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

We call our style of music 'passion pop' - it's a cheap mix of folk, punk, folk-punk, and everything in between - we actually started off as a very earnest folk band (Leah was going to learn the mandolin for us!) before realising that the true path of enlightenment is overdrive pedals and crying.

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

The human condition, social injustice, and the career stability that only alternative rock music can provide.

What can punters expect from a The Football Club live show?

Punters can expect to see the rock band The Football Club play a number of our original rock songs, in an order we will determine during the panicked 15 minutes between the last band finishing and us having to start our set.

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

'Don't go to law school, son - everybody knows the real money is in folk-punk'.

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

'Let's Go Out' by Alex Lahey. Huge, merciless banger.

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

'Public Phone' by Wedding Ring Bells. The last song on the last Fergus Miller record. Try not to cry. Cry heaps.

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

'Boyfriend (Repeat)' by Confidence Man. Try not to boogie. Boogie heaps.

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

Ceres at Howler - they're the coolest, their album from last year was totally in my top ten! Huge energy, huge vibes.

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

We love the Melbourne music community! Big ups to Two Steps on the Water, Camp Cope, Poison City Records and Sad Grrrls Club (although they're not strictly Melbourne!).

What are your plans for the rest of 2017?

We just released our song 'Ivy', which comes off a 7" that we're gonna put out in late May/early June with another song called 'Spencer'! Then we're touring through May with our pal Alex Lahey, as well as some other things you'll learn about soon. Then towards the end of the year, we're going to head into the studio and see what comes out...

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

I developed a sense of storytelling and everything else kind of just fell into place. Ideas are always changing and growing and expanding so it's hard to tell when or how I developed a sound. I like to work in a cave when recording. I like to listen to very specific artists and draw inspiration from them. I learnt to trust my gut feeling a lot. I learnt to not be afraid to tell myself that something isn't right or isn't working, always remembering that things need time to simmer and to spice them up in the right way. And I keep trying to add things to tracks that are just for me and that no one may notice.

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

Greatest source of inspiration would definitely be other musicians and other artists. Just other people and their stories really. I'm reflecting on my own experiences and tying theirs together.

What can punters expect from a Didirri live show?

It will depend on whether they see me perform solo or with the band. They are definitely two very different experiences but I try to make it feel like I am always playing to each audience member one on one.

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

"If you have a plan B you don't realistically think you can achieve plan A. If you fail to achieve plan A, just make a new plan A and screw plan B" - Jack the Bear (Mastering Engineer).

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

I always go back to Paul Kelly for inspiration. He's great to get over anything you're going through. 'Meet Me In The Middle of the Air' is the song by Paul Kelly that I would recommend.

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

'Boys Will be Boys' by Stella Donnelly.

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

'The Cracks' by Peter Sonic.

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

Tom Walker and the Sick Individuals. Mesmerising.

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

Yes, yes, whatever... Hayden Calnin, Sonija Yves, Jordie Lane and Angie McMahon. They are all just being very, very real!

What are your plans for the rest of 2017?

MAKE SOME MUSIC!!! The EP is nearly done.

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

Heather: Our music is an amalgamation of each of our own different musical backgrounds. We have tried so far to approach song writing in a way that allows us to have an equal input. Thus, our sound is the mixture of four peoples' musical interests - very confused!

What can the Field Day audience expect from your live show?

A strange mixture of genres. We find it hard to classify what we do, but perhaps you should expect an engrossing musical performance that will at the same time make you dance, and cry, and smile!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at Field Day?

I would really like to see The Presets as I've heard their live show is consistently amazing. I personally don't know much about a lot of the bands playing so I'm looking forward to just having a wander around and discovering new music.

What’s coming up in the future?

We're playing at Peats Ridge on the 30th of December, then Field Day, some south coast shows with Bluejuice and then Playground Weekender in late February. Betwixt all of this, we have some of our own shows lined up in Sydney and the other capital cities as well.

Australian music is?

Personally, I'm from the Conservatorium and I really love classical music. Although it is true that a lot of the major works are written by European composers, there are some really amazing contemporary Australian composers and the scene here for Australian classical music is growing. I urge everybody to check it out! I don't really see Australian music as having a unified sound. You can find the best of everything if you look in the right places.

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

I started writing songs a few years back and have always been drawn to scenery and stories so I try to incorporate that into my songs. I listen to lots of movie soundtracks because I like the way the music enhances the visuals. I also just write as many songs as possible waiting for the good ones to come out. I write and play with other producers, songwriters and musicians too so I can learn how other people develop their craft.

You’re one of the winners of our Laneway competition and will be opening the festival in Melbourne - what can Laneway punters expect from the Ali Barter live show?

I am playing my set at Laneway with a couple of awesome boys. I will be playing my pink silvertone and they are providing the bass, guitar and MPC – which will be fun. It’ll be a slightly stripped back version of my EP. I am playing about 3 new songs too which will be good to air some new stuff.

Tell us about the bands, producers and people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you?

I play with a guy called Jumpin’ Jack William who is an incredible folk singer, guitarist and songwriter. Playing music with him is like having a conversation – I learn a lot from him. The man who produced my EP – Matik, is awesome. He really brought my songs to life. He works with hip hop artists, folk and country artists as well as pop musicians - he has an amazing scope for music. This makes him really special to work with as a producer. I worked with some amazing film-makers, photographers, artists and designers on a music video recently. They are an incredible community of people working together to make beautiful things. Melbourne producer and artist Thrupence is another clever man. He did the artwork on my EP and makes lush and beautiful beats.

What's the best advice you've been given and by who?

My friend Steve tells me to relax. It might not be the best advice but it's definitely the most frequent

Whatís coming up for you in 2013?

Recording an album, playing lots of shows, making a couple of videos, writing lots of songs.

Australian music isÖ?

…very very good.

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

It's commonly described as progressive folk, which is a pretty accurate description I guess. My songs usual build and build to some sort of big finish. My sound has changed dramatically throughout the last year or so. I studied film at university, and my major was in sound design, so I put a lot of what I learnt at uni into my production. It tends to be quite soundscape oriented and atmospheric.

You’re releasing your debut EP this month. What’s the creative and recording process for that been like?

For this EP, I produced and recorded it myself at home. Because I have no time restraints at home, I tended to demo each track on the EP a few times before doing the final version of it. For example, 'For My Help' originally started as an 8 minute track, and I ended up cutting it down to just over 4 minutes. But that's just how I work when recording, I like to play around a lot, until it feels right.

So despite being somewhat of a ‘bedroom producer’ you also gig regularly. What’s the Hayden Calnin live show like?

I've often been described by people as a 'loop crooner'. Which is basically what you'll get. I use a loop station and build up my songs with my own harmonies and instrumentation. It sticks to the whole progressive folk thing, as the songs will just build and build. Recently, I've been working with a few musicians, and I want to get a band together really soon to play with me on a regular basis.

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

Melbourne has so many great bands. I'm fortunate enough to be surrounded by some great musicians and friends that make ridiculously good music. Leaks, Sleep Decade, Love Migrate, and Tom Milek, to mention a few, are some really great Melbourne acts that I've done a few shows with that are worth checking out if you get the chance. They all put on great shows and write some pretty top notch tunes.

What’s coming up in 2012?

Currently, I'm doing a residency at the Toff in Town in Melbourne on Monday nights in July with support from 'Manor'. I'm releasing my debut EP 'City' on July 20 and launching it at The Workers Club on the 24th of August, which I can't wait for. That'll be pretty sick. Apart from that, I'm hopefully gonna do a little tour up the coast for the EP, and then I'll get back into recording for the next release and continue to play shows of course.

Australian music is...

...better than Eurovision, but nowhere near as popular. Go figure.

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

Trial and error! We’d only really made band music in the past, so it was very reactionary and intentionally experimental.

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

We’re both pretty analytical people and while music definitely flexes that, it’s also chasing that thing where you’re fully in the moment, engaged emotionally, creatively, whatever.

What’s your vision for a Hopium live show?

Epic. Visually it will be an extension of the aesthetic we’re building in the videos, a surreal fantasy, super experiential.

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

“Get rich or die trying” - 50 Cent

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

The Go-Betweens - 'Streets Of Your Town'

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

Flight Facilities - 'Clair De Lune'

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

You can’t beat Flume’s Hermitude remix.

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

Sticky Fingers. Debaucherous.

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

It’s actually impossible to choose, it’s the city as whole that we find inspiring and everyone in it.

What are your plans for Hopium in 2014?

Make large quantities of dope music and play it live.