 Photo by The Underground Stage Name
Kate Salt Where are you from and/or where do you live now? I grew up in the south of England, in a small town called Ringwood on the edge of the New Forest. Most people only know it if they have to drive through it to get to a city. Brighton is close to my heart, I lived there for a few years when I first left home. Currently, my life belongs to The Inner West in Sydney. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I have been playing since I was about 12 I think, maybe a bit later. So, all in all it’s been close to 13 years. I had a friend I used to play football (soccer) with. He had a kit and I’d have a go when I went round his house after practise. That got me caught onto drums in particular. Can you play any other instruments? I am fortunate that my parents have always encouraged me to play music and I have had an interest in it from a very young age. My mum made me take piano lessons from about the age of 7, but I didn’t value that enough at the time and now it would take me a while just to play something basic. I played the trumpet through most of my school life (and various other brass instruments for a short time), but I haven’t played much since. I can play basic guitar chords and played a little bit of bass in bands in the past. Apparently I’m a singer now as well. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? Sports Bra is my main squeeze at the moment. We have just finished recording our second album and it is the most proud I have been of anything musical I have been involved in to this date. We’re just sorting out the release right now, but I am looking forward to sharing it with everyone. I have recently started my venture into teaching, in a wild goose chase of PR in Australia. I have been teaching my friend Justine and it has been wonderful to see her flourish in such a short space of time. I’ve done a small amount of work teaching children, but I am on the hunt for more experience and also some training in teaching. I am also keen to get more involved and play in other bands, so we’ll see what happens. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? In Brighton I played in a garage rock duo called ARXX, but unfortunately reached a point where I was unable to continue. I later played in a band called Crushing with two great friends Jay and Kerry. Around the same timeline as those, I played in a queer punk band called Mortgage with Blossom and Michael, which is what ended up bringing me to Australia. Those two are very special to me and I really don’t think I’d have found myself here without them. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in? I absolutely would not be without it. I don’t really see myself as a creative person (maybe that’s a self-esteem thing). I like to bounce ideas around with other people, but I am rarely the person with an initial idea. The last time I wrote anything entirely by myself it was only because it was a requirement at uni. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I am really enjoying discovering new music through friends and sharing the stage, highlights include Camp Cope, Antonia & the Lazy Susans, Jim Dusty and Shop Talk. My bandmates in Sports Bra are all involved in other cool projects as well such as New Mutant, Dog Dirt and Histamine. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? I don’t want to be cliche or classically English, but I have always felt I identified with Ringo. Not only was he the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine, but his playing had a certain sensitivity towards each song, rather than just playing for the sake of playing. That’s very much how I strive to play. Currently, I am so inspired by my fellow musicians in Sports Bra and it is a real joy to be able to work with such amazing and talented people. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? Paradiddle 4 life. I am also slowly getting myself through Mark Wessels’ ‘A Fresh Approach to the Drumset’ which has been a really useful resource when thinking about teaching beginners too. Does social media play a big part in how you promote yourself as an artist and your various projects? I am very much a fan of word of mouth. My bandmates are well versed in social media, but I am pretty hopeless with keeping up with the abyss that is the internet. It is key though, I’ll probably have to figure this out at some point. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? Right here in Sydney, Australia. I have built a life in a country on the other side of the world mostly because of music. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? Stick it out with the piano. It’ll come in handy. Other thoughts/info Please contact me if you are in need of a drummer, drum teacher or have links to resources/places where I can get some training. I am really keen to get more involved in music in Australia and connect with more like-minded people. Website Instagram + Facebook: @sportsbralovesyou @drumsalt https://sportsbralovesyou.bandcamp.com
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 Photo by Stephen (Insta @halo1469 - fb @ragandbonephotography_ Name
Lys Mac Where are you from and/or where do you live now? I grew up in Melbourne, just near St Kilda, but have lived in Ocean Grove for about the last four years... I moved here for an anticipated 12 month sea-change, and fell in love with the place and have never left! How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I first picked up a drumstick about 10 months ago, and have been enthusiastically hitting the tubs ever since! It started as a joke, when I invited myself into a booze-fueled, impromptu doom jam one night, and a friend innocently said “you’re actually not bad”, and that was enough for me to take up a new hobby! I started tapping my way around my day-to-day life, then started turning up to friends houses who had kits, and basically just practiced as much as I could… I then somehow convinced my mates to start our band, BIN, with me! What initially began as a bit of a laugh, fairly quickly turned into a really sick creative outlet! Do you play any other instruments? Unfortunately (or fortunately) not! What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? I just play in BIN, which is a five-piece made up of me, Will Bowers (Fin Fright), Cal Shortal (Murlocs), Lachy Baulch (Laughing Leaves), and Tim Fluker (Slacks)... We are just a bunch of mates who love making music together, and have happened to land a bunch of sick shows as a result! What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? I have been a mad music fan for as long as I can recall, but never a music-maker. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? Most of BINs music comes from ideas or snippets of ideas, and we jam them out until we feel like we love where its at… A few of our songs come from demos that the boys have come up with, and we all work together to tweak our own parts. When BIN first started, the drumming was very much an instruction from the boys, but as I’ve developed my own style, I now bring my own concepts to our music… Not all of them get the tick of approval, but pretty much all of our songs now are collaborative and the drum parts are mainly all my own. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? Aside from absolutely loving being able to bump creative ideas, collaboration is so important for me because I am still such a newbie when it comes to playing and developing music… I am so lucky that the boys in my band are so incredibly talented, but also so incredibly patient – they are all so gentle with feedback (most of the time) and sharing ideas; I think having such stellar bandmates has helped me develop my own drumming style as quickly as I have… That makes them sound like angels, when they’re actually shitheads, but I am very appreciative of the time that they’ve put into me & BIN! Its been a pretty rad learning curve, going from being told to hit one drum for the length of a song, to being able to bring my own flair and quirks to our new stuff and having the guys work their parts around it – its sick! Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I stumbled across a ‘Psychedelic Sounds Of Peru” record in a cheap tub a few weeks back and I’ve been gyrating around my house since - its sick! BIN was also lucky enough to play a bunch of shows with Bones and Jones, and their record, and latest single release, are bloody unreal – I am pretty sure I am their number 1 fan, but Living Given has copped a flogging from me over the past few months. I also haven’t quite gotten over Sleep releasing ‘The Sciences’, so that’s pretty heavy in rotation too! Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? Hmm, my favourite drummers would have to be Jake Laderman, as he is such a talented and hardworking muso, but also helped me at my very first show when I had no idea that kits didn’t come set-up already… WTF is a clutch, and why aren’t all toms tilted on the perfect angle?! Or Matt Blach, because he is a bloody groovy drummer and super incredible musician (listen to his new project, Baked Beans, they’re AMAZING), but also because he kindly gave me my very first kit! From an inspiration point of view, I listen to Eddy Current a lot and pay attention to Danny – he keeps it *fairly* simple but absolutely kills it, same as Meg White! Of course, Bonham is a freak… I also dig Ringo, and appreciate him more now because, like him, I’m not the best drummer in my band either haha How would you describe the kind of music or projects you’re mostly involved in? And what kind of unique perspective/sound do you bring to these gigs? BIN is a bit of a mixed bag; Flying Nun-eqsue inspired, post-punky, jangly fun… We have evolved a bit since we began late last year, particularly the drums – I still keep it pretty simple and steady, but the difference between our shows now and say, our first release, ‘Moocher’, is pretty significant – its definitely a lot tighter and smarter music! Our gigs are usually really fun for us and the crowd, we don’t take ourselves too seriously at all, and I think that vibe resonates – I’ve been told I’m the smiley-est drummer ever, which isn’t particularly cool or steezy, but I just have the best time and it apparently shows on my face! Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? As much as I hate them I usually kick off with some rudiments and paradiddles, before just smashing my way around the kit like a looney tune ‘til I find my groove (or until I get death stares from the boys because I’m taking too long)… Before a show I always try to keep my cool, and then swiftly neck a pint right before we begin… It is a very professional and refined warm up. Does social media play a big part in how you promote yourself as an artist and your various projects? Do you promote your work in other ways? Our promotion is pretty limited… We have been lucky enough to play with some sick bands who have heard of us through word of mouth, and I think our little following has grown as a result of that… We definitely post on social media to ensure the pages don’t become stagnant, but realistically it’s usually just some footage of us drinking tins, smoking ciggies or playing video games with a vague reference to the details of our next show! Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? HA, I wish… I’d never work another day in my life is that was the case… We all have other jobs, and that’s probably why we love BIN so much – it’s a social and creative outlet, but it comes with minimal responsibility. We make just enough money from music to fund the next thing… At the moment we are putting our dollars into tees and maybe a record later this year if we get around to it! Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? Given I had never played drums a year ago, its so surreal that my music has put me on a stage at all, so that in itself is bloody amazing for me! Its been so sick to play in front of mates and alongside mates, and to open for bands that play great music, but playing a sold out Croxton show before the Cosmic Psychos for my sixth gig ever is definitely the highlight of my “career” to date… BIN was on a huge stage and I shared a kit with Dean and that kit had its own podium… It may not seem like a big deal to seasoned professionals, but I was stoked! I also made my new years resolution this year to play a show with Peter Bibby (and to have more sex), and BIN have just locked in a show with Bibby at the start of October… I am still working on the second part. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? I’d firstly tell my younger self to start drumming sooner – I missed 20-odd years of the raddest hobby because it took a bunch of beers and a drunken decision to begin! I’d also tell myself that it isn’t cool to call in your own drum roll at your first ever show, especially when you couldn’t do a drum roll… Not cool, Lys, not cool. Other thoughts/info BIN have a bunch of rad shows locked in for the rest of the year, including with Terrible Signal on September 27th, Peter Bibby on Oct 4th, and playing at the inaugural Loch Hart festival in November – I’d love to share a beer with a fellow heydrums fan at one! Website http://facebook.com/bintheband http://bintheband.bandcamp.com  Photo taken from “Leerers” Image captures by Darcy Goodrem, Styled by Shrimpwitch, MUA Alissa Tothpal Name
Georgi Goonsack Where are you from and/or where do you live now? I’m from the bottom of a rock-pool, and now I dive/live in dive bars. Also originally from the south-east but I’m riding my bike around the inner-north now. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I started playing drums at a house-party, people thought I was good, so a couple of months later, Shrimpwitch was brought into the universe and voila! So playing drums since 2015 and have no proper training. do not really know how to play guitar or anything. I was drawn to it because I felt like it was natural, and I could teach myself. Hitting things in a controlled environment is a really powerful means of meditation. Do you play any other instruments? Hmm, I guess I play my luck! I sing and drum at the same time, and sometimes I play pretty fast, so I suppose my “vocals” could be another instrument. I like wordplay and foreplay. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? Well, there is Shrimpwitch, and I am singing in a new band with some friends who are all in different bands. We are a super group! We haven’t got a name yet. I think we’re going to be a party band that rocks and you can dance to it and I’m excited to be able to sing some songs that don’t make it into Shrimpwitch. I still wanna be funny but write deep stuff, but just in a different way. I’m also in the process of planning an album and we’ve just recently filmed for a clip for our 1.45 minute length song, “Leerers”. I am so stoked about it. I spent ages finding costumes and there were so many people who help make my dream happen. We’re doing so much this year and will do a split single! What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? I haven’t been in any other bands but I have made short films in TAFE and for fun. I have done back-up singing in some friend’s bands, like I sung the femme vocals on the LOOBS album, Bubblewrap, and I’ve done some on stage with Cable Ties. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? Kim Prawn and I both write the songs. Our songwriting process begins with me writing a dramatic poem and a loose melody, I take it to practice and chuck a nifty drumbeat behind it and we collaborate the rest. Kim is truly a witch, her guitaring is so perfect and she can make it all sound just how it was meant to. I write songs based on food, sex or being angry at the government. We need to write angry and sexy music because damn happy/poppy songs, I’m not a “happy” person, I’m pissed off at the notion of reducing myself to be feminine. I don’t really like happy music so I always write about my anxiety, my fears and also just weird shit. I want to challenge what the hell “feminine” is for myself and then aggressively through it back into the world. Other people can do happy music- good on them. We always spend time coming up with matching outfits and we love a good prop. I love doing our own artwork and I write all our press release shit. Words are fun. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? Collaboration is so deeply important. I think I really discussed my collaboration thoughts earlier. For instance, for our film clip, talking to heaps of people at Old Bar and The Tote, all giving me heaps of suggestions and encouragement meant that it was the best it could be. Grimm Sisters made props for the clip, my mates Kelly, Phoebe, Lucy and Darcy who made the LOOBS clips worked hard on helping seeing out my vision. It’s just so important because we all need each other. People can be really smart, kind and intelligent, you know? Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? Well! Recent bands I’m loving are Moody Beaches and Loose Tooth. I’m listening to Bad Beats of Badsville by The Cramps album a lot. I’m always just trying to tune into local music so some old classics I go to are Cable Ties, Mod Con, Swim Team, Lazertits, Hearts & Rockets, GLOVV, Boat Show, Rolling Blackouts CF, HABITS, LOOBS and so much more. I am listening to heaps of podcasts too. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? Favourite drummers??? Omg drummers are the best. It’s kind of like asking someone who their favourite child is. It’s hard to pick, I think personality affects how I like someone’s drumming. I really like Tino from Face Face’s style- it’s got personality! Jim from LOOBS, he’s always pushing himself and chucks in cute fills. Etta from Loose Tooth is a singer and drummer too, so I appreciate and understand her “narrative” flow and style. Finally there’s Hamish from Eat-Man who plays really fast and punchy. How would you describe the kind of music or projects you’re mostly involved in? And what kind of unique perspective/sound do you bring to these gigs? I growl and snarl and hold long notes while playing drums really fast. I think that’s pretty unique to what I see other bands doing. I keep my foot on the kick pedal and play it throughout the entire set. I can’t not. I use my tambourine, “Ashton”, quite a lot, so it adds an extra layer of sound and sounds more cuter/playful than hearing me just smash my high-hats. I use my crash like a ride and have it on the left. Kim and I have a lot of duel-singing, so our voices blend together and when we sing together, it sounds in simpatico. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? I drink wine!!!!!!!! And I sing the blues in the shower. I hold a note really low and try to get it higher and louder. Practice routine? The usual smacking my thighs with my eyes partially closed, imagining there’s a kit in front of me. I also listen to our music while I get read to remind myself when “that part” comes up. Because it’s so important to know what to do when “that part” comes up! Does social media play a big part in how you promote yourself as an artist and your various projects? Do you promote your work in other ways? I definitely always knew that in this day and age, it’s important to have an image, a look, if you will. I use Instagram and Facebook all the time. I think it’s important to make yourself seem accessible and I also really like shitposting. I like connecting to people, that’s why I became an artist. It’s great having a good rapport with shrimplings (Shrimpwitch fans). Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? HA! Um, well I have used band money for luxuries like rent and food. I make a career out of it, I mean I can’t see myself not playing and performing in my life. It’s a lot of work to be in a band, so it is a big job. I just recently got another job which requires me to talk to people all the time, so that makes me happy. Ahh, connecting... Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? Self-esteem? Um let’s see. Well playing sold-out Tote shows are good, we played the Melbourne equivalent of Goner Fest, we’ve played Halloween shows, we released a 7” record. I think day-by-day is the best part, it’s the learning on where you can go and what you can do. I think the personal achievements are the things that take me to that “place” that is “cool”. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? I don’t know, I don’t know much more that I did then. I’m just a bit faster and I have more skills. I’d probably just say to do more upper-body exercise and I don’t know, “relax”? Other thoughts/info People always said, “Wow, you play drums and sing? That much be hard!” Well I didn’t think it was hard for the first year and a half, but now that I spend more time trying to challenge myself and write more complex songs, I’d have to tell them, that it is quite hard. But I really enjoy it. Also I think I’m good at drums, but also, who cares, I play them the way I want to play them. Also it’s hard wearing platform shoes and playing drums which is disappointing. Big hair is good when I’m drumming. Also drumming is cool because you get to sit down and standing can be tiring. Thanks for reading about my feelings, that was cool and I’m glad to be here. I’m going to watch some documentaries on Youtube and research stuff for work. Also I’ve done heaps of admin today. Ok, see you later, reader. Website http://facebook.com/shrimpwitch Instagram: @shrimpwitch http://shrimpwitch.bandcamp.com  Photo by Mai Gryffydd Name
Lei Gryffydd Where are you from and/or where do you live now? I’m originally from Brisbane and have been living in Melbourne for nearly ten years. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? My twin and I bought a drumkit when we were 16 in the hopes of finding a drummer to play in our band. We thought it would improve our chances if we made it easier for band practice. We were all too young to drive and not everyone had their own drum kit. It didn’t solve our problem - the music was really weird (not in a good way) and so were we. In hindsight, I had always wanted to play drums and this might’ve been an excuse to get a drum kit. I quickly started teaching myself from a drum book. I was practicing guitar for at least 6 hours per day and playing around on the drums was my fun time. I was drawn to drums because they were confusing and elusive. I still find drums the most challenging instrument to play. Do you play any other instruments? My main instrument is guitar and I play synths. I started off playing keyboards, french horn and violin as a child. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? I have a band called GLOVV with my twin, Mai. We also run Identical Records, a queer non for profit music organisation. Our other band, Stationary Suns is with John Tucker and my all time favourite drummer, Monika Fikerle. We helped our friends start their first band, Cystic Nightmare. I played drums with them for 18 months and recently left to focus on finishing my doctorate. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? Mai and I started our first proper band, Me Mu & Meow when we were 17 in Brisbane. We started Acid Casualty when we were 20 and had moved to Melbourne. This was my first band playing drums. I still wanted to play guitar in a band so Mai and I formed Hissey Miyake, which we renamed GLOVV after our drummer left. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? I am a songwriter, more so than a drummer. I write lyrics in bursts, as a way of processing emotions and negative experiences. Musically, I generally start with a beat or riff and build upwards. Mai and I have been writing music together since we were 14 and I love our songwriting team. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? I love collaborating with other musicians and artists, in theory. In practice, I often find it very difficult. I am a perfectionist and have strong creative visions. I am also a very big people pleaser and end up dissatisfied after trying to accommodate other’s ideas. Stationary Suns works really well because we have distinct roles. Mai and I write the songs, Monika and Johnny have input on the song structure. It is also frustrating to work with people who use music as a tool for another goal or agenda. Everyone’s time and energy is wasted when it inevitably ends in disappointment. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I haven’t stopped listening to Aseul’s new release, Asobi since it was released last month. Plus Rainbow Chan’s new single, Promises, Kirara’s new album, Sarah, Drama’s EP Lies after Love, and CIFIKA’s EP PRISM. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? Mick Fleetwood was my favourite drummer as a young child. Tobi Vail from Frumpies/Bikini Kill was my biggest teen idol. Also, Mercedes (Kitty), Hannah Blilie since first hearing Chrome Rats vs. Basement Rutz by Chromatics and Emma Gaze from electrelance, probably my favourite band from recent years. I first heard Love of Diagrams when I was 16 and have been in awe of Monika Fikerle’s unique drumming ever since. Monika is now one of my closest friends and has been my bandmate for several years. I still feel unbelievably lucky to play with her. Dreams do come true! How would you describe the kind of music or projects you’re mostly involved in? And what kind of unique perspective/sound do you bring to these gigs? I would describe my various music projects as unsettling pop songs with sad, angry lyrics and bratty high pitched vocals. They typically feature driving bass and angular guitar. The exception being GLOVV, it has electronic production and synths. I would say my music is an acquired taste, insufferable rather than unique! haha. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? I have a few songs that I run through for a warm up. I want to practice more and improve my drumming skills. I can’t wait to learn more drums and sound engineering once I submit my thesis. Does social media play a big part in how you promote yourself as an artist and your various projects? Do you promote your work in other ways? I am lucky to have a twin who looks after our social media. So Mai handles the social media side of our bands and record label and I look after our website content and design. We use our website to promote other artists, primarily focussing on LGBTQIA+, POC and women artists. It has helped us develop and maintain relationships with artists. It's been more rewarding than just self-promotion. Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? This is an important question to ask. Money tends to be a restricted topic, never openly discussed, just insinuated and often misrepresented. The music industry is incredibly classist. Having access to music education and expensive equipment is a huge privilege. It involves a huge time commitment and this is unfeasible for many people, such as those working long hours in low paying jobs in order to survive. Artists are considered successful if they earn an income from their music. There is a sense of shame in having another job so these are kept secret whilst plenty of “fulltime” musicians are supported by their wealthy family. This just perpetuates an unachievable dream where success is just financial status. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? Tasmania, it is the coldest place I have played a show. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? You can use a kick. The issue is your kick pedal is broken. Don’t overthink when performing and scrutinize your hands and feet. They know what they are doing so let them do it. Other thoughts/info If you are having trouble finding a drummer, become your own drummer. Don’t be afraid to get behind the kit. Or make your own beats. Website Identical Records - http://identicalrecords.com/ Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/identicalrecords Identical Records Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/identicalrecords/ Identical Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/identicalrecords/ GLOVV Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/glovvband/ GLOVV Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/glovvband Stationary Suns Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/stationarysuns/ |
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