Southside Tea Room

Whilst I was in Brisbane I had the pleasure of visiting Southside Tea Room! The quirky tea-room-by-day, bar-by-night is a little creative superhero with grandma charm and an arsenal of homemade cakes and cookies, milkshakes and a pinball machine to boot. Of course, we would expect no less of the New York inspired brainchild of Patience, John and Raven (Patience's sister), the former two making up the energetic, dance-inspiring, indie-antheming band The Grates. That's right, the band which brought us the joys of 19-20-20 and Turn Me On, now bring us the joys of food, music, and old skool indulgences such as board games and plaster painting. Check it out!

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Southside Tea Room

639 Wynnum Rd
Morningside
QLD 4170
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My 1440: Foxx On Fire

March Into The Sun - Foxx On Fire

Sophie Koh

Lo-Fi - Sophie Koh (warning: super addictive!) 

Sophie Koh is back! And after hearing Lo-Fi, the first single from Oh My Garden (Koh's first album since 2008 to be released in February next year), we hope she never leaves us for this long again!

What inspires you? Food, people, love and clothes, and art.

Favourite artist? It changes all the time but at the moment it's Bat for Lashes - she's amazing. I listen to everything at the moment, I listen to classical music a lot... my radio in the car is always on talk-back or classical. 

What has been your most exciting collaboration so far? Ben [Lee] was the most exciting so far... very inspirational. He taught me a lot about the business of music and [there's a reason why he's so famous].

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Vietnamese pho - I love broth.

What influence did your collaboration on 'She Will Have Her Way - Songs of Neil and Tim Finn' have on your career?

I was actually a last minute call up for that one. They had two spots left... I think Missy Higgins took mine which was 'Stuff and Nonsense' [which] was my favourite Finn song and so I was like, let's go for the rockiest, kind of weirdest song, which is 'Charlie'... and that album has put my name [out there], people know it - it's in their CD collections.

Why did you join a dance group [Koh's dance group features in her videoclip Lo-Fi]?

Because I really love to dance but I don't know how to... Not because I want to be on stage, but partly for my own self enjoyment. I love dancing shows, I watch them religiously... I just want to move.

Why did you choose Piedimonte's supermarket as a location to shoot Lo-Fi?

It's just where I shop. 

Who choreographed the dance moves for Lo-Fi?

My dance teacher who's never done any choreography on a clip before, and we've never danced in a clip before.

If you could give everyone in the world something, what would it be?

A ukelele

Favourite key to compose in? A minor

Sophie Koh

Day 223: Style Miles & Avalanche City

Love Love Love by Avalanche City

Tonight I went to the launch of Contiki's Research Report 2011 - research is conducted annually regarding trends of travel and is each year presented through themes. Last year's was environmentally focussed - 'Shades of Green' - however this year's focus is 'Style Miles,' trends of travel as realised via food, music, art and fashion - revealed to be valued most-to-least by travellers in this order. It is fascinating to note how paradigms and trends of travel have changed over time and likewise to observe how Contiki seems to be changing, too - to be growing up. The penthouse of the Ivy was right out of Peter Sellers' film 'The Party,' but my night was most made by the intimate performance by upcoming New Zealand folk band Avalanche City's Dave, Romelli and Strahan (the coolest manjo player).

Oxford Art Factory: Patrick James and Lange Theory

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Matt Walters

Carla, Miranda and I first saw Matt play at the Metro in 2009 when he was the support for Jenny Lewis. We've been hooked ever since. Who was this singer who threw off his harmonica in frustration, sang such delicate narratives and worked the guitar with such talent? Two years later now, after many more support acts, Matt has brought out his first album since, and after living off the four songs on his 'Echo On' EP and past albums, it can be said that it was well worth the wait. Carla, Miranda and I interviewed him after his first headline show, at the Vanguard, for the release of his new album, 'Farewell Youth.'

How does it feel having your first headline show? 

Very overwhelming. It's just been a beautiful journey. You do what you love and what you're passionate about and good things come; good people come into your life. I'm really interested in doing a career so the way I'm going about it is exactly how I want to go about it. Put music out and play the shows, put another album out and just keep going. 

You mentioned [during the performance] having difficulty with recording albums. (Matt has already made two: 'Like Therapy' (2001) and 'The Moon, the Stars, the People')

Well, 'Like Therapy' - I was fifteen when I made that. It was terrible. Then I quit for a while and went to uni and then I couldn't take it anymore. 

What did you study at uni?

Film, at RMIT in Melbourne. I wanted to be a filmmaker.

How has your album making journey been? How many have you made, or tried to make? 

Well, when I got signed back in '08, we tried to make it in London. That didn't work out. I just wasn't happy with it. Then, in Sydney we gave it a shot, and then Melbourne, and then I headed back to Sydney and made it - and that was that record. It felt right and good... I wanted to be happy with it and it took me a while to get to that point. 

Where does the title 'Farewell Youth' come from? 

For me, I feel completely different about where I'm at and who I am now. So at twenty-five, I feel very comfortable, feel very happy to be doing what I'm doing, don't really care what other people think as much. Younger years are filled with a lot of anxiety... so it's about all that stuff - anxiety, self consciousness. But now I feel really happy to be alive and really loving what I do, and I love music. So it's all the stuff that came out of that time. Also, it's a really pop-y record, for me. 

What do you think about when you're on stage? What does it feel like?

It's f**king weird. I feel like a bit of a clown. But I've gotten better at trying to enjoy playing the song. 

Do you have a favourite song to play? St Peter's Gate

What are your inspirations? Books, a lot. Other music, definitely. 

What was the last book you read? A music biography about a band called the Blue Nile. I love music biographies, I really like non-fiction. 

What's your songwriting process? Painful. I get an idea - so that as well is part of the Farewell Youth thing - an idea would circulate in my mind for a while. And I'm not a very proactive person with creativity. In every other aspect of my life - I have a really clean room, I'm not an all-over-the-shop person. But with creativity I'm completely all over the shop. So, I'll get an idea, think about it, then I'll doubt it, and I'll think 'Oh, it's actually pretty good,' well maybe that theory could work. So it's slow. I'm trying to get a little quicker at it. So those songs [on Farewell Youth] are over of couple years.

Is it like being a perfectionist? Maybe. You just feel right when it's cooked. It's like being a chef, I guess - you know when it's right and ready to do something. There's nothing worse than having something that's undercooked.  

Where's your favourite place in the world? New York City

Who've you enjoyed working with the most? 

Meg Washington was pretty cool, she's very talented. Kim Richey, on the album. Pete Karpin, who signed me at Universal, he's amazing. 

Where do you hope to be in five years time? I move to the States next year. So I guess, I'll be there.

Where abouts? I'm going to be based in Austin, TX for a while - there's a really cool music scene there. Also, I just did a publishing deal, so I'll be writing a lot of songs for other people as well as myself. 

Myspace

Review: Matt Walters, Farewell Youth album and launch - the Vanguard

MATT WALTERS' ‘FAREWELL YOUTH’ ALBUM LAUNCH AND ALBUM REVIEW by Carla B

Music is a very powerful thing. It is one of the most important aspects of my life and one of the only constants as everything else changes. However, it can also be very hit-or-miss. Sometimes it just doesn’t speak to you or touch you on a personal level. I am glad to say that while this does sometimes occur, it is practically erased when you listen to the good.

Let’s introduce Matt Walters, a lovely, intellectual singer-songwriter who hails from Melbourne. I first saw him perform live two years in what has always remained a magical experience for me. As the opening act to Jenny Lewis, I had no idea what to expect from him. But it was definitely a hit. His voice is extremely soothing and his guitar work is amazing. He doesn’t rely on only love songs to tell a story and instead sings about many different aspects of life, such as friendship, hell and murder.

So, when you wait for someone to tour for two years, and after you’ve hyped up the experience in your mind, it can a bit scary going back. What if the magic didn’t exist? What if it’s lost, buried in a memory and cannot be revived? Needless to say, going to see Matt Walters this past Wednesday did not disappoint. The magic has remained.

Matt’s new album, Farewell Youth, has just been released and this record release show at the Vanguard was exactly that for him; as his first headlining show in Sydney, to a room of people there just for him, it was a definite departure from his earlier days of being the opening act.

The lovely Leena fulfilled this role, with her pretty melodies and delicate “anti-love songs”. Switching between piano and guitar, she belted out harmonies with her guitarist, Steve, and was ever so grateful to the audience. Her charisma on stage was charming and she even got a cry of “I love you” from one eager audience member. Not bad for a support act.

Matt then took the stage, with a full band in tow. This was the first time he’d played with a band in a couple of years and you could tell he was enjoying the accompaniment. Mainly playing songs from his new album (something he eventually stopped saying, when he realised it was fairly obvious), you could tell that these songs all meant something special to him and he was glad to share them. A lovely acoustic version of the non-album track Talking In My Sleep was a stand out, as he rocked out all alone on the stage, but completely in the zone. He humbly thanked the audience and shared stories of his long journey to record the album, stating he was really proud of it. Always nice to know.

The debut album is an amazing array of songs, showcasing Matt’s abilities and proving he not only loves what he does, but that he does it with his whole heart in it. The backing band is a welcome addition to his music and flows so naturally with his sound. Personal experiences make up the album, along with songs that sound like love songs, but are actually about murder, something Matt kindly pointed out. The album also features many guest performances, including Megan Washington, who is also quickly increasing in popularity.

One of my favourite songs on the album is Conversation. Check out the video and be sure not to miss this guy. Who knows where he’ll be in five years time.

Carla

p.s. I request You and Your Holy Ghost for the next show.

Day 118: OAF

I filmed for Stone Monks at the Oxford Art Factory. Video above put together by Ryan Whitty.

K Ishibashi (lead singer of Jupiter One)

Performing with Dan Cho on cello, supporting Regina Spektor at the Sydney Opera House - 28/4/2010

What inspires you? Sydney, so far

If you were a serial killer, what would your trademark be? I'd leave a bag of potato chips

If you could live off one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? sushi

Favourite place in the world? NY is pretty cool

jupiterone.com
myspace
blog

Greta Morgan (Gold Motel)

What is your process when writing music? Do you start with lyrics, notes, both or an idea?

I usually start with an image, then develop a musical theme and add lyrics last. Though, every time is slightly different. The song "Who Will I Be Tonight?" from the Gold Motel EP kinda wrote itself-- I sat down and wrote all the lyrics and music in about 10 minutes. That is my favorite of all the songs I've written in the last few years.

How have your experiences, such your band being signed to a record label when you were only 17 and touring with many popular bands, such as Panic At The Disco, Fall Out Boy and Rooney, affected the way you write and see music?

I've been fortunate to have touring and recording experiences that pushed me into the deep end of the music industry at a very young age. I was forced to evolve very quickly to keep up with everything that was happening with the band. I also learned the very important lesson of being highly adaptable and dedicated to your craft, even while traveling, while sick, while maintaining an incredibly busy schedule, etc.

After being signed with Decaydance Records and Fueled By Ramen for all the Hush Sound albums, is there any reason why you decided to self-release Gold Motel?

The most simple answer is that our contract with FBR was finished after the three Hush Sound albums. I didn't want to wait around for some label to come offer me a deal, so I just distributed the album to itunes and amazon myself, as well as offering physical copies in my merch store. If the right record contract came along, it's possible that I'd take it, but the internet makes selling your music so simple that a band doesn't need to be signed to reach people anymore.

What made you decide to go by the name Gold Motel? Also, is there a reason why you are credited as Greta Morgan as opposed to Greta Salpeter?

Morgan is my middle name and my mom's maiden name. Ray Charles was actually Ray Charles Robinson and Fiona Apple is Fiona Apple Maggart. I figure it's fine if I want to establish myself now using my mother's name. Nice to meet you, I'm Greta Morgan.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Everywhere! Mostly other records (Motown, Beach Boys, Kinks, Beatles, Jon Brion, Bob Dylan, Zombies), authors (John Irving, Anne Sexton, John Cheever, Truman Capote), and even television and film (MadMen). What I'm reading and watching always has a subtle influence on whatever music I write and record.

Who do you owe your musical talent/interest to?

My father is a music lover but cannot sing a note. However, he did fill a Wurlitzer juke box with tons of great records and we used to dance in front of it when I was a kid. My mom is a piano player and signed me up for classical lessons as a wee little baby. Music was always around as a kid.

If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Avocados. Easy!

If you could buy one thing for everyone in the world, what would it be?

a snuggie-- Most of the world's population could probably benefit from a blanket that doubles as a clothing item.

Where do you hope to be in five years time?

In five years, I hope to have have a handful of albums under my belt, I hope to be a very proficient drummer, and I hope to still be traveling and touring extensively. I'll be 26--still a baby in the scheme of things-- and if, for some reason, I'm a jaded, sad, and uninvolved musician, I ask that you please track me down and give me a slap in the face!

If you were a serial killer, what would your trademark be?

I'd be the "torch song killer" and I'd leave a tape with a sad song on it at every crime scene. (Are you freaked out that I thought up that idea so easily?)

[special thanks to Carla B for conducting interview!]

picture from www.myspace.com/goldmotel