NEWCASTLE jazz-pop duo Bravo Victor have been in high demand over the past year.
Their self-titled debut EP and it’s subsequent singles The Duel and For All His Flaws have secured appearances at various festivals like Darby Street Live, Newcastle Fringe and Maitland Taste.
The constant gigging has only crystallised Sophie Aked (vocals, snare) and Jono Burgess’ (bass) plans to push ahead with a second record.
“There’s been a settling and a confidence in playing with each other now,” Aked said.
“We’re more confident to have loose forms and change them when we play to respond to each other more and that’s more of a jazz philosophy that we’re coming to.”
Bravo Victor have a swag of road-tested material ready for an album or EP, including the track Real Life, which they performed last Friday for the Newcastle Herald.
“It’s bit of a running joke that I have two songs – songs where I’m angry and songs where I’m trying not to freak out about living,” Aked said.
“That one was inspired by the line ‘just keep swimming’ by [Disney character] Dory, which I always felt was a cute line.”
Bravo Victor will be on the backburner over the winter when Aked travels to London for three months as part of her $10,000 Young Regional Artist Scholarship she was awarded by the State Government last year.
Aked primarily earned the scholarship for her lyrical and poetry writing. While in London the Cooks Hill artist will mentor students at a poetry school as well attend music industry events to hopefully extend Bravo Victor’s connections.
Aked performs her final show before flying out at the Grand Hotel on April 24.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
