of Seasonal Thaw, filmed at the Scrap Museum!!!!

Boy and Bear Review

by Hamish McArthur

I was apprehensive about attending the Boy & Bear concert at Red Hill as I looked out my window to see grey skies and rain drops punish my bedroom window. I searched around to find my beanie which I had not worn since Japan. The search was in vain as the heavens smiled again with the Southern sun much to my delight.

It turned out to be an incredible night both with the climate and more importantly the soothing, charming, timeless sounds of Australia’s best indie folk rock band complimented by the Perth lights in the skyline at the open amphitheatre air. Brilliantly supported by Montaigne and the always epically brooding Art of Sleeping; Boy & Bear opened with their latest single ’Limit of love’. It was the perfect song to open with as there was no delay for the crowd to get what they wanted with the intro immediately sending the audience into sheer delight and expectation of what the night was surely going to bring and so much more.

The sing alongs, foot stomps, head bobbin shimmy shakes and fist pumps continued all through the 90 minute set as they played favourites such as Rabbit Song and Showdown. Soon after they covered the Amy Winehouse track Back to Black which was recently performed on Triple J’s like a version.
What a treat it was to hear performed by a band with such an honest sound but never taking away from the sultry blues feel the tracks oozes.

It was an absolutely triumphant and emphatic finish to the night with Part Time Believer, Harlequin Dream and Walk the Wire.

Everyone was overjoyed with the live musical connection that had taken place, with Drummer Tim Hart even baffled at the number of fans, saying it was the largest crowd they had played to in Australia!

The transitions between songs were seamless and creatively highlighted each band member’s equally important role in the band as they layered their instruments and beautiful harmonies all in unison.
A highlight to see performed with a conviction to match the lyrical genius was ‘Bridges’.

Drummer Tim Hart lead the way introducing the song with the solid rock groove for a couple of bars before letting the appreciative fans respond to front man Dave Hosking singing the opening line of “Get up and dance girl..” with fans singing the rest of the song with gusto and some even on the shoulders of others.

RÜFÜS - Bloom Review

Review by Nathan Woodward of Anna O

Clearly not suffering from any second album malaise, Sydney lads RÜFÜS return with a polished and deliberate dance-pop record Bloom. Ranging in style from the straight ahead groove of Be With You to the vast electronica of closing track Innerbloom, Bloom has arrived just in time to help you see out your summer. The album kicks off with the sounds of running water and melancholy oohs and sampled claps, setting the tone for an album that, uncommonly in the dance music world, often chooses to reflect on the nuance of a feeling rather than go all out with raw energy. So down to the nitty gritty:

What does it sound like?
Bloom is musically bright and lively with lots of synth layers, dance grooves, pulsing bass and the odd bit of jangly guitar to spice things up.  At the same time it’s a mature record where restraint and subtlety rule the day. Vocally, there’s a sense of isolation or separation, like something important is absent. This contrasts well with the more upbeat instrumentation to facilitate just the right amount of melancholy. 

In what context would I listen to this album?
A relaxed, evening barbecue at the beach would be my ideal scenario for listening to this album - but you might find it equally charming as the soundtrack to your commute home from a hard day at work or as part of a study playlist.

What are the standout tracks? 
Hypnotised – The lovely chill out beat, danced over by the alternating voices of lead vocalist Tyrone Lindqvist and an (at this time) unknown female singer gives this song it’s delightful sense of rest. It also happens to feature one of the best chorus melodies on the record – you know the type…the one that seems fresh and familiar all at the same time. 

Tell Me – This one’s four on the floor kick right from the start and builds a great energy leading both into and out of another great chorus melody. Layering the lyric-less vocal hook used in the instrumental over the last two choruses is a particularly classy piece of arrangement.

Innerbloom – The third single, and to this reviewer’s ears, the album pinnacle, is a sprawling piece of evolving electronica clocking in at 9m38. The track starts with only some detuned synth chords and sound effects (a nod back to the album’s opening track), waiting until the 1m30 mark before the vocals kick in for the first time. I was hooked right from the start and my interest never waned throughout. The scarceness of vocals in this song serve to give them greater weight when they are present, while at the same time allowing the song to morph and for the guys’ arrangement and production skills to shine. This track is a great representation of the album as a whole.

Do you rate it?
I do, I do indeed.

I rate this album 7.7 perth sunsets out of 10.

Bloom is available for purchase January 22.

RÜFÜS - Bloom

2016 is shaping up to be RÜFÜS’ biggest year yet; with BLOOM topping the ARIA charts with a #1 debut in Jan, booting Adele from the top spot that she'd held for months.  The album’s two lead singles landed in triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown (You Were Right#12 and Like An Animal #28) and the fellas are currently in the middle of their mostly sold out European/UK/US/CAN tour, which is set to see them play on the coveted Coachella line up later this month..

And now the band have added a national tour on home turf to the mix.  They’ll be stepping up the venue sizes for this one and are excited to perform their new material for fans.  “When we approach the live show I think a really exciting thing for us is to re-imagine the songs and try to bring a new dimension and new journey to our music.  A big part of what we do whether it be writing a record or performing it live, is that sense of progression and that sense of tension and release,”drummer James Hunt explains.  “We’ve been absorbing so much live music lately so there are a million little things we want to try.”  Canadian duo Bob Moses will be supporting nationally, as well as Byron Bay electronic outfit, Tora.

We got to interview James from ARIA winner, RÜFÜS, about their upcoming album Bloom!

1.    We are loving what we have heard of Bloom – congratulations on such a great album! Tell us a little about what we can expect from Bloom?

I guess there are a range of sounds we were exploring, but I think in the end we put together a body of work that is pretty cohesive. Some of the sounds that we were loving listening to came through, it was really great to see that come off the page and how it all worked together.

2.    What is your writing process and do you think it has changed much from Atlas to Bloom?

Yeh I think it definitely changed and we are learning constantly every day that we write. We learn subconsciously and all three of us do a bit of everything, we all produce, play instruments. We all sit around and one person might jam on the piano, one might write a beat on the computer and we kind of go from there. There isn’t one particular way that we go about it, it’s pretty varied.

3.    How has touring and testing your songs with audiences around the world influenced your sound?

It has definitely influenced us in that it has shown us what people respond to in different places, which in turn helps us make creative decisions. When we’re writing a song, it helps us with a knowing in our gut why we’re doing something or what the end result might be.

4.    Congratulations on winning the ARIA for best dance release with You Were Right, tell us about that:

We were in London at the time and we found out the day before, so we had to keep it really tight, we couldn’t even tell our friends and family. We were just jumping around the hotel room, shouting at the top of our lungs, it was pretty exhilarating.

5.    How did You Were Right come about?:

We started the writing process overseas, so we were in London for a little bit and Berlin for a little. We came home at the start of 2015 and we wrote that song in the studio in Sydney late one night. We were writing a song the whole day and not getting anywhere, so we decided just to scrap it. Then we started this one and it came out in 15 minutes with all the little parts, the lead line, chorus, chorus pattern, the beat. It was a pretty organic one, it just happened out of nowhere and we knew it was pretty special.

6.    Personally, what is your favourite track on Bloom?:

That feels like choosing between your children and it always changes. At the moment, I’ve been listening to Inner Bloom a lot. I’m still trying to get my head around the whole album, we only finished it a month and a half ago.

Favourite to perform?:
Again, Inner Bloom. And I would have to say ‘Say a Prayer for Me’, even though it was only released yesterday, it seems to be getting a great response. When you see that the audience really responds to something, even if they don’t know it, that’s a pretty cool feeling.

7.    We hear you are set to play Coachella in April, how do you feel about that?:

Really excited, it’s a huge festival and we have some days around it, so we can go see some other acts and go on a little adventure, not having to worry about jetting straight out and going to another show.

8.    There is no doubt you guys will do well in the Triple J Hottest 100, what are you predictions for the countdown?:

I definitely think Major Lazer Lean on, Tame Impala’s Let It Happen, will do really well. I love that song and think it’s really deserving. Me and the other guys are in agreement on Lean On.

9.    What programs do you use to write and edit your songs while you’re on the road?:

Ableton Labs, it’s a program we find really quick to work in and really versatile and we all run it on our laptops

10. How did you guys meet?:

I actually went to school with Tyrone the singer and one of his friends knew John and we kind of fell into the band that way.

11.  What is your favourite city to play in?:

Maybe I have to say Sydney because the home town crowd is always good.

HOLY HOLY - A Heroine Tour

1. Congratulations on the release of your debut album, When The Storms Would Come. Could you have imagined such a brilliant response?:

There was a time, not too long ago, when the idea of getting to support a band at a venue like the Zoo or the Northcote social club seemed both daunting and impossible – so it has come as somewhat of a surprise to now be at a point where we've been selling those venues out. It’s a great honour really.

2.You've just finished your second European tour, tell us a bit about that: 

It was a trip of great highs and a few lows – as all great trips are I suppose. Our drummer and bass player had all their luggage lost on the way over, so that meant we started things off with a mad panic to find replacement instruments and clothes for the guys. We also hired a van that was just a little bit too small for six men and their instruments.  With some long drives across the continent suffice to say we all know each other a bit better than we did before - in every sense. That said - we played some absolutely amazing shows, shows that we will always remember and treasure and some nights that make it all worthwhile. It’s like that.  Hours and hours or driving and waiting and queuing and wondering what the hell you’re doing and then, each night, 45 minutes of the most exhilarating feeling on earth.

3. Now with your A Heroine Australian tour starting on January 15th, are you looking forward to about playing to a home crowd?

It’s shaping up to be a nice little tour. We’re playing some great rooms many of which we haven’t played before. We also have some exciting supports in Canadians Franklin Electric (who are over here for Woodford) and Olympia from Melbourne. We're thinking about giving some new songs a run too.

4. Loving the new single, A Heroine, tell us a little about that: 

It’s the only track on the record in 6/8 timing. So it has a different feel to it. It’s wordy in the verses and was inspired by a BBC Melvin Brag podcast about ancient Chinese societies and about how history repeats itself again and again. The same tragedies and triumphs, the same human stories playing out again and again. Technology changes but we don’t so much.

5. Do you have any advice for teenagers wanting to get their start in the music industry?

Yes. I do. There’s so much to say and a lot of it depends on the situation….but here are a few things.

• Work hard. It takes quite a lot of organising and planning to get a band to a stage where it’s a variable touring operation. Put the time in, ask questions and find mentors.
• Build a good team. You want to work with people who are fun to work with and who contribute a lot to the project.
• Respect the audience. If you’re making a show the golden rule is this: Would you want to go to that show? Is it on a Monday night in a difficult part of town with bands you don’t like? Don’t ask that of your fans and friends. Try and create shows that sell themselves. Shows that you’d want to go to.

HOLY HOLY ‘A HEROINE’ AUSTRALIAN TOUR

FRI 15 JAN | OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY NSW
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets

SAT 16 JAN |THE CAMBRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE NSW
Tickets available from www.bigtix.com.au | 02 4968 3093

THU 21 JAN | THE ROSEMOUNT, PERTH WA
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

FRI 22 JAN | FAT CONTROLLER, ADELAIDE SA
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets

FRI 29 JAN | CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC
Tickets available from www.cornerhotel.com | 1300 724 867

SAT 30 JAN | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

'A Heroine' is out now.

BOY AND BEAR - Limit of Love

1. What difference can we expect from your new album, Limit of Love, our Oct 9th, compared to your previous albums?
We recorded Limit Of Love after lots of touring playing many shows, and I think the approach to capturing the live sound of the band in the studio is a point of difference this time. We wanted the sounds and performances to be true and honest and our producer Ethan Johns was all about this approach. He is a great musician and an inspiring guy to work with and has a way of encouraging the best performances for the songs.

2. We LOVE your new single, Walk the Wire, tell us a little about the song:
Walk the Wire is quite a lighthearted track for us which has been fun. It’s about the internal battle that happens when your summoning up the courage to approach someone you like. I guess the broader sentiment is ‘don’t die wondering’, you gotta put it on the line sometimes and go for it.

3. Walk the Wire has a pretty hilarious video, was it fun to make?
It was really fun to make. The guys that directed it are nice and relaxed to work with and wanted the clip to be less serious than some of our older clips. There were some quirky Comedians on set that kept you on your toes, and you never knew what they would do next.

4. The writing of Limit of Love was a lot more collaborative this time, with the whole band being a part of the process, how did you find that and how has that effected the end result?
I think it's been a great result for the band to write together from the early stages. In the past often a sketch of a song would be brought to the band and then it would take on its shape and form from there. This way of writing encourages new ways to approach harmony and groove from the start which allows more options for the song to develop.

5. You played 170 shows last year, do you ever get sick of your own songs after playing them over and over again? 
We try to change our set as much as possible to avoid things feeling repetitive. Also we like to learn a lot of covers to keep things fresh. It will be nice to have 3 albums of repertoire to choose from this time around.

6. What’s the best part about writing a song, forming the idea or seeing the finished product?
They both offer different excitement and rewards. I think when forming the idea there is a lot of freedom for the song to become something and when its mixed it becomes a statement in time. Both equally rewarding in different ways.

7. Which has been your favourite city to play at?
Personally I love playing in NYC. there is something about the musical history of that city that you can't beat.

8. Tell us about playing on Conan O'Brien!!! 
Conan was a real treat, and a great experience for us to play on the show. He is a super funny guy and loves music. He actually played guitar most of the day during his rehearsals. And he is super tall!

9. What are your favourite bands at the moment?
I can't wait to hear the new Kurt Vile album!

Thanks so much for chatting and making music for us!!

The official video for Boy & Bear's 'Walk the Wire' from upcoming album 'Limit of Love'. Buy the single online here: http://BoyAndBear.lnk.to/WalkTheWireYo Pre-order 'Limit of Love' here: http://BoyAndBear.lnk.to/LimitOfLoveYo Follow Boy & Bear on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boyandbear Twitter: https://twitter.com/boyandbear Instagram: instagram.com/boyandbearofficial Web: http://boyandbear.com/

THE PAPER KITES - twelvefour

We chat with Sam, lead singer of The Paper Kites, about their new album, released August 28th!

Hi Sam, Just saw the video for the new single, Electric Indigo, from your upcoming album, starring Laura Brent (The Chronicles Of Narnia, A Few Best Men)! Loved it- what is the story of the video?:

“It’s actually part 1 of a 3 part trilogy! What we’re wanting to do is 3 videos that are all set between the hours of 12 and 4, all in different towns, with different characters, almost like an 80s version of Love Actually. Just a bunch of different stories coming together and that one was the first one we did. We wanted to do a video with more of a narrative and I’ve wanted to do a video with subtitles for a while now.

We didn’t even realize that Laura was aware of our band and when she just showed up at our audition, we were kind of like “Ah, aren’t you a little bit well known?” And she said she was a big fan of the band and wanted to be involved."

'Electric Indigo' from the upcoming album 'twelvefour' out August 28.

Your new album, twelvefour is released on August 28th and you refer to it as a concept record, tell us a little more about that concept:

"The whole idea was to try and create something strictly the hours between 12 and 4, an attempt to change up my way of writing, because I think most people write within normal hours, and I wanted to do something different for this record. I’d heard about this theory that an artist’s most creative hours are between 12 and four.

So I did it for about 12 months and essentially reversed my sleep pattern, tried to kind of deprive myself of sleep just to see if it would change my writing. I ended up with about 30 songs, all sounding really different. I think there is definitely some truth to it, but I wouldn’t want to try it again."

So it was worth it?

"It was definitely worth it! I had to stop in the middle because my body was saying ‘you need to get some sleep!’, so I stopped a little and got back to normal hours. If you can adjust to it, go for it, but I found it hard to get back to normal. Totally worth it though!"

While you may never use that tool again, creativity is obviously something important to you, do you think you will continue making sacrifices like that for the creative process?

"I would like to think that I would always be open to try something new. I think when you start getting comfortable and things start to get familiar with what you are creating, whether that is music or painting or writing, I think your art starts becoming a little predictable and you’re not challenging yourself. I think you need to put yourself in new situations and new experiences. When you do that, you are creating the best stuff because it is all new and unknown. I think I would always like to keep looking for new ways to experiment I suppose."

Sam, what is the stand out track for you personally from twelvefour?:

 "Ooh big questions. There would be two! The one I have listened to more than others would be Revelator Eyes, just because I really love it. It is a really lush, guitar driven , almost 80s track which I really dig. But probably my favourite track is called Neon Crimson. I think just lyrically it really captures that late night mood. It’s about drifting around New York and things aren’t going so well at home. It really captures that lonely, solitary confinement of locking yourself in a room for hours. I think it just sounds like the hours between 12 and 4. I really love that song!"

What advice do you have for other young people looking to develop their musical and creative skills?:

"You need to try and be authentic and as honest as you can. I think when you are sort of writing these surface lyrics like “I love you” and “I miss you”, everyone is saying that and you need to find a way that is different.

So many young people think that to make it in the music industry, you need to go on a talent show, which is the worst possible thing to do, because it’s not the way to make it and go on as a respected artist. It’s not about wanting fame or money, (which you may never get in the music industry anyway), I think you need to write as honestly and authentically as possible."

You went all the way to Seattle to record this album and work with producer Phil Ek! What was that experience like?:

"It was fantastic, we had planned to record outside of Melbourne anyway, maybe somewhere like Byron, we thought that was far enough. But then we ended up getting this call from Phil saying that he was interested in working with us and he said ‘I’d like you to come to Seattle’ and we thought, ‘Oh why can’t you just come here? There are 5 of us and 1 of you.’ But he was really keen on working in his own studio in a place that he knew he could get the sound that he wanted. So we all ended up getting on a plane and flying to Seattle.

It was so awesome to get away from Melbourne because we’ve only ever recorded in Melbourne."

Having toured with City and Color across North America, you’re now touring Australia and hitting up places like Perth and Margaret River, what are you looking forward to with your upcoming Australian tour?

"We always love playing in Perth WA, because Dan our bass player is actually from Perth. It’s just good to get out on the road. We haven’t toured in about 14 months, so we always look forward to taking a new record out on the road. This one is a different sound to what we’ve had before, it’s a lot bigger and everyone has been giving really great comments on the songs we have put out, so it will be great to catch up with friends and fans we don’t normally get to see and haven’t played for in a while."

Coming Soon. Directed and produced by Matthew J Cox 'twelvefour' album out August 28 Pre-order available http://smarturl.it/TwelveFour.IT http://www.thepaperkites.com.au http://www.facebook.com/thepaperkitesband http://www.twitter.com/thepaperkites http://instagram.com/thepaperkites

SEE THEM LIVE!

FRI 16 OCT | AMPLIFIER, PERTH WA

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

JOSH PYKE - But For All These Shrinking Hearts

I listened to your song There’s a Line, the other day; it’s got quite a different sound to some of your previous tunes, and particularly your most recent EP The Beginning and the End of Everything. Can you tell me what’s influenced this sound as compared to your other tunes? Has it been produced or created differently to the other ones?

"Yeah, it was actually; it was just a kind of process of experimentation. I have a studio at home and I was just spending everyday down there mucking around with different things. I came across a sound on an app on my iPad, just mucking around with a synth-y swirly loop and started singing over the top of it. Initially I thought that I would I would transpose the whole thing across to guitar, which is what I’ve done in the past. I really liked the synth sound, and it sounded interesting and kind of fresh, so I stuck with it. From there I built the track up around that, which was kind of different to what I’ve done in the past.

I’ve definitely heard the more ‘electronica’ sound, rather than the more purely acoustic as previous ones. With your new album, But for all the Shrinking Hearts, did you write it all in one go, or bits and pieces everywhere? And what was your inspiration behind it?

"I just write, you know? Writing is how I process things in my life and what I’m going through. So there was no point where I sort of sat down and was like “I need to write a record”. It was literally a process of clearing the deck and just write. When I was on tour, if I came up with a little idea I’d do a little demo on my phone and then get home and refine those ideas. It takes about a year or so to realise that you do have a collections of songs that sit with each other. And then it took another year before I had a set of songs that I was really pleased with, and then it was time to hit go."

When you write those songs from ideas you get along the way, do you test them out with your crowds at your shows?

"To be honest, I haven’t. it’s kind of hard because I have four albums, a mini album and an EP and I want to play songs that people want to hear. People, if they’re going to pay for a ticket, I want to play the songs they want to hear. So I haven’t done that in the past. Also, when I’m on tour, I’m only just getting used to the songs I’m playing, I’d probably stuff up new songs that I’m writing if I were to play them."

I understand you’re doing a “fans first” approach to this album, is it any different to the way you’ve released your previous tunes. And if so, what’s the benefit of doing it this way, as compared to just a blanket approach?

"For me the “fans first” is the way I’ve done the last 3 albums. It’s a really great way to reactivate the core fan base, because there’s lots of music in the world and lots of people doing lots of things, and it’s not just musicians that are taking up people’s Facebook feeds. It’s a way for me to, before we do anything else (radio, film clips, etc.), to just say to the people who have always supported me “I’m doing another album” and I really want to give them something first, including a show. It’s just really a way to acknowledge their support and acknowledge that, without their core support, I really don’t have a job. And to say thanks before I get into the world of playing the bigger shows, to get back to my beginnings and play some shows for the people who supported me."

Off the back of that, I would assume it would be the same way, but particularly for you because you do pay a special attention to the connection you have with your fans, do you think that they’ve played one of the biggest parts in where you are as an artist, and in your success and some of the awesome tours and artists you’ve got to collaborate with. Would you say your fans are the biggest part of that or, how did you get to where you are?

"Well, it’s a good question. If you take away everything else, the only true barometer of your success or longevity is your connection with your core fans. And I feel extremely fortunate to have a really amazingly supportive core fan base. And more than that, to have been told that my songs have become part of a lot of peoples lives. Loads of people come up and show me tattoos of lyrics from my songs, or they’ve had my songs played at their weddings and the birth of their children, and funerals of family members and stuff like that. That kind of connection, I think is a massive part of why I'm still doing what I'm doing. You can’t also discount the work. I’ve had labels supporting me, and an amazing team of managers and booking agents working with me over the years. We all work together as a team to sort of strategize how to have a long-lasting career, because I would like to be doing this when I’m sixty- to be releasing songs to people who actually care. The fans are the absolute truest barometer, without them I don’t have a job, but I also have a pretty amazing team, I’ve gotta say."

On your upcoming tour, what’s your favourite venue, or what are you looking forward to most about playing where you’re playing?

"Well, I haven’t actually been to – well I’ve played at BlackBear lodge in QLD before- but I haven’t actually been to any of the other ones apart from the Grace Emily’s in Adelaide, so I’m excited about all of them because I haven’t been there before."

Josh Pyke's new track 'There's a Line' is taken from his album 'But For All These Shrinking Hearts' out July 31: iTunes: http://smarturl.it/JoshPyke.Deluxe (Deluxe Edition) http://smarturl.it/JoshPyke.Album (Standard Edition) JB Hifi: http://smarturl.it/JoshPyke.JBDeluxe (Deluxe Edition) http://smarturl.it/JoshPyke.JBStandard (Standard Edition) Sanity: http://smarturl.it/JoshPyke.Sanity Follow Josh Pyke: Website: http://www.joshpyke.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshpyke Twitter: https://twitter.com/JOSHPYKE Instagram: https://instagram.com/joshpyke Spotify: http://smarturl.it/JoshPyke.Spotify

MARKSMAN LLOYD

1. Love your work! Tell us about your style:
I would say my style is very honest and personal. I come from listening to rappers like Brother Ali and Talib Kweli who were such articulate emcees but it all came from a personal place. It's so relatable and that's how I try to deliver what I do. 

2. What do you love about writing and performing?: 
Carrying on from the last question I guess what I love about it is the ability to say something that is going to resonate with people. I love hearing lyrics that just hit you in the heart like "man, I know exactly what they're talking about". That is how I try to write. No matter what the topic is, I want it to come from an honest place so I really believe what I'm saying. Performing is great because you get to vibe out on your songs with people. It's great being able to watch them react to what you're saying and doing. I love that high energy vibe. Those shows that make you feel like there is electricity in the room. 

3. What were some of the biggest obstacles in getting to where you are?: 
It sounds cliche but I think the biggest obstacle was myself. I've been doing this for a while now and there have been supportive people and negative people around through all of it. What has made the biggest difference though is my outlook. If I'm focussed and I'm believing in the vision then I'm getting things done and moving forward. If I start to doubt myself and fall into self pity then I become unproductive really quickly. It's that constant faith battle with yourself. You have to know where you stand and believe it too. 

4. You've toured with some crazy cool acts, who have been your stand outs?: 
Macklemore at the Perth arts festival was the biggest stand out for me. I think because I was a fan of his before he popped off in a major way. When we supported him he was on the cusp of world domination and it was crazy to be back stage watching this dude murder his set and knowing that his next tour would be arenas and stadiums. He was such a humble guy too. His whole team were humble and friendly. Seeing them all succeed in such a way and knowing it was off the back of an independent hustle was incredibly inspiring.

5. We're big fans of 'You won't be the one', what's the story behind that song?:
I wanted to write a song that unconfident people would feel like they could march into war to. It's a song for the underdog. I remember the first time I heard a track that gave me goosebumps and I wanted to write something that would do that. I think I gave that description to Jia Lih and he gave me back the YWBTO beat. i remember hearing it and just going off. I knew it was gonna be something special. The third verse in that song is one of the best I've written. 

6. Favorite artists right now: 
I'm really diggin' Meg Mac and Jarrod James. I've been digging Seth Sentry's new album a lot. That guy is an incredible writer. 

7. Advice to others wanting to pursue music:
It's a slow process and it's a tough process but if you know you've got something then keep going for it. There are a lot of ups and downs but if you can stay focussed and keep your vision in mind then you're going to get ahead. Also for all my creative people who have the worst organisational skills imaginable, start studying the business side of the craft and learn who to speak to and how to get your music out there. If you can work that out early on then you've got a head start in the game. 

Josh Pyke

1. Congrats on your latest single, Hollering Hearts, Josh! Tell us a little about that:

It's a song about following the thing that makes you the most joyful and perhaps the most frightened in life. It's about that feeling of wanting to howl up at the moon and being so full of excitement and joy that you want to preserve that feeling no matter what.

2. In the lead up to the release of your fifth studio album on July 31st, you've circulated a Fans-First-Video and special Fans-First Album package. What inspired you to launch it this way?:

I've done the Fans First thing for the last 3 albums. It's a great way to reactivate my core fan base as well as express how thankful I am to them for all their support over the years. It's fun, casual and a bit less formal than the rest of the shows I'll do this year. 

3. What do we have to look forward to with this upcoming album?:

I think it's my best work! I love the record and am really proud of it. I pushed myself really hard lyrically and I feel that I've developed my sound a lot on this one.

4. Lastly, who do you have on repeat in your ears at the moment?:

I'm obsessed with the new Sufjan Stevens record at the moment. I absolutely love it!

Thanks and we look forward to chatting  again in July- we're big fans!!

ST. SOUTH

1. Hi Olivia! Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us. Tell us a bit about yourself and your music.
Thanks for having me!
I’m 22, and I’m from Fremantle. I’m still trying to figure out my sound, but I think you could call it electronic-soul. I have a puppy called Tora. She’s a three month old fawn Kelpie and we both enjoy long walks (sometimes runs) on the beach, until one of us falls asleep.

2. When did you realise you wanted to pursue music, and how did you go about it?
I think I always sort of gravitated towards music as a kid. I was obsessed with The Sound of Music by the time I was 4, and my love for singing just sort of grew from there. I begged my parents to let me start piano lessons when I was 5, and eventually picked up the guitar at 13 or 14.

3. Is there a meaning behind the name ‘St. South’?
I grew up in a small country town South of Perth. And even after moving to the city, heading South always meant heading home. I guess it was a way for me to pay homage to my childhood, and everything that made me, me.

4. In 2012, you entered into the Bon Iver Stems Project and won! (And everyone is still talking about it today!) Tell us more about the re-mix you created and the competition?
I had no idea how to produce anything at the time, and I didn’t have any of my own instrument or sample packs to assist in the remix, so I literally had to use the stems provided and nothing else. I ended up taking the percussion from ‘Holocene’, piano, strings and vocal samples from ‘Wash’, and piano and vocal samples from ‘Hinnom, TX’. I didn’t know how to chop or pitch vocals, so I just wrote my own lyrics and melody over the top. 
I was kind of worried people would hate it, or think I’d butchered the song. But I’ve loved Bon Iver for such a long time, that it was just cool to be able to take my favourite aspects of their album, and produce my own interpretation of it.


5. We LOVE your new song ‘Cadence’! Your lyrics always have so much depth behind them, where do you find most of your inspiration, and what’s your songwriting process like?
Thank you! It tends to be different every time. I guess it’s a given that my lyrical inspiration kind of depends on my current state of mind. It’s definitely a good way for me to vent anything that I’m going through. Sometimes I’ll write something entirely on my own, acoustically, and then send it to a producer. And other times they’ll send me some beats and I’ll write something over it.

6. Tell us about what is coming up for you?
I’m releasing a new track on the 1st of June, produced by Melbourne electronic group, Yujen. It’s called ‘Better Still’ and we wrote it nearly 3 years ago, so it’s bloody great to finally get it out!

After that I’ll be releasing a few remixes of ‘Cadence’ before I head off to LA for two months to work with a couple of producers and finally put together a live setup. 


7. What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?
Oh man, everything? I’m still very much at the start of wherever it is I’m going, so it’s impossible for me to overlook any nice message or review. 
Off the top of my head, definitely the Stems Project, having ‘Slacks’ featured on MSMR’s mixtape, coming runner up in the Bose Listen For Yourself competition, and definitely being featured on Pigeons and Planes ‘21 Australian Female Musicians You Should Know’.


8. Do you have any musical influences?
Many! I listen to so many different artists. A lot of old stuff too; Elvis Costello, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, The Temptations etc. And more recently, Banoffee, St. Vincent, Courtney Barnett, Mama Kin, Cloud Control, Mura Masa, Tora, ODESZA, Drake, Taylor Swift, Thelma Plum, Sylvan Esso, Shura, Akiine, Willow & Jaden Smith, CJ Trillo, Frank Ocean, King Krule, Leon Bridges, The National, The Jezabels, Tiny Ruins.

I’ll stop there before I get carried away!


9. Any plans for touring in the near future?
It’s definitely the next step for me. Up until now it’s been a matter of finding the right person to tour with, who can help me to bring the produced tracks to life, so it’s not just me and my laptop. Also having enough songs for a set list is becoming less of a setback. Until now I’ve only had a mix match of random singles, so once the EP is out I’ll have something more coherent to tour/work with.

10. Lastly, do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a music career or to step out and do what they love?
There’s no right or wrong!  Experiment/dabble in as many genres as possible. Collaborate as much as you can. And don’t forget to have all the fun in the world!

REUBEN KOOPS

1. Hi Reuben! Tell us a little about your sound:

I would describe my sound as alternative folk pop but stealing a
little bit from Americana styles here and there.

2. You're about to go spend some time recording in LA and working with
David Ryan Harris who has more recently collaborated with John Mayer,
where do you see the new record going?

Hopefully going well! Recording with David Ryan Harris and some top
class musicians over there is going to bring the best out of my songs so I
am really excited to see what we end up with.

3. Your journey to this point has been pretty interesting, including a
reality TV show, the Telstra Road to Discovery and singing with John
Farnham and Olivia Newton John! What have been some of your highlights
so far?

Some of the highlights were definitely those things you mentioned but
also a lot of smaller moments like my first gig at a local pub and
releasing my first CD are pretty important to me.

4. What is the biggest lesson you've learnt in your career so far?

Biggest lesson I have learnt is a bit cliche but it is to be true to
yourself. Although you hear that a lot, I think in the music industry
it’s especially important as an artist.

5. Who is on repeat in your headphones right now?

I am really loving James Bay and also the new Mumford and Sons album is great!

6. Do you have any advice for others looking to develop their
songwriting and career in music?

As I said before, keep working on writing your own songs, stay true
to yourself and trust your instincts.

The single 'Two Pieces' from the 'Slate EP' released March 12th 2015. Buy it here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/slate-ep/id971547785 Video by Saige Creative.

MORGAN BAIN

Congratulations on your recent WAMi award - your third one to date...
Tell us a little about that 'Song of the Year' award: 
The award was for my track HOLD ON from my current EP and it always feels good to be recognised by your peers and others from the local music industry.  Makes you feel like you're doing something right!

We're loving 'Why Don't You Stay', what is the story behind that one? It's a song I wrote about giving your everything to someone and the anxiety you experience because of that. You don't want those anxieties to get in the way or take over how you feel in your relationship so you are constantly fighting it.

At just 20 years of age, you're a semi finalist in the International Songwriting Competition and also a finalist in the US John Lennon Songwriting contest, how does that feel and how do you juggle it all?: It's always reassuring to get recognition in your songwriting because it reassures you that you are on the right track so it feels great!  

I'm happy to juggle it all and I have a lot of support...I'm pretty driven really which helps 

When did you decide that you wanted to pursue music and as a fellow Perth kid, what did you do to make that happen?:
I knew when I was very young that music would be what I'd do and I started songwriting at 10 and began entering songwriting competitions at 14. I had a lot of support from my family and I started playing open mic nights at 15 and it's progressed from there.  

Which artists are you totally hooked on right now?:
Alabama Shakes....they are killing it right now. I've just been with them over at Bluesfest and I'm singing their new single daily!

Do you have any advice for other aspiring songwriters?: ​
Write EVERYTHING!! Classical, Country, Blues, Pop, Soul whatever​...just keep writing!

Where is your national tour taking you and what aspect are you most excited about?:​
Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Windsor and I'm really excited to show different audiences my new tune!​

And after the tour, what's next for Morgan Bain?:​
Well let's get through the tour first haha....then as soon as I get back I've got an overseas invitation to a huge Conference/Festival  (that I can't announce yet)​  from the tour and then loads of WA shows as well as more recording etc. It's going to be a busy year, trust me, haha!

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us! All the best!!
Thanks heaps for chatting with me, hope you can make it to a show!

HELOISE

Hi Héloise! Congratulations on your recent win at the Melbourne Music Bank!! That's a big deal- tell us about that experience: 
SO fantastic! Such an amazing collection of prizes! I have tools now to help move my career forward, tools that I otherwise wouldn't have had access to. I'm so grateful to everyone involved in the initiative. They are the loveliest people and are so supportive. They've given me a leg-up into the music industry, which is invaluable in an industry where it can be near impossible to catch a break.

What inspired your winning song, This is Home?
The song was inspired by my feelings as a stranger in a huge bustling city. Having moved from Tasmania only a year earlier, the song embodies my excitement at being in a new place filled with creative arts, diverse culture, new people and of course wonderful food. I wanted to subtly capture the hidden gems I’ve stumbled across in my adventure from that little island down south. 

Now, you got to work with acclaimed filmmaker and photographer, Wilk, who has worked with the likes of Sarah Blasko, Ella Hooper, Spender, how exciting was that?: 
Super exciting! We filmed on this gorgeous old locomotive out in rural Victoria. It was so lovely, the weather was perfect and it was nice to be able to see some of the countryside as I hadn't really explored much outside Melbourne. We went from Maldon to Castlemaine which is about an hour on the loco. We only shot for about two and half hours (Wilk is a super-genius) but we were there from 8am til about 2pm. It was such an incredible day, I had two lovely hair and makeup artists pampering me before every scene, the train was incredible and the concept was just perfect for the song. I'm so pleased with the final product.

After playing at Falls Festival and rerecording your single, where to for the rest of 2015?
We’re currently in the process of arranging our second EP for recording a little later this year. We’re hoping to record a second single in the next few months and after its release we’ll hopefully get stuck into planning a tour! We have a few shows coming up over the next few months too! Plus we’ll be launching This Is Home on April 30 at The Workers Club in Fitzroy, which is going to be a rad fun time.

Which artists are on repeat for you at the moment? 
The Delta Riggs (cannot explain how much I LOVE these guys), Tom Waits, Jack White, Nikki Lane, Cory Chisel... I love Die Antwoord too. They really do have their own thing going on and it's cool, I'm not usually into electronica or hardcore rap but I really dig them. I love Dune Rats at the moment too! Such a cool Aussie band pumping out some classic surf/stoner rock.

Do you have any advice for others looking to make that move from their hometown to the big city to pursue their dreams?: 
DO IT DO IT DO IT! You’ve got nothing to lose. The more people you meet, the more you network, the better. I get talking to people in coffee shops whose brother’s fiancée’s sister’s best friend owns a management company for such and such… just by being in a new place the people you meet can help you on your journey. Home will always be there to go back to but make the most of opportunities while you can. Sometimes they only come up once in a lifetime. 

NYUON

1. Hey NYUON- loving the new single, 'Your City', what inspired you to write this song?: 

Thank you very much, I'm glad you're feeling the track. I guess 'Your City' was inspired by my experiences within the city of Melbourne. I wanted to make something that's easy to vibe and just chill to.

2. You won 2nd place in the Bank of Melbourne's Music Bank competition in 2014, tell us a little about that!:

When I entered the competition, I did it in a kind of "whatever" mind state only because I didn't think I would even make it into the first round selection, so to make it all the way to runner up was really really cool and definitely a major achievement in my low-key music career so far. 

3. When did you realise you wanted to pursue music and what did you do about it?:

I've always wanted to pursue a career in music but I guess I just never thought to go through with it as I was always hesitant and constantly thinking "what if it doesn't work out" you know? But all of that has changed now thanks to the Music Bank, it's given me that boost and confidence that I needed mentally to fully chase after my goals and dreams.

4. Is there a story behind your name, NYUON?:

Nyuon is the name of an old South Sudanese hero figure and since I had the same name growing up, I always felt like I had huge expectations placed out for me. So naturally I grew up always feeling like "damn, I really need to surpass this guy Nyuon since we have the same name”.

5. What do you think were the best and worst songs of 2014?:

I didn't like Blurred Lines in 2014, it was too much! With that being said, a song I really liked was "Or Nah”, the remix by The Weeknd.

6. Which is artist is on repeat for you at the moment?:

Right now at the very moment I have Travi$ Scot on repeat, his music is dope!

7. Do you have any advice for others wanting to get their start in music?:

I would simply say “ just go for it”. I spent a very long time hesitating and then finally I gave it a shot and now I’m here answering this Q&A, so there's no reason the same can't happen to you.

Thanks so much for chatting with us and all the best in 2015!!

Thank you for having me and hope to chat again soon.

VELVETEEN

Velveteen!! Congrats on the success of your single, Mess!

1. What inspired this song?:

Why Thankyou! Mess is actually about not being able to stop bringing up the past. I think it's quite a common struggle for some, myself included.

2. Tell us a little about your sound and how you have developed this as an artist:

Velveteen was merely an idea last year and it has progressed further than I ever thought possible! I was always aiming for something within that indie pop electronic kind of field and Velveteen has slowly transgressed from the rock-ish band in my garage on a Thursday evening to something a bit more developed which is fantastic! (Thanks to the hardworking musicians by my side)
The demo, which was produced by a favorite artist of mine, Angus Dawson then opened up the doors to the online music realm and I got a lot more of a reaction than I was expecting which is really great!

3. You work with a group of pretty talented musicians who are sometimes involved in the songwriting process, what is the biggest thing you have learnt in collaborating?:

Velveteen's Perth band is absolutely fantastic! Each one of them is extremely talented and I think it's important to work and write with as many different people as you can, there are billions of song opportunities and the more you write, the better you become.

4. What do you do before a gig to prepare and calm the nerves?:

Sleep is the most important thing before a gig, I also tend to google every singing tip on earth! 
Another big one is drinking copious amounts of tea and chewing a dozen lozenges/hot steam/the works.... Never really found out which one actually worked...

5. 2015 is shaping up to be rather exciting for Velveteen- any hints as to what it will look like?:

We may or may not be supporting a very famous vocalist from overseas…Stay tuned for more! 

6. What advice do you have for someone looking to get their start in the music industry?: 

Go for it. I had about 40 Half written songs for a long time and I wish I could have plucked up enough courage to spin them out instead of trying to make them absolutely precise!
Some of the best songs are the messy ones.

ANDREW SWIFT

1. Hi Andrew, congrats on the release of your new single, Sound The Alarm! Tell us a little about where that song came from:

Thank you. Well 'Sound The Alarm' was written during a break up, I wanted to write a song that would always remind me of something amazing that we had shared. I decided to write about the night that we met, which happened to be at a wedding where we shared a slow dance. We had such an instant connection. 

2. Your songs have a real 'story telling' tendency to them, what is it about writing and communicating your experiences through song that you love?

I remember my sister pulling me up after hearing a new song once and said, "not every song you write has to be a story," but it's what I do. I enjoy the story telling side of song writing, I've tried writing songs without a narrative and I've never been happy with how they've come out. I guess I just don't know how to write any other way. 

3. How did you get started in songwriting?

Songwriting started as an outlet for me while I was going through depression in high school. I'd lock myself in my room for hours on end just writing away. I wish I still had that amount of time on a daily basis to sit down and write like that. In saying that, they were terribly written songs!

4. Tell us about performing at Tamworth Country Music Festival:  

I must admit that I enjoyed Tamworth much more this year than I did last year. This year was a bit of a last minute decision so I was picking up some gigs while I was up there. The thing that really made it for me this year was meeting Jen Mize, a fantastic songwriter and musician. She pretty much took me under her wing and introduced me to the alt country scene up there. I felt much more at home.

5. Do you have any tips for anyone who wants to get started in songwriting?: 

Ah this is a tough one. I'm a very slow song writer, I seem to be too busy for my own good lately which doesn't help. Song writing for me is something I can't exactly make time for and it works, I think it's important to write down ideas when they come to you, otherwise they're gone. The best songs are never forced, just let it come.

6. What does the rest of 2015 hold for you?:

The plan for the rest of this years is to gig more, write more, a trip to the states around mid year for a few shows, hopefully enough written by the end of the year to get started on a new release for next year.

Thanks so much for chatting with us and all the best!!

Thanks for chatting with me!

SHAMEEM

Socially conscious Perth soul songstress, Shameem has announced the release of her new single, Under One Sun and new album, The Second City set for release on January 16. Here she chats with us about the writing process and her creative collaboration. 

1. What was it like working with Grammy-winning UK-based producer, James Bryan, (Nelly Furtado, Olly Murs, James Morrison), to co-write this single?: Well, it was my first big co-writing experience, so it was a really different approach to be bouncing ideas with someone else instead of just bouncing ideas around in my own head. I learnt a lot from working with James; he had a very clear idea about what things would work and what wouldn’t work in a song, so I would fire ideas at him and he would be like “yes… no… hmmm, try that again, but with a different lyric?” and really channel the direction of my creativity.

2. The video for Under One Sun is really quite unique, tell us about what inspired you to go down that path: I came across the work of Western Australian artist Renee Farrant, who makes the most amazing and intricate pieces of art by cutting paper. I asked her if she would be interested in working on a music video together where everything would be made of paper: the people, the houses, the trees, my clothes. She was totally on board, so I then approached the producer Jason Eshraghian (Passenger, Northlane) with this concept, and he built a narrative around it. So everything in the video is in fact quite small; one of those trees could fit into the palm of your hand. Jason shot everything in front of a green screen and then blew up all the small paper objects so that they’re all life-size in comparison to me.

3. What are you looking forward to most with your upcoming tour?: Performing at such a diverse range of venues all across the country. It’s always fun to play in a new, different venue and tap into the vibe of the audience there. Also, I’ve never performed in Canberra, Newcastle or Byron Bay before, so that’s exciting.

4. You have your sophomore album, Second City, set for release in January, how are you feeling about that?: I’m just dying to release it now! It’s been finished for a while, and before that I had been working on it for ages… it’s like a big secret that I’m bursting to tell everybody. They say that when pregnant women get to 8 months or so, they just want to give birth to the baby already, haha.

5. Any advice for others looking to share their passions and message?: Do it! The world needs more people sharing positive messages. Music is a really powerful medium for getting constructive ideas across. Spread the love!

RYAN CHARLES

If you're lucky, you probably recognise Ryan Charles from a WA school tour he did this year. 

Here he talks about finding his sound, his biggest influences and why he has worked so darn hard on his music.

1. Ryan! We are loving 5 am in Toronto, tell us how that song came about: 

Not a lot of people realise, but it's actually a remix of an unreleased Drake song that I've always loved. Really it was just a nice musical canvas for me to vent what was on my heart at the time.

2. How would you describe your sound?:

Dark, Vulnerable, intense & passionate.
Musically I'm definitely still trying to find myself exactly, but I'd say a blend of UK hip hop and alternative RnB.

3. Who would you say are your greatest musical influences and who is on repeat for you at the moment?: 

Without a doubt, my biggest overall influence would be Micheal Jackson! What I loved most about him was his incredible showmanship and attention to detail. But over the years I've had a broad range of musical influences from Haley Williams (Paramore) to Drake, Underoath to Allen Stone, The Script to Brian Mcknight. But over the last couple of years the atmospheric, textured 'Toronto sound' pioneered by 'The Weeknd' has been on constant repeat. 

4. You perform to quite a wide range of audiences, what do you love most about performing?:

Performing! To be totally honest, I think I am actually more passionate about performing than actually singing/rapping! I guess because I have never been the greatest singer or rapper, I've always had to constantly strive to make up for it with good performances. But I love it, I love the creative process of thinking up new and original ways to engage a crowd, or to further connect them to a song. It literally is my biggest passion!

5. When did you decide that music was something you wanted to pursue and what have you done to develop your skills?:

Interestingly enough, I didn't even study music at school. I knew I was always a decent singer from a young age, but for whatever reason it took me until I was 19 to finally take it seriously. I dropped my business degree and for one whole year I spent a fortune on singing lessons and theory books and eventually got accepted into the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. I've also always been heavily involved in church worship teams, which has certainly developed my skills.

6. Tell us a little about how your life experiences influence your song writing and art:

I'm a firm believer that true art will always be a reflection of your own life experiences. Unfortunately today we are constantly bombarded with music that is the complete opposite. Our musical idols sing about money we will never have, cars we will never see and women we will never meet and for some reason we all just seem to sing along, ha! 

          I guess for me as an artist, I've always wanted my music to be relatable and to mean something to real people going through real lives.

7. Do you have any advice for others wanting to pursue music like you?: 

As cheesy and over said as this sounds, if you actually want to do music, JUST DO IT! You have no idea how much you can grow and develop if you actually put the time and the effort in. But be warned, the journey of developing yourself into a great artist is not glamorous at all. It's late nights, thousands of hours and practice with no crowds.

Keep in the loop with all things Ryan Charles:

FOREST FALLS

Fresh from touring with Jungle Giants and Tigertown, Forest Falls release their new single, Heavy Hearted Girl.

1. Hi guys! Firstly, congratulations on your latest single, Heavy Hearted Girl, tell us a little bit about the song:

Thank you. Well, the song initially flew under the radar when we released our last EP, Julia. Naturally, everyone gravitated to the more up beat songs, Julia and Coming Home, and so we released Coming Home as the first single. All of a sudden Heavy Hearted Girl got some good reviews and a bit of airplay and we decided to use the momentum to tour again. Our drummer just happened to be travelling during this time so it seemed perfect to craft a stripped back set to showcase HHG. The recorded version of the song is quite sombre and understated. Lyrically there’s a focus on solitude and loss. However, the live version we play breathes more life into it with swelling harmonies through the chorus. Having multiple voices through the chorus gives the impression we’ve defeated that vibe of solitude and loss. Also, Heavy Hearted Girl has given us a great opportunity to improve our musicianship in the absence of percussion. Sometimes you can unwittingly hide behind drums, especially playing live. Performing Heavy Hearted Girl is very disarming, you feel very vulnerable, but I suppose that fits in with spirit of the song too.  

2. There are 6 of you in Forest Falls, how do you find working with such a large group?:

We’re great friends first and foremost and I think it takes the heat off. Having a large group means the workload is spread out and someone always has a solution or at least listening ear. Collaborating can be tricky with so many ideas but again it opens more doors too. You don’t get bogged down unable to be creative. That said we don’t fit in your everyday sedan, unless you put Jez in the boot. So I guess it's kind of swings and roundabouts. 

3. Tell us a bit about how you all became Forest Falls and the upcoming ep you have been working on:

It was a really flattering referral system that brought us together. A few of us went to school and/or uni together and each vouched for the others. As a result we all trusted one another really quickly and just got straight into being Forest Falls haha. For the upcoming EP we worked with Wayne Connolly at Albert’s Studios in Sydney, which was fantastic. Needless to say Wayne is phenomenally good at what he does and is such a kind soul. So it’s a six song EP with a more lush and refined sound. Our last EP, Julia, was pretty raw. This time around we’ve incorporated some different synth and keys sounds. One Casiotone keyboard at Albert’s got a flogging and we’ve since bought one for ourselves. I think we’re all stoked with the finished product.   

4. Best part of touring and live performances?:

Everything about it is so good. You can feel performances getting better and better. I think if you’re making an effort to travel and play your music for new audiences it’s really appreciated. The people you meet along the way are a great part of it all too. We met an artist called Forster Anderson in Sydney and loved his set and his energy. Now he’s coming down on the 26th to play our gig at The Spotted Mallard in Melbourne. Lastly, touring is totally escapist. You have little logistical issues every now and then but for the most part it’s a dream.

5. What advice do you have for someone looking to get their start in music?

Don’t force it. Make sure you’re making music that makes you happy and that whomever you’re collaborating with feels the same way. If you truly enjoy and believe in what you’re doing you’ll have no problem working your butt off to ensure people hear it. 

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