Breaking Orbit kick off their tour tonight to support the release of their new single “My Direction.” But before they took to the stage I caught up with the progressive rock act to talk about life on the road, their forthcoming album, and cover songs.
You’ve toured around the country with Cog, Dead Letter Circus and MM9 this year. How did those experiences prepare you for your own headline shows?
Dylan: Playing with those bands has been such a great learning experience. You get to see bands that have done this thing for such a long time that it becomes natural to them. You get to experience their ups and downs and
learn more about this music industry, which can be so rewarding but so challenging at the same time. In the same way, we have had a blast hanging with them and we are forever grateful that they allowed us exposure to their audiences. It has really help sculpt our fanbase around the nation.
Matt: They are bands that we have been fans of and watched develop over the years, along with taken some influence from, so it was great actually sharing the stage with them and getting the overwhelming response we got from their crowds.
Tyson: The opportunity to share the stage with Australian musicians who, within our own genre, have driven us both as individuals and as a band was awesome. Exposure to that level of production has provided us with a great basis to build and mould our own identity.
You’re earning a real reputation as a must see live act. What do you think it is about your live shows that resonate with audiences?
Dylan: I think mostly it’s about the energy and positivity. We really enjoy what we do on stage, and we’ve often received reviews commenting on the smiles that are always visible when we are on stage. We have a pretty active stage presence also, and I think the thing that most audience members relate too and really enjoy are the moments where the drums and percussion are played. There is just something about drums that everyone can relate to, and I think that tribal aspect of our live show is really a big highlight for a lot of the audience.
Matt: Definitely the positive energy we generate on stage. Anyone that has experienced one of our shows, can see that we are having the time of our lives up there, and it tends to rub off on the crowd. We work hard to get our songs and performance to the level it is at, so when we are up there its SHOWTIME!
Tyson: I guess we try and communicate with our audience using as much raw tribal energy to develop our own style and stage presence.
You recently headlined Progfest, which had such an interesting concept for a festival. What was it like to be a part of this event which showcased bands that push the envelope?
Dylan: It was fantastic. We also performed at this festival when it was in Sydney in 2009, and it was definitely one of the best shows we did that year. The vibe is great and the audience is massively appreciative because they are generally open to music that challenges them, whether that is sonically, rhythmically or stylistically. The best part is that we get to experience some of the best local and Australian bands in our favourite genre of music!
Tyson: Always a blast. The vibe at a festival like that means that you have the opportunity to share ideas with a whole lot of other musicians and punters in a real proactive and cohesive environment.
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17 August 2012 – The Annandale, Sydney