Project Description

Interview with

THE BUOYS 

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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With the release of their debut EP SOFT BOY, Sydney four piece THE BUOYS bring distinctive sounds to the fore with killer guitar, sharp and witty song lyrics and polished, effortless production.

They’ve already performed live with huge music names like The Delta Riggs, Julia Why?, Peter Bibby and Big WhiteTHE BUOYS  are a new name with the potential to be as successful as some of the country’s best rock bands.

THE BUOYS are playing this December at The Collective, a massive show at The Landsdowne Hotel playing with a lineup of other rising Aussie acts.

“We are so excited to be playing as part of The Collective and with so many amazing bands. As a band, we all agree how important it is to showcase and celebrate the huge amount of female/trans/non-binary talent in the music industry.” THE BUOYS

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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious concern?
I used to nag my Dad to let me play his guitar as a 4 year old, I wanted to be just like him from the moment I could articulate it. After that, Mum and Dad made sure I got a keyboard for Christmas. From there I picked up clarinet and saxophone and learnt to read music and I just never stopped.

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What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?
As kids we were ALWAYS cracking The Beatles and Queen! As a teenager I had an obsession with Pink Floyd too, my parents have a great record collection. At the moment I’m obsessed with Wolf Alice, they have a heaviness when they play live that I love.

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When did you decide to form a band and start making your own music?
I was terrified to start a band! My Dad was such a great musician that I was scared I couldn’t fill those shoes! The Buoys came to be when my friend posted a status on the good ol’ Facebook and asked if there were any girls that wanted to form a band. Him and another friend of ours ended up introducing me to the first group of Buoys and we played a show after one or two jams when I was around 21.

Apart from The Buoys, though, I have been writing folk and pop music since I was about 12. I can thank my music teacher for encouraging me to perform through school.

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Where did the name come from? (Any connection to the 1970s pop/rock band or is that just a coincidence?)
[laughs] No connection to the pop rock band, no. The girls and I were actually at our second ever jam when our mate Jimmy called and asked what we were called, to which we replied “The Boys”, definitely half serious. Turns out he was designing a poster and setting up our first show which we were so not ready for, and wrote it as “The Buoys” and it stuck ever since.

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Who are your greatest female rock music influences?
Joan Jett is one of my earliest influences, such a good songwriter. Bethany Cosentino (Best Coast), Alicia Bognanno (Bully) and Sadie Cleary (Wolf Alice) are up there with my biggest idols.

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What inspired your song Blues Point Road? I personally really loved that one!
I’m so glad you loved it! That song is such a release for me! I wanted to get very literal with the lyrics with this one because it was so personal. It’s about being left completely in the dark about someone’s intentions and being blindsided by them ending something you thought was great. When I was writing this, it truly developed my identity of “honesty is best.” 

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If someone had never listened to The Buoys before, what song of yours would you recommend if they could only listen to one?
My goodness this is really hard, because every song is so different. If they liked short fast loud, I’d give them Liar Liar because that is always so fun but if they were a little bit more laid back I’d chuck them Arm Wrestle.

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You’re playing at the Sydney launch of The Collective on December 8th. How does it feel to be considered one of Australia’s most talented new bands?
Shock is the only word I can summon. We’re all flabbergasted at the support we’ve received and there’s a lot of pinching (ourselves) going on.

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Is there another band from the line-up you are especially looking forward to hearing while you’re there?
I’ve been social media hawking on Spit Chewy for soooo long now! I’m so keen to see them on more than just YouTube.

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What do you most love about performing live? Anything you don’t like so much?
I love that no matter how bad my day has been it makes me so unbelievably happy, and I have had some horrible horrible days where I’ve had to jump on stage. There’s not one thing I dislike about performing live.

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What’s the most exciting live gig you can recall?
We joined Peter Bibby on the last few legs of his tour and it’s safe to safe we are in love with Wollongong. The crowd was insane and it was impossible not to feed off their amazing energy.

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What are your plans for the next year? More touring? Writing more music?
We’re definitely going to write! No concrete plans as such, we generally gowith the flow. That might change, but for now we’re just taking it all as it comes.

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If you could pick anyone to bring on tour with you, whom would you pick and why? (Dead or Alive)
For selfish reasons I would pick my all time favourite band, Interpol. Simply because I would love to see them off the stage and ask them about songwriting. I don’t know a band who has influenced me more with my lyricsor sense of feeling in a song.

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What are your major goals or milestones for the future?

To always write, no matter what I do! Splendour In The Grass, SXSW and a Europe tour! I’m also weirdly obsessed with touring Canada. These are all very huge goals, so just putting it out there now.

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Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery for the fans!
My fav album is Interpol’s Our Love To Admire, I get this ache in my heart and it just takes me, they are my favourite band of all time.
My fav movie would have to be The Virgin Suicides. It carries a heavy weight that usually doesn’t translate to me.
My fav place is Manchester, close second is Leeds. They have so many good local bands and I just felt so at home there.
My fav drink is regrettably coke, I’m actually quitting at the moment, it’s a serious problem ahhaha.
Favourite meal: Ramen, ramen, ramen… oh and RAMEN! There is nothing more satisfying than a warm bowl of ramen ANY time of day.
My favourite person is my Dad. I hope I can be as good a musician as he.

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If this interview has you hooked, come hear the Buoys play at THE COLLECTIVE this December!

In providing a platform for a group of new artists to further expand on their already growing, dynamic live shows, THE COLLECTIVE is kicking off in Sydney this December.

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Follow THE BUOYS

Listen on Bandcamp

TriplejUnearthed | Facebook | Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB