Tom Ugly is performing at Indent’s All Ages Affair to Save FBi with Cloud Control, Sierra Fin and The Bennisons. Get yourself along to The Annandale Hotel on Sunday July 12. Click HERE for more info.
Indent chat to Tom Parisi of Tom Ugly, dubbed the child prodigy he’s not letting that get to his head. Here thee bee a humble boy who just likes making music and the rest can just sort itself out!
Tom Ugly…Why the name change?
[is] was virtually impossible to search on the internet and on all kinds of databases. It was beginning to become detrimental and I always liked the name ‘Tom Ugly’ since I was about 13. Places would always spell [is] incorrectly too. It would always come out on posters in every weird, possibly incorrect way. I think once we even got “I.Z.” come back to us.
How did you form?
I’ve been writing and recording since I was about 12 and then I became good friends with a drummer called Henry. We started playing the songs that I had written together in my basement, as 13 year olds do. Then I changed schools when I was about 15, where I met Mahli-Ann, the chick bass player. We continued playing my songs but it became a little more serious and we started playing real gigs and stuff. Ever since then, the formula hasn’t really changed other than a few enhancements, adjustments and occasionally some exciting news. And now we’re about to do the first national tour, starting on the 25th of June.
How old are you all?
I’m 17 and Mahli-Ann is one year older. Henry’s the same age as myself, but we’re both doing the HSC this year and he’s focusing more on that for the next few months. Two very inspiring newcomers have arrived just in time for the recent ‘Children Collide’ and ‘The Grates’ support shows that we played and this tour, which I’ll be turning 18 on, half way through. The final show is an 18th party gig at Spectrum with ‘Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!’ and ‘The Hungry Kids of Hungary’.
Tell us about the Triple J Unearthed High competition, what song did you record and with who?
We brought my home recorded version of ‘Cult Romance’ into the ABC studios and worked on it as a base with mixer/producer Greg Wales. He’s part of the triple j live music team. I really liked working with him and was happy with the result, so I decided to do the rest of the EP with him too.
What was it like when you first heard your song on triple J?
Very surreal and exciting. It was particularly reassuring to me as it was just around a time when I was beginning to lose faith in the music.
What is it like being an high school band and then touring with such incredible acts like The Grates, Midnight Juggernauts, Blue Juice and sooo many more?
It’s an enjoyable privilege. I definitely look forward to playing more of these kind of shows next year, once I’ve finished school.
Your Debut EP is due out this year…what can we all expect from this?
Lots of exciting things, including two new singles and a Billabong-produced video clip.
Are you going to tour for this release? If so where?
Currently the plan is to do at least 1 to 2 EP launches in each capital city of each state.
Do you think it is important to tour to regional areas?
Yeah, I think it’s important to tour anywhere that has people.
What is your favourite gig experience – performing or just attending a gig?
It’s comforting to attend gigs, in a stress free kind of way, but there’s not much that can compare with the climax of a good show when it happens. Especially when the audience gets involved and everyone bounces off one each other’s enthusiasm.
