waves A MUSICAL MECCA FOR YOUNG TALENT

For Torquay local Chris Hay, a devout love of music inspired him to launch Waves Music Co. in 2014, an innovative music mecca for people to learn, record and most importantly be inspired.

“I was 21 at the time when I sat down and wrote about what I wanted to be.

I also wanted to fund my own music career and that ended up turning into Waves,” Chris said.

“Waves has a few different strains; it’s a music store, there’s music lessons and recording services available. More importantly, though, Waves provides a community connection for music on the Surf Coast.

“It gels together, a pool of talented teachers and musicians who congregate here, record, rehearse and teach.”

From humble beginnings working out of his parent’s place to a new residence next to Rip Curl, Chris accredits their success to the endless support received from music lovers.

“Matt Avent created the Waves logo for me when I was still teaching out of my parents’ house in 2014. Waves would be nothing without Matt,” he said.

“There’s people who have taught me so many things – Conor Bromley, Bailey Bates and Jasper Jolly. They’ve all helped me to get where I am and have taught me about music and the music industry.

“I’m in a band, Jimi Crisp, with two incredible local musicians: Tommy Castles and Jesse Stanley. Having musicians that are really grounded, that connect with and love surfing makes things really easy.”

Chris said he was driven by a passion for original music and creating platforms that not only encouraged the pool of local talent to write but also perform their own music.

“To inspire an industrious and innovative music culture, that’s always been our philosophy. It wasn’t until I started this project nearly five years ago that I noticed really, a lack of platforms for original music.

“Venues will accommodate cover music, which is great, but there wasn’t as much support for original music. The Torquay Hotel, though, is incorporating original music by young, local musicians.

“They’re putting them on as supports throughout their Summer Series and Joel Taylor and Luke Hindson, they’ve done incredible things for the music industry here on the Surf Coast.”

Chris hopes other local venues can follow suit and give talented musicians the opportunity to share their music.

“Here at Waves we facilitate events like the Surf City songwriting sessions. The aim is to get kids in a band-type format and create original music over the span of two sessions. In the end, they finish with an original song that we record and they get a chance to perform.

“I’m hoping all of this helps strengthen the Torquay music scene, we’re putting on music events and workshops to teach kids how to do the things other amazing local songwriters are doing.”

With students ranging from six years to 40 and above, Chris said anyone passionate and wanting to learn was welcome.

“We have a really comfortable environment, anyone that comes in is calm and relaxed. All the teachers are really reasonable, there focused on the individual and have incredible communication skills,” he said.

“Most of all, they’re all really lovely people. We’ve got so many talented kids like Finnigan August who’s already supported some major Australian acts.”

Chris said he’ll continue advocating for the music scene across the Surf Coast and surrounds whilst producing his own.

“Not many people know about how many amazing local musicians are here.

There’s lots of recording studios popping up around Torquay like Jack Robbins.

“There’s just so much talent and its starting to strengthen the things they’re doing. It’s becoming more acceptable to step out with original music and I think that’s an exciting thing for Torquay and the coast.”

For more information about Waves, head to wavesmusic.com.au.