Beattie in the Background
This Indie Rock 3 piece from Sydney have been dominating the all ages music scene in Sydney of late, having taken out the top spot for the Noisy By Choice music concert in Burwood in September and The Annandale All Ages Rock n Roll Competition in Mid-November.
Keep reading to see what happened when Indent did a Q & A with Owen Milward, Jordan Blackwell and Sam Gordon who together make Beattie in the Background.
Who are Beattie in the Background and how did you come to be?
We are Owen (singer/ strum strum (guitar)), G (slappa da bass) and Jordan (ba boom ching (drums)). WE are a 3 piece indie rock/ alternative band from around the Rype/Gladesville area in Sydney. We started with Owen and Jordan playing at school and then a slightly keen G joining in for some originals.
How would you describe your sound? who are your major musical influences?
We like to think we are a mixture of man getting hit in crotch with a kitten eating sand. It's what we think makes us unique in this industry. Owen has been said to have sounded like a young Christina Aguilera (not really, but seriously). Our influences include Blink 182, Saosin and Ray Martin news reports.
You guys won Noisy By Choice Band Comp. and The Annandale All Ages Rock n Roll Comp. How did that feel and what did you get out of being a part of these shows?
It was extremely surprising to win. We were mainly in it for fun and to gain experience, and then we won, so that was a real confidence booster. We got lots of advice about our individual playing styles and also about our sound as a band. We also gained a shiny new pair of binoculars... and a hot plate.
What is your opinion of the all ages scene in Sydney? What do you think the all ages scene in Sydney needs?
Luckily for us, there are gigs around that we have been fortunate enough to grab spots in. The all ages scene in Sydney needs more amateur gigs so that unknown bands can make a name for themselves. It's a shame people aren't supporting local music as m,uch as they used to. It's also a worry about pubs like The Annandale's financial crisis because they are the main stepping stone for most bands to get into the music industry. They provide a great resource of experience, quality sound and exposure.
What is it like being a young band? Do you feel you are limited in anyway?
It's good being a young band because we have nothing to lose. We are in the "all for fun" mindset and only have experience to learn. The main limits are that we can't play at pubs yet because only Jordan is 18, Owen and G are still 17.
What's next for Beattie in the Background? Any gigs are recording coming up?
We are recording this week, thanks to Burwood's Noisy By Choice Comp. We are also doing further recording at Zen Studios, which was part of the prize pack from The Annandale. Hopefully 5 songs are going to be recorded, to turn into an EP to be released ASAP- so keep and eye out on our Myspace. Early next year we will be searching for news gigs at pubs once we are all 18.
What is the songwriting process like for you guys? Do you all pitch in when writing? Where do you get your ideas from?
Owen writes most of the songs but G and Jordan chuck in a few ideas and line here and there. Ideas come from personal experiences or random stories that we make up. Like or song "Heads Down Thumbs Up" is all about finishing our HSC, which we all went through together. Most lyrics are related to the sound and the feel we get off the riffs or drums.
What do you think is the key to success in the music industry? Do you have a plan of attack or are you just going to see what comes to you?
We think the key to success is knowing the right people, a little bit of luck really and just hard work and persistence with songwriting and gigging to get our name out there. We are just taking it day by day and seeing what comes to us, whether it be hot dogs and candy or staircases (nobody likes staircases).
If you could play anywhere in the world and with anyone in the world, who are where would it be?
Big Day Out with Blink 182. They are the funniest and most talented people ever made by god, if you believe in that kind of stuff. A home crowd at one of Australia's most famous festivals.
Check out Beattie in the Background on their MYSPACE
