TOM PLANT - INTERVIEW.

We at the optional e caught up a while ago with Sydney act Tom Plant.


Tom is a solo act, crafting heartfelt lyrics with emotional delivery and acoustic intimacy. His song, 'Endless', peaked at number 33 on the Triple J Unearthed High chart - it's a beautifully poignant song with understated subtleties reminiscent of personal memories.



When did you get into music?


I first became interested in music when my dad used to play the didgeridoo to me to help me sleep. Funnily enough the didge used to calm me to sleep, however when he started playing guitar I became increasingly interested. I have grown up listening to all kinds of music, mainly from dad introducing me to his collection of music. I then started playing the saxophone when I was about 10, which eventually made me pick up a guitar and start playing. From then on I have also developed a knack of singing, which has also developed an increased interest in the art of song writing and producing. 


Who are your main musical influences?


My main musical influences are Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Dallas Green, Matt Corby, and Lakyn Heperi. Jeff Buckley has also been an influence in the way of giving me an insane appreciation of talent for his vocal and lyrical capabilities - I always aspire to one day having such an incredible vocal range. Justin Vernon and Dallas Green have inspired my writing acoustically, in terms of how to add different instruments and sounds into a song. Justin and Dallas both have incredible lyrical skills and because they are both in my most played I think I adopt the most from them... Matt and Lakyn are probably my biggest influences in terms of sound as their acoustic sounds influence a lot of the way I play the guitar, and the way I sing. 


What are the inspirations behind your songs?


Most of the songs I have written are about my girlfriend, she gives me the happiness and eagerness to write songs in the manner I do. However a few of the lyrics I have written have been about other things going on through my life, like any musician I guess! But my girlfriend mostly for the style of songs I have recorded. 


How did you become the musician you are - how did you become interested in your style of music?


I first started listening to acoustic music when I first heard Matt Corby on Australian Idol... since then I have been listening to acoustic and alternative music. I listen to a heap of different styles of music and I have made some songs in different genres such as rock and indie pop, however acoustic music seems to settle close to my heart and I feel it is my main style. 


Where to from here?


Well, from here I would like to record a heap more of my songs! I have a whole bank of lyrics on my computer which I am really keen to record, so look out; they will be on Youtube and Triple J's Unearthed page soon! I would love to start playing gigs around the place and start heading into the industry, which is my main goal. I would love to perform for a living, like any musician! 
Thanks to Tom for spending his time with us.
Listen to his song 'Endless' here and check out his Unearthed page.

His music rings of other successful Australian acoustic acts, such as Matt Corby and Whitley. It's very exciting for us at the blog to be able to interview such a promising young local act - here it is!

YOUR BODY IS A WEAPON.

Falls Festival this year is set to amaze with a brilliant lineup. We thought we'd review some of the artists that are performing, so after the jump, here is THE WOMBATS.

CHANGING OF THE SEASONS - EP.

Two Door Cinema Club's latest EP 'Changing of the Seasons' is, as well as being a poppy party-worthy record, a showcase of a variety of great tunes from the band.

The title song kicks it off with an upbeat feel, combining an electric style with some catchy vocals. As the song progresses, more layers are added above the initial drum + synth show, creating a colourful, danceable tune.

Before you are ready to dismiss the rest of the EP as an electro-pop fantasy, listen to what is up next. 'Crystal' is, in contrast to the high energy of the opening track, a gentle, melodic tune, featuring spacey, textured vocals and a majestic orchestral lineup. Although this feature adds the feel of a fantastical film score, the lyrics are that of a pretty ballad - 'I listen to your words/flowing like hummingbirds all around me'. Aw.

'Golden Veins' is a steady piece of work, referring back to the band's dancy style, while also exuding a stronger, darker character via some fancy vocal jobs and a dynamic melody. A remix of the title track follows, managing to make it even more danceable, if that is even possible.

It seems as though this EP is hinting at something bigger to come from the band, especially considering their use of French DJ Madeon as the producer, which allowed him to inject a danceable feel into the band's sound.

This handful of diverse tunes may signify a new musical direction for the Club, as well as maintaining their light-hearted, poppy sound for the fans to enjoy.

CLOUD CONTROL - DREAM CAVE.

Cloud Control's highly anticipated sophomore release Dream Cave is a boundary-pushing album that seeks to shake up the band's poppy sound.

We had quite high expectations for this album, considering the critical success of their debut album Bliss Release. The lead single, 'Dojo Rising', while not as initially as catchy as 2010's 'There's Nothing In The Water We Can't Fight', is a more experimental and floaty track. In fact, the entire album is a bit of a musical trip, filled with weird vocal wobbles and swirling backing tracks.

The whole trippy feel of the album is great. It definitely pushes the boundaries of the band's easy-going dream pop sound, dipping into dark percussion on 'Island Living' and reverting to further exploration of an iconic sound on 'Ice Age Heatwave'. There are beautiful sections within songs where the lyrics and musical craftmanship mould together with delicacy or anthemic vigour or sheer energy, and there is the continual sculpting of the eponymous 'dream cave', with the addition of (sometimes rather odd) drips of water and arching vocals.

Overall, the entire album does a very sensory justice to the cave, and adventures to very exciting places with the sweeping vocals, sweet harmonies, dreamy backing and eclectic percussion. At times, however, it just feels a bit disconnected and wandering into too many different dimensions - in their pursuit of a new sound they seem to have been a bit confused as to which sound that is. However, it is still a very solid release that I can say I did indeed enjoy.

WE ARE THE BRAVE - EP LAUNCH.

Australian synth-pop act We Are The Brave will be launching their new EP on Wednesday 11 September at Good God Small Club in Sydney's Chinatown.

The act consists of singer-songwriter Jess Chalker (featured on recordings with Passenger) and underground hip-hop producer Ox Why. Their sound is quite Bat for Lashes, although at times it felt like a fresh Florence remix. They craft together the catchy nostalgia of the 80s with funky modern vibes, as seen in their first single 'All Good Things Must Come to an End'.

 

Their debut EP 'Noctua', which was produced, mixed, written and performed by the pair entirely at their home studios, will be launched September 11. Come down and check out this fresh new act - but if you can't we'll still fill you in on the (hopefully) epic happenings of the night!

Get your tickets here at: www.wearethebrave.eventbrite.com

Here is their first single, 'All Good Things Must Come to an End'.

In light of their exciting new launch we caught up with Ox Why for a Q & A.

What's in a band name? 

Both Jess and I are really inspired by a lot of youth films from the '80s dealing with teenage angst. We wanted a name that sounded like one of those cheesy, but sort of life changing films you grow up watching and quote from your entire life. The Breakfast Club was a big inspiration - watching that final scene where Judd Nelson freezes in the air mid frame, We are the Brave felt like it could have been an ironic, alternative title. We both pissed ourselves laughing at first, but the name We Are the Brave kinda stuck.

 

How did the band start?

Jess was putting her studio together and came into Billy Hydes, where I was working at the time, to get some advice about gear. I always think it's cool when a girl knows her stuff. Once we started talking about Peter Gabriel and Fairchilds, I knew straight away this could be a great working relationship. Jess and I fight like siblings, but I think it's that wanting to kill each other kind of passion that helps us create our landscape musically.

 

 

Who are the members/music history?

I've been a hip hop artist and producer in the Sydney underground scene for a while now. Jess had actually never sang in front of anyone until she posted some of her original tunes on Youtube a few years back, which went mental overnight. She started getting all these emails from around the world, from people like Norah Jones's manager. I think it freaked her out, as she stopped posting tunes, and went to uni instead. Jess has been in the Sydney folk scene a few years now, focusing a lot on playing/writing, with everyone from Passenger to Lior. We're also really lucky to have some amazing musos play live with us, including Pat Taylor on guitar, and James Hill on drums.

 

Who are your main influences?

We're both into artists like Kate Bush, David Bowie, David Byrne, Bjork, Bat for Lashes, Tears for Fears. I'm really into a lot of the old school hip hop stuff like Pharcyde, Hieroglyphics, Wu Tang, DITC and Boot Camp.

Jess and I are also massive Prince fans, and Jess is also heavily into Springsteen, Dylan, Paul Simon, and Joni Mitchell.

 

What motivates you to make music?

There's a huge amount of potential in a single sound, so many ways you can tweak and manipulate and alter its original shape to create something new and exciting. We're both really fascinated by that, and the range of emotions that sounds can create.

 

 

Where to from here?

We're just about to release our debut EP, Noctua, and with it our sophomore track, Sparrow and a music video. We're also really excited to have been invited to join the incredible Ngaiire for some of her national Lamentations tour, so if you're in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, come and say hi at one of our shows in September!

So catch We Are The Brave at any of their gigs and make sure to grab a copy of their EP!

CUB SPORT.

I'm reeling from the shock news that one of my favourite bands are changing their name!

 

 



Indie five-piece Cub Scouts from Brisbane have changed their name to Cub Sport over some legal dispute from Scouts Australia.

While this is kind of hilarious I guess it would be better for the band in the long run to switch to Cub Sport, although I don't think it has the same ring to it.

I probably won't change the articles on the blog to the new name though - it seems that even the band themselves haven't fully adjusted to the change!

 

 

 

I guess to console you all we can just listen to their new EP, 'Paradise'.