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Jess Kent

Featured Artist

2015

23

Nov

Jess Kent

( )

Sydney, NSW

Jess Kent has dropped one of the most infectious tracks of 2015, 'Get Down', and won herself a spot on the lineup for Sydney's Field Day festival, alongside Disclosure, Flight Facilities, The Wombats and more. Catch them all in The Domain on New Years Day.

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Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
I started playing the guitar and singing very early on by copying my Dad’s band members who would always be around rehearsing in the kitchen… Some of them were proper reggae rastas. They taught me some important lessons that still emanate through my music. I spent a lot of time busking and gigging with just a guitar, exploring lots of genres and finding my own flow. Plus I’ve always been a passionate creative writer, so writing stories and rhymes and poems definitely had an effect on the type of music I make. 
 
What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?
Music is about communication first and foremost for me, so a song usually starts when thoughts manifest into lyrics (which is constantly!!). Specifically, it’s hard to pin down the source of the inspiration because it is everywhere and always. I’m very sensitive to mood and colours and always aim to paint a sonic picture to go hand in hand with the lyrics.
 
You’re the winner of our Field Day comp. What can punters at Field Day expect from your live show?
First of all, I still can't believe it's really happening - cannot WAIT! It’s going to be so exciting to perform the set for the first time ever with an amazing live band, and it’ll also be the first time I play some of my new music! All the support so far has been just incredible, so I’ll be looking forward to seeing some faces!
 
What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
The best advice I have ever received was from my Grandma... ‘Work hard and keep it real…’
 
What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
I’d play them The Record’s Flawed by The Delta Riggs and I’d take them for a dance down the street.
 
What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
 
You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?
 
What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
I saw JOY. at Good God yesterday and she slayed!
 
Tell us about the bands or people in the Sydney music community that inspire you.
The sense of community in the Sydney scene is actually incredible. For real, the people that rock up to shows and are so passionate about supporting the local scene - they inspire me to strive to do my best. As far as bands, I’d say Sticky Fingers inspire me - they’re a homegrown Sydney band so it’s cool to watch how they’ve grown and kept it real.
 
What are your plans for 2016?
I'm writing heaps of new music so I can't wait to get into the studio again and start the recording process. And the live band will be fully up and running so looking forward to playing some more shows in 2016!

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IV League

Featured Artist

2015

16

Nov

IV League

( )

Melbourne, VIC

Melbourne 4-piece IV League combine their love of alternative rock and progressive pop to create music that Zan Rowe describes as "damn near perfect".

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Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound? 
We're huge fans of garage rock, but initially, we weren't able to achieve the heavier sound we were after with only two members so we begun as a bit of an indie pop outfit. When we added a drummer and bass player to the mix we started toying with combining the grittier instrumentals with strong, clean vocals and we've arrived at where we are now!
 
What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?
A huge part of it is definitely channeling the energy and fun we have together in the jam room into playing live and recording music for other people to hear. Sharing what you're most passionate about creating with other people and recieving a positive response is insanely rewarding.
 
What can punters expect from an IV League live show?
You can expect that Bella might very well introduce the band under a false name such as "My Chemical Romance" or "Alien Antfarm". Otherwise, a whole lot of sweaty energy and plenty of dancing.
 
What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
Bella: My Mum always says that "the extra mile is never crowded" and that's always stuck with me in every thing I do. It sort of prohibits any hesitation you have in jumping head first into things that you want to achieve.
 
What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
 
What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
 
You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?
 
What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
We went to see our friends Tiny Giants play an in store gig at Off The Hip Records in Melbourne. Always fun watching those guys, they killed it!
 
Tell us about the bands or people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.
We're super inspired by our friends in the Melbourne scene, especially Hills Hoist and Gonzo (some of the coolest dudes out!!), and our younger friends up in the Geelong area Tiny Giants and The Dare Ohhs who are some of the most impressive high school bands you'll see play live.
 
What are your plans for the rest of 2015 and into 2016?
Lots of writing and preparation to record an EP early next year, playing as much as we can and hopefully pulling together an east coast tour.

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Mio
New

Artist

Mio

Dance, Electronic, Pop (# Pop # Dream # Atmospheric #Ambient #Adelaide)

Adelaide, SA

GL

Featured Artist

2014

6

Oct

GL

Melbourne, VIC

Melbourne duo GL are all about glowing synths, gritty drum-machines and stratospheric vocals. Jump in their DeLorean, a world of deep bass and hypnotic grooves await.

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Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
Graeme and I have been playing music together for about eight years and this is our first project writing the music just the two of us. I guess we know each other pretty well, so that helps. It's great to be in a totally equal project, where we can trust each other has our back. Musically we love music that has soul and intent. The are a lot of late 70's and 80's influenced sounds, this was a fertile time and the birth of most electronic music as we hear it today. We try to keep it authentic and based on song form and structure. 
 
What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?
Everyday stuff, watching what people do and how we behave. For us music shouldn't be exclusive, we all feel the same things. 
 
What can punters expect from the GL live show?
Two people giving it a red hot go. 
 
What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
'Never underestimate being happy with what you are doing, don't worry about what comes next' - Beth my housemate
 
What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
 
What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
 
You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?
 
What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
Courtney Barnett at the Corner Hotel - Amazing!
 
Tell us about the bands or people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.
Chris Gill from Northside record store...supporting local music and keeping the fight alive! Community radio music hosts, Phil Gionfriddo (Jacky Winter), Eagle and the Worm crew, Saskwatch crew, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Andras Fox, Waxo Paradiso, Sui Zhen...so much!
 
What are your plans for the rest 2014?
We are playing some EP launch shows October 25th (Melbourne) and November 1st (Sydney). Hopefully play some more shows over summer and start writing/record an album. :) 

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Georgia Mae
New

Artist

Georgia Mae

Pop (Pop)

Brisbane, QLD

Le Pie

Featured Artist

2015

18

May

Le Pie

( )

Sydney, NSW

Sydney artist Le Pie makes pop music that is as vulnerable and dark, as it is uplifting and gorgeous. Her music has been described as a cross between grunge and 1950's girl groups. It's also been described as "exceptional".

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Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
My music has been described as a cross between grunge and 1950's girl groups. I developed my sound by immersing myself in all sorts of music, playing different instruments in all sorts of bands then write write writing until my own sound and style naturally came through. 
 
What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?
#lyf
 
What can punters expect from a Le Pie live show?
A wall of sound.
 
What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
'Here, have another glass of champagne' - Mum 
 
What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
I'm completely obsessed with 'Endless Drain' by Major Leagues at the moment, it's a jump around the lounge room kinda track. 
 
What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
Knuckles White Dry by Gang of Youths. I haven't spent a lot of time following this band but this track came on the radio a few weeks ago and it captivated me right from the first line, so much raw emotion, I was almost in tears by the end of it. 
 
You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?
'Better The Devil You Know' Kylie Minogue, everybody wants to party with Kylie!
 
What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
Brighton Up bar with You Beauty, Donny Benet, SPOD, Jack Ladder and Geoffrey O'Connor. How do you think it was!?!? 
 
Tell us about the bands or people in the Sydney music community that inspire you.
There is a really strong female presence in the Sydney music scene right now with the likes of Bloods, Julia Why, Black Zeros. I would like to see someone put on a festival with an all female line up. Wink wink. 
 
What are your plans for the rest of 2015?
Making music, making out. 
 

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The Serra
New

Artist

The Serra

Indie, Pop, Rock (#indie, #Progressive, #pop, ...)

Adelaide, SA

Tabula Rasa

Artist

Tabula Rasa

Rock (Metal, Rock, Heavy, ...)

Adelaide, SA

Asta

Featured Artist

2012

3

Sep

Asta

( )

Hobart, TAS

Asta from Rosny College in Hobart beat a field of over 850 high school acts to be crowned our Unearthed High winner of 2012. We've just flown her to Sydney to record her new single 'Escape' and you can stream/download it here on Unearthed. Congrats Asta!

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Tell us about your music - how did you develop your sound?

I have been singing since I was a little lady down south in a small country town Cygnet on Dad’s veranda and haven’t stopped since. I was acoustic up until a few months ago when I met a guy in sound production who recorded “My Hearts on Fire”. He had more of a background in electronic music so it came out sounding quite different. Refreshing to my ears. My voice developed a further depth and maturity through taking up vocal training at Rosny College. All I had to do was strip back old habits and let it flow naturally.

How would you describe your live show?

At the moment it’s a mix of my heart-felt acoustics and some up beat folky-pop. I find the blend a reflection of my personality and I love the diversity I can give.

You’re the winner of Unearthed High 2012. What are you hoping to gain from this opportunity?

I am hoping I can follow my dreams of becoming a strong and nationally recognized Australian artist who people will find entertaining, real and giving.

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

There’s been many people that have supported me and believed in me but it was this one occasion recently that made me truly inspired. It was a cab driver who knew nothing about me but over heard my phone conversation crying over confusion as to where my career was going. He said “look love, you need to go for it. You gotta be in it 100%. I have this feeling you gotta do it”. After listening to him ramble on some more, I stepped out of that cab realizing I had to put both feet into this, I had no idea who this guy was, but the way he spoke to me and believed in me was truly riveting.

Tell us about the bands, producers and people in the Tasmanian music community that inspire you.

My music teacher Westy (Brian West) has been very inspiring to me because he doesn’t praise the good, but makes you want to try harder and come into his office the next day with something even better. Usually people will come up to me at the local markets where I sell organic vegetables and by the end of scanning their last item of vegetables, they’re in tears about what I’m doing with my music. It’s so Inspiring to have the community so moved and backing you all the way.

What else is coming up in 2012?

I’m playing at the Power House in Brisbane along with a few other of the Unearthed High finalists and doing a headline gig in October. Mum’s not happy with the pub scenes and wants a classy all age venue.. She still has a lot to learn. SOUNDSCAPE will be my first festival and that will be November the 16th in Hobart. We have got so many potential gigs on the white board at home. It’s going to be a busy summer. I hope to cover every state and reach out to all those wonderful people who have been throwing love my way.

Australian music is...

...loved, supported, thrown sky high, fresh, real, moving, passionate, unique, triple j!!!

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