BASSINTHEGRASS, this SATURDAY from 11am at Gardens Amphitheatre

BASSINTHEGRASS is back again in 2010.

This year’s line up boasts awesome Darwin bands like Sweet Amber, DJ Fish, Semishgure, Leigh Chisholm, the winner of the battle of the school bands Sleeve Heads.  Big name acts like Silverchair, Empire Of The Sun, Hilltop Hoods, Shortstack, Jessica Mauboy, Children Collide, Horrorshow and Redcoats are also playing.  I think the line up isn’t as good as it could be this year; they could have chosen a band other than Hilltop Hoods because they have played so many times at BASS.

There has been lots of controversy on facebook about Shortstack playing BASS this year.  Groups like “don’t bring Shortstack to BASSINTHEGRASS” and “If Shortstack come to BASSINTHEGRASS we’ll bottle them,” while amusing could pose problems in the Darwin music scene.  Although I think that this is funny, as a musician myself I would not like the idea of people throwing bottles at me while on stage.  This can also cause OH&S problems such as water on stage (a slipping hazard); also with so much electrical equipment on the stage someone will be at high risk of getting electrocuted.  Because of this there have been rumours going around that there will not be any bottled water this year, these accusations are false.  There will, as always, be free bottled water but you are not aloud to bring bottles inside with you.  The producers of the show have also threatened, in years past, to shut down the festival.  This would be very bad, because that means no more really good music festivals in Darwin (other than The BIG GIG of course).  Please if you don’t want to listen to any band playing then you can bring an iPod OR if you’re over 18 then you can leave and come back after they finish their set.

There’s an encouraging amount of new music on the bill this year and I’m really excited about Melbourne band Redcoats.  They were picked up on Triple J Unearthed last year and have had a growing fan base ever since.  I was lucky enough to have a chat with their singer Emilio Mercuri last week and now I’m even more excited about what they will bring to the concert.

GRIND: “Hey Emilio, how are you mate?”
“Yeah, good mate.”
GRIND: “You’re playing at bass in the grass next Saturday, how are you guys looking forward to that?”
“Ah, mate we’re very excited about it, we’re just tailoring the set to hopefully bring something different to the day. Looking forward to seeing Darwin and playing to a lot of new people.”
GRIND: “Sounds great, I can’t wait to see you play, I’ve heard some of your music on Triple J Unearthed and it’s great.”
“You enjoyed it?”
GRIND: “Yeah it was… different”
“Yeah well, you know that’s the thing, that’s what we’re hopefully going to add to the bill, there’s a bit of diversity.  Yeah, like I said, we are really looking forward to it”
GRIND: “You released your first EP in September last year, how’d that go for you?”
“Mate it’s done really well for us, it’s really circulated quite significantly through the industry, and it’s helping to set us up quite well to do our album.  So it’s really established a good working team for us anyhow.”
GRIND: “You got you new guitarist in February last and you hit the road straight after that, how’d that go?”
“Yeah, no it went really well.  He came from a band called “The Escape Committee” and was playing quite significantly across town for a number of years, and as soon as he came in it was just kind of the fourth part of the square and it all just started moving a lot quicker and really working well and still to this day it’s still working.”
GRIND: “You are releasing your new LP do you know when it might creep out?”
“Well we’re writing our debut LP which is a full length album, and we’re hoping to record towards the end of this year, so right now we’re just in the writing process and it’s really shaping up well so you should be able to see it the start of next year.”
GRIND: “That’s honestly great and I’m differently going to buy your EP if I can find it.”
“Yeah, fantastic man! We’ll show you a few of the new ones on Saturday.”
GRIND: “Sweet, I’ll see you then man, have a good one”
“You too man take care,”

You should go, the gig will be fun and no doubt the bands will put on a great show.

Check out the BASSINTHEGRASS website HERE

Can you introduce us to the band ‘Sawa’?

SAWA is a band, trying to dig out something “unique” but still very “catchy”.  We are a Japanese indie band formed in Tokyo (Japan). We strongly believe that reaching out and opening up  to each other and the world is the 1st step to move forward as a band.  My father runs a traditional Japanese public bath (sento) in his own way. Usually, Japanese public baths won’t welcome people with Tattoos, Yakuza (Japanese Mafia), elderly people who can’t take a bath without help. But my father accepts almost everyone, including those people. Only if they can keep the ethos to share the sento space together with each other.  SAWA would love to share the space, and to have space where anybody can come and enjoy, share their thoughts, time and smiles together.

Tell us! How did SAWA come to be what it is today?

SAWA started taking action in ‘07 when the vocalist Sawa had decided to sing.  (That’s me! lol)

At the beginning I was a solo singer/song writer, but when I met Hizmi through making the soundtrack to the well known Nintendo DS game The World Ends With You, we decided to create something original together; that was the beginning of  Sawa.  After writing several songs, we decided to form a Band pushed by our eagerness and supports from our fans and that’s how we are today.

What are the instruments used in your band?

For the gigs, we use the usual guitars, electric, acoustic and bass, drum, and…. microphone!! lol)

My main instrument is my voice, but I also play the tambourine and blues harp depending on the situation.

Sometimes we share the stage with our friends who play keyboard, violin and/or flute.

In future gigs, we might add or subtract instruments to have more experimental sounds on stage!!

How do you describe your music to people?

Something experimental and alternative based on rock sounds.

Who writes the lyrics?

I do

Most of Sawa’s songs lyrics are in English, Why is that?

Because, we are eager to go over the boundaries and borders created by stereotypes. We don’t want to have you hear us with the first impression, “Oh! It’s a band from Japan!!”.  It’d rather you be surprised after listening to our songs and say, “Oh! They were Japanese band?” lol.

We love to surprise people!  That’s one of the biggest reasons why most of our songs are written in English.

Although, it doesn’t mean I don’t like writing songs in Japanese.  To tell the truth, we are working on some Japanese songs right now!

What are your favorite songs and why?

My favorite songs … it’s hard to pick a few… I love all of my songs! lol

hm…. if I need to pick some, I’d start to say with…

“One Thing“.  It was the song that I sent to  Hizmi as my self-introduction before our first meeting.  From this song, we decided to create songs together, and without this song the current Sawa wouldn’t even exist!  “Stay Away“, this was the first song I created together with Hizmi and that was the beginning of this Sawa project. We felt some sort of chemistry between us while listening its demo. From our current EP,  I adore “Fly High” and “Figure and Shadow“.  “Fly High” is filled with messages and words from my past.  I wanted to collect those heartfelt empowerment words in one song, and share it with my fans and friends!!  “Figure and Shadow” is one of our newest sounds, and while creating this song I felt that our new experiments on sounds are going to start from here!!

Who are your musical influences?

I used to listen lots of Canzone and Chanson music, influenced by my father in my childhood. I still love those passionate voices and emotional essence of the singers such as, Milva and Edith Piaf.  The 1st CD I ever bought was The Beatles, when I was around 10 years old. I listen to Punk, Heavy Rock, and some other sorts of music too, but when I met Nirvana around 16, I was totally soaked into the grunge world.  Later on, Mixture, Core, Metal sounds were also fun to listen but my interest was suddenly caught by some old sounds, such as Chet Baker and Tom Waits.  From the current artist, I’m a big fan of Muse.

If you could cover any song in the world, which one would you choose?

It’s hard to pick one

Okay, I’d say…

“In Un Fiore“, “Que sera“, “Milord” from Canzone.

“But Not For Me” from Chet Baker (I wish I could play trumpet like him)

I’m sure there are some more … but can’t remember now … sorry.

Do you remember your first show? How did you feel?

Yes! Of course I do.

It was at a cultural festival during High School in Virginia as an exchange student.

I was very nervous back stage, but once I started to sing, it was a great fun.  I sang 2 songs, and that was the moment I strongly felt that cultural difference didn’t matter, while we spoke through the language of music.

Can you explain how a band rehearsal goes for you?

The groove won’t come out on stage,  when our hearts are looking at different directions.  So, rehearsal becomes a genuine communication between the band members, I think.

What is the best moment you have experienced so far?

As a band Sawa, our communication between fans and friends are based on MySpace.  So, when we have a moment to see our fans and/or friends face to face and have a tight hug with each other, that’s the best moment ever.  In ‘09, many of our friends came to see us in Tokyo from everywhere, overseas and in many different areas around Japan. We really want to tour the world in the year ‘10 (Of course! including Australia).

How do you see SAWA in the future?

Well… I have no idea!

Maybe I’m trying not to have a detailed image of the future of Sawa, trying not to bind myself by my image.

My ambition is huge.  I want to become friends with people all around the world, and enjoy our future together.

I hope Sawa will be an inspiration for the positive power of your life.  That’s the only thing  I have always wished and I strongly believe this is the most important element when I think about the future Sawa.

Would you come play for us in Australia?

Why not.

We’ll definitely come whenever we could get the chance to come.

If you came to Australia, what would you want to see and do first?

First, I’d like to thank you for letting us step on to the land of your country, and then breath in the fresh Australian air and fill up my lungs.  One of my first Australian fans have sent me a photo a few months ago, writing Sawa (+ BIG heart message on the beach) … and that’ll be the place I personally want to visit the most!  Is it legal to sing one or two songs by the sea shore in Australia?

We hope to perform more than 1 gig at an Australian showcase in our near future.

Have you ever heard of Vegemite or tried it?

Yes! I tried it when my little sister came back from 3 month home stay in Australia.  That was a great souvenir!

Nice experience, but I just had it once!  My sister loves it but I heard it’s not easy to find it in Japan.

and, Any last words to say or advice?

As long as we won’t throw out our hope, we’ll never get lost.  I’ll declare here today, that Sawa won’t give up until our dream comes true.  I hope you can tell us the same

Thank you very much. Domo Arigato

You’ve seen them play and now you can take them home.

GRIND is pleased to announce that it has eight copies of Here There Everywhere to give away.  All you have to do is email us at grind@grindonline.com.au and tell us to send you a CD, if you’re one of the first 8 we’ll stick it in the mail to you straight away.

Click Here for the Here There Everywhere review by Tony

GrassRoots and Local

Every month GRIND receives a bunch of CD’s from local musicians, some new and some from their treasured back catalogue.  GRIND wants to spread the love and promote local music.  So if you like music and you love it local then email us and we’ll put you on the register, and we’ll send you some local original music free whenever new stuff comes in – that’s right FREE.

I first came across ‘Your Favorite Enemies’ through a friend who befriended Alex. After listening to their music it felt like I was found; it was a strange feeling. Soon I too started messaging the amazing Alex on Myspace. I don’t think I’ve ever met such an inspirational person. I learnt so much about the band and the causes they support from Rock N Rights, to Amnesty International. I think each member of the band is unique and it is easy to follow their progress on Myspace. Now how many bands are dedicated to letting you know what they are doing? You can find out by reading Miss Isabel’s studio diary. Technology has really brought us all together.

At the moment the band is recording for an album coming out later this year – by the time this is printed and read it might already be out! Yay! 1st of March they started their f rst music video with the song ‘Open Your Eyes’. The band organized a weekend for ‘Your Favorite Enemies’ family (fans) to join them making the video clip, along with meeting the band and other friends all over the world. Because of this band I was able to meet amazing people that I had a lot in common with. I met Yuku and Saya from Japan, Sierra from New Zealand, Mama E from the US, Alina in Germany and Stéphane in France (look, your names are in GRIND…).

I say give this band a chance and if you like their music, drop them a line and I’m sure you’ll hear back from them. Will you trust this former editors words, I do hope so! You can find them at: www.myspace.com/yourfavoriteenemies.

Also in future look out for a possible interview!