Category Archives: Interview

The Rebirth Of Venus & The Big O Festival – Ben Lee talks with Elize Strydom

This Boy’s In Love –
by Elize Strydom
benleerebirthalbumcover Ben Lee is in a good place. Granted, he’s in the honeymoon phase. Literally. As 2008 drew to a close Lee married his sweetheart, Ione Skye, in a Hindu ceremony in India. Add to that a shiny new album (The Re-Birth of Venus due out February 7th), a pop song on the radio and a national university tour (The Big O Festival) and you’ll start to realise why he’s so damn smiley all the time. Oh yes, this boy’s in love.

“For me, being in a stable relationship has allowed me to relax in a way that I didn’t even realise I wasn’t relaxed before. Probably because I was just putting all of my energy into chasing chicks! When you find someone that you trust and you love and you’re inspired by and you’re attracted to there’s a kind of support that can allow you to go to a deeper level. So I think with my records there’s starting to be this sound of relaxation in the music which is really nice.”

Indeed. The Re-Birth of Venus is Lee’s seventh solo album and his fifth with Chicago based producer Brad Wood.

“I’ve tried other producers but working with Brad is like coming home. We trust each other and it’s hard to build that trust. It’s not intellectual which I like. You just get together with friends and you make music and that’s how it works.”

For someone who started making records when he was 14, Lee is showing no signs of hitting the brakes. In terms of commercial success, it’s been a slow burning career for the guy that some just love to hate (do I need to mention that song by the Ataris?). In 2005 Lee won an ARIA award for Best Male Artist and Catch My Disease was the most played song on Australian radio. Does the thought of offering yet another album daunt him?

“These last few years I’ve been so wrapped up in process of making records I’ve become quite divorced from the anticipation of sharing them. I’m constantly chasing this experience that I want out of making records and music and I’m getting less and less concerned with how they’re received. I don’t feel at all that I’m doing it for the sake of it.”

The first single lifted from the new album (I Love Pop Music) reads like a summary of Lee’s world view with lines like:
Global warming threatens life as we know it Our leaders have not committed to a plan of action on renewable energy
and:
Religious intolerance creating geo-political instability.
Our lives are accelerating as we fall out of touch with nature and ancient myth.
Try singing along to that, kids! He rounds it out with the chorus:
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it Philosophy that you can dance to

Hmmm, please explain.

“One way or another I’ve always been interested in embracing the classic elements of a pop song which are about the bubblegum stuff that just make you feel good and at the same time tried to subvert it a little bit and add new left field twists to it. So I think that song just continues that idea.”

Catch Ben Lee at the Big O Festival touring universities around the country during Orientation Week.

Artist, Concert, Interview, Music

Brisbane Bands pt 1 (1988 music documentary)

Here’s an interesting 1988 documentary titled ‘Brisbane Bands’ we found on youTube.

This documentary focuses on the isolation and struggle many Brisbane punk bands had to endure in the face of conservative Brisbane during the 1970’s.

Mark Callaghan (GANGgajang/The Riptides), Ed Kuepper (The Saints), Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens) and Ed Wreckage (The Leftovers) speak about growing up in Brisbane during the 1970’s and forming bands.

Ed Kuepper reflects on the Saints’ classic single ‘(I’m) Stranded’ and the single’s promo-video.

click here

Brisbane, Film, Interview, Music

LifeMusicMedia World Exclusive: Pinky Beecroft interviews PINKY BEECROFT…

4 Comments

Pinky Beecroft interviews PINKY BEECROFT…  
for LifeMusicMedia

PB: So, Pinky, was this your idea, to do this interview?
PB: No. I don’t know whose idea it was. But I think it’s a very good idea, so I’m running with it.

PB: OK. Do you want firstly to talk about your time as the singer of Machine Gun Fellatio?
PB: No. Not if we can avoid it.

PB: Right. Well can you tell me a little bit about your new band, The White Russians?
PB: Yes they’re very good. A 4-piece, drums, bass, guitar and me. It’s very organic.  Kind of rockin’. Very exciting.

PB: You’ve just released your first album, Somethin’ Somewhere Better. How was that?
PB: How was what?

PB: How was that process?
PB:  You mean, how did we record it?

PB: I mean.. yeah. I guess. Um. I mean… what were your influences?
PB: My influences? That’s a very complicated question. I don’t know, gee, I expected this interview to be different.
Continue reading LifeMusicMedia World Exclusive: Pinky Beecroft interviews PINKY BEECROFT… →

Brisbane, Interview, Music

TRIPLE J TO BRING THE PARTY TO BRISBANE POWERHOUSE – 7 November 2008

Brisbane Powerhouse will give all music lovers an excuse to get out of bed before first light, when they host the triple j AusMusic Month Event on Friday 7 November, 2008.

Stagger out of bed at 5am and join the triple j breakfast team Robbie, Marieke and The Doctor as they broadcast live for the first time from the Turbine Platform on the final leg of their national tour as part of AusMusic Month.

triple j is all about homegrown talent and will celebrate all things local by putting on a huge show at Brisbane Powerhouse and rolling out the red carpet.

triple j will broadcast live with special guest performances and interviews with Josh Pyke, The Grates and the John Steel Singers, plus more surprise guests revealed closer to the date.

As the celebrations approach, keep listening to triple j for more information regarding this special event, J Award nominations and much, much more.

Remember, due to daylight savings, the event will begin at Brisbane Powerhouse at 5am, but will be broadcasted on Brisbane radio from 6am – 9am.

For more updates on the line up, go to triplej.net.au or tune in to 107.7 FM

Date: Friday 7 November 2008
Time: 5am – 9am
Venue: Turbine Platform
Tickets: FREE

More Info: 07 3358 8600 or brisbanepowerhouse.org

Brisbane, Interview, Music

“Genius isn’t it?” YKB’s lead guitarist Charles Sales tells Harro a few days before their Immaculate Confection Tour, October 2008

Interview by: Harro for LifeMusicMedia

Yves Klein Blue Yves Klein Blue - Brisbane Ekka 2008 Yves Klein Blue - Brisbane Ekka 2008 Yves Klein Blue - Brisbane Ekka 2008

Harro: Yves Klein Blue are named after artist Yves Klein’s famous IKB, a blue paint that does not lose its brilliance over time, which is a metaphor for your bands aspiration to create music that will never weaken with age. Whose idea was it to pick Yves Kleins masterpiece as the name of the band?

Charles: Michaels. I blame it all on him. I must admit, the analysis for the bandname has come up in hindsight, but it still seems like a good idea.

Harro: How does it feel to be touring with The Holidays whom are one of the bands that you look up to the most?

Charles: It will certainly be an interesting tour. I mean we’re going to Perth and Adelaide! We’ve never been there before, though I think the Holidays have. They’re hardened road warriors.

Harro: Who came up with the interesting name of the tour Immaculate Confection? Continue reading “Genius isn’t it?” YKB’s lead guitarist Charles Sales tells Harro a few days before their Immaculate Confection Tour, October 2008 →

Brisbane, Concert, Interview, Music

Interview with Katy Steele of Little Birdy

Katy SteeleKaty Steele, set to grace the stage at Valley Fiesta 2008, talks with our Tara-Kai Hammond

TH: So you grew up in the Perth Music scene didn’t you? What’s it like now, in comparison to say 10 years ago?
KS: Well, I have only been in the scene for the last 6-7 years as an actual musician. Before that I watched my brothers grow and gain success, the old school way, by playing gigs and gaining airplay, the way we did it. But for most of my teens, I watched my dad perform. He is a survivor who I have never seen play a bad show. True professional.. I would say that it was hard then and its even harder now. But It seems that music has taken a very serious turn. The only way, is to survive. We are all surviving, which is all I have ever asked for.

TH: Who are you looking forward to seeing perform at the Valley Fiesta?
KS: I’ve heard that the John Steel Singers are quite good. Other than that, I d love to check out some local Brisbane bands.
Continue reading Interview with Katy Steele of Little Birdy →

Brisbane, Festival, Interview, Music

Amandah Wilkinson of Operator Please tells Tara-Kai Hammond, “It’s good to be home…” in the lead up to the Valley Fiesta

Amandah Wilkinson of Operator Please tells Tara-Kai Hammond, “It’s good to be home…” in the lead up to the Valley Fiesta

Operator Please

This years Valley Fiesta promises to be the biggest yet, with artists like yourselves set to headline, joined by the likes of Sparkadia, Urthboy, DJ Dexter (Avalanches), Jeff Lang, Katy Steele (Little Birdy), Avalon Drive, Winnie Coopers, The Gin Club and Texas Tea, to name a few. How do you feel to be included in such a noteworthy line up of artists?
We feel honoured to get the chance to play. We have never played the Valley Fiesta and I have been wanting to see the bands on the line-up. We have been away for such a long time, so it’s good to be home.

So what do you think it’ll be like playing the Valley Fiesta now that you’ve produced a Top 10 album and achieved international acclaim?
I don’t really know to be honest, and I don’t really think about those things when we play a show.
If anything you should never have any expectations, you never know what the crowd or atmosphere will be like until you are onstage. Hopefully it will be okay.

Who are you looking forward to seeing perform at this years Valley Fiesta? And Why?
I am looking forward to seeing DJ Dexter! He’s is incredible.
I want to see Katy Steele, because I haven’t seen just her play before.

Operator Please would have played at some very different venues, (small and large, etc) over the years… What’s the best gig you ever did? And why?
The best gig to date for me is a toss up between Melt festival in Germany and the Shorditch Crawl! We played Melt festival at night and it was the perfect atmosphere! We had a beautiful crowd too. It was amazing to go there and have people come to see us and what was a major bonus was that there were people singing! And the Shorditch Crawl show was messy and hilarious but still a favourite. It was about 1am and the place was packed, everyone was dancing, lots of people swinging off various light stands and stairs into the crowd and even people dancing on the bar! The fold back was shit, all our instruments broke, stage divers mangled the kit. Incredible!!!Amandah I read somewhere that you picked random people who could play an instrument to join the band. How did you all combine your musical styles to make the winning combination that is Operator Please?
We didn’t really consciously combine our styles, I think that’s what makes us Operator Please. We were obviously influenced by different music but we really didn’t think about the sound we were going to make. We did what we could do with our instruments and still do the same.

What made you decide to record an independent EP, do some shows and self-promotion, then head over to the Big Apple, (New York)?
We recorded an independent EP because it was the next logical thing for us to do, we just started playing shows and we made little badges and our own screen printed tshirts but we didn’t have any music recorded. So we scraped up some money between us and recorded some songs live, all very quick. We distributed it ourselves by burning copies and getting my sister to design the art and got bits and pieces like cardboard and stuff to print on. You have to do things by yourself if you want to get them done, we decided to go to New York because we were invited to showcase a week before CMJ.So the line up for Operator Please has changed quite a few times since the beginning…Why is this?
Being in a band isn’t for everyone. Our first Violinist left because she didn’t want to perform music live and didn’t enjoy it. Our keyboard player left as a mutual decision between her and the rest of the band. We are away so much from home and touring is a strenuous thing and if you can’t cope the slightest it isn’t right. You are put totally out of your comfort zones and you have alot of time to think and you live in and out of eachothers pockets day in and day out. We started out really young and growing up touring and making music and seeing things you form your own opinions and forge your way of life, if you don’t love what you are doing, then you shouldn’t do it.I’ve read that you’ve never expected anything and are happy enough to have people turning up to your shows and liking what they hear. So what motivates or inspires you to write and perform? The artistic expression? As an outlet? For the joy of it? For others enjoyment?
I enjoy making music. I enjoy playing music. Music is a release for me from everything, it is also and expression. Ultimately when you start making music, you make it for yourself, you never think that other people are actually going to listen, but when they do it’s amazing and you are appreciative for it. Music like many forms of art is a single minded thing. If you are constantly thinking of how to please everyone else, how are you supposed to be happy with yourself.

What is the band up to at the moment? Writing? Jammin’? Recording? Touring? Or just taking a break?
We are writing, playing a couple of shows, but we are just happy to be at home and in one country for more than a week

Brisbane, Festival, Interview

Faker Plays The EKKA Interview – 26 August 2008

LifeMusicMedia caught up with Nathan Hudson of Faker, who will be playing the Brisbane EKKA ahead to their ‘Are You Magnetic’ National Headline Tour.

Faker

Tamie here representing LifeMusicMedia, saying a huge hello to the Sydney band, FAKER, who’s going to be performing at Brisbane EKKA on the 26th August….whoooooot – you’ll be socially inept to miss them. These guys ROCK….literally.

How’s your day been?

Nathan: Good. Been cut out trying to relax, actually.

Have you been to the EKKA before?

Nathan: No, I haven’t, I’ve been to the Sydney equivalent. That’s always fun. The idea of playing at something like that is really exciting for us.

Fame, you have it, and your music is worthy of it. Has anything interesting happened ever since your music has become more mainstream?

Nathan: I dunno, It’s all been pretty organic, so it’s more like a work in progress and something that kind of happens. What we’re doing is part of something that continues. In terms of whether people interests in what we’re doing has changed, I guess we’re more validated. Hopefully music is about communication and you spend a good deal of time trying to convince people that what you’re doing is worth making and then worth listening to and it’s nice when it translates on that level. It’s just an exciting time, people coming up to us and saying congratulations and we love what you do.

I love your lyrics, I’m a big lyrics person.

Nathan: Thank you. I generally have an idea of where I want to go – lyrically, also it takes me a long time to finish or finalise how I’m gonna do that. Getting into the studio with Paul Fox in ‘Be The Twilight’, our producer wanted to track as much of the vocal as live as possible and so we finish a lot of lyrics on the fly, which I guess to listen to is fresher to me to listen back to and hopefully for other people as well.

Fantastic. With ‘This Heart Attack’ and your new single ‘Are You Magnetic’, there is a big difference in attitude. Why did you choose to release this next?

Nathan: I feel like ‘This Heart Attack’ to ‘Are You Magnetic’ is a natural progression for me. ‘This Heart Attack’ is like doing your head in and I guess it’s to get away and sort things out. To figure out what it was you exactly liked about this relationship or any kind of relationship in the first place. ‘Are You Magnetic’ is kind of about making those decisions that are sometimes harder to make. To try to move forward in the relationship or to end it.

Back to the EKKA, do you have an ultimate show bag that you’d like?

Nathan: The only thing I know about show bags is that they’ve got a lot of chocolate in them really, either that or magic tricks. I’m kinda torn between both of those things. Each of us as kids would have a limited amount of money to spend on show bags, and I had to decide whether my belly was more important than the entertainment or the entertainment more important than my belly. It was really, really difficult. I’d be in tears trying to decide which way to go.

The Bertie Beetle Bags, are pretty good value.

Nathan: They’d be in the paper review with a list of how exactly they were the best seller or something. I don’t know anybody that’s bought a Bertie Beetle outside of a Bertie Beetle showbag.

No, I don’t think you can buy them singly.

Nathan: That’s bizarre.

Any plans on jumping on any rides while you’re at the EKKA. Will you get out after the show?

Nathan: Everything that throws me up-side-down and around a bit, I’m excited about. I’d like to go on.. Yeah, it’s called a Whizzer or something. That thing where you’re in a cage and the cage goes around and you go around in the cage? Perfect!

Good Stuff Just wanted to ask if you had a chance to play/jam with somebody, who would it be?

Nathan: Sitting in a room with guitars and jamming doesn’t interest me so much except if it’s with my band… the band that I’m in. It’s kind of taken a long time to develop those relationships and work out how to do that. The idea of sitting with someone that does stuff electronically and finding musical ideas that way is really exciting.

Would it be possible, to perhaps while you’re on stage take a photo of the crowd for me?

Nathan: HaHa, that’s kinda not something I tend to do, I tend to be about the singing and the dancing, and doing stuff – I’ve often wanted to get photos of myself with the crowd, but, the idea of holding a camera and taking the photos is not something I do.

Last Question – The fans, what can we expect from FAKER in the future?

Nathan: Ummmm, Music and the celeberation of music!

Thank you for your time Nathan…

Credits: Tamie Guttormsen / Sabrina Man

www.faker.com.au
www.ekka.com.au

Interview, Music

Leonard Cohen

leonard_cohen
For four decades, Leonard Cohen has been one of the most important and influential songwriters of our time, a figure whose body of work achieves greater depths of mystery and meaning as time goes on. His songs have set a virtually unmatched standard in their seriousness and range. Sex, spirituality, religion, power – he has relentlessly examined the largest issues in human lives, always with a full appreciation of how elusive answers can be to the vexing questions he raises. But those questions, and the journey he has traveled in seeking to address them, are the ever-shifting substance of his work, as well as the reasons why his songs never lose their overwhelming emotional force.

His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), announced him as an undeniable major talent. It includes such songs as “Suzanne,” “Sisters of Mercy,” “So Long, Marianne” and “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Good,” all now longstanding classics. If Cohen had never recorded another album, his daunting reputation would have been assured by this one alone.

However, the two extraordinary albums that followed, Songs From a Room (1969), which includes his classic song, “Bird on the Wire,” and Songs of Love and Hate (1971), provided whatever proof anyone may have required that that the greatness of his debut was not a fluke. (All three albums are reissued in April, 2007.)



Continue reading Leonard Cohen →

Artist, Bio, Interview, Music, Photos