Q & A with Silent Feature Era’s Greg Cathcart

With an “antiquated sensibility” and healthy sense of humour, it’s safe to say that Silent Feature Era aren’t like other bands. With their debut This Old Leather Heart ready for release on March 4 I caught up with the band’s Greg Cathcart to chat about the album, the band’s upcoming launch, and what the future holds.

You’re officially releasing your debut album This Old Leather Heart next month. What can you tell me about it?
It was a studio experiment really in the very beginning. It started to take more shape the more songs we wrote and recorded. There were recurring themes popping up lyrically and musically, and I guess that’s when we realized we were actually making a record, not only just experimenting with some songs.

I say officially launch, because the album has actually been available to listen to on your website for some time. Why did you decide to make it so accessible?
At this stage, the more people that hear it the better. I don’t think it does any harm to let people have a free listen.

I hear there are more than 20 musicians on the album. What’s it like to share that creative process with such a large group?
It was actually quite humbling that so many people took an interest it what we were doing. We certainly felt loved. I don’t think we ever recorded all 20 all at once though. Maybe we can hire some caterers and do that for the next record.

You’re going to launch the album in front of your Brisbane home crowd. Are you looking forward to getting out and playing for your local fans?
Yes. I think it’s going to be a great night. Everyone will get a free pony.

What can punters expect at the launch?
The plan is, a 44 gallon drum, a trash rack loaded with things that clang and smash, a small horn section, handsome Luke Sullivan, a chainsaw juggler and several clowns on unicycle … oh and a Rolls Royce.

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Q & A with Go/No-Go

Go/No-Go are a Sydney five-piece with a big future. After cutting their eye teeth performing with bands like Spod, Devoted Few, and 78 Saab these lads have found the right combination. I caught up with Tarek Darwish, Dan Arena, and Steve Claxton ahead of the launch of their new single “Lost in Berlin” to talk about the song, their recent time in the studio, and what the future holds for this exciting new band.

People outside of Sydney may be unaware of your music. For the uninitiated, how would you describe your sound?
Stirring, powerful, angular synth-rock. We play pop songs with an indie aesthetic, but we’ve got 2 drummers so it is a little more rhythmic and experimental than most bands perhaps.

You’re about to release your third single “Lost in Berlin.” What can you tell me about the song?
This one went through about a hundred different versions before we figured out how to make it work. It started off as this weird electronic thing with almost no live instrumentation. Now when we play it live, it’s a bit of a crazy jam. There’s a lot going on, lots of keyboards and samples.

You’re going to launch the single at the Sandringham Hotel, which is such a lovely little pub. What do you enjoy about playing those sorts of small, intimate shows?
The Sando’s in a really good spot, the refurbishment they did last year is a big improvement on the old stage. The new room is actually a pretty decent size; it’s just got a great vibe now.

What can music lovers expect if they come down and see you live?
We haven’t played many shows recently, so we’ve had the chance to change a few things around and tighten some of the songs up a bit.

We’re lucky to have a bit of flexibility on stage. Some songs have the double-drummer thing happening, other songs we’ve got three people playing keyboards; it’s a bit random at times.

Will fans in other states get to see you playing any time soon?

We’re always keen to play wherever we can, and I’d be surprised if we haven’t done a few Melbourne shows by the end of the year. Getting further afield is going to depend on everyone’s timetables lining up though.
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Q & A with Avalon Drive’s Damion Page

Brisbane band Avalon Drive crushed fans when they split up in November 2008, but the time is right for a reunion. The lads will play one last show at the Hi-Fi Bar on February 5. I caught up with lead singer Damion Page to talk about the show, Avalon Drive’s heyday, and how the Queenslanders are giving back to their city after the recent floods.

You disbanded in 2008. Why was the time right now for one more show?
People change. I needed some time and a break to get back to basics with music. As much as it pained me back then to disband, I back my decision up 100%. I don’t think we should ever have to sacrifice our love for music for something you aren’t 100% happy with. Music is an extension of me and nothing felt right. Come 2011, everything is feeling great and we are pumped about everything that is happening.

How are you feeling at the prospect of playing together again?
Doesn’t feel like we ever stopped, the energy, ideas are all still alive. If anything we have more of an understanding of what we all need from playing music and embrace absolutely everything that’s put out there. Onstage is going to be electric, always has been.

You’re playing again in front of your hometown audience. How important were the people of Brisbane to your success?
My god how Brisbane backs their own bands. It’s simply amazing and still astounds me how alive Avalon Drive fans were and still are. It’s nuts. We are so fortunate and we are so grateful for it. We never ever truly got to thank everyone; this is our way of doing that. By bringing everyone into one room, singing the same songs. Without our Brisbane fans and friends behind us, it just wouldn’t have been the same.

I’m sure this show will be extra poignant considering everything Queensland is going through at the moment. Have you or any of the other members of the band been directly affected by the floods?
I think all of Australia has been affected. It’s certainly made me realize how fragile life can be and I think I can speak for most people out there when I say how important your friends and family are. We decided to give all our profits from this show to those affected by the floods and hope that Brisbane gets back to being beautiful Brisbane ASAP. A few members were caught in the midst of the drama but no story can compare to the tragedies some of our neighbours have faced with the loss of their loved ones. Too hard to put into words I’m sorry.

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Q & A with Daniel Lee Kendall

After releasing the gorgeous Lost in the Moment EP last year, Daniel Lee Kendall is preparing to leave the Central Coast and show Australia what he can do. As part of the One for the Road tour, Daniel Lee will visit capital cities and regional towns around the country with Old Man River and Passenger. I chatted with Daniel today about that tour, playing some of Australia’s coolest festivals, and what’s next for this promising singer-songwriter.

You’re about to hit the road with Old Man River and Passenger, which is probably your biggest tour to date. How are you feeling about that?
Yeah, I’m excited. I suppose it’s my first actual tour so it’s going to be good to get a string of shows in a row. I’m looking forward to going to a bunch of states and all of that.

Is there anywhere in particular that you’re really keen to see?
Well, somewhere outside of New South Wales I guess. That’d be pretty good I think.

I daresay many punters will be coming out to see the other acts, but they might not be so familiar with your music. How do you plan on winning them over?
I guess I can only do what I can do, be myself. Just sing my songs and be myself as much as I can, and if they like what they see, that’s great. I don’t actually have a specific strategy.

What can music fans expect if they turn up early enough to hear your set?
A nice, intimate, sort of story of my life in musical form I guess.

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Q & A with Profecy

Brisbane MC Profecy is making a name for himself with his exciting new hip hop sound, best showcased on his debut EP Let the Music Play. I caught up with Profecy to chat about the EP, his recent launch show, and what he brings to the hip hop genre.

You’ve recently released your debut EP, Let the Music Play. What can you tell me about it?
The EP is made up of five songs. I’ve got a couple upbeat tracks on there and a few emotional tracks. A lot of people complain about Aussie hip hop sounding all the same. My main focus was to create something that stands out from the rest and I think I’ve accomplished that.

A Belgian producer, Benno, produced the EP. What did he bring to your sound?
Benno is an extremely versatile and talented producer, the production behind the EP is a combination of old samples and live instrumentation.

You’ve also got American singer/producer DJ Corbett on one of the tracks. How did that collaboration come about, and what was he like to work with?
He was great to work with. I sent him the track and within a day he got back to me with the chorus and even added some DJ cuts. I think that song is one of the stand-out tracks of the EP. A lot of people say the beat has a Dr Dre feel to it.

I believe you set about creating an EP that differs from all the other Aussie hip hop around. How did you want to do that, and do you think you’ve succeeded?
Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot quality Aussie hip hop around but I think there is also a lot of poor quality as well. Aussie hip hop is strongly influenced by the 80s and 90s American hip hop, and a lot of Aussie emcees try to emulate this sound. I think it’s time for Aussie hip hop to evolve and that is what I’ve tried to accomplish in creating this EP.

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Q & A with Caulfield’s Ned Jankovic

Sydney’s Caulfield are in the thick of a cross-country tour to promote their debut album Clarity In A Sea Of Confusion. Somewhere along the way the band’s guitarist Ned Jankovic found time to chat to me about life on the road, the album, and the band’s exciting live act.

I’ve heard your music described as punk, hardcore, and alternative whatever that term means these days. For the uninitiated, how would you describe your sound?
Heavy breakdowns, huge melodies, delays that can make the Edge from U2 cry … ha. It’s mainly a mix of different styles but if I had to “categorise” it, it’s post-hardcore which is a style that mixes hardcore but with a more melodic element to it.

You guys have all been in other relatively successful bands before. What does that experience bring to this new outfit?
It brings a lot of things, better ways to tour, other, newer methods of promoting the band to the songwriting itself. Having all that experience helps the band progress in the right direction

How did you all come together?
Myself, Mahan and Andrew had a band around five years ago. Sadly the band disbanded but about a year and a bit ago we just started to jam again and here we are! We found Brad and Colin from ads on the net, but funnily enough we all knew each other from the scene.

You’ve just released your debut album Clarity in a Sea of Confusion. What can you tell me about it?
This is a record we are all very proud of. So far we have had an amazing reaction, and this CD translates well to our live show, which is what we want. This CD represents us to a tee. The title itself means a lot to us. We were searching for so long and this band is our Clarity. It’s brought us together to write some kick ass music.

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Q & A with Two Hours Traffic’s Liam Corcoran

It doesn’t seem like too long ago that Two Hours Traffic was winging their way around the country with Dead Letter Chorus, yet already the Canadian band is planning a return journey. I caught up with the band’s lead singer/guitarist Liam Corcoran to chat about the upcoming tour with The Jezabels, the album Territory, and spending time in Oz.

You’re touring Australia soon to support The Jezabels. Are you looking forward to those shows?
We are very much looking forward to the Australian tour supporting the Jezabels. I absolutely love their sound and they are very sweet people. Not to mention that the shows are selling out everywhere.

The Jezabels played with you recently in Canada too, so are you psyched to be hitting the road with them again?
We got to play six or seven shows with the Jezabels in North America and we were honored to have them play with us. I think our Canadian fans were blown away by the group and I can’t wait to see them perform on their home turf.

Have they promised to show you any of the sights?
I know that Sam from the Jezabels grew up around Byron Bay and he has promised us some surfing lessons. It’s probably going to be pretty ugly on our end, because we will be first-timers, but what the hell? You can’t pass up an offer like that.

You’re really successful in Canada, so what’s it like to step out of the spotlight a bit and become the support act?
Being a support act in a new country is kind of like starting all over again.  You are back playing for people who have never heard of you, and if you don’t give them something special they won’t even remember the name of your band by the time the headliner comes on. It can be scary but it keeps things fresh. It’s easy to get complacent when we play a successful tour in Canada so getting out into new areas is vital.

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Q & A with The Dead Love’s Clint Ossington

From the ashes of several Sydney underground acts comes The Dead Love, a band who’s already selling out shows a month after their inception. They’re currently touring around the country with MM9, but guitarist Clint Ossington still found time to talk about life on the road, in the studio, and how it all got started.

The Dead Love

You’ve only been together since April, but are already selling out local shows. Has that taken you by surprise?
We have all come from other bands that did OK in Sydney’s underground; that and being fortunate enough to have our first shows with great bands has been the formula in achieving it. We could all feel this was something special from our first jam and the reaction from people so far has been fantastic; sell out bills has been a huge bonus we’re thankful for.

How did the band come together?
Stevie K [singer/guitarist] had a few tunes he had been working on for a side project. He knew both Gene and I from around the traps and had seen us play. We were the first two on his list to contact. We all met up for a beer and a listen. One drink and a listen turned into many and we all agreed that night to get together and see what happens. The concept was simple: we all loved to drink and play rock music. That’s what we have been doing since and things have naturally moved fast.

I believe you’ve nearly finished recording your debut album. What can you tell me about it?
We are nine songs down but not 100% sure if we will drop an album or EP. We have our next two singles ready for release and they will be dropping early 2011 alongside the music videos. Everything we are releasing has been self recorded and produced. It’s cool to do things exactly the way we want them and on our own schedule.

You’re about to release your debut single “She Ate Me Alive.” Are you looking forward to unleashing that?
Absolutely we can’t wait to get the single out. Were really exciting to see how people react to what we are doing recorded.

You’re out on the road with MM9 supporting them on their New South Wales tour. Are you fans of their music?
We all have a huge respect for MM9 both personally and musically. They have to be one of the biggest sounding live acts in the country, things are going to get loose.
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Q & A with Gun Street Girls’ Dave Larkin

Gun Street Girls are nothing if not hardworking. Less than a year after their debut album dropped, they’re giving birth to another one tomorrow. I caught up with the band’s vocalist and guitarist Dave Larkin to chat about the album Adult Loose, cool band names, and the band’s upcoming tour.

It’s not even been a year since you released your debut album, yet you’re already about to release album number two. How did it come together so quickly?
Well, we’re always working on new songs, and we kind of figured it’s best to have new material out there in the public stratosphere as opposed to sitting dormant in a hard drive or tape machine. We had a really good bunch of songs and just thought, “right, this rocks – let’s do it!”

What can you tell me about the new album, Adult Loose?
It’s definitely more of a refined collaboration between three guys than album number one. I think the songs are stronger and more considered production wise. You can hear a band coming together a lot more on this one, and finding their own thing.

How do you think you’ve developed as a band from one year to the next?
We definitely have a crystallized understanding of what Gun Street Girls is now. We’ve spent a bit of time on the road, and a lot of time discoursing about what’s important in music and what’s not. We don’t really give a stuff about trends, and being considered one of the “in” bands, because we know that’s all vacuous crap that means nothing in the long run. Rock’n roll music doesn’t go in and out of fashion for us because it’s always been cool. It’s like Levis jeans Coca-Cola and Converse sneakers – one of those things that transcends the ages.

You worked with Wayne Connolly, who’s been behind so many great albums from You Am I to Josh Pyke. What did he bring to your sound?
Wayne’s a really great engineer for nailing performances in their purest form. He’s all about the right mic, and the right amp, and is a bit of an ambassador for all things vintage. He’s got an acute understanding of the recording process and brings a raw honesty to the final product.

Your band has got such a distinctive name. Where did the Gun Street Girls come from?
It’s named after a Tom Waits song from the Raindogs album. It was no particular homage or anything like that, we were just on the search for a cool name and started out by trawling our iTunes playlists to trigger an idea. Turns out though this song just came on the radio and Dave B called me to see what I thought. When I scribbled it down on the page it looked cool. A band name’s always gotta look cool when you write it!
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Q & A with Dane Rumble

Dane Rumble’s latest single “Always Be Here” is one of the most addictive pop tracks I’ve heard in some time. So I was thrilled to catch up with the Kiwi singer ahead of his upcoming Aussie tour. Here’s what he had to say about the upcoming shows, his new album, and cracking the Australian market.

You’ve done really well in your native New Zealand. What’s inspired you to try and crack the Australian market?
As a Kiwi artist, it’s only a natural progression to release in Australia. We are very similar countries! Also I have spent a lot of time in Australia over the past seven years, and I absolutely love it. Any excuse to hang around really.

Your album The Experiment was a number one hit in New Zealand. Why are we going to love it?
I hope you guys will love it! I have had a lot of positive feedback on it and continuously hear how people can directly relate to the lyrics and topics of the songs. I guess it’s me laying it on the line, spiced with killer hooks!

When I first heard “Always Be Here” I was struck by its 80s retro vibe it had. Were you inspired by any of the artists of that period?
I grew up listening to a lot of 80s rock and pop, Midnight Oil, Talking Heads. I guess when I started writing this new style of music a lot of these influences naturally came out.

You’re just about to release your second single here, “Don’t Know What To Do.” What can you tell me about the song?
“Don’t Know What To Do” sounds like a love song, but it is really about my love/hate relationship with music. Being in the industry for the past 11 years, I have seen both the incredible highs, and the painfully real lows of the game. No matter what I do, I’m always drawn to it, so I guess I will never stop creating!
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