The Universal Solitude: July 2014

Today at work I served a young, cool, groovy looking couple. The girl was wearing a khaki coloured windbreaker, and her boyfriend had a nose piercing, and a ponytail. They paid with $50, and I was getting them their $19.75 change. As I gave them their change I said "there's your nineteen seventy-five change," and I just looked at him...like, with a real keen look in my eye...like telepathically saying "you're cool, acknowledge that not only are you getting an annoying amount of coins as change, but your change is also the name of an amazing band...acknowledge it." To my bitter disappointment, he just looked confused as to why I was being so peculiar, took the money and left.

Coincidentally, BBC Radio 1 released The 1975's G in the Park set recently. So, my night so far has consisted of the pleasure of sitting in bed with Olive (my dog) next to me, and listening to this astonishing live acoustic set. I found myself distracted by the fire burning behind the audience, because it looked purple, and all (...most) of the audience members clothes are really nice, as well as Matthew Healy's (lead singer's) hair, it's so healthy.
Anyway, have you heard it? If not, you're sooo welcome:

I remember when I thought I was the first person to hear that song, and it was like 'my thing', and then I realised that they are loved by thousands around the world, and I'm not that unique. But they are, unique I mean, honestly, this is such lovely, raw, non-cliched art.

The 1975's acoustic version of 'Sex' (the song...obviously...) is one of my favourite things in the world of music. I find it a lot more emotional than the original...I just really love it. This is it here:

If you aren't doing so already, I would really love to draw your attention to the guitar playing of these lovely lads. Focus on it. It's heaven. HEAVEN. These guys are real musicians...real artists.

The 1975 are playing at Splendour in the Grass in a couple of weeks, but unfortunately, they are not playing on the day I am attending :----(

I have heard that they are amazing live, and very friendly in the way that they walk around the festivals and chat to fans and just be genuine people. I really appreciate that. Like, good on them. That is a really respectful thing for artists to do in my opinion...really super cool.

So if you see them live, or bump into them before I do, send them my everlasting love and support.

- Stella Grace xx

Although I do not intend to compare them, because Bootleg Rascal are a band of their own, and a marvellous one at that…if you’re a fan of Sticky Fingers, you will love Bootleg Rascal.

Bootleg Rascal are a four piece band from Sydney and the Gold Coast of Australia. They consider themselves a “bunch of normal lads taking influences from Broken Bells, Citizen Cope, and Gorillaz”. After speaking to Jack Gray, who plays percussion for the band over the last week or so, I can honestly affirm that Bootleg Rascal are a bunch of fun-loving, approachable, and highly talented guys.

I had the delight of being able to conduct an interview with lead singer Carlos Lara, and drummer Jack Gray this past week, and I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to speak with me.

Stella: Hey guys, first off, how did you guys all meet?
Jack: I met Jimmy in a small dimly lit strip club in kings X, Scott worked as the head chef at Jimmy's local chinese takeaway joint and we met Carlos while travelling through a small town named Bogota in Columbia working as a drug mule. We thought we should start a band.
Carlos: I first met Neal (the manager) at Uni (as a lecturer) and then he introduced me to the rest of the fellas. Dan, the guy before me wanted to do other things. So I was bought in after him. It was a bit daunting having to replace the frontman of a band and then having to create relationships with three randomly-beautiful people really fast. But I met the guys and got along heaps well.

Stella: How long have you been doing music?
Carlos: I've been connected to music almost all my life. Whether singing throughout high school, studying music at uni and performing at showcases. Although there was a good three years before Bootleg Rascal where I wasn't really singing or performing, but I was studying music business. So I was still connected in that sense.
Jack: Collectively we have been doing music for just over a year, she's a nice girl however we've been reluctant to go from the no strings attached set-up we've currently got, to something a little more official.

Stella: Have you always wanted music to be your career? Was it difficult starting up and becoming known as a band?
Carlos: I guess even though there were other distractions and different aspirations throughout my life, the whole time in the back of my head music and performing was what the big dream was. I came into the band when it was just starting to break out and people were starting to take notice so I guess I missed that whole developmental part and struggle. But I'm sure it will come back around at some point for me.
Jack: We have never really seen it as a career, but since we started Bootleg we haven't stopped touring and making music. And we don't plan on stopping.

Stella: What’s your advice for young artists attempting to make it into the music industry?
Jack: We're still trying to figure that one out for ourselves.
Carlos: Sounds cliché, but give it your all. Don't wait for it to come to you. Do everything you can to be a part of it. Go to gigs, meet random people. If you want to study music then do it, if not then don't. But you actually don't need a piece of paper to tell you your a musician, and you shouldn't let anyone else convince you other wise. Music and performing definitely comes from emotion, and that's what music should be... an expression of your emotion.

Jack...water...boat...sombrero.

Stella: I have a very musically talented friend who says he doesn’t want to do music professionally in case his passion begins to feel like a job. Does creating music ever begin to feel like a job for you? Do you think there’s any way for that feeling to be prevented?
Jack: No, if you’re passionate and enjoy what you do, you'll never have to work a day in your life.
Carlos: Yeah for sure. I mean, some times it does when your under pressure to write a song or a few. But never on tour... when your on tour it feels like your in another dimension. For me, I always remind myself that I'm doing what I love and that's enough to get me through the tough times. When it does start to feel like a job it’s almost like a relationship... you put up with the good and the bad and hope for awesome days in the future. And I guess it's lucky we have such a good team surrounding us, which is so important with music, our manager pushes us but never to much. He knows and understands the creative process and knows sometimes you just can't be constantly pushing or forcing it to happen.

Stella: What is the best and the hardest part about being a band?
Carlos: I could say the parties, the girls and all the rock 'n' roll stuff. That's all fun and awesome too…don't get me wrong. But for me the best part would be just playing and touring. Sitting in a box for an average of 5-12 hours with the same four people to go and play a 45-minute set and somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Meeting the people that have come out to the gig and making sure they have a good time, and do it all again tomorrow. Doesn't sound very appealing but for the select few it's the best part. That can also be the hard bit, all the time together... shit gets weird. Sometimes there can be fights, laughs, pranks... who knows to be honest. Some random shit definitely goes down. So the part I love is also probably the hardest part. There are so many other part as well that aren't seen, the business side is a whole other interview I think.
Jack: The best part of being part of a band is that it is basically like being on a 24/7 road trip, doing what you love with your mates and Ernie Dingo and making and playing music for the people.

Stella: What was the first gig/concert each of you went to?
Jack: Scottie's, Jim's and my first gig we ever attended was funnily enough in June 2013 at the great northern, Byron Bay... It was a Bootleg show. And for Carlos his first gig was an N Sync show in the late 90's where he was performing as back-up dancer.
Carlos: To be honest the first music show was when I was like 6, Mum took me to Oliver the musical. But first proper concert was Micheal Buble...again with Mum. First band... I remember seeing Thirsty Merc and Maroon 5 (when they were actually a band and not just Adam Levine).

Stella: So, you guys recently toured with Sticky Fingers, what was that experience like? Have you got a favourite memory from the tour?
Carlos: For me it was really surreal. Before Bootleg Rascal, I managed a Sydney band and I always used to say how cool would it be supporting Sticky's. Let alone be on tour with them. It was pretty intense touring with them, but it was great going on tour with a band that I really looked up too. Favourite memory would be the van times. The random moments the Beatles sing alongs just overall good times
Jack: Yeah, we have toured with those lads on their Caress Our Soul tour and most recently on their Gold Snafu single tour. I think collectively we would have to say the best memory we have was after we played a show at a small festival in Tasmania called Party in the Paddock. Throughout the course of the night we consumed enough prescription drugs to knock out an elephant and relatives, and awoke in the morning to hear that someone had let off a fire extinguisher over the sound desk, stolen a hire van and gone drifting in the neighbouring paddock and I, myself attempted a striptease on the lads from Kingswood's camp table soon to fall through it and smash it. All in all a great night.

Stella: Did you get to meet Sticky Fingers dog, Bella…? Haha
Carlos: Haha yeah we have.
Jack: We've hung with Bella a bit. She's a real babe. But Jim's stamp collection is cooler.

Bella looking fresh

Stella: If you were to go on tour with any musician/s dead or alive, who would each of you choose?
Carlos: It would probably be Jim Morrison and/or Dave Grohl.
Jack: I'd have to say George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on their Mothership Connection tour. I feel we would get on real well.

Stella: (If any in particular) Who’s the craziest member of the band and who’s the one who keeps everyone in line?
Carlos: I think Jack's the one that everyone thinks is, but I think Scotty is the closet crazy. When that boy decides to get loose... well I don't think I should say any more. Haha. Jimmy and I are probably the more calm ones. I'm usually the one saying that's not a good idea and Jimmy just giggles away in the background.
Jack: If crazy is in the terms 'mentally unstable' I would have to say a Carlos. I came home one day to find him attempting to push new relationship barriers with my pet budgie 'Peaches'.

Stella: Hahaha. Who is the songwriter of the band, or do you take it in turns? How do you get your inspiration to write?
Carlos: It comes from different places whether it's me or Jack in our rooms, or me and Jimmy jamming... but we all bring things to the table when it comes to song writing and see what happens. Inspiration comes from lots of different things... my own experiences, stories and fantasies in my head. Or other peoples experiences and things that I have seen other people go through.
Jack: The song writing process is quite collective between us, it starts with an initial idea and grows. Also a little help comes from good times we've had over the years with our mate Dee and his friend Rugs.

Stella: Has there been any particular moment so far that made you stop and go: “yeah, we have made it”?
Jack: We played a string of shows over in WA earlier this year and one place we stayed had a complimentary fully stocked bar fridge, that was pretty cool.
Carlos: I think that moment will come when all I do is music and my rent and bills are paid and I have no debts left haha. If I could just do what I love and be able to have a comfortable life then that's when I know we've made it, but I tell ya what... playing the metro, supporting Sticky. The third song in our set. The lights flash behind me and I see the whole metro packed out in front of me, that was an incredible moment. Just made me realise that we can do this and “make it”.

Stella: As a band, what are your aspirations for the future?
Carlos: Keep playing, keep writing, and get to a point were we don't need to be builders, bartenders or gas pumpers by day to pay the rent.
Jack: We are currently working on a bunch of new tunes, hoping to invest in a beat-up stretch Cadillac and punch it across the US and keep touring.

So if you haven’t already, I highly recommend that you give these guys a listen. You can find them here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BootlegRascal
Twitter: @bootlegrascal
Bandcamp: http://bootlegrascal.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BootlegRascal
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/bootleg-rascal

It was a dream to be able to speak with Bootleg Rascal, and my fingers are crossed that this interview brings you pleasure. The guys are now on the road again with a bunch of tour dates in the next coming months.

- Stella Grace xxx

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Images from:
https://www.facebook.com/BootlegRascal
https://www.facebook.com/stickyfingersmusic

The Universal Solitude

Friday 11 July 2014

Robin Thicke - 'Paula'

Thursday 10 July 2014

G in the Park - The 1975

Sunday 6 July 2014

Interview : Bootleg Rascal