discover new australian music

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

Our music is the audible sound of two friends who fell in love with each other at first sight. I feel our sound has come together subconsciously from the countless hours spent together sharing music, comparing our upbringings, driving home with each other, skipping class for food and the thousands of hours spent together at band practice just jamming and covering songs we mutually loved. Our music reflects the world around us, like really happy but not and also really sad but not also.. Our sound comes from such an array of artists and genres and eras, it’s hard to nail it, but we definitely aspire to match the individuality and attitude of so many punk artists who do what makes them and others happy and feel included.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

We REALLY just love music, art and culture and we get inspiration from a bunch of different art. I think we grab inspiration from just about everything. We really feel that what’s around us will often shape who we are and that’s the same with the music and art we make too. We always send each other single covers or music videos, weird mini YouTube doco’s, quotes we think are nice. It’s always fun looking back on how our inspiration has changed over the last few years I think at this stage we inspire each other based on what the other one gets excited about.

What can punters expect from a TOWNS live show?

A TOWNS show is 30% music and 70% us asking how your day has been. We like EVERY show to be different because we are both such inattentive people who get bored of things VERY quickly, so we like to make sure we have as much fun at every show as possible while also including everyone else in the room. So essentially a TOWNS show is an explosion of energy, a safe space for everyone,  oozing vulnerability, a LOT of shit talking and a whole lot of happi people having fun.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

The best advice I got given was to never throw away any song, click save on every project because it might turn into something one day. I remember Alex Lahey saying that at a panel for ’Face the Music’ In Melbourne a few years ago and I always remember it when I think a song sucks. On the other hand the worst advice I ever got was from a lot of my friends dads growing up, suggesting that I should do Cold Chisel covers at the local pub to get my band attention. They would ALWAYS argue that point, like every day, ever. 

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

It goes one of two ways either ‘Mango Tree’ by Angus and Julia Stone for a calm lift up to really ground someone in life and to appreciate all the pretty things. OR Gretta Ray’s ‘Unwind’ can leave me feeling VERY optimistic. Oh and Ben Lee - Catch My Disease is an absolute BOP. OH FAR OUT AND ‘Don’t Change’ by INXS is a REAL winner

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

For crying, the artist Toy Boats had a song ‘Searching for the Wonder’ that is extremely beautiful, I think everything he released had so much emotion that it’s hard not to get caught up in it. Such a unique voice too, I always find voices that aren’t afraid to stand out much more powerful than your typical Australian Idol chart topper. I also just really can’t get past 'Blood' by the Middle East. It never ceases to make me cry happy and sad tears simultaneously. 

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Okay, so we have two answers. 
1. ‘Arnold’ by Luke Million would have to be THE D-Floor banger. That song has never not gotten me up and moving like a person who actually goes to the gym. 
“UP…. DOOOWN.. COME ON, MORE ENERGY!’ YAS. Even reading it gets me pumped. 

2. Here’s the scenario. The D Floor is like THUMPING and people are like “woah we want a song that will go HARD!! What will take us to the next level??” Ya bois walk up to the decks with a usb full of .mp3 bangers. The people are going bananas! Our hands are shaking with power.
We select ’Parlez Vous Francais’ by Art vs Science and THE CROWD GOES WILD. Everyone just pops OFF like a frog in a sock!  

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

The last local show I went to was this super sweet local fest called ‘Flip Side Festival’ that ran across three different venues and featured every act on the bill being female fronted or featuring one or more fem/non-binary member! It was just such a wicked time. Our wonderful friends in Teenage Joan’s were on the lineup and FAR OUT they rule hard. I also caught a MONSTER of a set by High Time which was just packed full of energy, life and positivity and I spent the whole show just air drumming and stank facing and UGH it was seriously just amazing. I love Adelaide. AND I love the fact that all of this happened on not just a Saturday, but also on a FRICKIN SUNDAY NIGHT!! 

Tell us about the bands or people in the Adelaide music community that inspire you.

Adelaide’s music scene is full of so many supportive people. It doesn’t feel competitive, it just feels full of people all interested in everyone succeeding and having a lovely time. We can’t give enough love to Nick O’Connor, the projects manager at Northern Sound System for all his support in getting TOWNS of the ground. Teenage Joan’s for reminding us how good it is to simply be doing what we love. Pinkish Blu for being our best friends and being the people we go to for positive reinforcement.  And finally anyone whoever attends The Crown and Anchor on a Wednesday night to see all the wonderful talent of Adelaide.

What are your plans for 2019?
More music. More touring. More pushing ourselves creatively. More learning. More loving. More TV. I think 2019 has really just been SO lovely to us thus far. Getting the offer for Spin Off was much bigger than anything we thought this year had to offer. So who knows what curve balls what this year can throw eh? We have some really exciting things coming up and we’re just so thrilled to keep pushing ourselves in the most creative ways and making things we feel represent who we are and what we’ve learned. We’re very bloody excited to do another hot lap of the country and see all the beautiful people across the country side. But to be honest I think as long as we get to be ourselves and stay in friendship love with each other, anything could happen and we’d be so ecstatic.  Just having our friends by our side while we go through life is beautiful enough and more than we could ever ask for. 

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

I grew up listening to a lot of RnB, Soul and Gospel so a lot of my sound I feel comes from those influences.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

A lot of the time it’s just real stories, things that friends and family have been through, or other music just depending on the vibe. Movies also inspire me a lot!

What can punters expect from a Miiesha live show?

I just want everyone to vibe to some deadly storytelling.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

I was told by my family and community to always believe in myself and that it doesn’t matter where I come from or what I’ve done, but to always have faith and keep my head up.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

'Miss Shiney' by Kaiit.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

'Knees' by Ocean Alley, saw them open for Tash which was incredible!

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

'Cool as Hell' by Baker Boy for sure!

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

I got to open for Briggs in Melbourne at Northcote Social Club which was incredible!

Tell us about the bands or people in Woorabinda, Centra Queensland / QLD music community that inspire you.

There is a lot of talent in my community, from elders that sing and write beautiful songs about community to the young crew rapping Woorie loves music! For me a big inspiration was when Dan Sultan came to our community and played. I even got to sing a song with him on stage. That was huge for me, it made me feel like I could do anything and really opened my eyes to the possibilities. At that moment my dream didn’t feel so far away.

What are your plans for 2019?

I’m just going with the flow! I’ve got a whole collection of music ready to go so I’ll be releasing that over the next few months, and doing a music video would be cool. I’d love to head overseas sometime too but who knows!