"Even to this day, it boggles my mind all those "synth lines" were played on guitar."
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.
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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.
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/