WAM INTERVIEWS: The Big Splash 2017 Festival acts

14 Dec

The Big Splash band comp has taken a year off in 2017 yet that hasn’t stopped them from throwing an epic party this Saturday 16 December at Badlands, full of WAMAwards-nominated acts and Big Splash favourites from previous years. Supported by WAM, eight of Perth’s finest will be hitting the Badlands stage including Big Splash grand prize winners POW! Negro, Hideous Sun Demon, Jacob Diamond and Scalphunter, along with Splashy friends Dream Rimmy, Elli Schoen and debut splashers Grievous Bodily Calm.

WAM interviewed some of the bands on the importance of comps like The Big Splash, what to expect from them in 2018, and an insight on who you can’t miss this Saturday.

POW! NEGRO

How did The Big Splash help boost your music career?
It really helped us get some exposure. I remember heaps of people coming up to us after gigs and saying that they saw us for the first time at big splash and have been coming to our gigs ever since so it was really dope to get to play for a bunch of people that never came to any of our shows. The money also really helped with putting our first single launch and getting merch, and all that jazz.

What’s the biggest tip for taking out band comps?
Just don’t think about it as a band comp, treat it like its just any other gig. ‘Cause if you think about it too much the nerves start getting to your head and you’ll keep comparing yourself to the other bands in the comp which is never healthy. There’s a reason you play the music you play; cause you think it’s dope. So just go out and do ya thang; there’s really nothing else you should be thinking about other than playing a rad set.

What band are you most looking forward to seeing this Saturday and why
Would have to be Grievous Bodily Calm – I’m always so excited to watch these guys play. They’re all absolute sonic wizards and they make some of the tastiest jams I’ve ever heard (they’ve got this sci fi banger with the gnarliest bass tone that I froth). But I’m always keen to get sweaty watching hideous, those guys are wild!

What highlights can we expect for you in 2018?
We got some insane interstate shows coming up early in the year, that we unfortunately can’t really talk about yet, but the lineups are insane so I’m really just stoked to get to see some of the crazy good acts that we’re sharing the bill with. We’re also working on our next EP which we’re gonna be putting out early next year, and this one’s definitely a step up from the last so we’re really excited to get that out there.

DREAM RIMMY

How did The Big Splash help boost your music career?
The Big Splash helped us a lot with exposure, with many industry people watching the comp closely. We were a relatively unknown band at the time, and it helped boost our profile a lot.

What’s the biggest tip for taking out band comps?
Practice heaps but make sure you don’t take yourself too seriously. People notice when you do and it has to seem effortless and natural.

What band are you most looking forward to seeing this Saturday and why?
I’m looking forward to Grievous Bodily Calm, they are such good live players.

What highlights can we expect for you in 2018?
We’ve got a new single in the pipes that will hopefully be out early next year.

GRIEVOUS BODILY CALM

How did The Big Splash help boost your music career?
We haven’t been around long enough to have taken part in The Big Splash competition, but it has provided some amazing opportunities for a lot of our friends. We’re just along for the ride for this gig amongst some incredible Perth artists.

What’s the biggest tip for taking out band comps?
We haven’t been in one, but I’d say be uncompromisingly true to yourself and whatever happens, happens.

What band are you most looking forward to seeing this Saturday and why?
I’m pretty keen to see all the acts, the line-up is really sick. I’d personally very much like to see Jacob Diamond play a full set of jazz standards, we’ve discussed this and he’s agreed to putting out the album ‘Standard Diamond’ in the near future so I guess we’ll see.

What highlights can we expect for you in 2018?
We’ll be putting out a few studio releases that we’re working on now. This will include some instrumental stuff and some collabs with our favorite artists. Hopefully some cool gigs too.

SCALPHUNTER

How did The Big Splash help boost your music career?
Big splash enabled us to hit the studio and record out debut album, literally 100% of the prize money went into the album! Not to mention the national attention we got from taking out the prize. 

What’s the biggest tip for taking out band comps?
Do what you do best, do it 110% and work your ass off!

What band are you most looking forward to seeing this Saturday and why?
It’s been ages since we have seen Dream Rimmy So looking forward to that!

What highlights can we expect for you in 2018?
We are in the process now of knocking down and writing a whole swath of new riffage for album no 2. Plus we are planning on hitting the east coast as soon as we can in the new year!

 The Big Splash Festival will take place this Saturday 16 December at Badlands Bar with Doors opening 5pm, food truck on site all night and a bands merchandise counter, all on offer. Tickets on sale now.