Piva and Paonessa formed Falloe after Piva moved down to Melbourne from northern Queensland “to follow a woman”. “I’d moved to St Kilda from rural Queensland” he recalls. “We started the band about six to twelve months after I got here, although in the first two years we had about four or five different line-ups.” Piva and Paonessa initially titled the band Fallow (after the gardening term), before making a subtle change to the spelling of the band’s name to avoid confusion with another overseas band. “We just changed the last letter of the name – it was as simple as that.”
In the beginning there was no particular artistic direction for Falloe. Piva says the band’s musical style – a collage of folk, country, rock, blues and the occasional pop sensibility – evolved naturally with the band’s songwriting. “Our music is all very diplomatic – we’re all mates,” he explains happily.
Falloe’s lyrics exude a strong story-telling aspect, though Piva says it’s not necessarily an approach he’s beholden to. “The lyrics can come from pretty much everything,” he muses. “It could be an argument with the missus, or something from the papers. Some of the songs are clear-cut narratives, while others are a bit more abstract.”
Piva says the lyrics come first, with the band subsequently crafting the song to fit the lyrical pattern. “Rennie or I have an idea, and then the band give the song its blood and life,” he explains. “Nothing’s really too close to the bone to write about – it’s just how much spin you decide to put on it.”
The title of Falloe’s new single, Science Of The Heart, exposes the paradox of emotion – we’d all like to think emotion is a rational quality, whereas the reality is far more complex. “It’s pretty much about any relationship you can be in,” Piva figures. “Everyone’s always expecting to receive something in return.”
For the film clip to Science Of The Heart, Rob Murray from the band approached filmmaker Natasha Pincus of Starkraving Productions. “Rob saw a film clip by her, and realised she did a Paul Kelly clip as well,” Piva explains. “So he emailed her and gave her five or six songs to choose from, and she chose Science Of The Heart“.
Piva says the clip – which will be launched on June 4 at The East Brunswick Club – was an amusing event, particularly for the other members of the band. “They had me tied to a tree,” Piva recalls. “I think the rest of the band particularly liked that,” he laughs.
In their five-year tenure Falloe have taken upon themselves to get out of the standard inner-city performing circuit in favour of regional and rural venues. It’s a decision Piva argues has definitely paid dividends. “The best shows we’ve done have been in front of regional crowds,” Piva notes.
“In regional towns the audiences really enjoy hearing original music. A lot of bands don’t do it – but I’d certainly recommend doing it. It’s been great for us.”
