Sweets
Sweets are exciting new Melbourne group who music I dug when I first heard it. With a cracking tune such as swagger. The sky is the limited for this talented group. I talk to Annabelle Tunley about it all.
1. What inspired you to write the song swagger?
1. I was inspired by a rather long wait for a pizza! It was a night where cooking was not going to happen so we (me and my man) headed to For the Love of Pizza on High Street in Thornbury. A 20min wait turned into a 45min wait so I amused myself recording silly lyrics into my phone. The chorus for swagger popped out of thin air as a man (who was not my man) came out of said pizza store and for a moment I thought it was my man. After this, the song took a turn away from severe hunger to a happier place of admiring handsome men from afar. This is a hobby I have inherited from my mother who can flirt with a boy in his 20’s better than anyone I know.
2. How did the band come about?
2. I have known Peter (bass) and George (drums) for 7ish years, making music, playing for peoples weddings, eating meals, having impromptu kitchen dance offs and other such frivolities. About a year ago I decided to shift my song writing away from the more serious land of folk lyric writing (which I suck at) to pop writing. I reveled at the chance to write music that was designed with fun at its heart and asked my most fun friends Pete and George to help make the songs really come to life.
3. Are you happy how people have gotten behind what you are doing?
3. Very happy! We were particularly happy with how our live show translates. People have a good time and that’s the exact point. Having said that, I never know what to say when people say ‘so, I listened to your single… It’s been stuck in my head for a week’… Is ‘sorry’ or ‘thankyou’ appropriate in that instance? I generally go with both.
4. How are things different for you from your other group?
4. In terms of writing style and approach, not much has changed. All songs still start with a recording on the phone – of a vocal line, lyric or hook. Also, in terms of lineup, in Aluka I’m in a band with two of my favourite ladies and in Sweets I’m in a band with two of my favourite men! I realise that the projects are very different stylistically and aurally, but I’ve always treated aluka like a normal band despite the difference in instrumentation. Music making for me is first and foremost about the people I do it with. And in this, I am blessed.
5. What inspires you when writing the songs?
5. Lots of my writing happens when I am in transit. Bike riding, walking, driving. Inspiration comes from the everyday rhythm of speech and movement. I don’t think I’ve ever written a song sitting or lying down. Although I write AMAZING raps when I sleep. I always remember they were AMAZING. I never remember them specifically. This is very annoying.
6. What does 2014 have in store for the group?
6. We’re still a young band! We’re finding our way in the big bad music industry and we’re having a great deal of fun finding our niche, our sound and our direction. Lots of gigs, photoshoots, an ep or album, watch this space
7. If you could collaborate with any body who would it be?
7. Ooooooo… Good one… This changes pretty frequently. I’m going to go with Kimbra or Janelle Monae. Their music has an infectious sense of fun and carefreeness about it. I think in this we are similar. Also, they represent women so incredibly positively in everything they do. If I had a daughter, I’d send her their way for inspiration.
8. How does social media help you?
8. Here’s the truthful yet cliche answer ‘It’s helps us keep in touch with our fans’………. I am grateful for it as a vehicle but to really compete on social media it’s a full time job. This is why people have full time jobs managing it for companies. I know that I’m probably not getting out of it all I can but there are only so many hours in a day and only so many things that I feel compelled to tell anyone about, let alone take a picture of and choose a filter for. It’s a strange world out there.
9. If you could have any body in a video clip who would it be?
9. Bill murray. He’s just excellent at life. See this link for 10 reasons why. http://weknowmemes.com/2014/01/10-stories-that-prove-bill-murray-really-is-the-most-interesting-man-in-the-world/ We’d just be happy to have him give that blank nonchalant stare for 3:30min. Rolled gold. He’s probably on social media. I’m gonna take a photo of my breakfast, tag him in and hope for the best. Wish me luck xx
