Tell us how Kram came
about?
Mark spelt backwards invented by an old mate while
we were watching a Leyland Brothers movie in the local hall.
What
have been the highlights and advantages since becoming a solo artist?
It's
very liberating to make a record where you play all the instruments yourself,
like a massive bedroom 4-track session. I enjoyed doing that with Andy, recording
everything! I will definitely make more records like that in the future. If you
have the idea in your head, you can just go in and play it without having to think
about the live thing at all.
… and how does this compare
to Spiderbait?
Well, Spiderbait is a totally intuitive
live thing. We've played together for so long that we kind of know where each
other are going on stage without it being meticulously prepared. Improvisation
is a bit of a lost art with a lot of bands these days, particularly big acts...
They don't want to risk things falling apart in a song, so often things can sound
pretty much the same from gig to gig. I say go for the risk because if it works
it's really awesome and something you could never prepare for, and that's the
point… Every gig should be a unique event; never exactly repeated. Sometimes
it goes pear shaped, we've had our share of those moments, but we really can't
play any other way.
You're the guest performer for Tooheys
Extra Dry uncharTED. How do you feel about 'band' competitions, and how important
are they to independent artists?
I hosted the Wotnext
Band Comp Round Australia a couple of years ago and found some bloody good stuff
out there, especially in the country like where the eventual winners -Jackson
Firebird from Mildura, VIC, came from. These comps are always worth supporting
as they give bands a chance for people to check them out and maybe win some $$$,
which always helps.
As an already accomplished music artist,
what do you think are the major challenges in 'making it big' so to speak?
This
is the most common question and the one with no answer. Honestly, don't try and
make it big... You'll smell of it a mile off. Just make the best music you can
and try to do your own thing. Don't care too much and hope for some luck.
What's
the best thing about your job as a musician?
To make your
own music.
You're also playing at Splendour at the end of
the month, who from this year's line-up would you love to have merry ol' drink
and chat with?
Anybody as long as the gig goes good.
What
should we look forward to from Kram in the near future?
Mix-tape
Side B is in the can as I recorded two albums at the same time, so that will be
next for me.
Is the Australian music scene dead or alive
and why?
Alive and kicking, simply because there's so
many Australian music fans of Australian music. Just ask the film industry how
valuable that is to a scene.
What is your advice to the
bands if they win or come in as the runners up in uncharTED?
Winning
is great but losing is not too bad either. I mean you're playing music not shovelling
shit and life is short so good luck to all!
Kram headlines
the uncharTED Grand Final this Thursday 9th July at the Oxford Art Factory. Check
out www.uncharted.com.au
for more info.
