Perth. The ‘home’ of Australian drum and bass. With local exports like Greg Packer, it’s little wonder that we have such an enthusiastic turn-out when internationals come on tour. Not often do our locals make Ministry of Sound compilations or warm the crowd for the likes of Lee Coombs and Meat Katie. Enter The Resonance. The Resonance is the result of the meeting of similar minds with a superbly diverse and varied musical background. Having recently completed a CD launch for the Semikazi compilation, a RTR fundraiser in Hyde Park and had a track remixed by Greg Packer, The Resonance are certainly creating some audio waves on the Perth scene.
With less than a week to go before The Resonance take up residency at this years Breakfest, InTheMix gets intimate with Trilby.
Background of the artists/producer?
Res began hesitantly two years ago when Rebecca Brennan cornered me at a WAMI annual meeting and sung to me over tape in her car. My hip-hop outfit the Audio Response Group were busy on their own individual projects, so the Res began. Bec’s long time karaoke buddy Leanne Cole joined six months later. I met Jono McNeil at Urban Records after an in depth chat about nu soul. Jono brings his conservatorium training and gospel background to the fold. Newest to the crew is manager and dance music writer Rachel Davison.
Inspiration to choose drum and bass as the electronic genre?
Sample library evolved from hip-hop, dub and jazz. D&B seemed to accommodate all these styles with ease. I felt a need to focus on one style. My first international release with ARG was a jazzy D&B track called ‘Waters’ released in London on Acid Jazz Records in ‘96, so it feels like a full circle.
Thoughts on the Perth drum and bass scene given that we are the ‘capital’?
I always find it interesting how isolated musical communities grab a certain style and go with it. Be it New School Breaks, D&B or ABBA. The production standards in Perth are very high. It’s a state of perfectionist nerds, me one of them.
How is the band feeling about working alongside artists such as Lee Coombs and Meat Katie at Breakfest on Boxing Day?
We are basically warming the crowd up for them. To be honest I don’t think the rest of the band know who they are except for manager Rachel Davison and I, but they will. It’ll cook.
How much time is spent in the studio as opposed to playing live gigs?
We are a studio crew that gets out to play when we can. This is our first summer festival season and we are going hard. I’m really happy with how our set is evolving. Definitely more dance floor than our pure studio stuff. Solid!
Musical influences that have shaped the groups sound?
All the classics – Massive Attack, Portishead, Guy Called Gerald, Public Enemy, MoWax… The singer’s influences are less about production and more soul with people like: Jill Scott, David Bowie, Jackson Five, Billy Holiday… I would also say our sound has recently been influenced by working with Greg Packer. He has helped me get my head around the loud Drum 7 Bass sound and what works in the clubs on vinyl.
For those of you that have not got your Breakfest tickets yet, purchase them from inthemix.com.au to ensure you get the full auditory pleasures that The Resonance will be bringing. For MP3 downloads of some of their tracks, check out their website http://www.theresonance.net/
