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.<\/p>\n
First up is Sam Noske, guitarist and vocalist from doom\/heavy gaze rockers AstroFuzz.<\/p>\n
What motivated you to take up the guitar\/vocals?<\/p>\n
In early high school I was listening to a lot of alternative\/heavy music, bands like My Chemical Romance and Iron Maiden.<\/p>\n
It really inspired me to try to replicate what I was listening to.<\/p>\n
I put together a band of friends who were like-minded, and I found myself playing the guitar.<\/p>\n
We had lots of different vocalists throughout school but the role always fell onto me.<\/p>\n
One day, the role stuck.<\/p>\n
How would you describe your style?<\/p>\n
I borrow heavily from genres like shoegaze, 80s Goth, but also have a sprinkle of heavier stuff in there.<\/p>\n
I’m a fairly sloppy guitarist but I can noodle around enough to express what I’m trying to get across.<\/p>\n
I find more importance in creating interesting tone-colours and soundscapes that can help an audience feel what I’m attempting to portray.<\/p>\n
Which other guitarists inspire you?<\/p>\n
Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins) has been a massive inspiration for how I play guitar and compose music.<\/p>\n
I find him to be massively underrated – his ‘wall of sound’ guitar tone on Siamese Dream is absolute perfection.<\/p>\n
Robert Smith (The Cure) is also a massive inspiration for me.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Have you had any mentors over your time?<\/p>\n
I had a guitar teacher in high school who showed me the basics – all of the boring, yet necessary stuff.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
What are some highlights you have from your time as a musician so far?<\/p>\n
One of AstroFuzz’ early shows was during COVID, one of the very first lockdown breaks.<\/p>\n
We were booked on a mixed bill at a venue in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Spirits were high that night, and the atmosphere helped tell me I was on the right path with AstroFuzz.<\/p>\n
How can people check out your work online?<\/p>\n
My band’s music is on Bandcamp and, out of unfortunate necessity, it’s also out on streaming services.<\/p>\n
Come grab a record from a show instead or at Trash Cult.<\/p>\n
Where do you see yourself as a musician in a couple of years? What about in ten years?<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
What would you say to young regional aspiring musicians who are thinking of making a go of the creative life?<\/p>\n
It’s a tough but rewarding life.<\/p>\n
If it’s what you want to do, then it’ll feel like there isn’t any other option anyway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n