What’s the live music scene like in Melbourne right now?
Melbourne has always been an absolute powerhouse when it comes to live music, it’s really the beating heart of the city. However, we have to be honest since the pandemic, the industry has definitely taken a massive hit.
We are seeing iconic live venues closing their doors and incredibly talented artists having to walk away from their projects because it’s just too hard to sustain. It’s a challenging time, but that’s exactly why we are so passionate about building up our local community and creating our own opportunities through our live events.
Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
We are so lucky to work with an absolute abundance of local legends here in Melbourne. Right now, we are really loving Fatai and Allzy. They are both phenomenal talents, and we are actually in the middle of writing a song with them at the moment.
Do you think it’s easy to become a victim of our surrounds sometimes?
We absolutely agree. It is incredibly easy to get trapped in your own bubble and let your immediate surroundings dictate your mindset. Getting out into the world, whether that is touring or just traveling, strips that away and shows you so many different perspectives on life.
What are your ambitions for the band?
Our main mission is to just keep pushing boundaries and releasing genre-fluid music that brings people joy. We want to collaborate with as many diverse artists as possible, blending sounds and stories. Beyond the music itself, our biggest ambition is to continue growing our music festival, “Homegrown.” We want to cement it as a major platform that spotlights the Melbourne independent music scene for years to come.
What’s your favourite social media platform to use and why?
For us, it has to be Instagram. We just really love the overall feel and vibe of the platform. It allows us to be highly visual, share quick updates on our stories, and connect with our community and other artists in a way that feels organic and authentic to who we are as a collective.
We believe it’s essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to all the different types of audiences out there, what’s your thoughts on that?
We think most artists would agree that being a full-time content creator is definitely not what we originally signed up for when we started making music! It can be exhausting. However, you can’t deny the reality of the landscape. If you want your music to be heard and get in front of the masses, maintaining that presence across different platforms is absolutely essential. It’s just a necessary part of the job description now.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
The music industry today is forever changing, and honestly, it can be really hard to keep up. It is fascinating to watch the traditional business models evolve, but the sheer volume of people releasing music every single day makes that evolution happen at lightning speed.
One of the most exciting things we are seeing right now, especially here in Australia, is that the independent sector is absolutely dominating. Artists are taking control of their own careers, and it’s incredibly inspiring to be a part of that wave.
What’s your thoughts on AI generated music?
It’s a double-edged sword, and we definitely need to be careful. On one hand, it’s undeniably awesome to hear these wild AI covers of your favorite songs in styles you could never even imagine it’s a fun novelty. But on the flip side, knowing that AI is actively taking real opportunities whether that’s sync placements, session work, or production gigs away from actual, hard-working artists is a genuinely scary thing to think about.
What’s the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
The biggest takeaway for us has been that collaboration and community are absolutely everything. You cannot do this alone. We’ve also learned how important it is to explore outside of your usual lane. When you step out of your comfort zone and try a new genre or work with someone totally different, you find these incredible creative diamonds that you never would have discovered otherwise.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
We listen to a bit of everything, to be honest. Lately, we have been completely obsessing over Raye her last album is just a masterpiece from start to finish. No matter what new stuff we are checking out, though, we always find ourselves coming back to our classic soul and rock playlists. T.
What was your worst experience on stage? Any funny stories to share?
There have been a few chaotic moments, but the absolute worst which is funny looking back now was at one of our headline shows. I
t was a scorching 38-degree day here in Melbourne, and right in the middle of the gig, we completely lost power to the venue. When they finally got it back on, the air conditioning was dead. We had to smash out the rest of our high-energy set with a 14-piece band in a packed room with exactly one tiny fan working. It was unbelievably hot!
Got any fun, funny stories from life on the road?
Touring is an absolute beast. It is the most fun you can have, but it is bloody hard work. Australia is such a massive country, which means the logistics can get wild.
We once had to finish a gig, pack down the gear, and immediately jump in the van for a massive 8-hour trek to the next town. We ended up getting about 4 hours of sleep in between shows. You run purely on adrenaline and coffee in those moments!
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
Yes, we do! We are currently releasing tracks from our brand new collaborative EP. It is a massive project that blends so many different sounds you’ll hear classic soul, alternative rock, and even some country influences in there.
The most exciting part is that the project is made up of over 50 local musicians, featured artists, and producers. It truly is a love letter to the Melbourne music scene.
What was the recording process like?
Honestly, the recording process for this release was incredibly easy. When you have a great producer in the room and you are surrounded by such incredible, high-caliber musicians, the music just flows naturally. Everyone was on the exact same page creatively. It was by far one of our favorite studio sessions to date.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Actually, no, we wouldn’t change a thing. As musicians, you always want to tweak things forever, but we decided to leave it as is. The slight imperfections we notice in the tracks are exactly what makes the music feel so human and vulnerable. We wanted it to feel like a real band playing in a room, and those little raw moments capture that perfectly.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world? I
f you happen to be in Melbourne on the 21st of November, do yourself a favor and grab a ticket to our very own music festival, Homegrown! We are taking over the Bourke Street Courtyard with incredible acts across three stages. It is a festival built for artists, by artists, and we would absolutely love to see you there celebrating with us!
FOLLOW THE BAND HERE
IT’S FESTIVAL SEASON, ALL THE LATEST LINE UPS AND FESTIVAL NEWS HERE AND INTERVIEW NEWS HERE
🇦🇺FOR MORE MUSIC NEW COMING OUT OF AUSTRALIA CHECK OUT – RGM AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺