1.Growing Up
One of my earliest musical memories is of my parents bringing home a $50 drum kit from a garage sale. They put it in a spare room, along with a tape player and some John Fogerty cassettes for me to jam with. This was the start of my fascination for music.
2.Inspirations
The biggest musical influence in my life hands down is Chris Martin and Coldplay. It’s the reason I picked up the piano, started singing and ultimately performing. My family and friends continue to inspire me every day on this musical journey. Their love and support is paramount.
3.Your Band
The band is Bears With Guns. We are one-fifth Slovakian for diversity purposes and have been known to quit jobs to play gigs. Yes Mum, I am that committed. We all met at uni while studying music, which led to us jamming together. No-one else would put up with our musical shenanigans, as well as Bali’s vigorous pilates routine, so we were destined for each other from the get-go. It’s one big polygamous marriage, just so long as I can be the bread in the sandwich.
4.The Music You Make
I couldn’t tell you what we sound like. I feel each time we write something new, it doesn’t remotely sound like the last song we wrote. The closest comparison I could give is like a Death Cab For Cutie vibe, but with awesome blast beats and Slovak-shred. The band is predominately made up of headbanging metalheads, so that influence tends to come across in our new material. We recently released a self-titled EP, produced by Al Clay. It’s an honour to work with someone so talented behind the desk (not to mention an all-time legend). His dance moves aren’t bad either.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
On a more serious note: Keep Sydney Open. It’s so sad to see a city once vibrant with culture and local nightlife being forced out on its arse due to the lockout laws. All these pollies go to bed just after Today Tonight, but feel free to prove me wrong. Come along to any of our gigs and I’ll show you how safe, beautiful and enjoyable our city nightlife can be. Hell, I’ll throw in a plus one and a CD for you. There’s an orgasmic melting pot of talent in Sydney. Some of my favourite local acts include Lepers & Crooks, Betty & Oswald, Bryn de Neve, Castlecomer, Liam Gale, Chris Neto and Sons Of The East.
Bears With Guns is out now through Highway 125; and you can see them play atMoonshine Bar, Hotel Steyne on Thursday July 28.
