Zac - Dave - Jono
Soph: Thanks for doing this guys. You’ve really helped me out.
Zac: No problem Soph…but you totally owe me.
Soph: Great {sarcastic tone}. OK, let’s start by defining the genre of your band. What best describes your sound?
Zac: Rock/Funk/Alternative
Jono: Rock
Soph: Right, now as musicians do you feel isolated living in Brisbane?
Jono: Yes, but not entirely. There are not enough places to play in the Brissy scene and although we have been rated in the top 5 musical cities I can’t see how a band can get themselves out there without having to move to Melbourne or overseas.
Zac: Yes definitely there is nowhere to hide and there are only very few good venues.
Soph: So, many people claim that, in regard to Brisbane music, it’s not what you know (i.e. actual talent) but rather who you know. How true do you think this is? And, as an aside, how important is networking?
Jono: Myspace has helped us with getting gigs, so I guess networking is important but if your not talented, you won’t go anywhere cause people won’t want to hear you.
Zac: I agree, networking is very important in the Brisbane music scene because it's hard to get your stuff out there, so it is good to know people.
www.myspace.com/littleredlight
Soph: How easy is it to get studio time and is it expensive? How do you finance your band?
Zac: Studio time is not that hard to find around Brisbane although it can definitely prove to be expensive! The normal rate for a "middle class" studio is about $75 per hour. At the moment our band has a money jar in a secret place!!! Although we are planning to open a shared bank account very soon.
Jono: Yeah it is expensive but there are grants that are available which are quite handy – that’s if you get one.
Soph: Do you and your band want to get signed to a label (big four or independent) or are you satisfied with indie (in terms of independence) status?
Zac: Being independent can a be a good and a bad thing! I think we would like to get signed to a label but then not feel like we have to serve them all the time.
Jono: Yeah, a label would be amazing but I would be too afraid that they would tell us how to write our songs – and I would tell them to fuck off. Indie is good but you have to do so much work.
Soph: Is there a definable Brisbane sound?
Jono: Well, shitty indie Ric’s bands that sound like The Grate’s are getting pretty big here.
Zac: There are very few different sounds in Brisbane! Most of the music in Brisbane is solo artists with the same strummy songs you have heard a million times before, it really stands out to find some good original music in Brisbane.
Soph: Describe a typical day for you?
Jono: What do you mean, like music wise?
Soph: Yeah, but other things you do as well like part-time/full-time work, uni, etc.
Jono: Study at uni then one band rehearsal a week and play one or two shows on the weekend, either with Little Red Light or other projects.
Zac: I have a day job building hotel rooms! So obviously there is minimal money in the Brisbane music scene!
Soph: How has new media, such as P2P, MP3s, spyspace etc and general advancements in technology helped or hindered your band?
Jono: Helped! The more people that hear our stuff the better – internet and MP3 sharing has allowed us to expand our fan base a lot more cause people all over the world can hear our songs with the click of the button.
Zac: Yeah well it has definitely helped, especially "Myspace" where we get about 50% of our shows from bands in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. And it is also good just to have your music being shared with strangers around the world.
Soph: What are the Brisvegas labels like? Do people actually scout at gigs like in Sydney or Melbourne?
Zac: I think the labels here are lazy yet they don't realize that there is nothing going on in Brisbane. I imagine they would set up there own shows (small festivals) to continue their labels.
Jono: Not sure if people scout – there would be a few. If bands start getting rave gig reviews and heaps of people coming to their shows constantly – a record company would usually send a scout to see what the fuss is all about.
Soph: Define the Brisbane live scene for me. Are there any venues/spaces/scenes that stand out?
Zac: I think the best venue in Brisbane for local bands is definitely THE GLOBE THEATRE because it's such a huge space and it feels very inviting. Other good venues include THE TROUBADOR, RICS and THE JUDITH WRIGHT CENTRE.
Jono: Troubador and Globe have great sound and is great for local bands to play – the Zoo is the biggest place for local – underground bands. The Tivoli is for the bigger bands and Brisbane Entertainment Centre is for massive bands.
At The GlobeSoph: Any interesting stories relating to a gig gone bad or some funny anecdote (bearing in mind the total irrelevance of this question)?
Zac: Hmmmmmmm.....I think the funniest thing to me is when we had a show a Toowoomba (funny already) and we were an hour late and burning down the highway and then getting a speeding ticket! So we get to the gig and no one is there at all!!!! So it comes time to play and there is a total of 6 people in the room!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!! So we get paid and then rent a room in this shitty pub hotel where we continue to get very drunk and go running round Toowoomba on the freezing cold yelling naughty things at traffic! HA!
Jono: An old guy kept buying me shots of whisky because he liked our music – he then kept playing air guitar and bashing into everyone who was watching. It was sooo funny.
Soph: How good are venues for booking varying bands or bands in general?
Jono: Most venues are very stand-offish as they probably get a lot of lame bands asking for shows. If you are confident and know what you’re doing and how to run a show – too easy.
Zac: A lot of the time we don't set up our show's we usually get an E-mail or a phone call making the offer.
Soph: How very proactive of you. Any particular local places popular with your band?
Jono: The Globe – The Troubador – The Alley.
Zac: Hmmmm. Rics, or maybe The Alley.
Soph: Really? Is that so you guys can come and visit me?*
Zac: HAHAHAHA!!!
* The interviewer works at the shity bowling alley next door
Soph: How reliant are you on having a solid support base in friends and family? i.e. helping with transport, carrying your shit around, putting up with you?
Jono: Nobody helps drummers with their gear so on the odd occasion they help. Not to reliant in that sense. But support of our friends who come to watch us play, yes we rely on that heavily. Zac: hmmmmm. well I’m the only one in ma band that doesn't drive YET! So I rely on the guys for that! Other than that I think we are very independent and help each other.
Soph: How much faith do you have in the music industry as a whole, bearing in mind the analogy that signing to a major is much like doing a deal with the devil?
Jono: It’s a very hard business and you have to know your rights and I think it’s a must to read through every contract before you sign it.
Zac: It really depends on what you want to do with your life. If you want to make it big, do local shows, independency, or have a day job. I think there are some record labels that very well may be from the "devil" but there must be some good ones out there!!!
Soph: How do you market your band? For example, the CD is set to be virtually distinct within the next half decade, how will you go about releasing your music, if still together, when this time comes?
Jono: Releasing it online would be an option – but I think CDs will always sell no matter what. Nothing beats buying a brand new CD and getting to read the booklet.
Soph: I completely agree, I love that brand new CD feel.
Zac: The way we are going to release our EP is going to be fully independent so we've had to work hard to make the money to make it! It is a very large commitment, so we'll hold a show as the “EP release” and have one or two bands support us.
Soph: How did you get started in the music industry?
Jono: Playing guitar and then seeing live bands and seeing how much people on stage loved it. I wanted to do it.
Zac: I started to learn about the music industry since I was a kid due to both my parents and my step father all being full time musicians. I really started learning about it in my first band called "Cindy and The Croquet Players" when I was about 13yrs old venturing into all sorts of pubs and clubs doing shows! (with a supervisor) hahaha
Soph: How important is street press in enhancing your band’s reputation as musicians, or in general?
Jono: In terms of the local scene knowing who u r is very important. Nobody will come and see u if they don’t know who u r. and if people don’t come to your shows, then venues won’t book you. Street press is very important.
Zac: How important is street press in enhancing you band’s/your own reputation as a musician, or in general? It’s definitely an essential in the Brisbane music scene! magazines like Rave, Timeoff, Scene, Tsunami etc.
Soph: You guys played at the Make Poverty History gig in Brisbane last year, an awesome cause,
Jono: I would play at it and on stage say how much I was against the gig and that everybody should leave. I would win both ways as I would be taking their money and publicize negative things about them.
Zac: Hmmmm. tough call i don't think we would do an immoral show just because it paid well! I would say no!
Soph: Any pre-gig rituals?
Jono: Stretch. Drink 2 beers. Group hug. Go for it.Zac: Couple of beers and a band hug!
Soph: Ohh how cute! Man-hugging....So do you think that there's a local scene, and how important is locality?
Jono: Yes there is a local scene. It’s very important as it helps make you sound cooler when you’re on tour. “Yeahhhhhh I'm from Brisbane on tour – oh cool man wow”. Etc.
Zac: There is no local music exactly where I live, i.e. the suburbs, you have to go closer to the city, and the valley is definitely the hot spot! Although if you were in Melbourne you could find great local music in the suburbs!!!! WHAT A RIP OFF!!!
Thanks so much guys. I hope you didn't find this whole experience too traumatic. Jono, i'll be sure to be "Roadie Soph" and carry your drum gear at the next show. And Zac...i'm afraid it's you who owes me buddy.
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