Hollow Everdaze get out there and do it
Somethingyousaid.com’s Courtney Dabb chats with Hollow Everdaze’s Jackson Kay, ahead of the band’s upcoming tour of Victoria and New South Wales:
Hi Jackson, Thanks for taking the time out to speak with us at Something You Said. How long have you guys been playing together as Hollow Everdaze?
About 7-8 years I would say. It’s been a long time.
Is there a story behind the name?
I just wanted to make a name about personal detachment or feeling like being in a dream, or something like that, and the two words just sounded really good together and that they had a similar meaning or phrase.
For those who are unfamiliar with Hollow Everdaze, how would you describe your sound?
We tend to change it as we go, there is a selection of genres that we like to cover but at the moment it has a kind of orchestral element to the sound. That is really refreshing to hear and Dan’s (Baulch) guitar is getting a bit more clean, less like the noisy stuff. I kind of like that. I’m still playing bass myself and that’s pretty much the same. The sound is a bit fuller and everyone is playing a different instrument and that’s great. I like it. All the bands I like, they all play a different instrument. Other guitarists all get along with Schnupps, our guitarist so I think one guitar is pretty much the only option for him.
You have recently incorporated violin to your ensemble. How has this changed the dynamic of the group and the sound you are trying to achieve?
Well Tim (Karmouche) used to like a lot of synth sounds, like string samples and stuff like that, and it is a lot of work for him to do it. I grew up with Myles (Anderson), our violin player, and he would always come to shows and just seemed really enthusiastic. When we were recording our single Onimous last year, Dan was like, ‘we need a violin player’ and I was like, ‘oh I know someone,’ and we had Myles come over. He was really impressive after jamming just one song. By the end of the day I had already made up my mind to ask him to join the band and the rest is history. Some bands with string or brass players… it’s not really expected of them to be fully fledged members, but he has just taken it upon himself and I think he is a great addition. I could not play a stringed instrument to save my life, but there can be something in my or Dan’s head that we can just hum it out to him and he gets it, first shot.
Melbourne has a vibrant music scene. How has this come to shape your brand of music?
Well we have been playing in Melbourne for a while now and I wouldn’t say we have really been associated with any kind of scene, but there are so many different types of bands and genres that seem to be really welcoming to us and always have been, just really respectful of each other. So yeah, it’s pretty welcoming and a nice place if you want to start a band.
Has it been a fairly easy process to break into the scene?
At first it was really hard and seemingly really competitive, but once we put out our first single, it made more sense, with shows coming up and wanting to play to people and making a video as well. We started to record more songs and things grew from there.
Where do your draw your songwriting inspiration from?
Dan and Tim both bring a skeleton of a song to the table and I’ll write the bassline around the songs and that’s where it goes. They have some really good ideas. They are fantastic songwriters and are really great to collaborate with. Now Myles is getting a bit more involved, and even our drummer.
Do you find touring to be inspirational, with the places it takes you and the people you meet?
Yeah definitely. I would like to do a bit more of it. I guess the more tours you do and release songs you that people like, they will come to the shows, so it’s just chipping away at it I guess. But it’s a great experience to get out there and do it.
You are signed to independent label, eyeoneye records. Has this given you total freedom in choosing the direction of your music?
We did our first release with eyeoneye records. Emilio (Polanco), who was doing it, moved to LA, but at the moment we are free to release what we want.
How do find studio recording. Is it difficult taking your jam sessions to the formal process of recording?
It’s really hard, especially when you have barely jammed a song and it’s still in your head, as it takes a lot of time. But we usually record with our friend Rob. He is really good at translating those things and has a lot of patience for us. He is really good to collaborate with in that regard.
A question I asked every band I interview is, what does music give you that nothing else does?
I am learning that question every day, every year. The songs we write are very personally involved, so they tell a story of us or where we are at, even a history. A lot of songs we have written have been a kind of concept of years ago I guess but they serve just as much of a purpose as the new ones so it’s all about making sense of your life.
What does your new material say about the stage you are at in your life at the moment?
Well the concept of the new material was written in 2011. I think we were a year out of high school, or something like that, and it was all kind of nostalgic thoughts and trying something new, a new lifestyle.
What can we expect on your upcoming Australian tour?
I would have to say a better kind of live show. In my opinion it is tighter. We are a more mature band, plenty of new songs and a new release that will be coming out in a few months.
What else does 2015 have in store for Hollow Everdaze?
It is going to be very busy. We will be recording all of April, put out this EP, put out another single and some more shows.
For tour dates check the above poster and keep up with the band on Facebook.
Interview by Courtney Dabb.
