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Gaia Launch ‘Come Find Me’

The Venue, October 16 2015 | By Steve ‘Habibi’ Kelk

When I write these reviews, what I usually do is watch the band’s performance on the night then go away with their CD or online demo and listen to it ‘just with my ears’ to get the subtle nuances of the tracks so I can write something halfway intelligent and interesting about both the tracks and the live performance. I have just done the listening bit as I write this and in my head I have recalled the performance and looked again at the photos I took on the night…and I still can’t reconcile in my head that I am listening to artists who are yet to finish high school.

In my head, I picture Janice Joplin having a slightly more indie Led Zeppelin as a backing band. Gaia’s singer, Stevie Jean Kyriacou, has all the sass and attitude of the late legend and the band has the skill, enthusiasm and musicianship of much older and more experienced artists. This is a musical ‘act’ in every sense of the word and if they are performing at this level at this age, well the world really will be their oyster.

The title demo track Come Find Me starts off whimsically enough vocally and then launches into a reverie of what happens when someone is missing someone who they wish would come back into their life. Guitar rasps over the vocals pretty much throughout the track but does not come close to overpowering Stevie Jean’s full-bodied interpretation. You get the sense that she is a coiled spring and that she is only showing us the tip of the iceberg of her vocal power. Stevie Jean also shows us her range in this song, from a low growl to a falsetto peak in places, which she uses to maximum effect for emphasis. The two guitars (Kyle Maher and Bayden Curnow) are tight and juxtaposed effectively. Showing the band’s musical maturity, the rhythm section (Dakota Smith on bass and Luke Kohler on drums) keep it understated and staccato, with Dakota giving the bass-line plenty of air and allowing the guitarists to shine while still keeping the song anchored in the groove.

The second track Creeping is a slower affair musically but again the vocals and lead guitar sing together so perfectly, especially during the high sections of the main hook.

The last track on this three-track demo, Dusk, is more thoughtful and melodic, with Stevie showing she can be angelic and as well as full of attitude.

The three tracks were recorded and mixed at Masters Studio by Lindsey Masters and were mastered by Ben Allen (Broadwing) in September this year. It is a professional collaboration all round and good to see these young up-and-comers getting such high quality support.

Speaking of support – we can’t go without mentioning the parents of these fine young artists, most of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with at Gaia gigs. Allowing talented young people to follow their dreams and supporting them on their journey is one of the finest things we can do as a society to ensure that the artistry of talented individuals is not lost. What was also impressive about this launch was that it was an all-ages show with a number of quite young kids front and centre, watching their older friends/siblings/cousins etc rock out and no doubt implanting in their young minds that maybe they could do that too. It is deeply satisfying to me as a parent and older musician to see such engagement in serious live music at such an early age and it fills me with confidence for the future of live music in the Territory and wider community. The band’s manager, local musician Zac East (At the Dakota) has done a fine job helping to shape this group of raw talent into showcase performers who are seriously going to impact the music world in the coming years.

Check out Gaia’s demo on Bandcamp.

Be sure to check out Foldback’s live music performance video of Gaia at Happy Yess recorded on Halloween this year.

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