In the Tiki Bar of despair.. David Garnham and The Reasons To Live.

As they wend their way down south on tour, The Reasons To Live are eagerly putting the notion of ‘living’ to the test…

The band – including frontman and Darwin musical iconoclast David Garnham – are ‘sampling’ as many (un)savoury dim sims on the road, in every equally (un)savoury roadhouse bain marie they come across.

Formed in 2011 after his previous band The Moving Targets ‘called it a day’, The Reasons To Live is David Garnham’s new musical mission.

After a second crack at the Telstra Road To Discovery national talent competition, he won the ‘Songwriter’ category in January 2011, dazzling the judges with his poetic songwriting ability (with a voice to match).

A subsequent and trip to Nashville followed, where he was encouraged tout his wares and collaborate with other songwriters. Afterwards David returned to his long-time home of Darwin, to kick start his own songwriting, a new band and, a new album.

Many of the last 12 months were spent recording and producing it in both Darwin and Melbourne, with seminal Melbourne musician Charles Jenkins on board as one of the producers.

The first single ‘Here We Go’ was launched at the Darwin Railway Club on April 28, 2012. Now The Reasons To Live have announced a tour and hit the road to try on their ‘country blues lament’ further afield, including Adelaide, Melbourne regional NT and beyond.

Dim sims and junk food aside, MusicNT asked David some questions about what’s on the sprawling horizon ahead of him, and about his new-found ‘Reasons To Live’…

Coober Pedy.. Pic: David Garnham

Music NT: When how and why did your band The Reasons To Live form? And what inspired the name?

David Garnham: It started as a duo thing…

Myself and Toby Robinson scored a bit of a residency at ‘The Cav’ (Cavanagh Jotel, Darwin). Straightaway I loved playing with Tobes – he is such a soulful player, he knows when to play (and just as important, when not to play), and has a great voice himself.

We kept playing shows really just for fun and a bit of cash.

It was fairly evident at the start though – with our ‘penchant’ for foodstuffs that are made from pigs, and ‘Dirty Dutch Martinis’ – that we were starting to foster a long-term musical partnership.

That was about 4 years ago.. And with my old band throwing it in at the end of 2010 (The Moving Targets), the last year-and-a half has really been all about this new ‘beast’.

After years of me saying I’d never have my own name in a band title, I succumbed to pressure from a lot of people I respect too much in the industry to ignore.

‘The Reasons To Live’ just popped into my head one day – probably from somehting I was reading – and I really liked the imagery.

Also, It’s pretty funny, seeing as how a large part of our catalogue is made up of miserable country tunes.

a'Here we go..' David & MArk on stage at the Railway Club. Pic: Nico Liengme

MuNT: What is the name of the debut album?

DG: We’re tossing around a few names. At the moment it’s ‘Standing Up To Step Down’, but I’m thinking about a last, second change…

MuNT: Who is in TRTL and what do they each play? And how do you know each band member?

DG: Well obviously Toby – up until the current line-up, the act did really feel like a recording project between the two of us.

Last year for the recording of the album we were lucky enough to have Alex Brindell (ex-member of my old band The Moving Targets) come up from Brissy on a break from Uni, where he did a phenomenal job at laying down the drums [on the album] in two days.

We were then joined by Dan Davies (double bass) and we were lucky to have guitar virtuoso Glen Forner come and do a guest spot on a couple of tracks.

Thankfully we were able to hold onto the busiest man in Darwin, Mr Dan Davies, to stay as a part of the ‘live’ band, along with Mark ‘T-Bone’ Gray on drums and Mark ‘Hungry Fingers’ Bleakley jumping between keys and trumpet.

MuNT: Your album – how many tracks will be on it. And who did you record it with and where?

DG: There are 10 tracks on the album – we recorded it at the Subsonic studio here in Darwin.

It was then mixed down at Hot House in Melbourne, and mastered with Jack the Bear.

We had Charles Jenkins and Justin Rudge as producers and there was a fantastic dynamic between the two – Justin having produced Chuck’s last two albums.. Having one creatively-minded fella (Charles)  and one technically-minded fella (Justin), worked a treat.

'Not' The Beards.. David Garnham & the Reasons To Live. Pic: Nico Liengme

MuNT: Please tell us about the single launch – how was it?

DG: We had a great night down at ‘The Rails’ [Darwin Railway Club] – we were very excited to debut as a band, and share the night with two of our fave acts (Green Stone Garden and Aaron Isaak).

MuNT: You are going on tour to promote it – when is that happening and where will you go?

DG: We’re actually just starting it – we’ve done Katherine, Tennant Creek and we are in the middle of a few Alice shows, before heading to Adelaide, the Penola Arts Festival, some shows in Melbourne and a couple more regionals.

MuNT: What inspired the songs for this album?

DG: The songs are still mainly revolving around the same things I have always written about – booze and women.  It is just the context, the story, the characters that change.  There’s the odd song about religion and torment, but really, I just write love songs – unashamedly I might add too.

MuNT: Can you give us a bit of an insight into the writing process for the songs? Was it just you, or does the band contribute equally?

DG: I write the words and the general chord structure (always alone, darkened room, covered by silk), and then the band make it sound good, writing their own parts and making suggestions to key/feel/chords.

For the album, Justin and Charles made a few chordal adjustments, and I must admit, much to my uneasiness, some changes to lyrics.

Write, sing, record, play. David Garnham. Pic: Nico Liengme.

MuNT: How would you describe the sound of the new album?

DG: Good enough to buy  - one for myself and then one for every other human I know!

MuNT: What was Nashville like for you; do you think it has had a tangible effect on your songwriting and therefore the quality of music/writing on this album?

DG: Not really – Nashville was a great experience, but not one that changed me creatively.

I’m really stubborn about my writing and don’t like the idea of writing something just to be a hit, which is the objective of much of the scene over there.

I have no problem with co-writes, but will only do them if I know the other writer personally.

MuNT: How are audiences responding to The Reasons To Live gigs?

DG: Thus far, good.

But let’s face it, most people are too polite to say that they think you’re band is shit to your face (thankfully).

MuNT: You have some pretty talented crew in your band.. How do you feel about working with them?

DG: I am so spoiled in terms of the people I currently play with – and have previously played with.

I think I’ve blown enough smoke up Toby for the next year or so, so will now spread it amongst the fellas: Bleakley is easily one of the NT’s best musos, that man plays like a mother-f&*ker, and again, knows where/what to play.

Dan Davies fits the bill perfectly in terms of demeanour, style and sound, and T-Bone is a bit of eye candy for the ladies (sorry girls, he’s taken… “If you liked it you should have put a ring on it”). He is compellingly attractive despite having a resemblance to an abnormally tall chimpanzee.

And what I am appreciating more than ever, is that we have a great time together – without sounding like too much of a douche – the fact that I’m surrounded by some amazing musos is great; but I’m more grateful that I’m surrounded by some great humans too.

MuNT: I feel the need to talk ‘hair’ with you.. You have moved on from, may I say,  a dramatic mullet, to the Ned Kelly beard. What is your relationship to your hair Dave? We have to know!

DG: I get bored very easily, and thus change my appearance accordingly.  I have had some horrible haircuts over the years, but now think I’m resigning to short hair with the beard.  I’m getting older, a bit thinner on top, a bit more cynical.  I think now is time to start looking like that angry drunk guy down at the club.

MuNT: Do you prefer ‘Dave’ or ‘David’, and why?

DG: I prefer ‘David’, as ‘Dave’ is a bit of a prick when he’s drunk…

Too many dim sims.. David & Toby.

MuNT: What will your next tattoo be?

DG: Haha, no plans as yet, think I’m done on that front.  I think I’m too hairy a man to be covered in tatts.

MuNT: And please finish this sentence: “In five years’ time ‘Dave Garnham and The Reasons To Live’ will be…”

DG: … Writing songs, recording them, playing shows, writing songs, recording them, playing shows, writing songs, recording them, playing shows, writing songs, recording them, playing shows, writing songs, recording them, playing shows…

• Visit The Reasons To Live on Facebook
• Read more about David Garnham on the Music NT website and Music NT Forum.
• Visit David’s website.

Words: Megan Spencer. Thanks to Dave Garnham for the very fun interview.. : )

The judges for the inaugural NT Song Of The Year Awards have been announced!

They are…

Arnold Frollows – DIG Radio

Stuart Matchett – DIG Radio

Clive Hodson – Perfect Pitch Publishing

Jess Beston – Tiny Monster

Tim Ritchie – ‘Sound Quality’ presenter,  Radio National

Andrew Phillips – Local Radio Manager, 105.7 ABC Darwin

Presented by MusicNT, the NT Song Of The Year Awards are about recognising and celebrating songwriting talent within the NT.

They will be held on Friday June 15, 2012 in the Amphitheatre of the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in Fannie Bay, Darwin.

The NT Song Of The Year Awards night is the key event of the Original Recipe Music Festival, which takes place in Darwin from June 15-17.

MusicNT has assembled judges from across the country – and the NT – to provide peer assessment for the competition.

This serves to both recognise that the winning songs have been selected by a national panel, and to expose the breadth of NT songwriting talent to the rest of the country – including some of the biggest names in the business!

The Awards encompass the categories: Rock, Pop, Folk, Urban/Hip Hop, Blues & Roots, Country, Heavy and Dance & Electronic, plus ‘Peoples Choice‘.

Each winner will receive a cash prize of $500 and a trophy – as judged by the industry members above – with the ‘Overall Song Of The Year’ winner receiving a prize package worth over $2000.

We are also pleased to announce the Genre Category Sponsors confirmed so far for the NT Song Of The Year Awards:

• ‘Blues & Roots’ – TIS Music & Events
• ‘Country’ – CHUGG Entertainment
• ‘Rock’ – Cool Bananas Music
• ‘Peoples Choice’ – APRA/AMCOS
  
• Stay tuned for more Sponsor Announcements on the way soon!
  

MusicNT also gratefully acknowledges event supporters the NT Government, the Australian Government and Australia Council, APRA/AMCOS, Charles Darwin University, 105.7 ABC Darwin and Southern Cross Television.

MusicNT is very excited about this program and looks forward to celebrating the the inaugural Awards night with you at MAGNT on June 15!

• Read more about the NT Song of the Year Awards here.
• One day enter to your song into the Awards! Visit this link now. Nominations close COB Friday May 18, 2012.
• Read more about Original Recipe here.

 Words: Megan Spencer. Source: Mark Smith/Music NT.

Alice Springs musician and songwriter Ben Allen (Yellow Streetlight/Broadwing) has won a competition on triple j Unearthed to attend the annual Song Summit Music Conference in Sydney!

Ben will represent the Northern Territory, and won his place along with 7 other songwriters from around Australia, to attend the 2012 Song Summit, May 26-28. He also will participate in an “exclusive songwriting workshop with two of Australia’s most gifted and successful songwriters – Gotye AND Adalita”.

It comes on the back of winning the APRA Tropscore Competition at the 2012 Tropfest Short Film Festival, held in Sydney in February, and subsequently receiving a commission to scoring a commercial for Jeep ‘Grand Cherokee’.

Song Summit is “a three day festival in Sydney and is a major creative, business development, and networking expo for the music industry”. It is part of Vivid Sydney, the annual “Festival of Music Light and Ideas”.

triple j Unearthed and Song Summit have again partnered to fly one singer/songwriter from every state and territory, to attend the annual Summit, and the special songwriting workshop.

The Conference features “workshops, showcases, panels and guest speakers including Neil Finn, Paul Kelly, Urthboy, Josh Pyke, and a cross-section of the music industry including managers, publishers, agents, and labels”.

In 2010 Darwin singer David Garnham also won a place to attend the Song Summit through the triple j unearthed competition.

Congratulations Ben!

• Read more on triple j Unearthed.
• Read more about Ben Allen here.
• Read an interview with Ben on the Music NT website.
• Visit Song Summit 2012.

Words: Megan Spencer. Sources: Ben Allen, triple j Unearthed website.

The stars align… East Journey will perform at the 2012 NIMAs. Pic: Peter Eve

MusicNT is proud to announce that triple j and the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) have aligned to ‘unearth’ a new Indigenous act! Plus, The Medics, Yabu Band & East Journey will perform at the NIMAs 2012!

Now in their second year of ‘going national’ – and held annually under the stars at the Gardens Amphitheatre in Darwin – the National Indigenous Music Awards are a celebration of Indigenous music that honours contemporary and traditional artists.

The NIMAs are presented annually by MusicNT, the Northern Territory’s peak music industry body.

Busby Marou and The Medics came together on May 16 – along with rising hip-hop reggae act Dubmarine – at a special launch at the Brisbane Powerhouse, to give a shout-out for the triple j Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards competition. MusicNT Manager Mark Smith also spoke at the launch. (View photo gallery here.)

The aim of the competition is “to unearth the best unsigned Indigenous act in the country”.

Busby Marou performed at the launch in Sydney.

One act will be selected, and flown to perform at the Awards ceremony.

Unsigned Indigenous acts can now upload their tracks to triplejunearthed.com. One outstanding act – to be selected by the triple j team – will win the opportunity to perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards – aka the ‘NIMAs’ – in Darwin on August 11, 2012.

To be in the running Indigenous artists need to have 2 tracks uploaded on the Unearthed site before midnight Sunday July 1st, 2012.

Over the years, triple j has played a significant role in breaking Indigenous acts into the mainstream music landscape. triple j Unearthed Executive Producer Steph Carrick said, “we are thrilled to be partnering with the NIMAs to encourage Indigenous acts to upload their music to the site. “

“Not only could they find themselves playing at the NIMAs, but by being part of Unearthed all artists will have the possibility of airplay on our digital radio station and on triple j. We can’t wait to see what great new talent we’ll find!”

triple j Weekends Presenter Maggie Collins added, “this initiative between triple j Unearthed and the National Indigenous Music Awards will unearth talent from every corner of the country. We hope to find some hidden gems out there just on the cusp of breaking through!”

MusicNT Manager Mark Smith said, “this is a significant moment in Indigenous music and I’d like to thank triple j for getting involved.”

“Importantly I cannot thank enough, all the Indigenous radio stations and media in general who have tirelessly supported and promoted Indigenous artists for decades, giving them airtime, accolades and importantly, recognition and encouragement.”

He added, “without this support we would not be here today. This initiative is a pivotal point in the journey of Indigenous music”.

The winner of the NIMAs triple j Unearthed competition will be flown from anywhere in Australia, and given two nights accommodation in Darwin, as well as promotion on triple j Unearthed digital radio and on triple j.

They will also attend the 2012 iNTune Music Conference in Darwin.

While the rest of the NIMAs line up is still under wraps for the moment (the full line up will be released in June!), The Medics (Qld) and multi-award winning Yabu Band (WA) have been announced for this year’s NIMAs concert.

Also joining them will be Northern Territory rising star Rrawun Maymuru, winner of the 2011 ‘New Talent of the Year’ NIMA Award, who will perform for the first time on the NIMAs stage with his band, East Journey.

Promising a showcase of emerging and established acts, the NIMAs will bring together contemporary Indigenous artists from all music genres. Nominations are now open for the National Indigenous Music Awards, online at nima.musicnt.com.au, closing COB June 29, 2012.

Everyone is encouraged to nominate in the four national categories of ‘Act’, ‘Album’, ‘Song’ and ‘New Talent Of The Year’. Dates to remember…

• May 16 – Unsigned Indigenous acts can upload their tracks to triplejunearthed.com
• June 27 – Full NIMAs line up announced
• June 29 – National Indigenous Music Awards nominations close
• July 1 – triple j Unearthed competition closes
• July 5 – triple j/NIMAs Unearthed Winner announced
• August 11 – NIMAs Ceremony & Concert, Darwin Amphitheatre, Northern Territory.

Plus…

• View the full gallery of photos from the Competition launch in Brisbane here.
  
• Read more about the NIMAS here.
• Read more about the Competition at triple j Music News.
  
• Visit the official NIMAs website and Facebook page.
• Visit triple j Unearthed.

Words/Sources: AUM, triple j music news, NIMAs website. Additional: Megan Spencer, MusicNT.

Splendour in the grass.. Emma Rowe & The Two Other Guys.

By Territory standards, Darwin singer Emma Rowe has had a meteoric rise as a professional musician and singer.

Although she has been studying music most of her life, Emma didn’t really gig with a band until she formed her own in 2011, Emma Rowe & The Two Other Guys, with Steve Lees & Jay Wright (both ex-ZEDMAJOR). Just out of high school she enrolled as an undergrad in the CDU Bachelor of Creative Studies, to study music.

She was also one of the competitors in the 2011 Darwin heat of the Telstra Road To Discovery, a nationally recognised competition charged with discovering unsung performers and songwriters all over Australia. She got to perform on the same stage as local talents Yuliana Pascoe, Jillaine Jones and previous winner of the TRTD Songwriting Award, David Garnham (another long-time Darwin transplant).

Not long after a handful of gigs at Darwin artist-run venues Happy Yess and The Chippo, Emma and her band were booked to support profile acts, Big Scary from Melbourne and English punk-folk legend, Frank Turner.

Then soon after that (!), they were selected as one of the four local bands to open Darwin’s major annual music festival, BASSINTHEGRASS 2012 (alongside Skarlett, and the NT ‘Battle of the School Bands’ winners N.E.A.L. Boys and Elcah Rane).

Emma Rowe & The Two Other Guys are also one of seventeen local acts who will be showcasing to a local and national audience, in town for Music NT’s Original Recipe Music Festival in June 2012. Not bad for a musician barely out of her teens and who hated having music lessons as a kid!

Determination, and the open-mindedness of some local young promoters, have played a part in Emma’s rise so far, as has her aim to get out to the public an ambitious demo CD recording come June. Emma is also looking forward to learning more from her experiences on stage.

Emma Rowe found time to speak to MusicNT in what is becoming a very busy music schedule…

On the bill for BASS.

Music NT: Can you please tell us a bit about how you and “The Two Other Guys” – came to be?

Emma Rowe: We began gigging in late 2011. I knew both Steve (bassist) and Jay (drummer) from ZEDMAJOR.

We began jamming and soon enough we were doing gigs at The Chippo and Happy Yess! Then we were fortunate enough to score the support spot for Big Scary, Frank Turner and more recently BASSINTHEGRASS!

MuNT: And your own background as a musician?

ER: I’ve been singing and playing guitar for approximately 6 years. I started lessons at Amadeus Music School which – funnily enough – I was reluctant to attend as my mother forced me to get lessons.

But I grew to enjoy them very quickly so I continued to study music up to Year 12 at Darwin High School. I am currently in my final year studying the Bachelor of Creative Arts and Industries (Music) at CDU.

MuNT: On your bio it says that you are a “a nationally recognized songwriter” – can you fill in the details for us about that?

ER: I have competed in the Telstra Road to Discovery and I have done a few gigs in South Australia.

MuNT: Did you have any particular music mentors or teachers growing up?

ER: All of my teachers and mentors along the course of my musical ‘career’ have been huge influences on me. And the music I’ve made – and continue to make – to this day, is a reflection of what I have learned from each and every one of them. That and my mum!

MuNT: Musically, who would you say has been your biggest influence – and why?

ER: Initially, I was influenced to play by Missy Higgins. She’s amazing. She made me want to write.

My music taste is very eclectic: throughout the years artists like Lily Allen, Kate Nash, Duffy, Tracy Chapman, Regina Spektor, PJ Harvey, Paramore, Sandi Thom and Vanessa Amorosi have also heavily influenced me.

Currently I am being very influenced by Florence and The Machine, Adele, Kimbra, Bluejuice and Lana Del Rey – just to name a few!

MuNT: And who are some of your favorite NT artists?

ER: I love seeing local gigs. The Darwin music scene is bursting at the seams with talent, which makes me really proud to be a part of it.

Some of my favourites include Sietta, Dave Garnham, Green Stone Garden, Jasmine Revolution, Abbey Rose, Black Can Clan, Skarlett and Room 1.05.

2012 Australia Day gig..

MuNT: What do you learn about yourself when you go out on a stage and perform live?

ER: That I crave structure – I can’t improvise! So I’ve recently gotten into the habit of writing what I ‘m going to say and when I’m going to say it as part of the set list.

MuNT: And you’re studying at the CDU Music course – how has that been for you?

ER: It’s absolutely fantastic and I would (and do!) recommend it for all musicians who want to study at university.

It’s been a really great stepping stone for me – and it’s in the comfort of my own home! After this year, I will have a Bachelor, degree which will be a great tool for me to use in the future; possibly for applying to university elsewhere.

MuNT: What have you learned most from it?

ER: As part of my degree I’m specializing in vocals. So the most I have learned certainly involves my singing. My voice has improved immensely and will continue to improve as long as I keep singing! The vocal lecturer at CDU (Paolo Fabris) is amazing and I will always be appreciative of what he’s done for me, not only vocally but also for my confidence.

BASSPLAYERINTHEGRASS

MuNT: Where are you from ?

ER: I was born in Adelaide; my whole family is from there. We moved up here when I was 10 years old and we never left! I think it’s safe to say now that I’m a Territorian…

MuNT: When did you have your first gig – and can you tell us about it? Was it terrifying, exciting – or both?!

ER: My first gig was absolutely traumatizing, but whose isn’t?!

It was at the Nightcliff Markets for Amadeus Music School. I was 15. I played the cheap $70 classical guitar my mum had bought me, and I played/sang an original song. I am proud to say I’ve been playing originals ever since my first gig. I was so nervous before that gig; I literally didn’t speak to anyone all morning.

MuNT: What do you love about playing music?

ER: It has a great culture, and you meet great people. Music is (arguably) the most universal art form. It brings people together and it has incredible power over people. A lot of musicians find it to be really therapeutic and it’s a healthy way to express yourself.

MuNT: How would you describe your sound and what do you write songs about?

ER: Whenever people ask me to describe my sound, I say, “You tell me!” because the fact is, I don’t listen to my music, I just play it.

But I suppose you could say it’s a little bit blues, a little bit rock, a little bit indie and a little bit of pop!

I write songs about everything and nothing. Mostly phenomena from my imagination.

MuNT: You’ve not been playing as a band that long, but you have supported some pretty big names so far – Frank Turner, Big Scary – how did those gigs come about?

ER: My bass player Steve and I manage the band, and via the gigs we have done over the past few months we have connected with musicians, bands and promoters. There has been a big rise in interstate and international acts through Darwin and a lot more promoters in town bringing good music to the community. NOOK Events have been amazing, they have continued to grow it by brining up acts like Big Scary (Melbourne), Husky (Melb), The Beez (Germany) which has given local bands a chance to support and play these huge shows.

Another promoter who has done a lot for the community is Nico Liegme; he has supported us as a band and the scene, and is always there to give opportunities for new bands.

MuNT: And how did you feel when you got selected to play this year’s BASSINTHEGRASS? What are you hoping to get from the experience?

ER: We were ecstatic. It’s going to be an awesome experience! We are hoping to gain exposure, experience and to spark some kind of conversation with the interstate acts!

MuNT: And do you feel well-supported as a musician in Darwin?

ER: Culturally, I feel very well supported because the Darwin music scene is a community, not a competition.

All along the watchtower..

MuNT: You have recorded a demo – what kind of songs are on it? And what do you plan to do next as far as recordings go – turning that into an album on the cards?

ER: I honestly haven’t thought that far ahead. The songs that are on it are most of the songs we play live.

It was a magnificent recording experience and we’re really excited for the CD launch on the June 8 at the Railway Club. (We’ll be supported by Jasmine Revolution, Room 1.05 and Dave Garnham).

MuNT: Please finish this sentence: “In five years time Emma Rowe will be…”

ER: 25..!

• Emma Rowe & The Two Other Guys play BASSINTHEGRASS on Saturday May 26 and launch their demo CD on June 8 at Darwin Railway Club.
• Visit Emma Rowe & The Two Other Guys on Facebook.
• Read more about Emma Rowe in the NT News.

Words: Megan Spencer. Thanks to Emma Rowe for the interview!

MusicNT is delighted to make the first announcement of speakers, for the 2012 Darwin iNTune Music Conference!

Lars Brandle – Billboard Magazine, The Music Network

Heath Johns – Director of A’nR, Universal Music Publishing

Stephanie Carrick – triple j unearthed

Leigh Treweek – Street Press Australia

Nick O’Byrne – AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association)

Jaddan Comerford – Staple Group

Graham Ashton – Footstomp Music, Big Sound

iNTune Music Conference Darwin is now in its fourth year, and will take place August 10-11, 2012. (iNTune is also held annually in Alice Springs, later in September).

iNTune is the most important music industry event held in the Northern Territory, with some of the biggest names in the Australian music business attending as speakers, and to scope out local Territory music talent.

In 2011 over 20 interstate guests – including Michael Chugg, Urthboy, John Watson and music writer Iain Sheddon – spoke at the three-day event in Darwin, which in 2012 will again be held at the Medina Vibe Hotel & Conference Centre at Darwin Waterfront.

With a rising national profile, iNTune is rapidly becoming one of Australia’s most well-regarded and enjoyable music industry conferences.

The event also features practical workshops for musicians, music showcases – known as ‘The Darwin Showbag’ – vital industry speaker sessions, listening sessions, round tables and ‘one-on-ones’.

It also coincides with the annual National Indigenous Music Awards (to be held this year on August 11 at Darwin Amphitheatre), fast-becoming one of Australia’s biggest nights in Indigenous music!

Registration for iNTune Darwin is available NOW online with early-bird discount rates applicable until June 30.

Registration allows entry to all iNTune Conference Sessions and Music Showcase events. The Individual early-bird rate is $50, and for Bands (up to 4 members, early-bird rate), $120.

Be the first to register! This is an exciting opportunity to hear and meet some of the most dynamic and connected members of the national music industry.

But be warned – iNTune Darwin sells out! So don’t miss out! Visit this link to register now.

And stay iNTuned to the Music NT website as further speaker announcements are made!

• Register for iNTune Darwin 2012 here. Early-bird discount rates until June 30.
  
• Read more about iNTune here.
• Read more about iNTune Darwin 2011 here and here.
• See photos from iNTune Darwin 2011 here.

Words: Megan Spencer

The Territory bands and artists for the Original Recipe Music Festival performer showcases have been announced!

They are: Room 105, Burrfoot, Abbey Rose, Underbelle, Tracey Bunn, Kris Keogh, Green Stone Garden, The Bloody Marys, Jasmine Revolution, Leah Flanagan, Skarlett, Sex In The Desert, Emma Rowe & The Two Other Guys, Colin Lille, The Wicked Garden, Mark Hilton and Black Can Clan.

The seventeen acts were selected via a submission process, and will perform as part of music showcases across the weekend of the Original Recipe Music Festival, June 15 – 17, at two Darwin venues, Happy Yess and Darwin Railway Club.

Presented by MusicNT, Original Recipe is
 
three-day 
festival
 of
 live 
music,
 awards, practical workshops and 
professional 
development 
opportunities.

Local and interstate audiences will be able to see some of the Territory’s most exciting and progressive music acts as part of the Festival program.

Original Recipe also features the inaugural NT Song Of The Year Awards, which supports, acknowledges and celebrates the work of local musicians, and provides a platform for Territory songwriters to promote their skills and songs. The artists chosen to perform as part of the Original Recipe program (listed above), will receive access to the NT Song Of The Year Awards – held on June 15 at the NT Museum & Art Gallery (MAGNT) – and tickets to any Original Recipe festival event produced by Music NT.

Music NT Manager Mark Smith  says Original Recipe is “a key event – a great opportunity designed to to give Northern Territory music acts the national and local exposure to audiences and industry they deserve.”

An added benefit of the program is that it provides further career and developmental opportunities, within the local and national music industries.

MusicNT would also like to gratefully acknowledge Original Recipe sponsors and supporters, the Northern Territory Government, the Australian Government and Australia Council, 105.7 ABC Darwin, APRA/AMCOS, Charles Darwin University and Southern Cross Television.

• There’s still time to nominate for the NT Song Of The Year Awards too – entries close May 18! Hit this link to get started!
• Read more about Original Recipe here.

Words: Megan Spencer. Source: Music NT.

Love will get you in the end... Ilona Harker.

Earlier this year, musician Ilona Harker spent some time in her hometown of Darwin, a place she hadn’t visited for a very long time.

Spirited off to NSW when she was a nipper, recently she came back to re-connect with the place she calls home, to kick-start research for a musical theatre piece based on her early years in the NT (which she hopes will make it into the 2012 Darwin Festival program), and… To make some music.

She left an impression on the locals, who caught her cabaret-style, uke-loving shows at Happy Yess music club, Darwin Railway Club and Darwin Ski Club, in March/April.

Inspired by the musicians she met – and rekindling her love for the north – Ilona has taken much back with her to Byron Bay, where she is recording a double album. She’s also just released a new music video, ‘I’ll Pick You Up’.

She certainly wasn’t out of place amongst the ‘wild-child’, uke-loving alt.throng at Happy Yess, one of the Northern Territory’s few original live music clubs that actively fosters the development of free-spirited experimentation and unbridled musical FUN. The crowd didn’t mind either, happy to embrace this fallen Darwinian back into the fold when she performed, supported by two much-loved, long-term Territory transplants, Dave Garnham & Emma Stocker.

Having been “born and bred in the far Northern Territory”, Ilona says her music “reflects the depths and wilds of this frontier landscape.” Certainly her twang-tinged crooning wouldn’t be out of place on one of Darwin’s sweaty, steamy stages during the build up, nor for that matter on the soundtrack of a David Lynch nightmare movie (think Wild At Heart). No wonder she likes to describe her music as “Folk-Noir”, or “Border Sounds”.

Sometime country grrrl, Ilona Harker.

On her travels through music (with hip hop outfit Butterfingers, all-grrl country band Sugartown), and overseas (where she met Nouvelle Vague producer Marc Collin), Ilona is finally finding her own voice, a seductive, smokey one at that.

It’s a voice which Tom Waits might be proud of too, an artist to whom she’s been compared.

Inspired, Ilona’s aim is to keep the reconnection with Darwin going, and to come back home when recording and life commitments don’t get in the way.

(Like, gigs at the Big Day Out, Byron BluesFest and Mullum Music Festival where she had “crowds jumping”… Or, living up to the demands of voracious alter-ego, ‘Mae Wilde’. More on that later..)

For now at least, we’re claiming her. Here is Ilona Harker’s NT music story.

Music NT: “Born and bred in Darwin” – can you please fill us in?

Ilona Harker:I was born in the Darwin at Darwin Base Hospital.

My Dad was a firey and my mum was an artist and clothing designer. I had two older sisters and I went to Marrara Christian School then to Jingli Primary when the school was deemed a little ‘too nutty’ – even for my family!

When I was 10 I left Darwin for Armidale in NSW. That year there was a massive snowstorm there, and I froze. I still don’t like the cold even now.

MuNT: When did you first pick up a musical instrument? And who taught you?

IH: Due to my parents being really good at making babies, by the time I was starting to learn an instrument I had two younger siblings as well. So being the middle child I didn’t get any musical training except for the recorder – which by the way, I think should be banned under the Geneva Convention!

So I am self-taught, on guitar and ukeule.

MuNT: When did you first start making music ‘publicly’?

IH: I just used to sing songs to my family and in the garden. My first song was called ‘Beautiful Sunday’, with the line repeated over and over, ‘Beautiful Sunday, I love you noooooowwww’ ad nauseum…

MuNT: What instruments do you play? And what do you love about the uke?

IH: I play guitar and uke. I love how transportable the uke is. You can take it anywhere and people always smile (except perhaps a heavy metal convention..) Now there’s a thought; a ‘heavy metal uke off’!

MuNT: Who are some of the other NT musicians that you have worked with/collaborated with?

IH: Okay, so I was too young when I was living in Darwin to work with others (I was 10),  but I did really enjoy working with Emma Stocker and Dave Garnham whilst I was home in March/April of this year.

MuNT: How would you describe the music you make now? And has it changed much from when you first started out?

IH: The music I make now is ever-evolving as I see/feel/hear different things as I get older.

I’m really enjoying a more driven guitar sound with my last few songs, which is a break from the lyric-based dark folk-noir tunes I have been doing.

My music has changed greatly from ‘Beautiful Sunday’ when I was five, to hip-hop in my 20s, to the country-folk feel I  have now.

Darwin bound.. Ilona Harker.

MuNT: Who are some of your favorite NT artists?

IH: I think Emma Stocker and Dave Garnham are national treasures. Emma has a playfulness and a unique writing style that melds beautifully with her bass, and Dave’s lyrics blow me away – “she was colder than a spring in Armidale” was one amazing line, if I remember correctly.

Oh – and also Leah Flanagan.

MuNT: You have a pretty eclectic music background which includes country, folk and hip hop.. Are you a musical adventurer?

IH: Yes; intrepid and foolish all at once.

MuNT: How do you think living in Darwin has influenced the sound of your music – and spirit?

IH: I honestly couldn’t have answered that until I revisited for the first time in 25 years in March/April but I now I know that the north does things to your soul.

It grounds you and earths you. There is a genuineness that I so admire in music that I see in everyday folk in Darwin.

I think part of my wild nature is because I am a child of Darwin. It smacked me like a train as soon as I walked off the plane. I knew this was my home.

MuNT: What recordings have you done so far?

IH: I have played on a few Butterfingers albums and I have recorded a CD called That Which Lasts.

MuNT: You’re working on a show about ‘coming home’ to the NT, your childhood, and some of the ‘issues’ you dealt with then.. Can you tell us a bit about it, and where we will be able to see the show? Is it theatre, does it have music..?

IH: All of the above! It’s basically a musical theatre show dealing with my childhood, as my Dad was mentally ill and quite violent. And because he was a police officer no-one did anything.

So all these years later I am telling my story about how I turned a traumatic childhood into a creative vibrant adulthood!

There will be action, suspense, love, tears, songs, puppetry, archival footage – everything but dancing!

Bascically, it’s about the journey of forgiveness and redemption. My dad has given me permission to write his story as he understands that this is part of my healing.

I am writing it for Darwin Festival (I haven’t been approved yet), and for Adelaide Fringe and finally Edinburgh.  It will be premiered at the Byron Community Centre.

Wild at heart.. Illona Harker.

MuNT: What are your impressions of making music in Darwin?

IH: It’s a beautiful supportive artistic scene with acceptance and a big booming heart.

There aren’t enough original live music venues and musicians should be paid more for original music not cover bands.

I guess for me, it’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship so I will be dipping in and out of like an oasis spa on a hot day.

New album commitment may override my wish to spend more time there for now, but I intend to go there whenever I can as I feel really connected with the place and the people.

MuNT: What’s next for you recording-wise? And any tours or upcoming gigs you can let us know about?

IH: Oh it’s so exciting… A new double album! And I will tour Australia – including the NT – after this.

MuNT: Finally.. who is Mae Wilde?!

IH: She is the love child of Mae West’s and Oscar Wilde. She is an ‘alter ego’ I created for cabaret and Emceeing.

She is also a bit of a hussy and should be kept at arms-length from your single male friends and the liquor cabinet…

• Stay up-to-date with news about Ilona’s show ‘Coming Home’ on her official website.
• Watch Ilona’s music video, ‘I’ll Pick You Up’.
• Listen to Ilona’s music on Unearthed.

Words: Megan Spencer. Thanks to Ilona Harker for the interview!

Kitchen table collective.. Country Town Collective 'cooking' in the kitchen.

One of the things you notice a lot about Territory music is that it is full of quiet achievers. Those who go about their business – the business of music making – without too much of a fuss or fanfare.

When the mantra for any business – music or otherwise – is “do good things and talk about them”, this might sound foolhardy. For musicians to not make a big deal out of what they do best? It doesn’t sound particularly career-minded..

True, but that’s what makes it such an interesting place to make music. And we all know there’s more than one way to ‘skin’ a proverbial.. Living a long way from anywhere means you need to be resourceful, not bloody-minded. Sometimes, taking your boots off and going through the back door quietly is far more effective than kicking in the front door, jack boots on, with a bang loud enough to wake the dead.

Hands down, Alice Rae is one of Territory music’s most effective ‘quiet achievers’. Looking at her you’d never know that she, a) was in one of Darwin’s most-loved alt.folk bands, or b) had downed acoustic guitars for electric, in a recent quest for Dylan-esque ‘rock’ transformation…

Alice Rae on stage in Adelaide. Pic: Keith Bignall

Thoughtful, graceful and a self-confessed “academic”, without a sound Alice made one of the Territory’s biggest interstate music tours happen, twice (Long Way To The Top End to Fuse Festival, Adelaide, 2009 & 2011).

She also fronts of one of Darwin’s most musically astute outfits, Country Town Collective.

After seven years together in two cities (Adelaide, Darwin), and a number of member ‘re-configurations’, she and Country Town Collective will release their first album in October, Back When Never, with the first single launch in June.

Babies and busy-ness might have slowed down their ‘commercial trajectory’, but it didn’t prevent them from this year recording what is very likely to be their breakthrough CD, to a ‘DIG Radio demographic – a national one at that – happily supported by ABC Local Radio. (Single ‘Why Baby’ was a recent feature song.)

Between the Collective’s 6-10 members – some of the NT’s most talented musicians and songwriters too – they have managed to fashion an album recorded just the way they always wanted, in a luscious environment that did their songs justice, (and didn’t break the bank either). Through the back door as it were.

Theirs is a good story, about doing good things and making good music. Alice Rae spoke to Music NT about it…

Music NT: Please tell us about your new album, ‘Back When Never’; how and why did it come about?

Alice Rae: This is the album we’ve been wanting to make for a few years now. Our first CD – EP Houses which we released in 2009 – was a collection of recordings we made, some with the Adelaide version of CTC, some solo (me), and some with the Darwin CTC.

The quality was variable. We really wanted to make an album ‘as a band’, from start to finish.

MuNT: Who played on Back When Never  -and engineered/produced it?

AR: It’s been engineered and produced by my good friend Alex Carpenter, who was in the Adelaide CTC and who has been living in New York City for a few years now. He has done a simply amazing job, going well above and beyond the call of duty to find the sounds we wanted!

Who played on it? Kim Orchard and Robin Bugden on guitars, myself on electric bass, Melanie Reid on flute and Anja Tinapple and Adrian Riessen sharing duties on drums.

Anja, Mel and I all sing. Jack Tinapple also joined us for a few days to add some super-brilliant harp solos on several tracks!

Starry, starry night in Adelaide. Pic: Keith Bignall.

MuNT: Where did you record the album?

AR: Alex and I studied music together at Adelaide Uni – back in the 90s! – so we thought we’d ask Stephen Whittington, an amazing mentor to both of us, if we could record in the Electronic Music Unit (EMU) studios at the University.

It was just brilliant as we had access to some great recording gear, and we got to spend a week pretty much 24/7 in the studio (and when not in the studio, eating out in Adelaide’s best restaurants!)

MuNT: What inspired the songs? And who wrote them?

AR: For this album the band co-wrote 3 songs: ‘I Suppose’, ‘Uphill’ and ‘The Mill’. The other songs I wrote over the past few years and the band jammed until we came up with the present arrangements.

As to what inspired the songs – some are autobiographical, but quite a few are not, and that is new for me.

‘The Mill’ for example, is loosely inspired by a German fairytale called ‘Krabat’ by Ottfried Preussler (recently made into a film!) It’s very gothic.

‘Why Baby’ was inspired by hearing some friends play a Led Zepplin cover at the Governer Hindmarsh front bar Wednesday jam night… I can’t actually remember what song it was but I just thought “Hey, I want to write something loud and hollering like that!”

Making cookies; making music. Country Town Collective.

MuNT: Would you give us a bit of insight into the CTC’s songwriting process? Is it a group collaboration, or do one or two of you write?

AR: We have only recently started writing songs as a band and we are pretty happy with the results! We throw out some ideas, jam and see what happens. They might be musical ideas or conceptual. I usually get a grip on the lyrics over a few months after the music appears.

When I write songs by myself, I have to be inspired by something new, whether lyrical, musical or conceptual… Some quirky idea just grabs my imagination and I think, “it would be so cool to write a song with this…”

I try to make no two songs the same in terms of mood and structure – which keeps things interesting!

MuNT: Since you last recorded together as a group, what changes have taken place in your lives?

AR: There have been 3 ‘band babies’ born in the last 2 years – one in Adelaide and two in Darwin!! That has certainly changed the dynamic of rehearsals and gigs. For a while we were bringing bubs along to Happy Yess [music club].

MuNT: You’ve been together for a while now; why has it taken you so long to record a debut album?

AR: We all have really busy lives and we play music because we enjoy it, not as a career. We really believe in what we do artistically though, so we are just so happy to have finally found the time and resources to make this album. It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a while now!

MuNT: Can you tell us about the sound of the album – how would you describe it? And do you think your sound as a collective has changed over time?

AR: ‘Sweet meets rock meets gothic fairytale, with a bit of blues thrown in’ – make of that what you will!

We have always been a bit hard to pin down. To break it down; there are a couple of country songs, two blues tunes, a few rock tunes and some more folky stuff.

I guess the rocky stuff is where we’ve been going as a band, pretty much as soon as Robin and I switched instruments (me to bass, Robin to guitar), and then when we turned in the acoustic guitars for the electric.

MuNT: What was the experience for you like, making this album?

AR: It was a dream come true – a really fun time, hard work but so rewarding.

We just felt like everything was coming together, and after a lot of years playing together and planning and rehearsing, it felt like we were finally doing the songs justice.

Country Town Collective.

Some of these songs, we’ve recorded maybe 3 or 4 times already before, but we just didn’t feel like the versions we had, captured the essence of the song. Now we feel like we’ve got it.

MuNT: Who would you say are the band’s musical influences?

AR: Again – it varies! Speaking only for myself I would say The Beatles, PJ Harvey, Bjork, Janis Joplin, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jeff Buckley…. These are the artists I have listened to over and over..

MuNT: ‘Why Baby’ was played as a feature song on ABC Darwin recently, and you’ve also had it and another song ‘Nothing Changes’ supported through Amrap’s online music catalogue for community radio, AirIt. That must have been rewarding for you?

AR: We were absolutely over the moon that ABC Darwin wanted to play the song, and so grateful for their support! We couldn’t have asked for a better start to getting the album out there…

I had a definite plan to apply to get stuff onto AirIt; we had a few tracks from our first CD released this way and a great response from community radio, played by about 30 stations around the country. It’s such a great program, I really recommend other NT artists to look at it!

MuNT: Do you think you are gaining a new audience, specially through digital avenues?

AR: I haven’t got much of an impression of this yet. I think our audience is actually more baby boomer generation, so maybe you’d be more likely to hear us through the radio and find us that way.

We do want to get the album on iTunes and make it available for digital download, so hopefully that will allow for a greater audience base.

MuNT: How will you distribute the album?

AR: Online through digital delivery; you will also be able to purchase a hard copy online and get it posted to you. And of course you will be able to buy it at gigs!

MuNT: What hopes do you have for the album? And do you have plans to tour/gig to support it?

AR: We really want to push the album to radio, as so many of the songs we feel are super-‘radio friendly’! That’s been our main goal this time around. We also plan to launch the album in Darwin and tour to at least a few major cities – Adelaide and Melbourne we hope – and then we’ll look at where else we can get to.

MuNT: What do you love about songwriting? And making music?

AR: For me, it’s just the pure creative process. Songwriting is a medium I feel really comfortable working in. In ‘music and words’ is pretty much how I think. These days I lean more towards the words side but back in the day I studied music composition at Uni and would literally just wander around the campus thinking in music.

Songs to me are like poems; they get something unconscious out of your head and transform that into something beautiful.

MuNT: What inspires the band as a whole?

AR: I think really, we just love the creative and social aspects of the band. We just enjoy playing music together and hanging out. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t do it!

MuNT: What do you like about making music in the Territory?

AR: There is just no pressure to make music as a commercial enterprise. It’s really nourishing for the soul to be surrounded by creative people who just want to create for the sake of making beautiful things.

Lounge Room Junkies... CTC recording & writing 'Back When Never'.

MuNT: What do you find ‘challenging’ about it..?!

AR: I used to think that the distance from other cities was challenging. I’m not sure, now, that I mind that so much. I feel like I have reached a really nice place these days, where the music we’re making is taking on a life of its own, and people are hearing it – but without any pressure for it to be more than it is.

MuNT: Do you thing the CTC is a product of the NT? As in, in other capital cities, do you think it would be possible to be in a band like the CTC, and keep it workable over time?

AR: It’s hard to say. Perhaps in other regional centres you could do something similar… I like to think that Countyr Town Collective has been able to flourish because of the unique factors of the NT..

And for me personally, meeting the people in the band has been the best part of it (it changed my life in fact!)

MuNT: Please finish this sentence: “In five year’s time the CTC will be…”

AR: … Reminiscing about how great 2012 was! : )

• Visit Country Town Collective on Facebook
• And their official website
• Back when Never will be available from October 2012.
• Single launch for ‘Why Baby’ is Friday June 1st at Darwin Railway Club. Event details here.
• Visit AirIt.

Words: Megan Spencer. Many thanks to Alice Rae for the fantastic interview!

Territory superstar Jessica Mauboy front & centre with The Sapphires. Pic: Facebook

Territory singer Jessica Mauboy’s new film ‘The Sapphires’ will have a “gala world premiere” at the 2012 Cannes International Film Festival.

It will screen in the prestigious midnight slot on Saturday May 19.

The film also stars two other Territorian singers/performers, “NIDA graduates” Miranda Tapsell, Shari Sebbens, and popular Australian actor, Deborah Mailman.

Based on a true story – and a successful play by Tony Briggs – the Australian-international co-production brings to the screen the story of four Indigenous female singers who were “plucked from obscurity” in 1968 to entertain Australian troops in the Vietnam War.

“Set against the social upheaval of the late 1960s”, Mauboy plays Julie, one of four young women transformed into soul singers in the “cutthroat music business”, after being discovered living on a “remote Aboriginal mission”.

It has been 14 years since an Australian film has premiered in the “prestigious Saturday slot” at Cannes, the world’s most famous film festival.

According to the Courier-Mail, “only three other Australian films” have done so previously:  Strictly Ballroom (1992), Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (1994) and Dark City (1998).

Darwin dance diva Jessica Mauboy and her co-stars sing Motown classics throughout the film, which is directed by Sydney filmmaker, Wayne Blair.

Quoted in The Australian, of her role Mauboy said, “It’s such an inspirational film and I can’t wait for people to see it.”

It comes on the back of appearances in award-winning movie musical Bran Nue Dae and a cameo in the last series of Underbelly, Razor.

Already touted as a “feelgood” blockbuster, The Sapphires is scheduled for national release in Australia in August.

• Visit Jessica Mauboy’s official website.
• Visit The Sapphires Facebook page

Words: Megan Spencer. Sources: Hopscotch Films media release, Screen Australia media release, Goalpost Pictures website, Courier-Mail, The Australian, NT News, Festival de Cannes website.