Artist info
Genre
Indie, Pop
band members
ERIK HECHT: vocals, guitar // ASH BLAKENEY: lead guitar // DAVE THIRKETTLE-WATTS: bass // ELLIOTT BRANNEN: trumpet, vocals // SAMANTHA WASS: guitar, piano accordion, keys, vocals // TOBY LANG: drums // REBECCA MAY: keys, vocals
Influences
Decemberists, Lee Hazlewood, Velvet Underground
Unearthed artists we like
Jack On Fire, Felicity Groom, Jim Lawrie, Goodnight Tiger, The Ghost Hotel, Snakadaktal
Website
Bio
Formed as a three piece in 2004 by an American ex-pat, an English born doctor and a country boy moved to the big city, Perth based band Institut Polaire were destined from the start to have a dizzying array of influences. With a palette of sounds ranging from country tinged psychedelia to 60's soundtracks, bubblegum pop to kraut-rock, Institut Polaire are musically schizophrenic; taking little pieces of each genre to create a special blend of their own. Pulling off these ambitious layered wall-of-sound aspirations does take a lot of sonic firepower. As a result, Institut Polaire has grown from humble three piece roots into a full-blown collective who currently number between 7 and 9 members toting everything from vintage Wurlitzer pianos to violins, banjos, trumpets, Powerbooks and glockenspiels.
These guys are on a roll...their track 'City Walls & Empires' recently won the WAMI Song of the Year for 2006. And we can see why....it's a swinging cheery little number with a great musical arrangement of horns and vocal harmonies.
Institut Polaire are the WA winners of our Big Day Out competition. Find out more about this competiton and view the winners from other states. more »
What can the Big Day Out crowd expect when you hit the stage?
At least 7 very excited people who are passionate about the music they make, even if it may be fairly different from other things on offer that day.
Describe your music
Melodic, layered, and bipolar.
You recently won the 2006 WAMI Song of the Year! Was that a surprise? How did you respond to the win?
Well we were up against alot of bands we really respected and weren't sure if we were doing the sort of music which would have a broad appeal. So I guess we thought it was possible but we certainly didn't expect it. Winning has really shifted us into overdrive so far as trying to push ourselves to make the best and most interesting music we can and to get it out there for people to hear.? I'd even go as far as to say that we are far more proud of the music we've made since that song was recorded, and which will be featured on our upcoming EP and LP.
What's the best thing about being in Institut Polaire?
Having such a large palette of instruments and musicians which allows us to create some pretty unique textures and lovely large sounds.
...and the worst?
Trying to coordinate that many people for anything! Also consistently having our name spelled wrong in print which I suppose is our fault for choosing such an oddly spelt moniker.
What have you got planned for the future?
We are currently recording and will be releasing an EP in May with an LP to follow later in the year.? In a few weeks we will be heading out on our first national tour supporting Camera Obscura who are a fantastic band. It would be an understatement to say we are very excited about getting east and peddling our wares to a larger national audience.
Australian music is?
A real melting pot of people, influences and sounds drawn from around the world with that little something hanging round that tells you the music could only come to fruition in a place as unique as this.
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There is something very cinematic about the way you folks take on indy pop. Consistently sunny, and great to listen to if youre having a shitty day. Love the trumpet line and the 'writing on the wall' bit.
There is something very cinematic about the way you folks take on indy pop. Consistently sunny, and great to listen to if youre having a shitty day. Love the trumpet line and the 'writing on the wall' bit.
