The music industry has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Live streams have helped to fill a gap.
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Newcastle band Boycott jumped on the bandwagon last weekend and impressed. The year 12 Hunter School of the Performing Arts students had been excited at the prospect of performing at Sound Station Music & Arts festival in Newcastle on April 4 but that, along with just about every other event in town, was cancelled when the pandemic hit.
Milla Duff (vocals and guitar), Kiara Fowles (bass and vocals), Amelia Samson (keys and vocals) and Laura Matheson (drums and vocals) took five between classes to answer some questions.
When did you form the band and what gigs have you played?
We formed the band just over a year ago and were definitely thrown into some big opportunities early on. Sound Station was going to be a big opportunity for us (stay tuned as the event is being rescheduled for hopefully around spring). We had been booked for some Cambridge gigs, which was going to be very exciting for getting our foot into the 18+ music world, and we anticipate this opportunity will come back around. We are mostly active in the all-ages scene. Our biggest gigs have been at the Dungeon, through The Y.
Has it been tough having to give up gigging due to lockdown?
The loss of so many gigs was certainly a big disappointment, but we are in the same position as all musicians internationally, which offers some comfort. It's been inspiring to watch the arts community band together (pardon the pun) and help each other out through live streaming, merch purchasing and digital listenings. Supporting local musicians is especially important to us, as we fall into this box. If anything, this time off has given us the perfect break to explore ourselves as individual musicians and write plenty of content. When gigs start up again we know they are going to be awesome and everyone is going to get so much out of them - we really cannot wait and are feeling so inspired.
How would you describe your sound?
Our sound is quite fluid and is open to new influences although we feel the term "punk" classifies our music quite well; whether that's in our direct lyrics, attitude or an overall abrasive sound. Punk does have connotations to a very specific sounding genre. We believe that is changing in current music and explore that. We are all quite politically conscious and socially aware.
You performed a few covers the other night - who are your go-to bands?
Some of our favourites worth mentioning are Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers from the nation's capital and another fierce female group out of Queensland, VOIID.
How many original songs do you have? Any thought of an EP?
We have three recorded tracks that are on their way to being released very very soon, and two more that we are currently working on recording, so there is definitely a lot of material from us to be released into the world soon. We are coming up with new material all the time, so an album or two is definitely in the works. Our three-piece EP Papillon will be available on all platforms as of this Friday, May 29.
There is light at the end of the COVID tunnel with venues slowly starting to open back up. Will you be looking to secure some gigs in the coming months? Or is year 12 a priority?
If gig opportunities arise, we will certainly take them. We are all excited to get back out there. Everything in moderation, of course - we have up to this point managed to balance a year 12 workload and be active members of the band. In the HSC weeks we will have a brief break but certainly get back into the gigs straight after!
Your ideal festival line-up would be?
Our ideal festival line-up would be: Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Voiid, The Regrettes, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Amyl and the Sniffers, Veruca Salt, Hole, Bratmobile, GRLwood, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Destroy Boys and other inspirational femme-orientated acts!
At the drive-in
Are drive-in concerts are becoming the next big thing? Keith Urban performed a surprise show for medical workers (in 125 cars) near Nashville. Danish singer-songwriter Mads Langer played to an audience social-distancing inside their cars in Aarhus. A drive-in rave called Autodisco was held in Germany and US electronic artist Marc Rebillet has announced the country's first national drive-in tour.
Closer to home, Casey Donovan performed at Sydney's Robyn Webster Sports Centre on May 21, an event organised by Drive-In Entertainment Australia. Russell Morris with Masters of Pop and The Soul Movers will perform at Redland City in Cleveland (Queensland) on June 13. And Hockey Dad will headline Alive At The Drive-In on July 31 at Bulli Showground near Wollongong with support from The Pinheads, an event organised by Farmer & The Owl, Yours & Owls and BMG Present.
Another group behind the concept is Drive-In Concerts Live.
"The music industry is in a death-roll because of COVID," said Michael Walker of Drive-In Concerts Live.
"As restrictions are eased and retail and eateries start to trade, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for any of us in the entertainment sector and the impact on the economic and mental health of people our industry is critical. This is the solution to be socially responsible, gets us off the dole and back to work, and gets some happy back into all our lives."
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