Local artist profile: Lee Chatterton

THIS week we speak with Lee Chatterton, the guitarist for four-piece local hardcore/metal band ABREACT.

 

What motivated you to become a musician and how did ABREACT come about?

I always had a love of music as a young child, I am not entirely sure why. My parents used to enjoy listening to music and it was always on in the car. It probably just stemmed from that. My first personal desire to take up an instrument was when I saw AC/DC’s Thunderstruck film clip when it was released. I was mesmerised by the schoolboy running around and playing guitar with one hand. Angus Young was the coolest person in the world from that point on if you asked me. My parents were kind enough to buy me an acoustic guitar for my next birthday after seeing the love I now had for it.

ABREACT came about in high school, year 9 to be exact. I had started playing with a classmate who played drums, Tim Young, in year 7. We became instant best friends when we learnt that each other played instruments we could get a band going with. We had various names over the next couple of years, all pretty silly really. We settled on ABREACT sometime in year 9.

 

Which other musicians or bands inspire you?

Well, I would be remiss if I did not mention AC/DC wouldn’t I? I could go on forever personally but in terms of ABREACT, bands like Converge, Raised Fist, The Hope Conspiracy, Zao for their raw energy and conviction. Really powerful stuff, great energy onstage also.

Will Haven is a rather large influence on my guitar style, Jeff Irwin’s use of single-note riffs with bends are second to none in my book. Every Time I Die for their groove-based riffs and bonkers changes; they have some great punk riffs also. Probably Poison The Well and Norma Jean for their use of emotional textures in heavy music without being too naf.

 

How has/was the band affected by COVID?

We started recording our new album just before the pandemic started and it has delayed us two years. The studio we were using was in Melbourne and booked out six months in advance. So even when in regional Victoria restrictions were eased, the studio was still often in stage 4, meaning we could not go there. Even when it could open up for short periods before restrictions changed again, there were so many in the queue in front of us. It was very painful.

 

Do you have any new releases coming up?

We have just released a new single called Honesty. It’s from our forthcoming second album titled Deceivers Are Coming. Considering the stop-start recording process due to the pandemic restrictions and the mammoth delays we faced in being able to complete it, we are very proud of it and hope people can enjoy it as much as we do.

 

Where can people find your music?

Bandcamp for physical copies and merchandise. We are on all major streaming platforms; Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, etc, etc.

 

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

Do whatever makes you happy. If you want to do something, do it. Stay true to yourself, do not chase trends. The real success is doing what you love, not how it is received.