| triple j Unearthed

New

Artist

Little Quirks

Indie, Pop, Roots (folk, Pop, Indie, ...)

Central Coast, NSW

New

Artist

Ruby Gill

Indie, Pop, Rock, Roots (Singer-Songwriter, Indie, Melbourne, ...)

Melbourne, VIC

Featured Artist

2016

12

Sep

Alexander Biggs

Indie

(

bedroom folk ,
folk ,
Lo-fi ,

)

Melbourne, VIC

Devastatingly evocative "sad boy folk" out of Melbourne's inner north.

Read Interview

How did you first get into playing music?

I first got into music by just wanting to copy my sister - she played piano when I was quite young and I just looked up to her and wanted to copy her. So I've been playing piano for 15 or 16 years now. I started out doing just classical stuff then later found a lot of hardcore, emo and alternative bands that I got my angst out with, and from there got into contemporary music a bit more.

What sort of music were you exposed to when you were younger?

When I think about the music I was exposed to when I was younger I can only recall negative experiences. My mum raised me on a lot of Backstreet Boys and Shania Twain. I get that some people might like that, but it was a pretty dismal experience for me.

How did you develop your sound?

I developed my sound through a lot of trial and error. Initially it was hardcore and alternative music that opened me up to how emotions can be conveyed in song. Through that I discovered artists like Elliot Smith, Bright Eyes, Bon Iver and other artists that know how to emote really well. So I think a lot of the process has been trying different things until something's clicked and since this has clicked it's been about finding the best way to convey and emote the things I want to say.

How would you describe your sound now?

I like to think of it as fairly honest music. I try not to dress it up too much. It's just an exploration of ideas that are going on in my head. My approach is to sing the songs in a way that is like you and I are just hanging out and I'm telling you what's going on. Describing it as "raw" might be a little cliche, but it is quite genuine and unfiltered. It's been called 'sad boy folk'. Just listen and have a cry.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

A lot of the inspiration for the songs I write just comes out as the songs manifest themselves. It feels like unconscious writing. It comes from a place that's quite heartfelt. The stories usually come from personal experiences or they are reflections on a personal experience. The occasional song will be inspired by a friends experience, but it's all pretty close to home.

How and where do you produce your songs?

I produce all my songs out of my bedroom in Thornbury, Melbourne. It's a beautiful area. My house is on the corner of a road, so there's a lot of heavy traffic going by. I record and mix all my music there - so that's why if you listen really close you'll probably hear a car or some birds in my tracks.

What do you do when you're not creating music?

When I'm not creating music, I'm performing music. It's become so much a part of my identity that I don't do much aside from create, record or play music. When I'm not playing my own stuff, I'm playing in mate's bands.

What can punters epect from an Alexander Biggs live show?

When you come to a live show you can expect me and an acoustic guitar. I'm working on putting a band together, but for now it's just me. It's a very simple setup and an even more honest experience than listening to my recordings, because there's no production or double-tracking. You can hear every word of my songs, plus I can give you some cheesy banter inbetween them.

Please tell us about the Melbourne music scene.

The Melbourne music scene is a beautiful and incredible thing, and I'm so blessed to be involved in something so genuine and cool. It's friendly and embracing, there's great venues and just so much incredible talent to play shows with.

View Profile Hide Interview

Featured Artist

2018

22

Oct

RAT!hammock

(

Lofi ,
Lo-fi ,
Indie ,

)

Melbourne, VIC

Melbourne outfit RAT!hammock have become one of the most loved bands of 2018. Their latest single 'June' shows just how clever their songwriting is and we can't wait for you to hear it all this week on triple j Unearthed.

Read Interview

Is RAT!hammock a real band?

https://www.facebook.com/RAThammock/videos/876403699219775/ - watch the documentary and decide for yourself. (the answer is yes)

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

Wrote heaps of punk songs at the start, then decided we wanted more emotional depth so wrote a bunch of sad/folk songs then realised we wanted people to have fun at our shows so I tried to write funny upbeat songs like Dan Kelly. Nowadays I try not to think about it too much.

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

As a songwriter I am the most inspired by other music. When I hear something great or go to a great live gig it makes me want to pick up my guitar and write. I subscribe to the idea that the best inspiration is exploration. So generally if I want to be inspired I set myself a challenge, a few strange words I want to work in to a verse or I’ll work out the chords to my favourite Simon & Garfunkel song. Normally by the time I get half way through, I’ve found something new of my own in it. This approach means I can play up to the halfway point of a heap of Simon and Garfunkel songs now, so that’s cool.

What can punters expect from a RAT!Hammock live show?

Expect the unexpected. We’ve made a smoothie on stage, hosted yurt trivia, and have our own theme song. It’s a real time.

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

‘Get your hand off the stove’ - Mum in 1999.

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

'Vitriol' by Bluejuice. Simply put, this track slaps.

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

Alexander Biggs with 'The Worst We’ve Ever Been'. It’s a devastatingly good song.

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

Magic magic magic magic magic magic magic magic fountain by Art Vs Science, every day of the week.

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

Last local gig I went to was Feelds’ Kill The Moon single launch. Ro and Eaglemont supported. Every single act on that line up has the voice and the song chops to fill stadiums.

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

We’re super fortunate to be a part of such an amazing community. We’re lucky enough to have recorded with a great team in Mickey Cooper of Kilns, Sean from Obscura Hail, Hannah Blackburn and Merpire. Tram Cops release some of the most underrated music going. Tiny Little Houses, Angie McMahon and Alexander Biggs are all absolutely slaying it. Our picks for who to keep an eye on next are Hugh Fuchsen/Hotel Fifteen Love, David Western, Yes Yes Whatever and Chitra.

What are your plans for the rest of 2018?

Oh Pep! are the best and have decided bring us along for their national album tour. I'll be heading around the country with them through December. Apart from that we’ll be doing heaps of writing and recording, getting the next batch of tunes ready for some more releases to come early 2019.

View Profile Hide Interview