1.Growing Up
I haven’t been in Sydney my whole life. I actually grew up on a farm in Somersby on the Central Coast which was oddly isolated, given we didn’t live that far from town. I imagine it was the reason we always had music playing – there was no-one to disturb. My dad was huge David Bowie and Rolling Stones fan, and every car trip would be punctuated by the soundtrack of their greatest hits. I don’t suppose I come from an especially musical family, although my grandparents did meet at musical theatre.
2.Inspirations
My first great music love was MGMT. I was in year seven and their debut album had just come out. I was truly obsessed with it. In later years, I’d make the graduation into Amy Winehouse, La Roux, Florence And The Machine and eventually Depeche Mode.
3.Your Band
My act isn’t so much a band as it is an assortment of instruments and a computer in my bedroom. I’ve always liked being relatively self-sufficient, which is what drove me to learn production. However, for my current live set I’ve recruited two of my best mates to help flesh it all out with drum pads and synths.
4.The Music You Make
My music is fundamentally pop. There are a lot of elements of electro, disco and baroque rock, as well, but ultimately I write pop tunes. I suspect it’s because I’m a huge sucker for the contradiction of a really saccharine melody and intensely melancholy subject matter, songs that you can dance to and cry to. My debut single
‘Stockholm’ is my latest attempt at this.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
The music scene in Sydney is dynamic and exciting. There is just such a wealth of talent that having enough venues to play in is becoming more and more difficult, no thanks to the lockout laws. Some of my favourite acts right now are Froyo, Jackie Brown Jr., Aela Kae and Hollow States. They all comprise fantastic instrumentalists and songwriters, who I’m constantly humbled by.
‘Stockholm’ by Dead Languageis out now independently.
