The Bullet Music Reviews

Interview: Brent from upcoming Aussie band Quiet Child April 2008, Australia

Quiet Child are a four piece alternative rock band from Adelaide, Australia, who are steadily cementing their place in the local scene. Their music ranges from two minute blasts of furious riff filled rock, to long, grandiose epics propelled by major dynamic shifts and melodic and rhythmic complexities.

Their self-titled debut EP was launched in early 2007. Early 2008 their song Underage and Well Behaved was featured on Triple J Unearthed and JTV Unearthed, before earning the band a place on the 2008 Big Day Out by winning Triple J Unearthed. Brent is Quiet Child’s bass player, Katey gave him the third degree.

Katey: Firstly, congratulations on winning Triple J’s Unearthed competition. You must have been blown away.
Brent: Yeah, we were really excited about winning the competition. We all love going to the BDO each year and were super happy when we found out we were selected to play the festival.

Katey: Tell me about Big Day Out. I’m sure you guys were all BDO goers before this happened, so what did it feel like being on the other side of the barrier?
Brent: It was an amazing opportunity. Through playing at festivals alike the BDO, bands are given the opportunity to obtain a greater deal of exposure. The BDO crowd is always varied and of a high volume, so it’s a great way for bands to capture a new audience.

Katey: What was the vibe like from the audience?
Brent: The audience seemed to be very enthused and excited by our set. It was great to receive such a positive reaction considering it was the first time a lot of people had seen and/or heard of us. Parts of our songs tend to have a very atmospheric nature and sometimes long drawn out parts can be over shadowed when playing to an unfamiliar audience. So it was fantastic to have our songs received by a responsive crowd.

Katey: This is a little stupid, but I have to ask – did you see anyone “famous” backstage? I know that would have been a real highlight for me.
Brent: Not really, our backstage passes only let us access the smaller stages, however ‘The Nightwatchman,’ was on a smaller stage and I managed to get a high five.

Katey: I see you’ve got a few shows lined up in the coming months for South Australia. Any plans on touring nationally in the near future?
Brent: Yes, we’re hoping to tour more towards the end of the year to promote our forthcoming LP. We’ve already had some amazing shows and supports this year and it’s only February! We have both Melbourne and Sydney on the cards this year so keep an ear out.

Katey: Who would you love to tour with – (a) Aussie band; (b) Overseas band?
Brent: We would love to tour with Aussie bands that have the same type of dynamics as our band. Having played with many bands we have realized the importance of playing with bands of a similar genre. Our style consists of songs that are as heavy as they are quiet with the main focus being melody. It can sometimes be difficult finding appropriate bands to play with as we are often too heavy or too quiet for the lineup. It would be ideal to tour nationally with Cog or Opeth. Although we are somewhat different to these bands, similarities can definitely be heard. These bands attract a specific type of audience and I think it’s an audience we would definitely appeal to.

Katey: Who or what inspires you - not just in music, but in life?
Brent: I think that all four of us are generally inspired by everything that happens around us. When something impacts upon us we try to and make light of it. It could be in regards to friends or family or an event or action that has happened somewhere in the world. In regards to music, I think we are inspired by great musicians and bands alike creating great music.

Katey: What has been your highlight in the band’s career so far?
Brent: I think winning Triple J’s, ‘Unearthed,’ competition is the band’s greatest feat to date. It is fulfilling to win a competition that is judged solely on the music at hand. It is a competition that a band can be satisfied winning because the competition can’t be manipulated in anyway. The winner isn’t based on who you know or friends that have voted and posted a positive comment. It’s based on the music. It’s also a highlight to receive recognition from Triple J.

Katey: Give us a history lesson. How did the band get together?
Brent: The band came together in late 2005. At the time the singer/songwriter, Peters, creative brain was experiencing swelling and was pulsating at a rate of 30 ideas per minute. Concerned friends Paul, Jason and Brent could see his head was lively and that the pulsating was clearly causing pain. Therefore they helped drain some of the ideas and reduce the swelling. It was at this point that the band was born.

Katey: How do you feel your EP is going? I see it’s only released in a few stores, and online, at the moment.
Brent: We recorded our EP in mid 2006. Generally we sell a majority of copies at gigs but our EP is also carried in a few stores in Sydney and Melbourne as we don’t have the opportunity to visit these cities regularly. You can also get a copy via contacting us on myspace. As soon as our EP was mastered we sent off copies to radio stations around Australia however it has only started receiving airplay in the last few months. It’s great that Triple J have picked it up as it has created anticipation for the launch of our LP.

Katey: I guess the next step is a huge record deal. Any inside info you can share with us? Got them lining up down the road and ‘round the corner, I’m sure.
Brent: It’s tempting to flirt with the possibility of record deals but we try not to get too excited about the prospect. Having said this though, we are currently in the process of recording our debut LP and are actively seeking the support of the appropriate label and people to get behind our record. We have been receiving some interest but are waiting for the album to, ‘take shape,’ before pursuing any opportunities.

Well, thanks so much for taking the time to speak to me, and good luck with everything. Hope we’ll get to see you out on tour real soon, and I’ll definitely see you when you visit Sydney.

Katey

Pictures by Aaron Schintler @ www.pyebydesign.com