discover new australian music

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

My music is forever evolving and still developing each day. The music I make depends on the mood im in and on whatever stage of life I’m at. I lean towards soul/ rnb beats, although, have a guilty pleasure in making super raw emotional guitar tracks. Each serve their own purpose. Once my music leaves my computer, it’s for the world and my listeners to use at their own discretion.

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

Inspiration hits different all the time. I either bait my friends into giving me their deepest hurts and secrets so I can write some emo/empowering lyrics, or it’ll be a song I hear that I’ll want to try and create the same vibe. Places and things (like food, obviously) have inspired me in the past.

What can punters expect from a DVNA live show?

We’ll be getting to know each other. Crowd interaction is one thing I love to do. Partly because I love to chat, and because I want to break that wall between audience and stage. Connect on a more personal level and create an experience they will remember.

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

Just do you! And when you’re hit with inspiration for a song, it’s like a gift you’ve been given to share with the world, as if it’s almost a duty. Think about the audience who NEEDS to hear what you have to say. It is your job to capture it, honour and respect the gift you’ve been given by allowing it to exist and not trying to force it into any direction it’s not. This was from some random old guy that sat next to me in a restaurant one day. Hit hard.

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

'Chameleon'. by PNAU.

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

'Innerbloom' by RUFUS DU SOL.

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

'Untouched' by The Veronicas

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

I saw my friends Hot Coffee play on the Gold Coast. Those boys always know how to put on a show. Quality night!

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

They’re a friendly, talented little bunch. We all know and support each other due to the coast being quite small. They all actively participate in community events, always make an effort to attend each other’s shows and offer advice when needed! I love those guys.

What are your plans for 2020?

I plan to play LANEWAY (thankyou Unearthed). Release a couple of singles in lead up to my debut EP and follow with a few more exciting things!

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

Aside from my own releases, I spend a lot of time in the studio producing and writing for other artists - here in Australia and also overseas - and as a result have worked on a wide range of genres and styles. I pick up all kinds of knowledge from these different collaborations, and my own music is somewhat an amalgamation of all of it. I’d describe my own sound as left-leaning R&B / hip-hop, but I’m not focused about putting a label on my music - it is what it is and if someone likes it then my job is done.

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

Inspiration hits me at the oddest of times, and I’ve learnt to chase the idea all the way through when I’m feeling inspired. From a production standpoint, I don’t have a set process per se - sometimes I start with a melody that I have in my head, other times browsing through various samples, and sometimes just jamming out on a piano. I’ll just keep tinkering around until I find that spark that inspires me to make the whole song.

What can punters expect from a Taka Perry live show?

Live guitar, live synths, live keys, guest appearances, high energy, good vibes…

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

‘Don’t be an a******’ - I can’t remember who I heard it from because it was so long ago, but it has stuck with me and it’s true not just in the music industry but just everyday life in general.

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

‘WUTD’ by Genesis Owusu. The groove in that song is undeniable and I think it would definitely cheer someone up.

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

‘Love Me First’ by Stellie. The lyrics and melodies in that song is sure to make someone cry. I also had the pleasure of producing the song, so I guess it’s a bit of a shameless self-plug.

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

‘Contrast’ by ANH. I love how many unexpected twists and turns that song has and the production keeps you on your toes the whole time.

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

I saw my mate Kilter play at Oxford Art Factory. His live show is so dope - so much raw energy coming from the stage and when he brought out Lil’ Spacely for his latest single the vibe was so good.

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

I’m constantly surrounded by talented people in Sydney that I couldn’t begin to list them all. I’m inspired by a lot of artists that I’ve worked with - A.GIRL, Jeida Woods, Ruel, Cyrus, Jack Gray, and Ned Houston to name a few. I also love what’s going on in the hip-hop scene out in West Sydney with artists like Manu Crooks, Cult Shotta, and Anfa Rose making some really cool stuff.

What are your plans for 2020?

I want to keep releasing music, both for myself and for other artists, play a whole bunch of shows, and travel the world a bit to expand my horizons and meet new people.

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

The music we've release so far I feel could be described as simply as "Alt Rock/Emo" but there's so many different influences that come into it. All of us have had such different musical upbringings but we all like the idea of not being tied down to any particular thing. I think that's sort of the punk attitude we have towards doing things. That could just simply come down to how we choose to arrange a song, or where we choose to get our inspiration from, or even how we choose to promote and present our art. It started off as us having a common interest in similar bands (Citizen, Basement, Movements, ect.).It's definitely evolved over time but it still always comes back to this idea of trying to do things that are a little against the grain of what ourselves, our peers and overall, people in our genre are doing.

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

For me, when I'm writing music I want it to be authentic and honest. I want it to come from a real place, a real emotion and a real experience.The world and my experiences are my greatest source of influence. Tapping into mental health, relationships, the greater environment we live and traverse is something that I think people can relate too as well. When I'm making music and when performing it as well, I want people to feel the song and feel the emotions I was feeling at that time.

What can punters expect from a Reside live show?

As I said, I want people to come to a Reside show and really experience where these songs came from. It's high energy, theatrical and emotional in it's presence. We really encourage and welcome people to be involved and become a part of our goofy family. This year we're working hard to take our live show experience to the next level. Hope to see many fresh faces!

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

I remember once being told by one of my uni teachers to "always make your art raw and authentic and to always trust your instincts" and that's the way I've chosen to follow the path with Reside. It seems to have worked for us so far I think.

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

I couldn't imagine hearing a more positive and uplifting tune than 'Jellyfish' by Slowly Slowly. Love the atmosphere in the room every time it comes on, I'd have to play it to anyone feeling down.

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

Damn there's actually so many to choose from. Australia can produce some sad ones. I'd say first song that comes to mind is 'History' by WAAX, such a beautiful and emotionally dynamic song.Some honorable mentions go to 'Miss You Love' by Silverchair and 'Brando' by our friends in Parkville. Not because of any sad subject matter but because it's just such a beautifully crafted love song that it gives me shivers and makes my eyes well up whenever I hear it haha.

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

If I'm DJing a party and I was chucking on an Australian tune, I'm putting on 'Need You Tonight' by INXS. It's so groovy you can't NOT dance to it and it's an absolute classic!

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

The last local show that I went to was a week or so ago at Inflation for an AM/PM Emo night where Pridelands headlined. Outloved and To Octavia opened and there was just a lot of friends there and overall good vibes going round. Every band that played that night was incredibly tight and put on a great show.

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

It's super cool the music community not only in Melbourne but in Australia! It's so tightly knit and every one just has so much love and support for everything people do. I know collectively the band loves and respects bands like Thornhill, Parkwood, Weighbridge, Gravemind and Bad Juju in Melbourne to name a few. Tapestry who's recently now residing in Melbourne is another one that there's a mutual love for but every one all over Australia is creating such great music. These past 12 months in particular have been so incredibly exciting for music, particularly heavy music in Australia. 

What are your plans for 2020?

In 2020 you can expect some new music from Reside. Can't say when at this point but we've been writing some interesting new music in the past 6 - 8 months and I'm really excited about it and excited to test some of it out at our live shows this year. 

We're kicking off the year by opening the Saturday of this year's UNIFY Gathering which we're all collectively so psyched about! 

We've also been offered some other amazing opportunities that we can't talk about just yet but we're all excited for what's to come in 2020.