NEW LOCAL SOUNDS - Bursting The American Bubble
"I remember when I was growing up, I really only listened to international
bands. Actually, it was pretty uncool to listen to anything Australian."
"I remember when I was growing up, I really only listened to international bands. Actually, it was pretty uncool to listen to anything Australian. But now it seems kinda uncool to listen to anything but Aussie produce, which I believe
says something about the quality of music at the moment."
Juanita Stein�s level of enthusiasm for local music reflects a broad sentiment echoing through Australian venues, studios, rehearsal spaces, lounge rooms and street corners. Australian music is good. In fact, it�s very bloody good. But, as is often the case, it takes something extraordinarily big to make consumers realise that the best stuff is right there in their own backyard.
Her Sydney-based indie pop group Waikiki, as seen by the glowing reception of their 2002 debut album I�m Already Home, are one of a selection of exciting young groups tipped to follow the path forged by refreshing international success stories such as The Avalanches and The Vines. With collective support from the many facets of the Australian record industry and music media, the creative juices of these artists have been allowed the
opportunity to reach their full potential and an international audience.
"There are some seriously exciting Australian bands around right now," Stein enthuses. "Mind you, media has become a hell of a lot more open to the idea of this, hence introducing the public to more than just big American
bubblegum!"
As part of the 2001 festival, Waikiki featured in noise�s Rolling Stone magazine supplement (which included a track on the cover-mounted CD) and had an entire Fly TV segment made about them. Not bad exposure for a band who hadn�t yet made their debut LP and had only existed as a group just shy of 12 months.
"With the support and encouragement from groups like noise," Stein says, "I feel there is finally a medium for young creative performers to express themselves. Working with the team last time was a great experience for Waikiki. It helped get our music out there void of all the boundaries and restrictions that we�ve experienced with commercial media."
Of course, not every young artist has access to good instruments, recording facilities/know-how, industry contacts or like-minded musicians to share their ideas. Indeed, Waikiki have had the good fortune of strong support from the Liberation record label since the formative stages of their career, but the most important stumbling block facing aspiring creatives comes from within, as Juanita explains.
"I think the biggest problem facing any young artist anywhere in the world is lack of confidence and vision. When you�re young and easily intimidated, it�s all too easy to be shaken down before you�ve had the chance to blossom like you deserve."
Stein adds, "National exposure is fairly important in terms of gettin' your stuff out there. However, it can be done without being on television, or even, as some recent bands have recently proven, without radio. So the sky�s your limit, really!"
So why should musicians send their new works to noise? Easy, according to Juanita Stein. "You got nothin� to lose, right?!"
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