discover new australian music

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

Our music has really fluctuated since we started in June 2019. Our debut EP 'SIOIS' was written in 2018 when I felt a calling to start writing music again after a hiatus. At the time I was falling back in love with the emo music I grew up on (Saosin, My Chemical Romance etc) and it was really hitting a chord with me. I really wanted to put a modern touch on that sound I loved so much so got to work creating Bad/Love with producer Callan Orr and our friend Marcus Bridge helping with vocal production (we bonded over the idea of an emo revival and he has always understood what I was going for). After a year of looking for the right musicians to play with, we formed and put out 'SIOIS'. After a few months together we started to come together more and combine our writing skills to create something a bit different to the origin, but something that feels a hell of a lot more Bad/Love. We've continued to work with Callan & Marcus whilst adding Beau McKee (Drum Production) & Forrester Savell (Mix/Master). We feel our team really helps pull the best out of us as songwriters and performers. 

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

When everythings gone, music is really all I have. It's what drives me each day. I constantly have to have music running to act as a soundtrack to my life to keep me calm and happy. I feel the most "me" when I create. It's a very therapeutic process for me. Our peers inspire us daily. We are blessed to surround ourselves with some of the most talented people in the country for alternative music and when they create something, it calls me to do the same.  

What can punters expect from a Bad/Love live show?
Our live show is one of our favourite parts of being a band. Expect a lot of theatrics, crazy lighting and everything turned up to 11. We really like to creative an immersive live experience people can really get lost in. 

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
Chris (#2) Barker from Anti-Flag once explained his views on an album to me and it changed the way I view my music. He talked about how a record is exactly that. We leave behind a record in time that people can come back to. You are leaving your mark on the world. So say what matters to you at the moment. Write what influences you at that time. It has really let me not focus on writing "what's hot" and write for me. It let's me be more honest and accepting that not everything needs to be perfect, it just has to be true to me at that moment in time. 

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
'Figure Eight' by Trophy Eyes. That always makes me smile and feel empowered. 

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
'Brilliant Blue' by Agnes Manners. It brings me to the point of tears every time I hear it, which makes it especially hard to play sometimes. 

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?
'Fire' by Peking Duk. You show me a person who doesn't want to dance to this track and I'll show you a liar. 

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
This is really testing my memory given COVID. I believe it was actually our tour with The Brave & Sleep Talk, we actually had to cancel the final Brisbane show due to lockdown. 
That was a super fun tour, in fact our first tour. We have so much fun with The Brave and the Melbourne show in particular was super special for us. 

Tell us about the bands or people in the local music community that inspire you.
Northlane, Polaris & Alpha Wolf are continually carrying the flag for heavy music in Australia. What both bands have achieved in their careers are amazing influences and both bands are so lovely. Greyscale Records have been doing amazing things and are growing so rapidly. Tom Johanessen at New World Artists has to be one of the hardest people I've ever met and he always makes me want to work harder, his ethic and results are INSANE. Finally our manager Jase Clarke (No Honey), he has really come into management in a big way and is helping inspire us daily to be the best we can be. 

What are your plans for the rest of 2020?
This Sunday we are super excited to FINALLY be hitting the stage again for a few sold out shows at Stay Gold to support Beyond Blue, a great event organised by What We Did On The Weekend. Besides that, we have new music to finish putting together for a release next year that we are extremely excited about. There is absolutely no slowing down for us and we are very excited for 2021. 

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
It's hard for me to pin down my 'sound'. But it's been a mixture of time, maturity and influence. I have a somewhat diverse sonic picture and I think that contributes to my sound as a whole. The experience is always a little different; and I think it's still evolving. I love beautiful melodies. I think that's at least one take away from this.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?
The different styles, bands, moods, emotions etc. that I'm feeling at any given time. The time signatures or rhythms of Tool, the energy and pace of Pendulum, the interesting intervals and emotions of A Perfect Circle, the immensity of Seven Lions. Funnily enough I'm not one to be able to write "sad music when I'm sad", I have to be somewhat level headed to be cohesive in anything that I do and express an emotion, whether it be writing a banger or a ballad.

What can punters expect from a Blanke live show?
Lots of energy, and I tend to let the music do the talking. I usually try to be the one dancing the hardest in the room!

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
"Don't force it"
- Life experiences

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
'Oceans' by Vallis Alps. Definitely a song that feels sentimental but hopeful, I love it.

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?
'Moving Blind' by Dom Dolla!

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
Just played in Canberra at Fiction and it was wild. First show back since COVID and even though it was restricted capacity it was still so much fun.

Tell us about the bands or people in the local music community that inspire you.
My friend Golden Features is a huge inspiration for me. His approach to music and his art is no compromise and full of integrity. The results speak for themselves; he makes me want to do better. Shock One is doing some really cool stuff with drum 'n' bass right now and definitely an inspiration for me. Some super creative stuff coming from him.

What are your plans for the rest of 2020?
I'm here in Australia for the near future and I plan on spending as much time with my family as I can, along with writing a bunch of music, collabs, singles, an EP, and gardening at my parents' property. There will be a couple of shows happening as well now that things are slowly opening back up. VERY excited to get back to doing shows once it's safe to do so!