Azaria, theART
How did
you get your start in the music industry?
That's hard to say as it's been
along process for me and I've gone down many roads and have had many journeys.
I guess music for me started when I was diagnosed with ADD, and with out medicine
my family doctor recommended to my parents I learnt drums or a do some sport to
kill some energy. I chose drums; then the noise began. I just got addicted to
playing music with my friends all the time. When I was a teenager, living in Brisbane,
I played in a dozen different bands. When my 3 piece experimental noise band 'the
mad agents' got offered a tour with Australian Art Rock legends - 'Died Pretty',
that's when I knew that this life, making music with my friends is how I wanted
to live…
Best part of the job?
It's not a job for me. This
Art is my Life - I don't know anything else, we make music and such is life…
But the best part of playing music is when a fan comes up to you and shares that
your band has inspired and changed their life - that's why we do it.
Worst
part of the job?
When you get signed to a major label or when your band
progresses to a new level in some way and the issue of 'selling out' comes into
question and you get told things like 'you've changed' as if change is a bad thing.
Any interesting experiences you can share?
The other night I
was invited to Paris Hilton's house for a Christmas party and the same night I
was invited to Chris, from Jet's house. I went to Paris's and saw photos of her
all over the walls of the house and on all the tables. There were lots of photos
of Paris presenting, framed within classy diamante picture frames. So I appropriated
one of her pictures. I thought I was doing her a favour. Maybe then her ego would
get that tiny bit smaller now that there was one less picture of her from the
thousands up. I arrived to the next party at Chris's wearing a feather boa, which
I had put on in Paris's room, so yeah I guess I stole that too… I left the
framed picture on Chris's bedside table next to his German knife as a gift when
I arrived at his house… anyway that was the colourful journey of a night.
Favourite
CD of all time and why?
'Loveless' by My Bloody Valentine. Sonically,
it's nothing like I have ever experienced.
Tell us about the best
live show that you ever saw?
That's a hard question to answer when we've
toured with our favourite bands like NIN, Sonic Youth, Eskimo Joe, etc. But, besides
shows that we have been a part of, I guess seeing The Amanda Palmer show touring
of her debut solo album. One artist by her self gleamed pure light on her own
with the nakedness of her words and songs… she was book ended by a physical
theatre company (Danger Ensemble) from Brisbane and it was so stark and honest,
I couldn't believe what I saw, what I felt. I felt alive and happy that people
still cared about music, cared about art. See Amanda Palmer if you care about
any of these things. She is the queen of the Art…
Favourite bars/clubs/pubs
to hang out in?
In the states, I went to the O.C. to see a friend's band
play in a club called 'Chain Reaction'. I went to get a beer from the bar and
the bartender said they didn't serve alcohol and I looked around and everyone
was there for the music. That made me happy…
What advice would
you give to someone looking at getting involved in the
music industry?
In these times; the music industry labels, managers and artists are all struggling.
For the most who are still around, they're doing it for the love of music, not
for the money. And in a weird way, that is a good thing. A judgment day has dawned
upon the music industry. Because the people who are in it for the wrong reasons
are leaving… my band is signed to a major label in some territories of the
world and independents in other parts. I have always found; for the music we make,
the independent labels have been most effective for us. It's all different for
everyone though. If you want my opinion, be independent and ensure your band owns
as much as their 'brand' as possible (don't sign a three sixty deal). Think about
the future for your band and the journey you would like to take…and lots
of luck because there is so much more involved than sheer talent these days.
Take
us through a typical "day in the life of Azaria".
At the moment,
I get up at 10am, go to the studio and leave at 12am. Sometimes I sneak away early
and go see a show. I've been lucky this trip. I've been given free tickets to
see the Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure (amongst a crowd of 40 people), and Amanda
Palmer, just to name a few of the shows. There is so much going on in Hollywood
every night…
Any news or final comments?
We're commencing
our first full tour of the USA including playing South By South West and Coachella
beginning in late February and our album will be out worldwide on iTunes then
as well.
