So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band?
Our band is called Big Winter (highly relevant at the moment) and my name is Jam. I’m the lead singer and guitarist. I smile and nod while the other musically trained members talk about minor seventh chords with added ninths.
What do you reckon people will say you sound like?
We had someone come up and tell us we sound like a jazz/rock fusion band at our last gig. I’ve also had someone say the vocals sound like a mix of Jeff Buckley and Sufjan Stevens. We’re massive fans of Grizzly Bear, so that always creeps in too.
What do you love about making music?
The fact that four strangers with nothing in common apart from the love of music can come together and create awesome songs. We all met through different means; mostly through gigs, other musicians and online. Everyone we’ve come across in the Melbourne music scene are absolutely friendly and awesome. We’re one big family, I think.
What do you hate about the music industry?
I wish there were smarter ways to get by on only music. I really feel for the artists out there who are struggling to make a living off something they put so much time into. But that’s the nature of art – we don’t do this to make money, we do it because we love it.
If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why?
I’d like to get Chopin’s take on our modern progressive rock. I’d also like to know what he thinks of the new iWatch. I feel he’d be really easy to impress.
If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why?
Wow, that’s really rough. I’m going to say Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords because I look a bit like him and I’m pretty sure I could drag him into a dressing room, swap clothes with him and take over his life. No one would know. Brett might know, but I’d just have to find someone that looked like Brett who’d be in on this caper. Then we’d have a TV show and we could use it for evil.
What can a punter expect from your live show?
If you aren’t blown away by Dan’s piano playing, Luke’s sick drumming or Dave’s tasty bass lines, you’ll at least appreciate my fantastic haircut and my jumping up and down skills. But seriously, these guys are talented and I’m lucky to play with them. It’s an energetic and explosive set, to say the least.
What’ve you got to sell CD-wise?
We’ve got a new EP called Small Things. It’s super awesome and you should totally buy it.
BIG WINTER’s new EP Small Things is out now.
