“Pop is awesome because it’s unashamed of itself, because it’s accessible, because it wears it heart on its sleeve, because it unites people,” Halmarack says honestly. “Maybe it’s not as cool as some weird subgenre of dance music, but who cares? I’ve given myself over to pop music and I don’t regret that decision for a second.”
Sam Halmarack and the Miserablites have been making waves at a number of festivals, delighting audiences with a live show that takes in all the best elements of a pop concert yet transforms it into a highly interactive, theatre spectacular.
“My main criteria for judging something I go and see is – has it moved me?” says Halmarack. “Now I know the brain gets involved in that process at some stage; if it’s mawkish or sentimental I usually switch off pretty quick, unless I’m a bit hungover or something else bad has happened. But essentially I want to go to some different places. So that’s what I’ve set out to do with our show.
“I can’t really act, so the person you see onstage is me and it’s a chance to share something of myself through music in a way that I wouldn’t get a chance to otherwise. I love being in a band, there’s a sense of camaraderie and also just a bunch of friends that are there every step of the way. There’s other stuff up our sleeves too so it’s not your standard gig.”
Quite understandably, Halmarack can’t wait to board his plane and is full of excitement about both his first trip Down Under and his performance at FOLA. “I love festivals, the buzz of loads of people getting together to do something special,” he says. “I think that feeling is intensified if that thing is a bit unusual. Scribbling over programmes, catching excited conversations in cafes and bars, the feeling of being part of something bigger. Everything about this is new to me: the festival, Australia, spending 30 hours in transit.”
Described as interactive pop – Halmarck’s live show certainly lives, and dies, by audience participation. “We like to get all our audiences singing and dancing. The success of the show really belongs to the audience. What I mean by that is that if the audience isn’t up for having a good time, I’m going to really struggle to pretend I am. But if people are up for a party, then it’s time to get ready to take the roof off!”
It seems that Halmarack is quietly confident he and his crew will be able to win the hearts of Australian audiences, similar to the way they have been received by of his fellow countrymen.“I reckon we can get them onside,” he muses. “Music’s pretty global these days and I don’t think that what we do is particularly English or just enjoyable to English people.”
And for those punters at FOLA who will be heading out to see the show, Halmarack is adamant that it will be a night to remember. “I think (the audience are) in for what might be the best experience of their life. I know that probably sounds a bit arrogant and maybe it is, but if you’re not aiming high then why bother really. You might fail – I’ve failed a lot – but ultimately you don’t get many chances at this; we’re flying a really long way. It’d be awful if we turned out some ‘quite good’ gigs.”
BY JAMES NICOLI
