Artist info
Genre
Electronic, Indie, Pop
Sounds like
Odesza, Banks, E^ST, Mansionair, Gorillaz, London Grammar, Jungle Giants
band members
Molly Aaron: Vocals / Jack Meakins: Signer / Laura Bullock: Signer / Andrew Wright: Keys, Synths & Production / Josh Terlick: Bass / Josh Hellis: Drums
Website
Gig
17 Sep
Stay Gold
Melbourne, 3056
Melbourne
8:00pm
Gig
18 Sep
Northcote Town Hal...
Melbourne, 3070
Melbourne
8:00pm
Gig
23 Sep
Waywards - Bank Ho...
Sydney, 2042
Sydney
8:00pm
Bio
Hailing from Perth, Alter Boy, a six-person powerhouse, comprising three deaf/hard-of-hearing members, continues to influence a greater understanding of how deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals experience the power of music through their dark, shiny pop hits all performed in Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Celebrated for transforming the traditional perception of pop, Alter Boy’s combination of chaotic live performances featuring transgender, disabled bodies and carefully considered, unique uniforms serve the band’s collective motivation to challenge the music industry’s status quo and influence a new relationship with music.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
Photograph of three deaf/HoH band members against a black smoking background. In the centre: Signer, Laura sitting confidently on a chair with legs apart; a butch stocky deaf lesbian, white with short brown hair, golden crucifix earrings, wearing black pants with leather skirt, boots, open blazer over naked torso with top surgery scars. Holding two baby bottles filled with milk, pointing them like guns at the two people seated in the floor either side. Person on Left: Perched sensually sideways on the floor is Signer, Jack, a naked white fat man with curly green hair, pink eyeshadow and bright red lipstick. Person on Right: singer, Molly/Aaron is a thin white person with short cropped white hair, wearing white underwear, black knee high socks and boots, bare chest with top surgery scars and tattoos of crucifix and love hearts over nipples, crouched confidently with hand on Laura’s knee.
Photo by Peter Cheng
Get to know this week's triple j Unearthed Feature Artist, Alter Boy!
Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
Our sound has been developed organically by hearing and deaf band members. Naturally we are drawn towards low tones, bass and sub and heavy drums (music we can hear and feel). We combine heavy bass tones with a choiresque little altar boy vocal. We also use a lot of pitch bending in our tracks, which is a testament to our gender bending.
What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?
Our inspiration comes from all of the other deaf folks who come before us who have had their own passionate relationships with music, from wanting to challenge the music industry and to denounce traditional ideas of what it means to be in a band, and from our fierce passion for activism in queer deaf spaces.
What can punters expect from a Alter Boy live show?
Audience members can expect to see trans and disabled bodies in celebration, accessible venues, wild costumes, mad performance art, blasphemy, and hot Auslan creations.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
The best advice we’ve been given comes from one of our Deaf mentors who told us to look after our candle. Operating at the intersection of Deaf and hearing can be taxing and we need to take care of the little space we have created at the centre of it all.
What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
'Feeling Higher' by Priscilla
What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
'Boys Will Be Boys' by Stella Donnelly
You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?
'DFTM' by Cry Club
What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
Ghost Care in Fremantle. Such fun.
Tell us about the bands or people in the local music community that inspire you.
Our Deaf community - our teachers and elders - give us a lot of inspiration and support to keep going, to do better and to grow into ourselves as young deaf people. We connect with a lot of mind blowing Deaf performers and activists. A group called “Deaf Hype” showcases some of our latest and greatest.
Review
the "cos this world's not made for us" line stands out in such a beautiful but heartbreaking way and the whole song has that double sided quality that really captures the listener. gorgeous stuff alter boy!
the "cos this world's not made for us" line stands out in such a beautiful but heartbreaking way and the whole song has that double sided quality that really captures the listener. gorgeous stuff alter boy!
Review
This track is nothing short of brilliant, it's got a quiet thumping exciting energy that sustains the whole 4 minutes. There's a sombre but also hopeful quality to this that makes your heart swell in the best way.
This track is nothing short of brilliant, it's got a quiet thumping exciting energy that sustains the whole 4 minutes. There's a sombre but also hopeful quality to this that makes your heart swell in the best way.
Review
As ever with Alter Boy's music, there's so much to love here. You've got the deep and resonant bass, Molly's shape-shifting vocal performance and themes that are close to Alter Boy's collective heart. I'm particularly taken by that lyric "cos this world's not made for us / could we dream another up?" which feels so full of hope despite how heavy the ...
As ever with Alter Boy's music, there's so much to love here. You've got the deep and resonant bass, Molly's shape-shifting vocal performance and themes that are close to Alter Boy's collective heart. I'm particularly taken by that lyric "cos this world's not made for us / could we dream another up?" which feels so full of hope despite how heavy the sentiment hits.
