Why “The Venusians”?
The bass player in our band came up with the name. I think being a Venusian refers to somebody being from Venus, and we thought it had a nice psychedelic, futuristic sound to it.
When did the band form?
One of the singers, Meklit Kibret and I had being playing music together for a few years, as had the keyboard player, Harry Sutherland and I. We had been wanting to do a project for a while, we started talking about it three or four years ago. It wasn’t until early last year that I had a good idea in my head about the right people to get involved in the project.
You guys have been working on an album, how is it going?
It’s going really well. We launched a crowd-funding campaign at the start of the year. The recording has taken about twice as long as we had hoped but it’s important that we get it right. Though the process has taken a while this has allowed us to involve a lot of different people which has been nice.
How do you feel about crowd-funding as a way for artists to fund their projects?
We live in a relatively wealthy society where a lot of us can afford to give our friends and associates $5 or $20 and we will still be able to afford to eat and pay our rent. If it’s to service someone’s creative idea then I think that’s a beautiful thing.
Do you write together?
I write the lyrics and the music and then take it to the band. Usually I take it to the singers first and they learn the tune and then we take it to a rehearsal and we arrange the song together. The arrangement is collaborative, but as far as the songwriting goes it has been primarily me. I don’t necessarily want it to stay like that, I’d love for other people to get involved but at this point that’s just how it’s happened.
Who would you cite as influences?
There’s Australian influences, musicians like Ngairre, she’s amazing. Hiatus Kaiyote is an incredible Australian band. A lot of jazz too. I studied jazz and play a lot of jazz music so I’m melodically interested in that. I’m really into some hip-hop labels too like Stones Throw. I’m also really influenced by the people that I’m playing with. I try to write music that will help the people I’m playing with shine and that they can connect with.
What are your upcoming plans for the band?
We’d like to have a successful album launch and do an Australian tour and hopefully play some festivals.
How do you feel about the Australian music scene, are you creatively attached to Australia?
I think [the Australian music scene] is doing its own thing. The globalisation of music influences everything in that we can stay up to date with what’s happening around the world but I also think the music here has its own identity. We are slowly getting over a cultural cringe and the idea that just because music is from somewhere else doesn’t mean it’s better. I think it’s important that pride is taken in Australian music. It’s important for the Australian public to realise that there is stuff in our own backyard that is really good.
