So, yeah, shockingly it sounds like he’s not ready to give me an exclusive on the new album name and release date. What he is happy to talk about, though, is the newest music that we
Tame Impala
have heard, and how it came to be. Like ‘Patience’, for instance, where Parker was excited to debut his newly acquired skill of playing the piano with two hands. When I ask if he had made a conscious effort to master the keys for this song he replies, ‘Oh, not a conscious effort. Barely anything I do with a conscious effort. But it definitely was a little celebration of my new ability to use two hands on the piano, for sure!’ The song kind of grew from there. ‘I had the piano riff, but I think it was going to be for something else—I probably imagined that piano riff being for a different kind of song, maybe like R&B or something, and then I got really into this idea of starting a song with big bold piano, like a really overconfident stadium rock sort of sound, you know? So that song just builds off that, and the rest is just me doing what I do, messing around in the studio trying different things.’ And there goes the other card, right up back to the chest again.
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A V A I L A B L E AT
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FRIDAY INTRO Can you believe we’re at Splendour again? Seems like only exactly this time last year we were all here having the times of our lives– and look, here we are again, Splendouring in the Grasses. If you’re reading this, it means you probably bought a ticket, and if you bought a ticket, you know how good this year’s line-up is. There’s Tame Impala, Childish Gambino, Chance the Rapper, Nirvana, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Claude Debussy, Keith Stink & The Trash Boys, Ernest Goes Mental, Sandpaper Sally, DMX, The Daryl Somers Bongo Orchestra, Electric Greg, Give Me Your Shoes, Mum Said I’m Not Allowed to Get Wet, Bike Racks 3:30, Chris Fuck & The Challengers, Dr. Funky Tits, Lil’ Pippy, Oingo Boingo, The Darts Night Massacre, Sorrowful Quim, Lil’ Testy, Stabbing Barry, MBS (My Brown Secret), For the Love of Puzzles, Nitty Trish & The Combs, Lil’ Chilly, Chance of Wayne, Lord Wondercock, Fertile Myrtle, The Spin Doctors, Glenda’s Hot Mistake, Oh Great–It’s The Jazz Cops, and over 100 other amazing acts! No doubt about it, you, me and the other 42,498 people are in for a very special weekend. Welcome to Friday!
Intro
FRIDAY 19TH JULY SET TIMES Amphitheatre Tones and I 12.00 – 12.30 A Swayze. & The Ghosts 12.45 – 1.15 Slaves 1.35 – 2.15 Welcome to Country 2.45 – 3.15 Wolfmother 3.15 – 4.00 FIDLAR 4.30 – 5.30 Hayden James 6.00 – 7.00 Santigold 7.30 – 8.30 Foals 9.00 – 10.00 Tame Impala 10.45 – 12.00 Mix Up Lastlings 12.15 – 1.00 Merph 1.00 – 1.30 The Midnight 1.30 – 2.15 Merph 2.15 – 2.45 Kaiit 2.45 – 3.30 Body Promise 3.30 – 4.00 K Flay 4.00 – 4.45 Body Promise 4.45 – 5.30 Dave 5.30 – 6.15 Body Promise 6.15 – 7.00 Winston Surfshirt 7.00 – 8.00 DJ Klasik 8.00 – 8.45 Broods 8.45 – 9.45 DJ Klasik 9.45 – 10.30 Russ 10.30 – 11.30 GW McLennan Tyne-James Organ 12.30 – 1.15 Hatchie 1.45 – 2.30 Sam Fender 3.00 – 3.45 Thelma Plum 4.15 – 5.00 Odette 5.30 – 6.30 Dermot Kennedy 7.00 – 8.00 Meg Mac 8.30 – 9.30 Warpaint 10.00 – 11.00 Tiny Dancer Rebel Yell (DJ Set) 4.30 – 5.30 Skin On Skin 5.30 – 6.30 Jennifer Loveless 6.30 – 8.00 Andy Garvey 8.00 – 10.00 Nathan Micay 10.00 – 12.00 Seb Wildblood 12.00 – 2.00
ROAD MAP Here we go again. Splendour. In. The. Grass. Are you ready? Planning is key in 2019. Why? Because there are 20% extra people here this year, so it’s likely there are people more prepared than you that will get into a better position to see your favourite band than you will. Strap in. Let’s go. Now, there’s a lot to see at Splendour– science experiments, kebabs, craft, you name it–but I’m here for one reason only. To provide a guide to good music. (Not to say the people/bands/artists who don’t appear in this guide don’t play good music, they do. I just have 365 words to steer you around the festival). Let’s get going with Tasmanian rock lords A. Swayze & The Ghosts, it’s a powerful start but you’ll need the adrenaline for this marathon. Stick around for Slaves to really break in the ear drums for SITG 19. Let’s turn our attention now to the amazing Kaiit, a welcome gear change and soothing entrance into the early evening. Grab a drink, high five your friends and prepare for the high-paced progression through Friday night. If you want to see a stadium-filling rock band, head to Wolfmother for old times’ sake, or grab a drink and weigh up what’s next: K Flay, FIDLAR or Thelma Plum, flip a three-sided coin and make up your own mind here. But whatever you do, be ready for Dave at 5:00 pm, and be sure to YouTube Alex and Dave at Glastonbury before his show, but don’t try and replicate, it’s been done, don’t make it weird. Here’s where it gets tricky: limited time, lots of acts to see. There’s no time to breathe between Hayden James, Winston Surfshirt, and Santigold–and they’re all must sees. By now you’ve seen more live music than most do in a year, and you’ve still got the big acts to finish on. Stretch your legs, knock down some water, eat a dagwood dog, and get ready. In the next three-hours we’re going to cover more ground than Forest Gump and see Foals, Warpaint and then let Kevin Parker blow your minds one final time before we endors toi. Sleep is important. Get some. See you tomorrow.
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Contents 03. LETTER FROM THE ED 04. MC’s ROADMAP 06. CONTENTS (YOU’RE LOOKING AT IT, BABY) 08. TAME IMPALA 12. WARPAINT 13. SPLENDOUR SAFE 14. HOW TO PITCH A TENT 16. DAVE 18. SANTIGOLD 20. BIG CHATS W/ MAURICE & JESS 23. FIDLAR 25. F-F-FASHION 30. GUIDE TO GREENING OUT 32. SPLENDOUR IN THE CRAFT 33. THE FORUM 34. LASTLINGS 35. THE MIDNIGHT 37. A. SWAYZE & THE GHOSTS 38. CLASSIFIEDS
03. LETTER FROM THE ED 04. MC’s ROADMAP 06. CONTENTS (YOU’RE LOOKING AT IT, DUMMY) 08. TAME IMPALA 12. WARPAINT 13. SPLENDOUR SAFE 14. HOW TO PITCH A TENT 16. DAVE 18. SANTIGOLD 20. BIG CHATS W/ MAURICE & JESS 23. FIDLAR 25. F-F-FASHION 30. GUIDE TO GREENING OUT 32. SPLENDOUR IN THE CRAFT 33. THE FORUM 34. LASTLINGS 35. THE MIDNIGHT 37. A. SWAYZE & THE GHOSTS 38. CLASSIFIEDS
BACK IN 2010, LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER TAME IMPALA RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, INNERSPEAKER,
THEY PLAYED A MONSTER CHILDREN LAUNCH PARTY IN BROOKLYN. IT WAS ONE OF THEIR FIRST SHOWS IN NEW YORK, AND IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO HAVE THEM THERE. RIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST SONG, KEVIN PARKER WALKED UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND S AID, ‘WE’VE GOT NO IDEA WHAT MONSTER CHILDREN IS,’ BEFORE
LAUNCHING INTO THEIR SET. ‘THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD’VE SAID,’ SAYS AN AMUSED PARKER WHEN I RECOUNT THE TALE TO HIM OVER THE PHONE.
A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THE NINE YEARS SINCE, WITH TAME IMPALA GOING ON TO RELEASE TWO
GRAMMY NOMINATED ALBUMS—2012’S LONERISM AND 2015’S CURRENTS. MEANWHILE, PARKER HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST IN-DEMAND PRODUCERS AND COLLABORATORS IN THE INDUSTRY, WORKING WITH ARTISTS INCLUDING KANYE WEST, MARK RONSON, A$AP ROCKY, AND TRAVIS SCOTT. IN 2016, RIHANNA COVERED ‘NEW PERSON, SAME OLD MISTAKES’ ON HER MULTI-PLATINUM ALBUM, ANTI, HARDLY CHANGING A NOTE FROM THE ORIGINAL TRACK. SO YEAH, I
GUESS YOU COULD
SAY THINGS HAVE WORKED OUT OKAY FOR TAME IMPALA SINCE THAT NIGHT IN BROOKLYN.
TAME IMPALA
By Erin Bromhead
Photo: Matt Sav
By the sounds of it, Parker’s stage banter has evolved enormously, too. viously, Parker is a huge hip hop fan. ‘Yeah, absolutely. And above all else, I’m ‘Overall, I think it’s improved out of sight. I think if you asked anyone, espe- like, insanely curious with parts of music. I want to try everything. I hate the cially in the band, they’d concur,’ he says. ‘But it’s actually really unpredict- idea that there’s a world of music out there that I have no idea how it’s done, I able, I hate to say. Some days it’s like I’m chatting to my next door neighbour, don’t have any part of it, you know? Like, I want to dip my—what is it? Fingers and some days I’m a deer in the headlights, you know? I used to be really in all the pies? Or whatever that saying is. [Laughs]. Even if it’s something afraid of talking to people and talking to the audience because I used to feel crazy that I’ve never done.’ Even country music? ‘Ahhh, that’s pushing it. But like I was getting up on a stool and doing a speech at school.’
hey, sure, why not?’
When Tame Impala first started playing festivals—their Splendour debut was When I explain to Parker that A$AP has long held a coveted seat at my hyin 2010—they were slotted in for afternoon sets on smaller stages while other pothetical table of ultimate dinner party guests, he confirms that I’ve made a huge rock acts like Interpol, Queens of the Stone Age, the Arctic Monkeys good choice. and the Black Keys dominated the main stages. Now, the band is headlining ‘Oh definitely, definitely. He’s a really sweet guy. I think that like a lot of great some of the biggest festivals in the world, including Coachella, Glastonbury, artists, he has lots of different modes, you know? There’s, like, sweet Rocky, and of course, Splendour in the Grass. But it’s not just their set time that’s and then there’s badass Rocky.’ (His seat remains reserved.) changed—the musical landscape is entirely different, too, as hip hop and Working with so many artists over the years, Parker has had the privilege of dance acts now dominate most festival lineups.
observing some of his favourite musicians in their private creative environ-
These days, Tame Impala are usually one of the only headlining acts that play ments. As the solo creator and producer of Tame Impala’s entire discography, live guitar. ‘I don’t feel particularly, like, proud or bitter that the landscape he’s got his process pretty locked down. But he’s picked up some invaluable has changed that way,’ says Parker. ‘I mean, ever since we have been playing lessons from working as a collaborator, too. The one that’s impacted his own festivals I always remember thinking that rock bands, like sonically, they don’t creative process the most? ‘I think to be as open as you can be with the peostand a chance against dance acts where all the music is kind of pre-record- ple that you’re working with. I say that because I’ve always come from a place ed and they’re not fighting against the flaws of microphones and feedback of being really closed off to other people and only opening up to myself— and things like that, y’know? It’s just absolutely pumping out of the speakers, which has made me who I am, but a trend that I’ve noticed amongst working which I always thought was amazing. I was completely enthralled by it.’
with extremely successful artists is that they’re amazingly emotionally open.
‘But, it’s two different things I guess. Like, once you’ve had enough of one They’re not afraid to really spill their heart into the room, whether it’s one peryou want the other. Once you’ve had enough of like good, clean, sub bass, son they’re working with or ten people.’ I imagine it’s pretty hard to be that perfect sounding electronic music, you want it rough around the edges. You vulnerable, though? ‘Yeah, totally. ‘Cause that’s what it is, it’s being able to want some half drunk, out of tune singing,’ he laughs. ‘I dunno, I feel like I’m be vulnerable because you’re all there to make music; you’re all there to make a spectator to that whole shift in music like everyone else, I don’t feel like I art. The idea that that’s a time that you can’t be vulnerable is silly, you know?’ play on one side.’ Parker’s recent collaborations with hip hop artists like A$AP Rocky and Tra- By now I think a congratulations is in order to you, dear reader. You’ve made vis Scott are evidence of this—an unexpected merging of genres and styles it this far without so much as a single mention of what we’re all so desperatethat somehow work together perfectly despite their differences. On his third ly pining for—official word on the new Tame Impala album. Here’s the thing. album, Testing, A$AP sampled Tame Impala’s ‘Why Won’t You Make Up Your Though it might sound like Kevin is a super outgoing guy (he is) who’s down Mind?’ on the track ‘Sundress’, and on Travis Scott’s hugely successful 2018 to talk about anything, there are a few cards he keeps agonizingly close to record, Astroworld, Parker produced and co-wrote the track ‘Skeletons.’ Ob- his chest, and information about new music is one of them. Back in March,
he dropped the first new Tame Impala track in four years, the cheekily titled he says. ‘I just saw the evacuation thing on Google after I saw all the smoke ‘Patience’. The song opens with the line ‘Has it really been that long?’ to and thought, “Ooo”. I think I actually slept through the fire marshall coming which every fan of the band responded with a resounding Yep. About two and knocking on my door, because I’d been up so late the night before. They weeks later, we were #blessed with another single, the heavily bongo-driv- probably assumed there was no one home. So I didn’t know if I had like, one en ‘Borderline’. And then? The crickets returned to their scheduled chirping. minute or one hour to get out, or six hours, you know? In the end I think I was Instead of hitting him with a straight-out, ‘When is the new album coming?’ about two hours away from having to literally run out the door.’ Though he question, I try to trick him by asking what the band’s plans are once they says he wasn’t really thinking about the gear when he heard that the whole headline Splendour and wrap up their other touring commitments. But he’s house had burnt down, he was relieved that he grabbed his laptop and Hofner onto me. ‘Um, well I guess whatever is actually physically scheduled is what bass. While his followers expressed their sorrow to hear about the house and we’re doing, and obviously I’m working all the time... any other time of the gear, everyone was secretly wondering, ‘What’s on that laptop, though, Kev?’ year that’d be a really easy question to answer but unfortunately right now it’s Speaking of Instagram followers, there’s an unlikely pop star who counts not.’ It’s an impressively vague deflect. ‘Anything could happen, though,’ he @tame__impala as one of hers. ‘I love Mariah Carey,’ Parker declares somecontinues. ‘As I said, apart from where I’m physically contracted to be, like, what defensively when I ask him about it. ‘She’s kind of just swanning about geographically… [Laughs]. Other than that anything could and will happen.’
on private yachts and doing what Mariah Carey does. She’s living her best life.’ And tonight, when Tame Impala turn Splendour into a psychedelic won-
So, yeah, shockingly it sounds like he’s not ready to give me an exclusive derland of sight and sound, you will be too. on the new album name and release date. What he is happy to talk about, Do we even need to say this? Get to the Amphitheatre at 10.45pm tonight. though, is the newest music that we have heard, and how it came to be. Like ‘Patience’, for instance, where Parker was excited to debut his newly acquired skill of playing the piano with two hands. When I ask if he had made a conscious effort to master the keys for this song he replies, ‘Oh, not a conscious effort. Barely anything I do with a conscious effort. But it definitely was a little celebration of my new ability to use two hands on the piano, for sure!’ The song kind of grew from there. ‘I had the piano riff, but I think it was going to be for something else—I probably imagined that piano riff being for a different kind of song, maybe like R&B or something, and then I got really into this idea of starting a song with big bold piano, like a really overconfident stadium rock sort of sound, you know? So that song just builds off that, and the rest is just me doing what I do, messing around in the studio trying different things.’ And there goes the other card, right up back to the chest again. Before the release of the two singles earlier this year, rumours of a new album intensified last November after Parker posted a photo to Tame Impala’s Instagram (which he runs) lamenting that the Malibu house he had been staying in had burnt down in the California wildfires. The photo showed a bunch of gear that didn’t make it out. ‘The thing is, I didn’t know how fast I had to evacuate,’
Photo: Rafael Gonzalez
COME TO THE TINDER BLOCK PARTY SWIPE RIGHT™ SONG DEDICATIONS 8pm – 10pm DJ SETS: Jack River [Friday] and many more 10pm – 2am every night
WITH PARAMEDIC STEPHEN BARNES IF YOU ONLY READ ONE ARTICLE FROM THE DAILY SPLENDOUR THIS WEEKEND, LET IT BE THIS ONE. STEPHEN BARNES IS THE FESTIVAL’S MEDICAL SERVICES MANAGER, AND WITH A BIT OF LUCK, YOU’LL NEVER HAVE TO MEET HIM. BUT IF YOU DO, IT’LL BE A VERY GOOD THING, BECAUSE STEPHEN AND HIS TEAM KNOW THEIR SHIT AND CAN SORT YOU OUT IF YOU’RE NOT FEELING GREAT. WE HAD A CHAT WITH STEPHEN AND LEARNED A BUNCH OF HELPFUL STUFF ABOUT HOW TO REMAIN SHIPSHAPE AT A BIG FESTIVAL. Stephen. Yes. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. That’s the attitude to have, right? It sure is. I’ve been doing this for 33 years now, and over the years I’ve seen a bit of a trend happening where people go really hard before they arrive at the event, or when they first arrive, and the next thing you know they’re in our medical centre. And the weekend is over. And their weekend is done. You haven’t seen the bands you wanted to see, and you’re laid out in the medical tent. What’s the number one issue you deal with at festivals? It’s really interesting, actually; over 80% of the cases we see at any event are caused by not drinking enough water or inadequate footwear. Footwear? Yeah. You’ve got to wear proper footwear. People come to the event wearing brand new shoes they’ve never worn before, or they have an open toe, and they end up getting blisters, or someone stands on them in the mosh-pit and their toenail comes off. Eek. Yeah, crazy, isn’t it? So, wear a closed shoe (that you’ve worn in) with socks (natural fibre socks) and drink an adequate amount of water. What should you do if you’ve taken drugs and you’re not feeling so good? Well, the first thing you need to do is take care of each other. You need to have a plan and, at all times, have a buddy with you. If you’re going to do something like that, take some substance, you need to make sure you’ve got someone with you that can make wise decisions. You’ve got to have a plan. If you do decide to take drugs, you need to be watching for any abnormal signs early, and get assistance early, rather than leaving it too late. Act early. That’s exactly right: act early. What about if you’re worried about a friend? Same deal. You basically cover it with the buddy system. I’ve got nearly 40 staff on-site, including emergency doctors; I’ve also got 70 crowd care people, guys who are the same age as the patrons, who are there to support festival goers through any of the issues they might be having. So, we’ve got over 100 people in the medical team, all there to help out if something goes wrong. And even if nothing has gone wrong, you can come and see us and we’re down to have a chat. Do festival goers generally observe the buddy system? Yes, generally, but a lot of the time we have kids coming in who have basically been dumped by their friends; there’s no one with them at all. That’s awful. It is. You need to have friends with you. And also, you can’t trust people you just met that weekend. You need good friends with you, buddied up, and someone who can make clear and careful decisions. Because often we’ll see people who are obviously having a bad time on substances they’ve taken, but they don’t believe they need any help. They think they’re fine. Right, but they’re not, and that’s why it’s important to have friends you can trust to look out for you if it’s not looking so good. What are some of the myths you’ve heard regarding how to stay safe when you’re having fun at a festival? Probably the wildest one that I’ve heard is that orange juice will reverse a drug overdose. Orange juice? Yes. There’s a myth that drinking lots of orange juice will reverse a drug overdose. Okay, so just to be sure our readers read this right: drinking lots of orange juice will NOT reverse a drug overdose. It won’t. Sorry. It’ll just give you diarrhoea. Exactly. Also, we’ve heard cases of people bringing different prescription medication to give to their friends if they’ve overdone it with something else. Oh, that’s a really bad idea. It really is. Just come see us. We specialise in this stuff and we can help you. That’s why we’re here. But what if I’ve taken drugs, I don’t feel so good, but I’m worried I’ll get in trouble if I come to the medical centre? Don’t be afraid about getting in trouble if you come to see us. We’re not here to enforce the law–we’re just here to make sure you’re okay. No one’s getting busted at the medical tent. Of course not. We’re professional medical staff, employed to make sure you have a good time.
HOW TO
PHOTO BY DOUGAL GORMAN THANKS TO DOMI, TATE AND FELIX
YOU ’RE OLD E NOUG H TO RE A D, W H I CH M E A N S YOU ’RE OLD E NOUG H TO E RECT A TE NT. BUT DO YOU K NOW HOW TO E RECT A TE NT ? I F YOU A N SW E RE D NO TO TH I S QU E S TI ON A BOUT E RECTI NG A TE NT, YOU ’RE NOT A LON E . I N A RECE NT S U RV E Y CON DUCTE D BY A M A N W HO M A RRI E D H I S HON DA JA Z Z , IT WAS RE V E A LE D TH AT ON LY S E V E N AUS TR A LI A N S K NOW HOW TO PUT U P A TE NT, A N D OF THO S E S E V E N AUS TR A LI A N S , ON LY FOU R H AV E WA LK E D DOW N TH E A I S LE W ITH A V E R SATI LE FOU R- DOOR H ATCH BACK . S O, DON ’T FE E L BA D. I N FACT, FE E L E XCITE D, BECAUS E I N TH I S B IT OF TH E DA I LY S PL E N DOU R, W E’RE GOI NG TO TE ACH YOU HOW TO PUT U P YOU R TE NT! CLEAR THE AREA OF STICKS You’ve found the spot you want to pitch your tent, RAISE YOUR TENT AND PEG HER DOWN Carefully raise the roof of the tent,
but look, there’s sticks everywhere, and they’ll make your tent floor lumpy. No hook the poles in at the ends, and then peg that sucker down so it doesn’t thanks. Clear those sticks.
blow away.
LAY SOME TARP Lay down a tarp to create a barrier between your tent bottom ADD YOUR FLY Add your rain fly if you have one. If you do not have one, you and the ground. It’s not imperative that you do this, but why take chances on might experience a little more moisture than your neighbour with the rain fly. The damp? Damp is a bummer.
good news is, you can steal your neighbour’s rain fly and relocate your tent in
CHECK YOUR STUFF Lay out all the different components of your tent and make the night.
sure everything is accounted for: pegs, guy ropes, glind lines (very important), SET UP YOUR BED Now your tent is up, you can get in there and set up house. If whatever is listed in the kit.
you’re sharing with a friend, it’s a good idea to have a small container, perhaps a
LAY HER OUT Lay your tent out on the tarp with the door facing the direction you basket, situated between your sleeping bags. This basket will serve as your lolly want to get up in the morning. Depending on who you are and how you feel about stash. Keep an inventory of your lollies so you know who ate what and when.
sunlight, the direction of your door might be East, West, South, or possibly even DECAMPING Always empty your tent and let it dry and air out before breaking it North. North West? Maybe, but check your glind lines first.
down and putting it back in the bag, otherwise your tent will become smelly and
PUT YOUR TENT POLES TOGETHER The tent poles are those long bits with mildewy and yuck.
elastic running through them. If you have a very old tent, your tent poles will just DON’T BE SILLY Don’t be silly. Be respectful of your neighbours, be respectful of look like long bits.
the land. Leave everything looking nicer than when you arrived, even if that means
INSERT YOUR POLES Insert tent poles through the corresponding loops and expensive returfing. Leave nothing behind (including and especially your tent) and flaps of the tent. Be careful not to rip the tent when you do this, as a ripped tent no sign that you were even there... Also, glind lines aren’t a thing. will let rain and cold air in. Refer to your glind lines and everything should be fine. Tent used: Big Agnes X Burton Blacktail 2 Tent RRP: $399.99
SPLENDOUR VIP VILLAGE
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DAVE IS A 20-YEAR-OLD LYRICAL PHENOMENON WHOSE ALBUM, PYSCHODRAMA, JUST TOPPED THE BRITISH CHARTS ON DEBUT. HAILED AS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BODIES OF RAP MUSIC IN A GENERATION, THE SOUTH LONDONER IS BRINGING THE FULL FORCE OF HIS ELECTRIFYING TALENT TO THIS YEAR’S SITG, AND I WILL BE STANDING IN THE FRONT ROW WITH AN ‘I LOVE DAVE’ T-SHIRT ON, BECAUSE I CAN’T THINK OF AN ALBUM I’VE HEARD IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT HAS LEFT ME IN THIS MUCH IN AWE.
AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVE
BRING ON PSYCHODRAMA
Mate, I’ve only just recently tapped also my thoughts on life and my per- ful, like, I’m not embarrassed by them or into your music, like a week ago, spective, as well as my viewpoint of the anything like that… it’s just that they’re
and–dead set–your album has blown world. He’s someone who’s definitely not refined. It’s not polished. It’s all a lot my mind. It’s vast and lyrical and me- been a northern star for me, to refer- more raw and a lot messier. Now I think lodic and powerful and also clear that ence and keep me in line and in check I’ve refined myself, and sometimes that you’re throwing yourself wide open. with the ways of the world. Having can be a good thing and sometimes it Have you always been someone who someone that’s come before you and can be a bad thing because that early knows how to express themselves so had success in what they do, means rawness can reveal a more natural side
effectively? I appreciate that a lot man. they can give you advice from an hon- to you. But to answer your question, I Thank you. I think that being able to ex- est place and make sure you’re making don’t necessarily listen back to old mupress yourself is something that comes the right moves for your soul. Someone sic and think, ‘Yeah this is the craziest with time, really. I’ve got to say what I’m like that is important because they can thing in the world.’
thinking and feeling, so in some ways help to steer you in the right direction; What about the storytelling and usit was never a choice for me. It comes someone who’s been there before and ing your lyrics and music as a vehicle to say something important? naturally. As a kid, I was definitely in- knows the ins and outs of it all. terested in how things worked. I liked Did lyric writing come easy? I was Was that something you tapped into
cars and stuff, and I was always drawn always pretty decent at English, and right from the start? Storytelling was towards music, instruments and other rhyming never seemed to be a prob- just about creating a picture in my mind things. I loved doing random research lem for me. I enjoyed rhyming. Where about what I wanted to say and do. on things for no other reason than hav- I struggled was with things that were Taking people on that journey is really ing an interest in them, and that would a little more complicated, like, singing important to me. Music is a way to coninform me on the things that I was pas- melodic tracks was never something I nect with people’s emotions and get a sionate about and interested in. As you was into naturally; I had to learn it. But message across, and it is very rewardget older, those passions and interests when it came to rhyming words and ing if you do it correctly, but… It’s dif-
evolve from cars and music to things putting things into sentences and wax- ficult to do correctly. I think if you put like politics and what’s going on in the ing them, it was pretty easy. The flow, in the time and the effort to make sure
world around us. So, I guess that ap- the melody, the content and the things that the message is clear and powerful, plies directly to my music, my lyrics and that I would say, I guess I had to put then people will get it, and you might the style that I’m known for.
them down and then learn what made just have a timeless piece of music in
Did you have mentors when you were sense, what was good or what wasn’t. your hands. Something that is affecting. coming up? Fraser T. Smith was defi- Do you listen to your early, ‘starting You were 16 when your first tracks nitely a big influence; he’s a producer out’ stuff? There’s a couple of tracks got serious attention, and you reI’ve worked with a lot, and he helped me that I’ve listened to from 2015 that are leased eleven singles before getting
take not only my music to a level that I pretty good, but anything that dates around to making Psychodrama, and couldn’t have reached on my own, but back further than that… They’re not aw- even then you took a year to work on
it. Was it a journey of ups and downs Can we expect your Splendour show strive for, but ultimately you can make or were you confident with what you to translate the purpose and passion the choice to fill your life with happi-
were creating from day one? It took a of Psychodrama? Definitely. There’ll ness and optimism and emotions that while. It was definitely up and downs. I be some songs off the album and some align with positivity. Optimism is a nice wasn’t necessarily sure about myself in of the bigger songs I had from earlier feeling to have in your life. It does feel every song, in every moment and thing on. There will be a lot of experimenta- like the overall goal of world peace is
that I was putting towards the album. tion and definitely a lot of fun moments. beyond us at times; when I watch the Right up to the end there were last min- That’s what the festivals are about: news, it all seems to be getting worse, ute decisions, last minute additions, making sure I can deliver the intensity but I know that I can try and affect the last minute tracks getting taken away. It the people want to hear. That’s what world one-by-one, and do my little bit
was definitely a process. And I definite- I’m coming to do. Show up and give to make sure I leave a positive impact ly learnt some stuff about myself. ‘Dra- the best performance that I can and on everyone that I speak to and deal ma,’ the outro, felt like I was writing an make sure everyone at Splendour in the with. If everyone can try and have an outro from someone else’s perspective; Grass has a great time. I have a lot of attitude that they want to leave people I was articulating feelings that I wasn’t time for people in Australia, and I want and the world better off than before, we quite aware of in the moment, that be- to say thank you to Australia for making might be ok. Maybe the world isn’t as came real to me after the fact. It was the me feel at home. I’ll be bringing the best bad as they report on the news? But I’ll never know for sure, because I can’t acknowledgement of near completion. show possible.
It was the realisation I could really do In a lot of the interviews with you be everywhere in the world to really get this, that I could go way out there. A lot and reviews I’ve read of the album, down on the ground and see what’s goof that came from the objective to give the reoccurring themes are power, ing on. I can only try and make sure I people a fair idea of what life is like for pain, politics and hardship, but I also create the best impact I can, and that’s a 19 or 20-year-old kid from South Lon- found the album uplifting and hope- why I spit more than just ear candy, and don, making music in the area I grew ful. Would you say you’re an optimis- try to put a positive effect in people’s
up in. I wanted people to get a sense tic person? I was optimistic as a kid. lives–because it’s the only thing I’ve got of South London and what Streatham Even when life was difficult, I always felt in the world. It’s my only way of making
is like, what I’m like, and what being a better times would come somewhere, I change. The only thing that I’m good young black man in South London is just didn’t know how; and as time has at is music. That’s my contribution to like. If I’ve done that, I have achieved gone, I’ve felt that my mission is be- helping make life better. what I set out to do: capture this coming clearer and clearer and clearer. Catch Dave tonight at 5.30 pm moment in time, 2019, so that hopefully The song ‘Voices’, for example, is trying at the Mix Up Stage. in 2020, 2021, 2035 or 20 whatever it is, to express that the good and the bad
people can listen back and have an idea of life go hand in hand, they’re inevita-
what this all felt like in 2019. If I’ve done ble feelings. It’s impossible to always that, I’ve achieved my purpose.
be happy, and so it’s a strange thing to
INTERVIEW BY VAUGHAN DEAD
WANNA CHANGE UP YOUR LOOK? S O R T E D AT T H E I C O N I C S T O R E
F I N D U S N E A R T H E M I X U P S TA G E !
ALEX DYSON IS MANY THINGS: FORMER TRIPLE J MORNING HOST, POLITICAL CANDIDATE FOR THE SEAT OF WANNON, VETERAN RAVER, DJ, FAST RUNNER, DEVIL ON THE DANCEFLOOR AND NOW, FRIEND OF THE ICONIC AT SPLENDOUR 2019. AND WHO BETTER THAN A FESTIVAL VETERAN WITH A PENCHANT FOR FLUORO HUES TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH ALL THINGS FASHION, FUN, AND BURNING EARDRUMS THIS WEEKEND? TAKE IT AWAY, ALEX. You don’t shy away from statement looks. What are some pieces you’ll be
Preparation is key for marathon events like Splendour. What are your festi-
repping till they fall apart this Splendour?
val essentials?
Byron Parklands without at least six primary fluoros incorporated into my outfit.
any festival. How else are the people going to know when an absolute Four Wed-
In a world of mud and dust, colour speaks volumes. I’m not setting a foot in North
Sunscreen, hand sanitiser and, of course, a heavy-duty tune rag is essential for
Sure, I may burn a few retinas along the way, but my sets have been known to burn dings and a Tuneral gets dropped!? a few eardrums too, so it balances out.
Where will we find you cutting loose this weekend?
have had pâté. What’s one of your all-time favourite festival moments and
What clothing or accessories allow you to dance with such precision?
You’ve been to more live gigs and international festivals than most people why?
Probably sitting on a grassy hill beneath a beautiful sunset at Mysteryland Amsterdam, while watching a bunch of Dutch munters unce to some of the filthiest
Front left, ‘nuff said.
I’m a big fan of Nike’s stretchy, high-performance, breathable apparel. They spon-
sor a lot of the top competitive ravers in the world, so in order to compete with the best, you need to wear the best. Barney Cools are a leader in clothing fluores-
doof-rave I’ve ever heard. I consider myself a bit of a froff donkey, but that day I cence as well, so are an astute choice. was happy to sit on the sidelines and watch on as Europe’s mangiest pit-pumpers
You’ve interviewed some incredible musicians over your time as triple J pre-
I watched you DJ a couple of years back, and you kindly threw Zooper Doop-
dour and why?
made their dance deposit in the big bank of stank.
ers into the crowd for all to enjoy. What’s the best thing that’s ever been thrown at you onstage?
If something gets thrown onstage, I usually incorporate it into the set. Glowsticks
go around the wrist or behind the ears. I’ve worn roller-hockey jerseys and sweatbands. And of course, shoes become my schooner for the evening. The most
senter. What’s been one of your favourite interviews on-ground at SplenChildish Gambino was excellent. He came to the interview dressed in a plain grey comfy tracksuit and it has informed my early morning Melbourne cafe wear ever since. Interviewing Dave Navarro from Jane’s Addiction was memorable because he lit up a durry mid-interview and all the jjj bosses were looking around not
knowing what to do. Also, there was a memorable time we interviewed a random
memorable though, was a girl came up and put a photo behind the decks from punter who wandered into the broadcast tent at 6:30am on the Monday after when I’d met her as a fresh year 12 graduate on an Oxfam bike ride in Vietnam,
way before even starting at triple j. It wasn’t funny or anything, it was just really
Splendour, obviously still cooked from the biggest weekend of his life. He came on the radio, ate some corn chips, started talking in a South African accent for
lovely. OH! Actually—someone came to my set once and gave me a stuffed toy. some reason, then we booted him out. That’s probably #1 for me. They’d taken a plush toy of a dog, and a plush toy of a rat and cut them up, then
sewn them together to create a Frankenstein rat-dog. It was very touching, and it sits in my bedroom freaking out my girlfriend to this very day.
www.theiconic.com.au
Photo source: Alex Dyson Instagram
By now, you should know that Splendour in the Grass is more than just the mainstage. There are countless little worlds for you to drop by and explore, including one of our favourites: THE ICONIC Laundromat. If you’re looking to have your battered threads washed and dried in this shop-front laundromat, keep on walking, buster,
‘cause this ain’t for you. If, however, you’re looking to climb through a jumbo washer and into a strange new universe, you’ve come to the right place. For the entire weekend at Splendour, THE ICONIC Laundromat is one of the best places to party on the grounds, with exclusive DJ sets, surprise guests, and all the best in art, fash-
ion and music. It’s like the Upside Down, but filled with nice stuff instead of flesh-eating demogorgons. If you’re reading this, you’ll know exactly the kind of hot property
THE ICONIC Laundromat is going to be, and you’ll get in early to enjoy yourself while the rest of the festival plebs are waiting in line to gain entry! Suckers! HA-HA!
WARDROBE MALFUNCTION? S O R T E D AT T H E I C O N I C S T O R E
F I N D U S N E A R T H E M I X U P S TA G E !
SANTIGOLD
By Erin Bromhead
IT’S BEEN JUST OVER A DECADE SINCE SANTIGOLD FIRST INTRODUCED US TO HER ECLECTIC, GENRE-BLENDING SOUND WITH HER DEBUT ALBUM, SANTOGOLD. SINCE THEN, THE EFFORTLESSLY COOL MUSICIAN HAS CONTINUED TO BLOW MINDS (AND SPEAKERS) WITH HER INNOVATIVE SONGWRITING AND SOULFUL SAMPLING OF EVERYTHING FROM DANCEHALL TO HIP HOP AND FUNK. BUT BEFORE HER CAREER AS A SOLO ARTIST, SANTIGOLD WAS THE LEAD SINGER OF A PHILLY-BASED PUNK BAND CALLED STIFFED. EARLIER STILL, SHE WAS LENDING HER HAND-DRUMMING EXPERTISE TO A SHORT-LIVED COLLEGE BAND THAT SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS. DESPITE A MYSTICAL PSYCHIC TELLING HER OTHERWISE, SANTIGOLD NEVER IMAGINED SHE’D BE TOURING THE WORLD AS A SOLO PERFORMING ARTIST. BUT WHEN YOU SEE HER LIGHT UP THE AMPHITHEATRE STAGE TONIGHT, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO IMAGINE IT ANY OTHER WAY. Hey Santi! I just spent some time listening to some old Stiffed songs this a really bad effect on the development of a person. I can’t imagine having come morning, and I know it was a long time ago, but do you ever miss being in up and having to navigate that. What about phones at your concerts? Would a punk band? Oh god! Yeah, I do actually. It was so fun to perform in that band
you rather your audience put down their phones during your set? I don’t care
because it was just pure raw energy. There were no in-ears, no monitors—I would what they do in the audience, but when I invite them up on stage to come up and just jump around on stage and it was so raw. Times have changed so much, back dance and I end up with a camera phone in my face, like in-between my mic and
then there were no costumes, we were doing all the choreography, and it was my mouth, then I tend to slap people’s phones out of their hands ‘cause I’m like, so free. I felt limited though because now I can do any kind of music I want and no. If you wanna record it just stay down there, but if you want to have fun and it totally fits! Like reggae, African music, hip hop, and just everything that I ever
actually have an experience and be part of the experience, I just want people to
liked which is ultimately way more satisfying because I won’t ever get bored, be in the moment, y’know? You released your mixtape, I Don’t Want: The Gold y’know? Yeah, you’re living the dream. You’ve been pretty vocal in the last Fire Sessions, out of nowhere last year. How long in advance did you know
few years about social media and the falsehoods it perpetuates. As a parent you were going to drop it? Um, maybe a month? I had recorded most of it the bringing up kids in the age of smartphones, what’s your plan to navigate all summer before and then there were two weeks before I moved to LA from New that? Man, I’m doing a really bad job. My 15-month-old already knows how to, York where I was like, ‘Let me do this mixtape real quick.’ So I went in with Dre like, swipe the phone! But I do my best. It’s really hard because it’s such a part of Skull for two weeks, and we ended up writing all these new songs, so I was like, every day. For me to be like, ‘Don’t be on your phone!’ and then everything I do this isn’t really a mixtape; it’s an album. So I had one or two songs to finish and be on my phone, even though I’m just going through emails, it’s hard for them to then I moved to LA and found out I was pregnant like a week and a half after I
understand. My son is like, ‘I wanna play video games!’ and I’m like, ‘You can’t got here. Then I found out I was having twins and my whole world flipped upside play video games, you’re five! Learn how to read first!’ I can’t imagine growing down. So when I was about nine months pregnant I thought, ‘I have to finish this up with iPhones around, it’s crazy. Yeah, it’s a real challenge, and I see a lot
project before I disappear into baby world.’ I was nine months pregnant recording
much related to being on screens all the time and not having as many real-life
finished days before I had the babies. After just spending 24-hours with my
of the teenagers that I know are struggling with depression which I think is very
myself in a room with mattresses around the walls to make it soundproof, and I
experiences and social interactions. And the whole thing about always comparing
friend and her four-month-old twins, you guys are my new heroes. [Laughs]
yourself and your life to this doctored-up version of everyone else’s, I know it has Oh my god, it’s so hard, right? It’s crazy. I wanted to talk about your stage out-
fits because they are insane. How do you come up keep those songs fresh and fun to play after so I’d be a solo artist. Actually, I went to a psychic once with what to wear each tour? A lot of times I base long? They’re the easiest because they are just in our when I was in college and I was in this band for about them off of the concept of what I’m doing, like last time bodies at this point. Most of my band and a couple two weeks—I played hand drums because that’s what it was all about consumption and so I had my dancers of my dancers have been doing this together for the I majored in in college— Wait, what? I was a music
come out drinking Gatorade—do you guys have Gato- whole ten years so it’s like auto-pilot, those songs. major but my instrument was hand drums, so I played rade? Yeah! Gatorade has made it all the way down But like, before, how you mentioned Stiffed—I was Haitian drums, West African drums, and traditional here. [Laughs] Okay, so they were drinking Gatorade working on something with someone recently who ref- drums. When I was in this band, we went to a psychic and eating cheese puffs instead of dancing, that was erenced one or two Stiffed songs and I was like, ‘What together but each had separate sessions and she told the choreography. I just love to play around with the song is that? Is that a Stiffed song or something?’ And me, ‘This band’s not gonna work out for you, but I see concepts with the visuals, whether it’s a dance or an I listened to it and it was almost like I hadn’t heard the you on album covers, like lots of them, all over the
outfit or a video. Y’know all those gold jewellery stores song before. And then there are some songs on later world, but by yourself.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, right, that buy and sell gold jewellery? Last time I just made Santigold albums that I don’t play almost ever. I was okay.’ Because in my mind, at that time, there was no a dress that said ‘We Buy Gold’, like I’m for sale. This actually getting food a month ago and a song came on fucking way that I would ever do that. I never wanttime, we just did a short anniversary tour for my first in the store and I was like, ‘What is this song again? I ed to be a singer, a performer, I couldn’t even fathrecord and I hadn’t worn gold in a long time, so I wore love this song!’ and then I realised it was me. Luckily om that. Honestly, when she said it to me, it scared all gold. But I wanted a James Brown cape so I made I didn’t say it out loud, but it was a song I complete- the shit out of me. And yet here I am. Whoa. Have
one that says ‘So Damn Gold’ on it and it’s just play- ly didn’t recognise and had forgot about. Jay Z re- you ever gone back to her? No! I haven’t. I don’t ful. I love fashion and I love art so they end up kind of cently dropped a decade-old track he did with you even remember her name. But I mean she was good, being a blend of both. Do you know what you’ll be called ‘Brooklyn Go Hard.’ How many collabs do obviously, right? wearing at Splendour yet? I mean, sorry to let the you think you’ve done in your career, if you had to
cat out of the bag but I’m pretty sure I’m going to wear guess? Quite a few! That’s one of my favourite parts
something gold! Speaking of that spate of shows about making music—I love collaborating. Especially Don’t miss Santigold tonight at the you did for the 10 Years Golder Tour, how do you being a solo artist, I never would have imagined that Amphitheatre at 7.30pm.
LAR
WHEN FIDLAR CAME ONTO THE SCENE BACK IN 2013, THEY DID SO WITH A DEBUT PUNK GARAGE ROCK RECORD CHOCK FULL OF UNAPOLOGETIC PARTY ANTHEMS PERFECT FOR THE YOUNG AND INDULGENT. YOU KNOW THE OLD TUNE, ‘I’M GOIN’ TO LIVE THE LIFE I SING ABOUT IN MY SONG’? IT WAS LIKE THAT. OF COURSE, THESE WEREN’T MAHALIA JACKSON SPIRITUALS, THESE WERE DECADENT TALES ABOUT A LIFESTYLE THAT HAD YET TO CATCH UP WITH THEM. BEGINNING WITH ‘CHEAP BEER’ AND ENDING WITH A BOMBASTIC HARD ROCK RENDERING OF THE FOLK TRADITIONAL, ‘COCAINE BLUES,’ THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE YOUR VICE OF CHOICE MAKES AN APPEARANCE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. At first glance, their sophomore record may have seemed like much of edge with signature cynicism and the occasional bombastic vocal onthe same. But while its up-tempo angst and barrage of punk and ga- slaught.
rage still dwelled on excess, an inherent darkness in their decadence ‘I was so used to writing songs on guitars,’ says Carper. ‘With the began to take shape.
newer stuff, we’re using computers and keyboards and loops. I just got
On the latest record, lead singer Zac Carper comes clean. Literally. bored with the guitar. For me, music is inspiration and different genres
Well, mostly. Written from the more sober side of things, Almost Free are inspiring. It’s just fun to try different things and that’s where we
successfully and skillfully sustains the energy that their band was built were all at when we were making this record—trying different things on, but without the vices that fuelled the ride.
and trying out different sounds.’
‘I got off of everything,’ says Carper. ‘That was the big thing. Basically, And that has always been the FIDLAR way. ‘It’s funny, that’s how this I needed to take time to reset my body. I’ve definitely had my share band started,’ says Carper. ‘I didn’t know Black Flag until I moved to
of drugs and records singing about drugs. I’m off of heroin, I’m off California when I was 19. Punk rock was new to me and I was inspired of meth. It’s the only way to survive in this world, especially when it by it, and we made a punk record. On each record, we take our influcomes to making music. You do heroin and you die.’
ences and try and work our way through that. I hate how it is with mu-
Despite the weight of remembrance, Carper speaks with a positive sic now, where people try and put you in a box and put you in a genre, energy and still without any hint of regret. Often times, artists fear that especially punk music. Punk rock is the most elitist music in the world.
their creative energy can disappear when the drugs do, and with so To me, the most sell-out thing for us to do would be to make the same many songs written about them, it wouldn’t be unusual for a band like record over and over again.’
FIDLAR to find difficulty writing the next chapter. But Carper’s experi- Though their record was only released a few months ago, FIDLAR have ence was different.
already begun working on new music, and if their recent influences
‘I found it to be the opposite,’ he says. ‘When I stopped using hard end up adding anything to the sound, it should be quite an interesting
drugs, I started hearing things in a different way. I kind of went with new chapter. Zac said Elvis is into outlaw country, they’ve all found a that and started working with different kinds of artists. I also do some love for Rick James… and he’s also been making house music. Yes, producing as well, so I was working with some hip-hop people and house music.
some electronic people and some R&B stuff. It kind of opened my eyes ‘To be honest, who knows, maybe I’ll only use a loop of it and run it to things beyond garage punk.’
through some amps and distort it,’ he says. ‘It’s just about making stuff
On Almost Free, FIDLAR’s once gritty sound seems to have gotten and seeing where the inspiration takes you. Once everybody gets on
‘When we went cleaner we realised it was a lot harder than being dis- out to be. That’s why FIDLAR is FIDLAR. It’s not Zac and the Fidlars. torted. It’s a lot more challenging to make things sound good clean. It’s the process of everybody putting their own stamp on it.’
To us, it’s easy to distort things, and it sounds rad. We wanted to chal- So, if their first record was about the all-night party, the second was lenge ourselves, and we realised the more we turn down our amps, the about the morning after, and the third was about sobering up, then harder it is to actually play. You have to be good, you know?’
what will the fourth record be about?
Forging on into new territory by implementing new instrumentation and ‘Getting a job,’ Carper says, and probably not entirely in jest. purveying a slightly poppier momentum, FIDLAR still maintain their Catch FIDLAR at 4.30 pm today at the Amphitheatre.
INTERVIEW BY NOLAN GAWRON
slightly cleaner as well. ‘It’s just one of those things,’ says Carper. board, then it becomes this totally different thing than what it started
All Show, No Tell. THE CRYSTAL CLE AR BAG COLLEC TION The Trestles Hip Bag.
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NORTH BYRON PARKLANDS PRETTY NICE, RIGHT? WHAT’S
NOT SO NICE IS THE WAY WE’VE BEEN TREATING THE ENVIRONMENT THE LAST FEW CENTURIES. BUT WITH
A LITTLE HELP FROM PEOPLE LIKE DAMON GAMEAU AND THE ECO-MINDED TEAM AT SPLENDOUR, THE FUTURE LOOKS A LITTLE GREENER. YOU’VE PROBABLY SEEN DAMON FROM FILM AND TELEVISION; HE’S THE GUY BEHIND THAT SUGAR FILM, AND THE DIRECTOR OF ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL AUSSIE FILMS OF ALL-TIME (AND IT’S ONLY JUST BEEN RELEASED), ENVIRONMENTAL DOCO 2040. DAMON SPENT TWO YEARS TRAVELLING THE WORLD, SEARCHING FOR PROOF THAT WE CAN TURN THIS FOSSIL-FUELLED SHIP AROUND, AND SPEAKING TO INCREDIBLE AND INVENTIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING TO DO JUST THAT. AT THIS YEAR’S SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS, DAMON IS THE RESIDENT ECO-AMBASSADOR, AND THE PERFECT PERSON TO PASS ON TIPS THAT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. Eat Your Food Didn’t your folks drill it into you not to leave food on your plate? win-win. ecosia.org Use Splendour’s Compost Toilets Splendour is about new,
Well, no different here, buddy. Leftover food doesn’t just magically disappear af- exciting experiences and escaping reality. Get lost in The Teepee Forest! Lose
ter you’ve put it in the bin. ‘If not dealt with, it goes straight to the landfills and your marbles in the front row of Childish Gambino! Do a poo in some sawdust! emits massive amounts of greenhouse gasses that are really quite potent,’ Da- Take Your Tent With You 20,000 people camp at Splendour EVERY YEAR. And mon says. ‘Eat everything, and if you’re going to leave something, make sure you put it in a green bin or take it away with you; handle it properly, or else it will just go into the rubbish.’ Bon appétit. Change Your Web Browser, Plant a Tree For a long time, we’ve considered Google a necessary evil, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Damon and his film 2040, it’s that doing things the way we’ve always done them doesn’t work anymore. Enter, ECOSIA. ‘100 per cent, everyone at Splendour should download the browser ECOSIA,’ Damon says. ‘It takes 10 seconds, and instead of Google, ECOSIA uses their profits to plant trees all around the world. They’ve planted al-
most 70 million trees just from web searches. It’s a really simple
thing people can do that doesn’t
take any effort, and can actually
make a difference.’ I’ve download-
ed it, and it’s actually really great—
every 45 searches you do, they plant
a tree on your behalf and add it to your
personal tally on the homepage. PLUS,
they don’t sell my data (that reveals I’m a
hypochondriac who probably didn’t watch
Game of Thrones legally) on to third parties. It’s a
since we’re talking numbers—let’s say, hypothetically, all of you keen campers are sharing a tent with a friend, then you leave your
flimsy shelter behind on Monday morning because
you’re too dusty for motor skills, let alone decamp-
ment. That’s TEN THOUSAND TENTS left for the good folk working at Splendour to deal with. ‘It doesn’t just disappear–there’s an
impact, not only on people’s time but on the planet,’ Damon says. ‘If that tent gets chucked in a landfill, it’s contrib-
uting to climate change, fossil fuels, and more.’ Throw it in the corner of
your car and deal with it at Splen-
dour 2020. You’re welcome. Keep Cup/Reusable Bottle Duh. Pay
it Forward Feeling like you want
to put some good juju back into
the world after a long weekend
of unbridled hedonism? While
you’re killing time at the festival or
on the ride out, sling a few dollars
towards any number of the incredible
initiatives over on Damon’s website.
You can help build a seaweed farm that
helps cool our rapidly overheating oceans,
put a young girl through school, help to cre-
ate solar-powered communities, and so much
more. whatsyour2040.com
Iconic streetwear brand Champion is shining a light on Australia’s underground music scene, giving emerging hip-hop artists an opportunity to share their creativity with a wider audience, and no-one could be more deserving for a call-up than Thandi Phoenix. At just 25, the singer-songwriter has been touted as ‘one of Australia’s most promising up and comers,’ with songs that blend pop with electronica and raw, honest storytelling. Thandi’s work flourishes from her South African roots where she effortlessly ties South African House with a hint of UK Garage, Trip-Hop and Drum-and-bass in previous singles like ‘Standing Too Close’, ‘Come Around’ and ‘Tell Me Where the Lovers Have Gone’. Her last single, the enormous DnB banger ‘My Way’, was produced with close friends Rudimental– taking Thandi’s unique sound around the world and all the way back home, right here to the Splendour in the Grass stage. If you’re wanting to start your Saturday at Splendour off right, there’s nowhere better than front row of Thandi’s set tomorrow, at 12.15 pm at the Mix Up Stage. Don’t miss it.
www.championusa.com.au @championausnz
WARPAINT
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SHOP AND OVERHEARD A YOUNG WOMAN SPEAKING ANIMATEDLY INTO HER PHONE ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM HANSON TO SOVIET STATES? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THAT YOUNG WOMAN WAS STELLA MOZGAWA OF WARPAINT AND THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE WAS ME. THE SYDNEY-BORN, LA-BASED DRUMMER WAS MID-SUNGLASSES-SHOP WHEN SHE TOOK MY CALL, BUT HANDLED IT LIKE A PRO. IN BETWEEN TRY-ONS, WE TALKED ABOUT HER PARENTS, HER IDOLS AND THE NEW WARPAINT ALBUM. Hey Stella! What’s the first thing
that’s really possible, you don’t
hell—Sorry, yeah, it just depends
my go-to is just getting a flat white
pre-teen!’ It was a bit of a revelation.
idea and then everyone sprinkles
then the next one would be some
still a huge musical moment for me.
and sometimes it stems from a jam
times the rest of the band came
Hanson yet. But I pray every night.
you’re going to eat when you land have to be a sweaty, hairy old man because sometimes one particuin Australia? Ah, I’d have to say to play music on TV. You can be a lar person brings in a fully formed on my way out of the airport, and
And obviously I loved ‘MMMBop’—
it with a bit of their own character
kind of artisanal sausage roll slash Have you ever met him? I haven’t, and we all mine through the ideas meat pie situation. The first few I’ve not met any of the members of we’ve created spontaneously. So from LA to Sydney, did you play
Speaking of meeting your idols,
yeah, there’s no one formula, which
is as liberating as it is frustrating
tour guide a bit? I did a little bit, I saw on Instagram that you met because its never like ‘Let’s do A, B yeah. It was around Laneway and it [Tool drummer] Danny Carey and C’ and then there it is. It’s pretwas summer, so I just took them to
and thanked him for saving you
ty ambiguous sometimes and can
friends and food and it was all very
to teach yourself his drum parts
really freeing and beautiful and it’s
ents were a musical duo? What
musically and conceptually very
about the result.
the beach and introduced them to
tuition money. I imagine trying be a little bit stressful, but it’s also
relaxing. Is it true that your par-
was a daunting task. Yeah, it’s
as much about the process as it is
kind of stuff did they play? It is rich; it’s like a lot of time signature Don’t miss Warpaint tonight at very true. My mum was a popstar changes and polyrhythms and 10pm at GW McLennan. in Poland and my dad was a jazz-
when you’re younger you just have
be a session musician in her band,
you’re not even aware of how diffi-
a lot of cover stuff while travelling
kid it’s important to be industrious
land was still a communist country,
when you want to win first prize,
get to Australia where they played
into music as well. I just wanted to
got into music? I’d say that played
a lot of friends who were boys at
or musical tuition so that was the
I’d kind of get a little bit competi-
growing up, but that was the impe-
of a new Warpaint album coming
no, what? Those? Oh no, I’m still
us any update on that? Yes, I will
rock bass player who got hired to
an insane amount of confidence, so
and that’s how they met. They did
cult something might be. But as a
around the Soviet states when Po-
in everything you do, like in sports
and eventually they found a way to
and I think that definitely extends
in venues around Sydney till I was like, nail all those parts. And did about twelve or so. Is that how you you? Yeah, I did pretty good. I had a huge part in it, and you know, our brother-school and they were your parents get you piano lessons into Primus and Tool and stuff and beginning of that. But I also didn’t tive some times, but that was part love playing the piano when I was of the fun. There’s been some talk tus to pick up guitar and learn—Oh
next year, maybe? Can you give
trying them on, thanks—I’m sorry, say that we just spent five days in where was I? I’m just trying on sun- my studio out in Joshua Tree and
glasses in the store with my friend made some pretty cool stuff, so because I’m desperate for them. that’s where we’re at right now— Anyway, yeah, there were always in-
we’re kind of in it. How does the
struments in the house and stuff like
writing process go between the
Yeah, it was like a visibility thing,
er? Um, it really depends on—No
on Video Hits and Rage when I was
don’t be mad at me, wait, why? Be-
that. And I know Zac from Hanson four of you? Are you all equally was an idol of yours growing up. involved, or is there like, a leadyou know? I saw someone my age
no, let me try a couple more on,
really young and thought, ‘Wow,
cause they look like yours? Fucking
INTERVIEW ERIN BROMHEAD
M AU R I C E T E R Z I N I O F I C E B E RG S FA M E ( A M O N G OT H E R P O PU L A R E AT I N G A N D D R I N K I N G E S TA B L I S H M E N T S ) I S L AU N C H I N G A N I C E B E RG S P O P- U P AT T H I S Y E A R ’ S S PL E N D O U R ( G E T A LO N G , D O YO U R S E L F A FAVO U R , E TC. ), A N D W E T H O U G H T I T M I G H T B E I N T E R E S T I N G I F W E PA I R E D H I M U P W I T H S PL E N D O U R C O - FO U N D E R J E S S I CA D U C R O U FO R A N I N T E RV I E W R E VO LV I N G A RO U N D FO O D, M U S I C A N D A R T. J E S S I CA H A D T H E Q U E S T I O N CA R D S , M AU R I C E WA S I N T H E H OT S E AT. H E R E ’ S W H AT H A PPE N E D. Maurice, I was excited about working with you because both of us have an interest in the intersection of food, music and
art. For me, that’s my fuel, my energy, why I get up every day. For us too. It’s what drives our businesses. One of the first things we look at when we put a concept together is music, even before we start writing menus. So, food, music or art, what is
your number one passion? I don’t think I could put one in front of the other, you know? I think they all work together. Some
of our gigs are more driven by the arts. For example, we’re opening a wine room and small gallery–our third gallery–and Anthony Lister is painting it as we speak. So, they kind of all go hand in hand for me. I think food anchors
them all, but they all go hand in hand. I can’t choose what’s the most important, either. I mean, music anchors my industry, or what I do, but it doesn’t necessarily take precedent over art or food either.
Next question: apart from your own restaurants and bars, where do you like to eat in Sydney? Well, I’m sort of conservative when it comes to eating out. I spend a lot of time at my own gigs. Now that we’ve got multiple gigs, I always try to make sure I always eat at least one of them one night a week, so by the time
I get around to Icebergs and The Dolphin, it doesn’t leave me much time. However, being a classic Italian, Italian always comes first. So obviously, Fratelli Paradiso; it’s my best friend’s restaurant, so it’s like you’re
at home. 10 William Street, of course, which is great. Now that we’ve got the kids, we go to the Apollo quite
often. In Melbourne, Di Stasio is my absolute favourite. And also places like France Soir in Toorak. They’re
the kinds of places I tend to eat out; I want to go places where I can have conversation – I can talk and have a bottle of
wine, and the food quality is a given. And then my other favourite one when I’m in Melbourne is Flower Drum. What’s the best
restaurant you’ve experienced around the world? Well, I’ll tell you where I went that was absolutely fantastic– and it wasn’t
necessarily the meal, it was just the experience – I had lunch at The Grill in New York recently. It’s at the Four Seasons and has the most incredible art collection; the room is one of the most incredible rooms in the world. Just classic New York, very formal,
but sort of like Flower Drum: very front of house driven. For a restauranteur, and for someone who has worked front of house his whole life, it’s sort of up there with the gods. It was absolutely fantastic. If you had a dream dinner companion, who would
it be? Rowland S. Howard! Rowland S. Howard? Yes! I’d love to have dinner with him. He’d have dinner at my gigs, but I never got an opportunity to have dinner with him. He’s my absolute muse. And what is your preferred drink? They sort of change all
the time, but at the moment I’m really into gimlets. Obviously having Goldy Gin, I’m big ambassador for gin, and there’s nothing like a little bit of gin and lime, pretty simple, just shaken. And what do you think of the whole temperance movement? I’ve just done thirty days off booze, what do you think about it? It’s quite interesting. We’ve been serving low alcohol drinks now all my career. Spritzes have been with me for thirty years, Campari and sodas have been with me since I started my career, so, as an Italian, I think we’ve always felt a moderate drink is better. Drink smarter and drink less. Right. I’ve been thinking about
how younger people are choosing not to drink, and not because it’s a massive choice, but because they’re just growing up in a different culture. They’re definitely drinking less. We’ve been ambassadors for it; we’ve introduced it into our wine lists, like, gone are the days of the big shiraz. Sitting down and fucking drinking Penfolds Grange for six hours and feeling fucking sick afterwards. It’s all about unwooded, straight from the vat, 11%, beautiful, fresh chilled reds, you know? People are drinking
smarter, and people are drinking better, which is great for our industry, because that’s what our industry is all about. Where do
you think you’ll spend most of your time at Splendour? The first day definitely in the tent, in the restaurant, and get that going,
and definitely between eleven and two in the morning I’ll be in the bar. I really want to be hosting the bar. I’m really attached to it;
I think it’s going to be a really kooky little environment. The restaurant is fairly standard in terms of how people will react and what
we’ll deliver, but the bar will have a life of its own, and I really want to see how that works. Especially the curation of the music: lots
of jazz, which I think will be really interesting in the middle of a big festival. Last question: favourite festival in the world? You’re
going to laugh at this... I don’t go to festivals. I’ve been to maybe half a dozen festivals in my life. I don’t really do it, but I think I’ll fit right
in at Splendour this year. You 100% will my friend. I’m so excited! Me too, Jess!
To get your ticket to the 100 seat Icebergs x Splendour in the Grass pop-up, head to moshtix.com.au. There’ll be a custom menu, bespoke
cocktails, delicious wines, and exclusive access to the Italo Disco dance party on Sunday afternoon.
W E DON ’T K NOW A RT, BUT W E K NOW W H AT I LI K E : CR A F T. CR A F T I S TH AT TH I NG W H E RE YOU G E T S TU FF A N D G LU E IT TOG E TH E R A N D POK E FE ATH E R S I N IT A N D TH E N PA I NT IT A N D ROLL IT I N G LIT TE R . TH AT’S CR A F T. A N D YOU K NOW W H AT’S G RE AT A BOUT CR A F T ? E V E RY TH I NG . A N D YOU K NOW W H AT S UCKS A BOUT CR A F T ? NOTH I NG . CR A F T RU LE S . A N D YOU CA N GO DO S OM E CR A F T AT S PLE N DOU R I N TH E CR A F T AG A I N TH I S Y E A R! TA K E A BRE A K BE T W E E N S HOWS A N D GO DO A CR A F T! CR A F T! W E’ V E GON E TH ROUG H TH E CR A F T E V E NT RO S TE R A N D PI CK E D OUT FOU R W E LI K E TH E LOOK OF. TH E Y ’RE A LL GOOD, BUT TH E S E ON E S HON K E D OU R HORN S . CONVERSATION CARRIAGE
Friday 11:00am/Saturday 11:00am/Sunday 11:00am
We’re All Going To Die has come back for Splendour 2019, and will be delivering the ‘fear less, live more’ message on board the craft bus. Using the WAGTD Convo Cards–a collaborative artwork between Tory Bauer and Stefan Hunt–attendees will be invited to disconnect to reconnect. The questions on each card concern life, fear and getting to know yourself again. Heavy. But also liberating! Do it. DIY FUNGLASSES Friday 1:30pm
This one is going to be so much fun. You, your mates and Patience from The Grates are gonna take some festival funglasses and hot glue a bunch of sparkly stuff to them so you look bananas while protecting your eyes. All sunglasses are provided FREE, so get there early and start crafting it up.
CALLING ALL BADGERS Saturday 11:00am
Do you like badges? They’re great, aren’t they? But do you know what’s better than badges? MAKING YOUR OWN BADGES! You can put
anything on them: your own face, someone else’s face, swear words, unpopular opinion, anything! Let the Queen of Craft, Beci Orpin, show you how to make a badge you can wear with pride. TOTES TOTES
Sunday 21 July: 11am
This Art Park workshop is a festival favourite, and for good reason: you get to make a tote! Choose from one of four designs, screenprint
your recycled tote and then glue a bunch of stuff to it! This one is really popular, so we recommend you and your buddies get there early. There’s a bunch of other craft events this year, so check out splendourinthegrass.com so you don’t miss out. CRAFT!
TALK ABOUT GETTING BANG FOR YOUR SPLENDOUR BUCK– EGG BOY IS HERE. THIS YEAR’S FORUM FEATURES OTHER INCREDIBLE SPEAKERS, PANELLISTS AND PRESENTATIONS, BUT FOR OUR MONEY IT’S ALL ABOUT EGG BOY. EGG BOY, MAN. HE’S HERE. HE’S A NATIONAL HERO, THAT EGG BOY. MORE THAN THAT, HE’S AN INTERNATIONAL HERO – HE HITS BAD PEOPLE ON THE HEAD WITH EGGS. WHAT HAVE YOU EVER DONE TO EFFECT CHANGE WITH POULTRY? CHECK OUT THE GUIDE AND LEARN SOME STUFF AND HEAR SOME IDEAS AND STUFF. EGG BOY!
FRIDAY
12:30-2:00pm Hypothetical: Is it Environmentally
Black Mirror meets the Biometric Mirror. Dr Niels
Professor Peter Singer, Adam Spencer, Damon
10:00-11:30am Black Mirror x Biometric Mirror Wouters’ creation will read your face and tell you
about yourself with AI. Are you a liar? Do you have
bad breath? Actress Brenna Harding will also tell us
about working on the world’s most cutting-edge sci fi
anthology. Then the Biometric Mirror will read hers live on stage!
12:30-2:00pm Panel: TREATY
Indigenous voices including DRMNGNOW (Australia
Does Not Exist), Lala Bayles, Chelsea Bond, Rachael
Hocking, and Danny Teece Johnson. A powerful panel of performance and discussion, creating a compel-
ling vision of a way forward to empower First Nations People.
2:30-4:00pm Panel: The Pin x APRA AMCOS present: The Power of Enough
The Pin, a website centred on around race, identity, and culture, investigates the turning point for Thandi Phoenix, DRMNGNOW, Jennifer Loveless and
Sosefina Fuamoli, powerful women who have tackled colourism, womanhood, indigeneity, class and the
creative industry. Hosted by Nkechi Anele and Lucie Cutting.
SATURDAY
10:00-11:30am Panel: The Future of Jobs in an AI World
With software and algorithms taking more and more
human jobs, how do we know what’s worth studying? And what new jobs will the AI future create? A panel of experts including Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Professor
Responsible to Be Human?
Gameau, Gareth Liddiard and others discuss
the ongoing global inaction to curb human-driven
climate change. Philosophers, environmentalists, artists and experts come together to negotiate philosophical
outlooks, influence action and maintain progress in the thick of the climate crisis we face.
2:30-4:00pm Marc Fennell Meets…
SBS The Feed’s Marc Fennell interviews three of the world’s most interesting performers live onstage.
This year, Courtney Barnett and Will Connolly (Egg
Boy) open up about their lives, music and the issues that matter to them.
SUNDAY
10:00-11:30am WOKE BLOKES
Including: Associate Professor Michael Flood, Katrina Irawati Graham, Rhett McLaren and Nick and Stu
from SET MO. A panel of experts discuss how men can help facilitate equality, safety and inclusive spaces for
women, and leave the audience with some positive ac-
tions and perspectives to take back into their own lives during and after the festival.
12:30-2:00pm Q&A with Emma Alberici
Experience democracy live in action when ABC pre-
senter Emma Alberici is joined by Federal Opposition
Leader Anthony Albanese and Senator Peter Whish-Wilson (Greens), as well as Dr David Caldicott (harm-
minimisation and pill-testing advocate) and Will Connolly (Egg Boy) to thrash out the big issues of today.
2:30-4:00pm Film: Mystify: Michael Hutchence.
Uwe Aickelin, and Professor Jeannie Paterson discuss
11.30-12pm: That Movie Guy Marc Fennell in conversa-
labour rights will exist, and how to avoid studying for
teed to be a good one, whether you’re an INXS fan or
what the jobs of the future will look like, whether jobs of the past.
tion with Mystify director Richard Lowenstein. Guaranjust someone who saw the movie.
IT’S BEEN A HUGE YEAR FOR SIBLING DUO LASTLINGS. SOLD-OUT SHOWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COACHELLA APPEARANCES, SUPPORT DATES ACROSS THE US WITH ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST ELECTRONIC EXPORTS (RÜFÜS DU SOL), AND A DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE LATER THIS YEAR. THOUGH THE PAIR HAD TO WAIT UNTIL AMY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE HAVING A REAL CRACK AT THE LASTLINGS PROJECT, THEY’VE WASTED NO TIME SINCE, RELEASING A STEADY STREAM OF DREAMY ELECTRONICA THAT HINTS AT EVEN BIGGER THINGS TO COME. WE CAUGHT UP WITH AMY AND JOSH AHEAD OF THEIR PERFORMANCE TODAY FIND OUT ABOUT BAD HABITS, FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS, AND MORE.
If you could steal a tal- they played a lot of their that said though, there tracks from An Awesome is a remix of ‘Solace’ ent from one another, what would it be? Amy:
Wave, an album that is
by RÜFÜS DU SOL that
Amy’s ability to sleep in.
one that really inspired
live, and having Tyrone
musical duo and why?
Honestly, though, I don’t with Amy would be a
Josh’s cooking. Josh:
one of my favourites and we’ve started playing
Who is your favourite
me to write music.
Amy: Kiasmos. Their
think I’ve been to a fes-
special moment, as the
to another place, no
loved. We get to play to
of our favourites from
really beautiful. I listen
friends smash it on stage because his voice is
a rainy day indoors. So
of our favourite artists
Kiasmos is amazing and
hard work throughout
one half of the duo—
What are each other’s
music that we both love.
out of the woodwork
studio when you’re
Amy: I think mine is defi- teresting navigating this
original track is one
music always takes me
tival lately that I haven’t
matter where I am. It’s
amazing crowds, see our their album. And also
to them in the car or on
and also watch some
amazing.
perfect. Josh: Agreed,
perform. It makes all the
doesn’t yet know about
Olafur Arnalds—who is
the year worth it.
composes amazing
worst habits that come tralian, and that it’s a
A must-have in the
when you’re touring?
Something the world
Lastlings? I think most people don’t know that we are Japanese-Aussignificant thing in our life. It’s been really in-
from a young age into our creating music togeth- nitely getting too much Uber Eats. Whoops. I get adult lives because it’s er? Amy: A notebook and pen (or notes on the
so hungry after shows
something that we would
(laughs). Josh: For me,
Josh: I’m a perfectionist
and not understand why.
positive working envi-
er, so if anything starts
get teased for in school
iPhone). Or a diffuser
(laughs).
it would be a clean and
and a chronic over-think- Now it’s something that
ronment. There’s nothing to go wrong on tour I start to stress straight worse than working in an untidy space and
away... I need to work
important for us to have
always remember to
immediately from any of
film camera! When you
we’re working with.
it’s always exciting to
incredible festivals
took at the festival. And
going into a session with on that. negative energy. It’s also What should you
a good workflow and the pack for a music festival and why? Amy: A ability to record ideas the instruments or mics
get your film developed
You’ve played so many
see what photos you
around the world
already—what’s one
of your most favourite
a carefully curated doof
stick… Josh: I’m terrible
at festivals; I always lose
festival moments? Amy: things, so I’m probably not in a position to give Ahhh. I have so many. One is from Splendour
people advice. I’d prob-
2016; I was watching The ably recommend getting Cure with Mum, Dad and a side bag or something Josh. It was so cute; Dad that zips up that will was loving it. Another fa- keep your items on you
vourite is from Coachella at all times. It’s never fun when we were watching losing your phone and
INTERVIEW: MONIQUE PENNING
from the band sing it
Stephan Bodzin. I just
wallet at a festival; I can
we all were dancing
If you bring out any
from his set that makes
world with you on the
remember how happy
speak from experience.
together. I have a video
surprise guest in the
me smile so much! Josh: Splendour in the Grass stage, who would it be Splendour in the Grass
2013 was my first festival and why? Josh: That’s a experience and one that tricky one. The music we really made me think,
make is quite personal
‘Wow, I want to be up
to us, so I feel like it
was the mystery act and
Amy or I perform it. With
on that stage one day.’ It would be strange to have was the same year Alt-J someone else other than
we’ve really embraced and become proud of because it’s truly one of the most beautiful
cultures in our eyes, and
a place that has inspired endless aspects of our
lives—whether it be art, music, cooking or anything really.
Don’t miss Lastlings today at 12.15 at the Mix Up stage.
INTERVIEW: MONIQUE PENNING
THE MIDNIGHT ARE LIVING PROOF THAT OPPOSITES REALLY DO ATTRACT. WHEN TYLER LYLE WALKED INTO A WRITING SESSION WITH TIM MCEWAN BACK IN 2012, THE PAIR FOUND COMMON GROUND IN THEIR LOVE FOR THE RECENTLY RELEASED NEON-NOIR MOVIE DRIVE, AND THE REST WAS 80S-INFUSED HISTORY. FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN TYLER’S COUNTRY MUSIC BACKGROUND AND TIM’S ELECTRO-POP PRODUCTION CHOPS, THE DUO HAVE CARVED OUT THEIR OWN NICHE WITHIN THE SYNTHWAVE SCENE, COLLECTING DIE-HARD FANS WITH EVERY STOP ON THEIR FIRST EVER WORLD TOUR. WITH SAX-HEAVY TRACKS THAT EVOKE NOSTALGIA FOR ERAS DEFINED BY BAD HAIRCUTS AND GREAT VISUALS, THE MIDNIGHT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO RELIVE THE GLORY OF THE 80S—EVEN IF YOU WEREN’T ALIVE TO EXPERIENCE IT THE FIRST TIME ROUND. WE WENT BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH VOCALIST TYLER LYLE, BELOW. What were your first impressions of each other You’ve got some very sexy sax in your tracks. Is there a moment in particular during a live per-
when you met in that writing session back in 2012? What’s one of your all-time favourite sax solos? Our formance that really stands out in your memory? I thought Tim was talented in a creative world that I saxophone player Jesse says any solos by the Brecker The end of our first real tour in fall of 2018, at our last had no experience in; we seemed to occupy differ- Brothers or Kenny Garrett.
show in San Francisco. I was so anxious to make sure
ent worlds sonically, and that was initially challenging You’ve built up a really strong sense of communi- the performances were good, that show was a victory and exciting.
ty around you, where fans of all different ages and lap that I could let loose and enjoy myself. That was
You guys live on opposite coasts to one another. backgrounds are finding common ground through the first show I felt totally present.
How do you make it work? We make trips to write your music. Why do you think this is? We’re seeking There’s a strong sense of nostalgia in your mu-
together every couple of months when we’re not on connection. That’s what our music is about for us, and sic. If you could transport yourself back in time, tour, and on a daily basis he’s making tracks and I’m that’s what we’re trying to put out into the world. Mod- where would you go? Northern California in the late writing songs.
ern life leaves a lot of us behind. We want people to 60s. There are a few lectures at The Esalen Institute
What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt from know that there’s a space for those of us who feel left that I’d like to go back and see firsthand. Tim’s aneach other, musically or otherwise? That friction out or are struggling. We’re there too.
swer would probably be different.
makes interesting music. We both occupy our respec- What’s something that you’ve seen or read recently What should Splendour audiences prepare them-
tive corners, and when it overlaps there can be creative that has found its way into your music? Yuval Noah selves for when The Midnight hit the stage this tension. I think we’ve both learned to lean into it—that Harari [author of Sapiens] and Bruce Springsteen’s Ne- year? Tank tops, headbands, and saxophones.
the ‘combine not confine’ attitude is the best philoso- braska are big thematic inspirations, as well as the aes- Don’t miss The Midnight today at 12.30 pm at the Mix phy for making music as The Midnight.
thetic of the internet of the early to mid-90s.
Up stage.
A. SWAYZE & THE GHOSTS
INTERVIEW BY BRUNO COWEN
A. SWAYZE & THE GHOSTS ARE ONE OF THOSE BANDS THAT COME AT YOU FROM OUT OF NOWHERE. HAILING FROM SMALLTOWN HOBART, THE FOUR-PIECE HAS A VIOLENT MOMENTUM THAT MAKES IT SEEMS LIKE THEY’VE BEEN BOTTLED UP FOR FAR TOO LONG AND ARE NOW EXPLODING. WHILE THEIR SOUND IS DISTINCTLY GARAGE ROCK, THERE’S A RANGE OF SUBTLE INFLUENCES AT PLAY, CREATING A UNIQUE AND QUINTESSENTIALLY AUSTRALIAN SOUND. FROM THE CHUGGING MOMENTUM OF KING GIZZARD TO THE UNHINGED GUITAR OF THE DRONES, THESE GUYS HAVE GOT IT GOING ON. I CALLED UP THEIR CHARISMATIC LEAD SINGER ANDREW—WHO POSSESSES THAT COVETED MICK JAGGER SWAGGER—TO FIND OUT HOW LIVING IN A SMALL COMMUNITY IN TASSIE HAS SHAPED THEIR MUSIC, HOW THEY ACCIDENTALLY WROTE A FLEETWOOD MAC SONG, AND WHY HEATERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL. Let’s get this name out of the way Gun Club. There’s a whole lot of Jef- wanna make a song that’s really abra- and whatnot. In Hobart, we could play first. Is one of you named Swayze? frey Lee Pierce in how you sing and sive, and we’ll listen to Bad Brains like, with a death metal band and a K-Pop Who are the ghosts? It’s meant to cre- project yourself. Is that the case? ‘How did they get that guitar tone?’, band in the same night. So there’s limate a bit of ambiguity. It’s not my actual Well, it’s quite interesting you’ve picked and by the end of the writing session it itations. But I think that those limitations
name, it’s a stage name I picked for my- that. I didn’t even discover Gun Club sounds like Fleetwood Mac! We could in art aren’t a bad thing, because they self so I can jump into that mindset when until about a year ago. I think they’re a dissect each of our songs and I could let you really focus on what you’re tryI get up on stage. The ghosts: that’s just fucking fantastic band but there’s defi- tell you the influences in each part, but ing to do, rather than worrying about the a bit of a joke we had years ago about nitely no influence for me or any of us— it’s such a subconscious thing. And people around you.
this character ‘Andrew Swayze’, who we just happen to sound similar. Multi- there’s so many layers to it. Like, this Yeah. In Sydney, there’s so much was a big Patrick Swayze fan. There’s ple people have mentioned the likeness, record we’ve got coming out soon, it’s legislation it makes live music really not much to it, to be honest, just a stu- so I don’t know how that happened.
got a whole bunch of disco basslines in hard, and you end up with a DIY un-
pid fucking stoned joke that turned into Your band has a really different mu- it, but you don’t really notice until you’re derground that’s significantly better sical vocabulary to the Gun Club really listening to it. It’s funny, cos Dan- than what you hear on mainstream a band name.
You’ve got a pretty massive, aggro though; it nearly sounds like the ny our bass player just loves that mu- radio. Oh, well and truly. And that’s the sound. Is that reflective of you as a Strokes. Is that what you’re going sic... like we’ll be writing something re- case everywhere. Entering that comperson or does your stage persona for? I think it’s evolved into that sort ally punk—fast and abrasive—and he’ll mercial competition, you lose immediexist only in a live setting? It’s a re- of sound. When we first started writing put a disco groove underneath it. It’s ately. Like, you can’t compete when it flection of part of my brain, but I’m defi- songs, it was really just simple, three- a combination of all sorts of ideas that comes to art. It’s subjective. As soon as you start doing that you’re compromisnitely a lot more relaxed in my regular, chord songs—raw garage music. And just end up creating our sound.
day to day life. The stage persona, it just a lot of the songs that we play came And you guys are from Hobart. Does ing what you make. comes naturally. It’s an extension of a from that time. But we’ve had a shift the isolation there shape your mu- How does it feel coming up to Splen-
different side of my mind which is quite in the band members too. We started sic? Definitely. I find the isolation and dour? Get a bit of sunshine on ya? erratic and quite spontaneous... a bit off with just me on the guitar, but now the small community in Hobart sort of Yeah definitely. It’s fuckin’ cold in Tassie, loose. I think making that character for we’ve got Hendrick playing lead, so a breeds this honesty in people making so it’s a good excuse. myself really opened a door to express- lot more dynamic playing and riff work art. There’s no real competition. No one On that note, how do you rehearse in
has been added to our songs, which is a really strives to achieve a lot; they just Hobart? Don’t your fingers get cold? Has every interview you’ve done bit Strokesy. I think we’ve just become a make art because they want to do it. I Lots of heaters. That’s the secret. We’ve started by asking about the name? bit more progressive, while still having a think, just from travelling with the band, got a studio just out of Hobart and it’s ing myself.
certain pop mentality. It’s a hard ques- a lot of other people come from a real- subterranean, so it does get pretty Sorry. That’s alright. I made a promise tion, what our influences are, because ly competitive background that really fuckin’ cold down there. But I guess we to myself not that long ago that I would we all have very different influences. We shapes the music that they make, and just keep active. Put in that extra little Pretty much every interview, yeah.
tell journalists not to ask that question, just get together and write, and songs lacks conviction. And I don’t think we bit of running around during practice. but you came across nicely. And it’s not come out sounding like they’re derived have that; we started off just wanting to Catch A. Swayze & The Ghosts at the a cool enough story anyway.
from something else. Like, we might have a band, with no intention of touring Amphitheatre at 12.45pm.
BREAKING NEWS
Tracksuit Pants I found a pair of men’s Adidas tracksuit pants on the corner of Moore Park and Oatley Road in Paddington. There was a Tim Tam in one of the pockets and, sadly, I ate it. Obviously, not expecting a reward now. Wendy (02) 6277 3184 Pie I’m looking for a pie, but not just any pie–I’m looking for a very, very special pie. Do you know what I mean when I say very, very special pie? If you do know what I mean, please call me immediately to discuss our ‘pie’ options. Travis (02) 6277 3184
ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST, GHOST OF DAVID BOWIE SEEN RIDING THE BUS David Bowie’s ghost has been spotted riding Sydney’s 333 bus again, and dismayed commuters have noted he’s still not tapping on. ‘He’s still not tapping on,’ said local disgruntled senior citizen Francine Magpie. ‘Last Tuesday, he got on at Taylor Square and rode all the way to the North Bondi shops without paying a
bloody cent! It’s an outrage.’ The living, breathing Bowie had no qualms coughing up the requisite fare for
the 333, but now that he’s wafting about the place as an eerie apparition, he’s become a bit of a tight-fisted bastard. ‘He’s a tight-fisted bastard,’ said bus passenger and demented octogenarian Ethel Cumdungeon, adding that he was also ‘a tight-fisted bastard.’ Bowie, famous for penning hit tunes like ‘Fame’ and ‘Space
Oddity’, was worth an estimated $100 million at the time of his death, however, his will stipulated the for-
tune be divided between his wife and surviving children, leaving nothing for his wandering spectre to pay
Bitch Shorts I found a pair of pink shorts with the word ‘BITCH’ bedazzled on the butt. If these are yours, give me a bell. I’m happy to return them to you, just so long as you don’t be a total bitch about it, Tiffany, you fucking bitch. Sandra (02) 6277 3184 Backpack I left my backpack on the train yesterday. It’s a red backpack that contains another smaller red backpack. Inside that red backpack, you’ll find an even smaller red backpack, and inside that–you guessed it–another little red backpack! After that, it’s just a pear. Reward if returned. Amos (02) 6277 3184
for the bus. ‘Oh, I don’t believe that for a second,’ said local busybody and Depend® ambassador Helen Fartbasket. ‘And anyway, if he doesn’t have money for the bus, he shouldn’t be riding the bus.’ The spunky
Fartbasket then went on to say she’d confronted Bowie when he recently got on at The Light Brigade Hotel in Woollahra and failed to produce an Opal card. ‘I said to him, “Oi, David Bowie. How come you didn’t tap
on like the rest of us?” Well, he just slowly turns to look at me all spooky like, and doesn’t say nothing.’ The
Daily Splendour reached out to the Minister for Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, to ask why nothing was
being done about David Bowie’s ghost getting a free ride at the expense of taxpayers, but his office said Mr. Toole would not be available for comment since the query was a silly one.
Estate Agent I found an estate agent in my home yesterday. I don’t know how he got in, but he was measuring things and recording exaggerations in a little notebook. He was smug and stank of Tom Ford for Men. If yours, please collect him before I open up his head with a cricket bat. Alex (02) 6277 3184
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