20 June 2014
In 1988, playwright Billy Aronson wanted to create a musical based on Puccini’s La Bohème, in which 1890s Paris would be replaced with the rawness and street vibe of 1990s New York. Jonathan Larson, a 29-year-old composer, began collaborating with Aronson on this project. Larson’s inspiration for Rent’s characters and plot elements are drawn directly from La Bohème, the world premiere of which was in 1896, a century before Rent’s premiere in New York. Tuberculosis, the plague of Puccini’s opera, is replaced by HIV/AIDS in Rent.
20 June 2014
It’s no secret I love me some indie-rock! If you feel the same and haven’t heard about Love of Diagrams, please read on. The Melbourne based three-piece personify everything we love here at Forte Mag – the independent spirit, a DIY ethos, but above all they know how to put on a show. LoD are Antonia Sellbach (vox/bass), Luke Horton (vox/guitar) and Monika Fikerie (drums). After more than a decade of non-stop gigging, LoD have paid their dues, earning them the reputation as one of Melbourne’s best live bands.
19 June 2014
In a world of auto-tuned vocals and Top 40 radio hits, it’s hard to get lost in the dance beats and simple lyrics. One band that is leading the charge in saving rock and roll music is Nashville’s own The Wild Feathers. With their electric guitar twang, four-part vocal harmonies and some sweet-arse riffs, they might quite easily become your new favourite band. Having supported the likes of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Paul Simon, the feats the band has achieved within only the few years that they have been together is quite astounding. For the first time ever, the band is headed to our shores to play at Splendour in the Grass, with sideshows in both Melbourne and Sydney.
17 June 2014
When i was really young, like 8 or 9 my mum used to book me in for singing lessons. That was where i sort of found out that i loved music (and singing). My teacher told me that “if you are going to write a song, you’ve got to tell a story”. It doesn’t have to exactly be a lineal story with a beginning, middle and end, but it’s good to at least say ‘something’ in the song you are writing i think. When I’m writing lyrics i still often sit back and ask myself “what exactly am i trying to say here” and do often think about narrative in some way, shape or form. So yeah, i guess I do focus on it a bit.
17 June 2014
“I’m not going to put on a Nina Simone record and think ‘man, I kick ass!’ I’d be a real jerk if I did that! Or I’d be very deluded!” Jeff joked when asked about his secret to success. “I try to maintain a perspective on why I do what I do in the first place, and the simple answer is I fall in love with music and I just felt compelled to give it a go, you know?” The humble multi-ARIA winner is back on the road this winter to promote his latest, and in my humble opinion, greatest release yet, I Live in My Head a Lot These Days (out now through ABC/Universal).
16 June 2014
If throwing television sets out of hotel windows and playing to thousands of people each night seems like a charmed life to you, then tune up that guitar and get out of your bedroom because the Courthouse ARTS’ Battle of the Bands is coming back to town and is happening on Thursday, August 7. Although there are no televisions to be thrown out of the Courthouse’s window, you will have a cracker crowd to play to. Last year’s winner, Residual, officially formed for the battle despite jamming together ideas for songs twelve months beforehand. Since then the band has gone on to national touring and sold-out shows at Beav’s Bar and is getting ready to release their debut EP in the next couple of months.
16 June 2014
Chatting with the guys from the Surf Coast’s own Barbarella is like listening to some sort of mutual admiration society. Barb Peppard and Evan Jones are just so full of praise for each other’s abilities and clearly deeply respect each other as musicians. The duo plays a mixture of a few covers and Barb’s original songs, with Evan providing the lead guitar alongside Barb’s acoustic rhythm and beautiful vocals. They met while playing in a backing band for Victoriana Gaye and then decided to play some solo gigs.
16 June 2014
It’s been seven years, seven long years, but finally in 2014 we should be getting the long-awaited fifth album from Melbourne’s own The Band Who Knew Too Much (TBWKTM). From busking on the streets of St Kilda to playing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the band has taken in a lot of miles over the last twenty-five years. I recently got the opportunity to sit down with Dave Evans, accordionist and vocalist for the group, to have a retrospective chat at their illusive career so far and to find out what the future holds.
13 June 2014
While Liz Stringer’s release, Warm In The Darkness, may be a few years old she’s still sharing her smooth vocals to captive audiences around Victoria. Liz will take her sweet tunes to Geelong and down the coast for a few one off shows. She took the time out while on the road, to have a chat to Forte about her writing process and what she has planned for the future.
12 June 2014
It may be cold outside but things are heating up for bong-loving Brisbanites, the Dune Rats. Not ones to revel in bad weather, the Dunies are back on home soil with plans to make these first weeks of winter their bitch. Now affectionately known as the month of Dune, it’s the perfect time to check out their explosive live show when they roll into town in support of their self-titled debut album.
12 June 2014
“If I’m up there singing about someone losing their job and nobody’s buying it, then why am I doing it?” asked Forte favourite and local musician Nathan Seeckts. “If I don’t believe in what I’m singing, how the hell is anyone else that’s watching or listening going to? That’s a thought constantly in the back of my head.” Nathan is a natural born storyteller inspired by the likes of Bob Seeger, Tom Waits and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. “These tales come from where I live, the place I call home…” As a Geelong native, his lyrics echo themes felt by all in the community – pride, love, loss, hope and resilience.
12 June 2014
From the early days of Northeast Party House, an exceptional and high energy live show has always been a must. Now four years on, they are releasing their debut record, Any Given Weekend. Guitarist for the outfit, Jack Shoe, feels that after a long time of refining the songs, being able to put the album out releases some pressure off the band and gives them time to consider their next move. “These songs have been two years in the making and to finally have the disc out is great.”
12 June 2014
Electronic music is everywhere these days and with current technology, a new breed of musician is able to create, distribute and promote their music from almost anywhere, anytime. I caught up with Chris Noonan from Oxygen College to get the low down on what Electronic Music Production is all about and how to get started.
12 June 2014
While many of Bendigo’s musical identities attended high school in the days when bands like Guns N’ Roses and Metallica were in their prime, Stacy Varner’s both a current student and a fan of music by older hard rock and metal bands. “People will disagree with me here, but I just like the whole vibe of the old stuff,” she says. With a father who used to turn the family home into a heavy music haven on Saturday mornings while his wife was at work, the fourteen-year-old singer/acoustic guitarist developed musical tastes that aren’t necessarily shared by her peers.
12 June 2014
Tables are set out through the main room at the Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex in Geelong. On stage is a simple red curtain as a backdrop and simple amplification setup for the solo tour of Dan Sultan. This is the first time that anybody has really heard of Dan Sultan in around four years and there is a particular hype and buzz in the room as he takes to the stage to play two cracking sets of music, debuting tracks of his (then) upcoming third album Blackbird.
12 June 2014
The acoustic pop memories of Fairground Attraction must seem like a lifetime ago for songwoman Eddi Reader. It was a touch over 25 years ago when the band released mega single ‘Perfect’. Since then, Reader has been a strong solo artist, releasing her tenth album, Vagabond, early this year.
12 June 2014
The project of Filip Mardberg and Fredrik Gilenholt, Ticon is one of the amazing outfits set to join Earthcore’s 21st celebrations later in the year. Walking the line between progressive house and trance, Ticon have been filling floors since 1999. We at Forte were thrilled to land a chat with the floor-shakers.
12 June 2014
An iconic Geelong pub has been resurrected under the leadership of local custodians Kym Robertson and Don Little. Previously trading as The Bended Elbow and then The Yarra Hotel, Bended sits at 69 Yarra Street and owes its name to that of the prior establishment. Although maintaining they aren’t associated with the Bended Elbow brand, Kym says “we’ve called it Bended to emulate the great things that Bended Elbow was famous for”.
12 June 2014
Don’t take your Snuggie out of mothballs quite yet – and as James Brown would put it, “Get up offa that thing!” – because the Ballarat LoungeRoom is transforming winter in Ballarat into some place warm and wonderful! The cold weather cousin of the popular summertime Ballarat Backyard Tasters has found cosy digs through June at M.A.D.E. (Museum of Australian Democracy @ Eureka) and is bringing musical experiences from the world over to the dance floor for the season.
12 June 2014
Tim ‘Tonic’ Hulsman is much more than just a man playing lapsteel on stage. Together with his intimate stories and delivery, Hulsman is a storytelling experience that is about the journey and deeper meaning, rather than just getting up on stage to play through a set of songs. Finally and excitedly, we are able to get our hands on Dead Man’s Garden, Hulsman’s incredible debut record that is to be launched at Beav’s Bar on Friday, July 4. Leading up to the release of the album, Tim sat down with Forte to give us an insight into how it was created.
10 June 2014
Happiness means different things to different people – delight, good cheer, glee. All the feelings at Forte when we heard Taking Back Sunday and The Used would be back in Australia co-headlining five highly-anticipated shows this August. And to make the news even sweeter, Taking Back Sunday’s guitarist John Nolan called in for a chat.
9 June 2014
October 2014 marks the first time that renowned RnB singer Anthony Hamilton will be coming to Australia. On the line-up for the inaugural Soulfest, which includes a stellar line-up of Maxwell, D’Angelo, Common, Aloe Blacc, Mos Def and Angie Stone to name but just a few, Hamilton is excited as ever to grace our shores and take the stage. “Man! I’m reeling, let’s hit it! My first time in Australia, I want to do everything. It’s exciting that I’m playing on the festival bill and I hope the crowds come out and can bring the party … It’d be cool to pat a koala if I get the opportunity to.”
8 June 2014
“It’s always a relief and a little bit nerve-racking when you release a new body of work,” Curran said about the release, “and we have been receiving nothing but positive feedback so far from critics and our fans which is great. Over the past few years since we’ve branched out into interstate touring, there has been a lot of support for the tunes and what we are doing and we can’t thank everybody enough.”
4 June 2014
“Give a couple of guys guitars and it’s just going to be cocks out all the way!” joked The Audreys’ frontwoman Taasha Coates when asked about their newfound swagger on album number four, ’Til My Tears Roll Away’. Taasha credits the inclusion of longtime friend/producer/engineer Shane O’Mara to the band line-up, and the joys of motherhood, with awakening a sleeping ambition in the triple ARIA Award-winning blues/roots duo.
