3 Minutes 52 Seconds with Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

February 23rd, 2012

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti will be touching down on our shores very soon as a part of Golden Plains Sixxx 2012 and they’re playing a handful of sideshows around the place. For full tour dates, check out their Tumblr.

Ariel Pink took 3 minutes and 52 seconds out of his daily life to answer a few questions:

What do you do? Telephone operator. / City you call home? Los Angeles. / The best thing about being you right now? It’s a secret. Tea or coffee? Coffee. / Life changing record? The Shaggs – ‘Own Thing’. / Dream collaboration? Xhol. / What inspires you? Novelty. / If not playing a gig where can we find you? Online. / I’m buying drinks, what’s your poison? Cristal. / Best record right now? Black Bananas – Rad Times Xpress IV. / One song to guarantee a private car sing-along? Any song by The Smiths. / Childhood crush? Samantha Fox. / Skrillex? Skittles. / Roulette, cards, pokies – red or black? All or nothing. / Which band would you die to play for, if not your own? Roha Band or The J.B.’s. / Favourite, quirky possession? Light show nebula. / Scrunch or fold? Scrunch. / Guilty pleasure? Women. / There’s a mini, five-band festival at yours, who’s playing? The Stranglers, Tangerine Dream, Morbid Angel, The Moody Blues and Van der Graaff Generator. / Tell us one odd thing we don’t know? You are wrong. / Two minute noodles, Mac & Cheese or baked beans on toast? Kraft Mac n Cheese. / Worst. Movie. Ever? Waking Life.

3 MINUTES & 52 SECONDS WITH…. CAROLINE POLACHEK OF CHAIRLIFT

February 2nd, 2012

Brooklyn-based electro-pop outfit Chairlift are currently touring the country supporting the recent release of their sophomore album Something - the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2008 debut Does You Inspire You. The group were first introduced to international listeners with the help of an iconic Apple iPod advertisement featuring breakout single ‘Bruises’ and have since developed a cult following for their synth-driven and darkly sporadic sound.  Chairlift worked tirelessly throughout 2011 on their latest release with producer Dan Carey (Hot Chip, The Kills, M.I.A.) and have already received rave reviews from Pitchfork and support from triple j (Feature Album of the Week).

Front-woman Caroline Polachek was kind enough to take 3 Minutes and 52 Seconds with Mucho Bravado:

Who? Caroline Polachek / City you call home? New York City / Tea or coffee? Coffee, lots of it. / Best thing about what you do? Travelling / Favourite cafe anywhere? Le Goupil Le Fol in Brussels / Dream collaboration? Strawberry Switchblade / Can you tell a lot about a person by their bedclothes? If the lights are on / What about you? If i’m wearing bedclothes / What inspires you? Youtube / If not playing a gig where can we find you? Rehearsal / I’m buying drinks, what’s your poison? Makers Mark, ginger beer, wedge of lime.  / Last movie you saw? Drive / Any good? YES / Best record right now? New Nite Jewel album, coming out in March / One song to guarantee a private car sing-along? “Juicy Fruit” by M’Tume / Favourite Beatle? John / Prince or MJ? MJ / One band – old or new – you’d murder to play for? Roxy Music / Favourite, quirky possession? Laptop. / Guilty pleasure of late? Eating everything served to me on an airplane. / There’s a mini, five-band festival at yours, who’s playing? Violens, Anika, Nite Jewel, Ice Choir, Geneva Jacuzzi. / Tell us one odd thing we don’t know? i detest the word quirky. / Lollies or chocolate? Chocolate. / You and the bf are breaking up, which one record do you fight for? Avalon by Roxy Music. / What’s on your rider? Chocolate. / Most diva-like demand recently? Amp set up in my hotel room so i can play synth. / Most embarrassing stage moment? Losing my glasses and being to blind to find them on stage. Oof. / The world’s ending, what do you do? Finish my Q&A / Favourite shower croon? “Silk & Honey” by Honey ltd / Who did you want to be when you grew up? Dorothy Hamill / Last thing you stole? A bananna from the hotel buffet 10 minutes ago / Favourite Cartoon character? Ren & Stimpy / Best Christmas present ever received as a child? A 90s Yamaha PSR. Still use it in Chairlift recordings. Thanks Mom! / Favourite place in the world that’s not home? London. / Song most likely to get you onto the dance floor? “Silent Morning” by Noel / Life changing record? Another Green World by Brian Eno / Love or lust? Love. / Favourite composition of your own of all time? “Amanaemonesia” / One apprehension about your album? Not enough cowbell.  / The best thing about being you right now? Being two questions from the end. / What are you doing after answering these questions? Playing synth in my hotel room.  / Famous last words? “Never explain and never complain”.

Chairlift’s hauntingly quirky and captivating new album Something is out now.  The group play the Laneway festivals and a few resulting sideshows throughout January and February 2012.

3 MINUTES & 52 SECONDS WITH…. HUSKY GAWENDA OF HUSKY

January 31st, 2012

Who? Husky Gawenda from the band ‘Husky’ / City you call home? Melbourne / Tea or coffee? Coffee in the morning, tea before a show / Best thing about what you do? I get to play music, sing songs. That’s the best thing about what I do / Favourite cafe anywhere? Brown Sugar, Bondi / Dream collaboration? Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan / Can you tell a lot about a person by their bedclothes? You can tell certain things about them, yes / What about you? No, my bed clothes are very mysterious / What inspires you? A warm breeze blowing in through my bedroom window as I wake, right at the beginning of summer / If not playing a gig, where can we find you? Watching Arrested Development on my laptop, listening to records in my apartment and early in the morning you’ll find me walking along the shores of Port Philip Bay / I’m buying drinks, what’s your poison? Jameson on the rocks / Last movie you saw? Barney’s Version / Any good? Excellent. Paul Giamatti is a genius / Best record right now? Bon Iver – Bon Iver / One song to guarantee a private car sing-along? Africa by Toto / Favourite Beatle? Paul McCartney / Prince or MJ? MJ / One band – old or new – you’d murder to play for? The Band / Favourite, quirky possession? Whipper Snipper – I love whipper snippering / Scrunch or fold? Scrunch / Guilty pleasure of late? Berocca / There’s a mini, five-band festival at yours, who’s playing? Grizzly Bear, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Bon Iver, Tinariwen / Tell us one odd thing we don’t know? Brian Wilson had his piano placed in a sand box in order to feel the sand at his feet whilst composing music / Lollies or chocolate? Chocolate / You and the gf are breaking up, which one record do you fight for? Grace – Jeff Buckley / What’s on your rider? Booze and herbal tea / Most diva-like demand recently? We asked for the band room to be cleared for an afternoon sound check and nearly got beaten up by some locals. Brisbane! / Most embarrassing stage moment? Power went out 30 seconds in to the first song of our set and we just stood there, totally bewildered. We then played some unplugged songs which actually went down pretty well / The world’s ending, what do you do? Pray – might as well / Favourite shower croon? Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra / Who did you want to be when you grew up? Indiana Jones / Last thing you stole? The headliner’s rider / Cartoon character? He-Man / Best Christmas present ever received as a child? We didn’t celebrate Christmas. But the best present I ever received was a black BC Rich electric guitar when I was 12 / Favourite place in the world that’s not home? Cap de Creus / Song most likely to get you onto the dance floor? Africa - Toto / Life changing record? Songs of Leonard Cohen / Love or lust? Love / Favourite composition of your own of all time? I’m still working on it / One apprehension about your album? Not enough party numbers / The best thing about being you right now? My job is to play music with three amazing musicians and friends. Pretty good thing about being me / What are you doing after answering these questions? Boarding a train, in the rain, in pain (I hurt my neck the other day)… and working on my poetry skills / Famous last words? Nobody’s perfect.

HIGH FIDELITY MOMENT – ISABEL PAPPANI – UNDERCOVER TRACKS

January 27th, 2012

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In 2004 Isabel Pappani established undercover tracks, an exclusive boutique music licensing agency specializing in placing Australian music into U.S. film and television productions. Based in Los Angeles, Pappani and her team have secured syncs for many artists in high-profile TV shows, films, trailers, commercials and video games.  Isabel began her career in the early 90’s at PolyGram Film & TV Music, followed by a stint at Island Def Jam soundtracks and then became VP of Creative for Festival Mushroom Records before stepping out on her own. She is passionate about helping independent music and has worked with hundreds of Australian artists, from Powderfinger, Eskimo Joe, Gyroscope and 28 Days to Hungry Kids of Hungary, Ball Park Music, and the Resin Dogs. As one of the music industry’s feistiest, Isabel Pappani of Undercover Tracks takes on our High Fidelity challenge and as the movie soundtrack fuelled her initial passion in doing exactly what she does, it seemed only logical that Iz reveal her Top Five Favourite Soundtracks.

FIVE: SLIVER (1993)
Not an award-winning film by any means, but the soundtrack was a fantastic introduction to the 90s era of club/electronic  music (Enigma, Massive Attack, Lords Of Acid), and it launched UB40’s version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” to #1 on the charts.  In fact, the juxtaposition of darker, more intense tracks and sexy beats from artists like Neneh Cherry and Aftershock made the voyeur/serial killer plotline almost bearable to watch.

FOUR: PRETTY IN PINK (1986)
John Hughes WAS the sound of the 1980s. OMD’s “If You Leave”, Echo and the Bunnymen “Bring on the Dancing Horses”, Psychedelic Fur’s “Pretty In Pink”, INXS, New Order, The Smiths… These were some of the very best songs from a very special movie that helped us appreciate how hard it was to grow up, make and keep friends and discover romance – and cemented Molly Ringwald on the map. This was one of the most influential set of youth-centered films that were the hallmark of the decade.

THREE: NEW MOON (2009)
Keeping more current, the second album in the Twilight movie series is my favourite. Anya Marina’s “Satellite Heart” is haunting and fits the vampire/werewolf/youth angst story set in a gloomy climate perfectly. This soundtrack was many people’s first introduction to now-Grammy nominated Bon Iver, but didn’t neglect to score exclusive tracks by already acclaimed favourites such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Thom Yorke.

TWO: RISKY BUSINESS (1983)
When Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay get busy on the train, the scene starts up with Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight” and transitions to Tangerine Dream’s rhythmic “Love on a Real Train”- the background blurring during the encounter while Tom Cruise’s innocence is lost in a big way…. One of the sexiest scenes + music of all time. Don’t believe me? Watch it.

ONE: THE LOST BOYS (1987)
What makes this particular compilation so amazing is that there really weren’t any powerhouse artists on it (save INXS/Jimmy Barnes), yet when it comes up in conversation, everyone LOVES it.  In fact, almost every artist on the soundtrack was never heard from again. The saxophone-heavy cover of The Call’s “I Still Believe” is suddenly quite enchanting when you throw in brooding, motorcycle-riding vampires lead by a young Keifer Sutherland. A dreamy Jason Patric and crush-worthy Jami Gertz (as Star) having a romantic interlude in the vampire cave to Gerard McMann’s “Cry Little Sister” is a moment in film music we won’t ever forget.

HIGH FIDELITY MOMENT – STU McCULLOUGH OF AMPLIFIRE MUSIC

November 29th, 2011

As the managing director of successful management company Amplifire Music, Stu McCullough garnered a wealth of expertise during his eight years as AnR of Australian artists for Sony Music and now uses it to drive his own business. He manages Last Dinosaurs, The Audreys and The Jungle Giants and is, of course, our fearless co-promoter for Track & Field.

Speaking of Track & Field, we’re holding it at The Arena this time and we figure there is a whole generation of people who have no idea where it or what it is. Not many know this but The Arena, or as it was once called The Roxy, was the best rock venue in town. Stu gives us his TOP 5 favourite gigs witnessed in this very room….

1. Pavement (with The Dirty Three – 1994) – Pavement were brilliant. They defined slacker cool. Warren Ellis from The Dirty Three spat all through the gig, with his back to the audience the entire time. Nothing has changed there.

2. Radiohead (pre-Bends tour 1994) – No one really knew they would become the most important and groundbreaking band of their generation.

3. The Strokes (supporting You Am I – July 2001) – This was before the release of Is This It, and it was literally the hottest ticket in town. With word on the street you should not miss  this new New York rock band.

4. Midnight Oil (1998) – It was the height of Pauline Hanson, the release of the Oil’s Redneck Wonderlandalbum, and Garett was spitting venom about One Nation. The crowd was seething. Ironically most of them seemed to be rednecks.

5. Primal Scream (January 1995). – Bobby Gillespie looked wasted, but they were brilliant and loud. It appears he was. His record label publicist later told me she had to lift his head out of his dinner about 90 minutes before he went on stage.

3 MINUTES AND 52 SECONDS WITH… OLIVER TANK

November 29th, 2011