So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band?
My name is Steph Barros Lees, and Pear And The Awkward Orchestra is my solo project. I write and front the band.
Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like?
We sound like what pears taste like! We have also had some lovely people say that we sound like Regina Spector meets Bon Iver. We live in the folk/pop world.
What do you love about making music?
Everything. Performing and connecting with people most of all.
What do you hate about the music industry?
How appearing to be something sometimes seems to be more important than actually being 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 love to sing with/for Ella Fitzgerald, and have her dig my voice because she’s the smoothest of them all. I’d also love to see Kim Deal and Black Francis sitting there getting amongst it, because they’re incredible.
If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why?
I would never want to assassinate anyone! Ever!
What can a punter expect from your live show?
Intimacy, honesty, no holds barred, everything I’ve got is what I give live. Handmade sustainable merchandise, and sometimes I also bake.
What’ve you got to sell CD-wise?
My debut album Smocks! The EP Something Will Come, and the EP Russian Doll.
When’s the gig and with who?
Grace Darling in Collingwood, supported by The Tiger And Me, Nai Palm, and Ainslie Wills.
Anything else to add?
I’ll be hanging out down here for a while, doing a Friday residency at the Wesley Anne in March and generally kicking it in Melbourne town, so we’re going to be friends.
