Answered by: Mathias Dowle
How would you personally describe shoegaze music? A (usually) simple pop song, generally played slower, giving air for the melodies to breathe.
How did you first discover shoegaze and what drew you in enough to actually perform it? I was obsessed with Radiohead, and had been using a Marshall ShredMaster - which I still use - and had seen Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) name as another player of it. I had to check out who this shredder was!
What seminal album would you offer someone who knew nothing about shoegaze as an introduction and why? Souvlaki by Slowdive. It's a very accessible and easy listen. Even to this day, it boggles my mind all those "synth lines" were played on guitar.
How's the camaraderie and size of the shoegaze scene in Melbourne? Having moved here with Minuatures, we never expected such a welcoming and encouraging group of people to play alongside. It's been great playing with different combinations of people, which began from a mutual love of a (growing) handful of records.
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The tagline for Roogaze is "The scene that celebrates itself" - what will be the biggest cause for celebration on the night? Having Laedj be accepted by this group as another contributor. This is the first time in my life I have stepped out as a songwriter, and to have support and encouragement is huge. We feel we're in safe hands!
What time are you playing the festival? 7.20pm. What a time to be alive!
Website link for more info? facebook.com/laedjband/
