BIGSOUND 2019 Artist Focus: PINCH POINTS

Answered by: Jordan Oakley – guitar

Give us a short description of your music: Clean, angular guitar harmonies, heavy mechanical riffs, belted-out group vocals, all at a turbo-punk speed. Bandcamp Daily described our sound as "a barbed wire coil of sound that’s as loose and springy as it is dangerously serrated".

Which acts are on your must-see list at BIGSOUND? City Rose, P-UniQue, DRMNGNOW, Cry Club, Gordon Koang, Hemm, Huntly, Laura Imbruglia, yergurl.

Why should people come and see you among the many amazing bands at BIGSOUND? We don't really see BIGSOUND as a competition but we have a pretty accessible power-pop/fast punk sound which is backed up by pretty intricate musical songwriting. Dancers and chin-scratchers will both be pleased! Come and get a slice of Melbourne's famous DIY punk.

What music trends do you think are dominating right now, and do you have any predictions for the coming year? It's really great to see more women and gender-diverse people being appreciated in punk music and this trend is surely set to continue in the future. The boys' club is collapsing (slowly) and we're proud to be part of that movement.

In your career to date, what have been the key watershed moments? Our first EP placing in the top 100 releases of 2018 list on Bandcamp really helped get us a big overseas listenership. Also writing and releasing our 2019 follow-up LP and getting interest from larger bands and bookers has been so nice.

What industry lessons would you like to take away from the BIGSOUND conference? Getting insights into overseas performance opportunities would be great. We're also looking forward to learning more about the role that the music industry has in making a more environmentally sustainable future.

What do you identify as the most pressing issue impacting the Australian music industry at present? Without trying to pinpoint one issue as more important than the other, the future of the environment and the inclusion of marginalised voices throughout all genres and line-ups are both really important issues to us.

What is the best bit of advice you've been given to prepare for your time at BIGSOUND? Talk to other people who have been before and try to set really focused and realistic expectations. Go in with a clear idea of how you can use this opportunity to suit your own trajectory.

When and where is your BIGSOUND showcase? 3 Sep, The Foundry, 10.40pm; 5 Sep, Black Bear Lodge, 9.10pm.