Sam Noske

THIS week we commence a series highlighting figures from Bendigo’s underground music scene, which for five years or so has revolved around next-level Eaglehawk live music venue and record store Trash Cult.

First up is Sam Noske, guitarist and vocalist from doom/heavy gaze rockers AstroFuzz.

What motivated you to take up the guitar/vocals?

In early high school I was listening to a lot of alternative/heavy music, bands like My Chemical Romance and Iron Maiden.

It really inspired me to try to replicate what I was listening to.

I put together a band of friends who were like-minded, and I found myself playing the guitar.

We had lots of different vocalists throughout school but the role always fell onto me.

One day, the role stuck.

How would you describe your style?

I borrow heavily from genres like shoegaze, 80s Goth, but also have a sprinkle of heavier stuff in there.

I’m a fairly sloppy guitarist but I can noodle around enough to express what I’m trying to get across.

I find more importance in creating interesting tone-colours and soundscapes that can help an audience feel what I’m attempting to portray.

Which other guitarists inspire you?

Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins) has been a massive inspiration for how I play guitar and compose music.

I find him to be massively underrated – his ‘wall of sound’ guitar tone on Siamese Dream is absolute perfection.

Robert Smith (The Cure) is also a massive inspiration for me.

He’s much less technically proficient than Corgan, but his ability to use simple guitar lines as a compositional tool and tell stories always inspired how I write music.

Have you had any mentors over your time?

I had a guitar teacher in high school who showed me the basics – all of the boring, yet necessary stuff.

While I use all of those important things today, I think a lot of who I am as a musician is self-made and from exposing myself to lots of different music.

What are some highlights you have from your time as a musician so far?

One of AstroFuzz’ early shows was during COVID, one of the very first lockdown breaks.

We were booked on a mixed bill at a venue in Melbourne.

Due to everyone being very keen to come out of their houses to see live music, we ended up playing to a largely over-sold room of very, very eager patrons.

Spirits were high that night, and the atmosphere helped tell me I was on the right path with AstroFuzz.

How can people check out your work online?

My band’s music is on Bandcamp and, out of unfortunate necessity, it’s also out on streaming services.

Come grab a record from a show instead or at Trash Cult.

Where do you see yourself as a musician in a couple of years? What about in ten years?

Hopefully in a couple of years our band will have put out a few more records, and we can venture out of the country for a few tours in that time too (world politics permitting haha).

In 10 years, I really hope I’m doing the same stuff as I am now, although it’s hard to say what any musician will be doing (then) with the trajectory of Australia’s music industry being as dire as it is.

What would you say to young regional aspiring musicians who are thinking of making a go of the creative life?

It’s a tough but rewarding life.

If it’s what you want to do, then it’ll feel like there isn’t any other option anyway.