Bands featuring AIM graduates are conquering the music world - both here and overseas. Three bands in particular, featuring AIM graduates are achieving phenomenal success and conquering the music world both here in Australia and overseas. These bands include Iron Bar Hotel, The Jefferson and Guinea Fowl.
Iron Bar Hotel AIM Bachelor of Music Graduate Dylan Jones is the drummer for Iron Bar Hotel (photo featured far right). The band was formed in 2006 by singer/songwriter Luke Prout as an acoustic duo, until Dylan joined them on drums in 2008. “It’s hard to describe our style of music,” says Dylan. “It’s become a bit of a melting pot of styles really, a throwback to the Blues bands of the 60s.”
Dylan graduated from the Bachelor of Music Degree - Contemporary Performance, majoring in Drums in 2007. “The thing I enjoyed most about AIM was the teachers. It was really cool to be able to ask professional working musicians not only about the task at hand but about the industry and all the different situations you might come across. They were all really nice and have been in the industry for a long time. It was also great to be surrounded by music all the time.”
Iron Bar Hotel is currently working on some recordings and demos, mostly with a view to getting onto the festival circuit. “We also released a single earlier this year and have another ready for release, probably later in the year. We are also planning an east coast tour over the coming summer months - Sydney to Brisbane and everywhere in between. We always look forward to playing Byron Bay, those folk really like their music and we had a blast last time we were there,” says Dylan.
The band’s greatest achievement to date, however, would have to be its involvement in the Guinness Live Thursdays Competition, where the prize for first place is an all expenses paid trip for the whole band to Ireland to play alongside the Scissor Sisters at the Arthurs Day Festival in Dublin. “We are currently sitting in first place but there is still a Final which is being held on September 15 at the Gaelic Club, Surry Hills. Everyone should come along; it’s going to be a great night!”
The Jefferson is another AIM-inspired band that is basking in the glory of success. The four-piece melodic group recently toured the US, and although the band is often compared to other bands including U2, Snow Patrol and Stereophonics, it’s the unique sound and undeniable resonance and unison that makes The Jefferson one of a kind.
While Jared King (bass), Andrew Horvath (drums) and Andrew Turner (guitar) are the grit and guts that drive the band, it’s the raw calibre and honesty of singer/songwriter Geoff Rana's voice that makes the band truly stand out.
Geoff graduated from AIM in 2007 with a Bachelor of Music with Honours. “The course offers a program that really allows you to hone your skills as a working musician,” says Geoff. “And the teaching staff at AIM was great; very professional and talented musicians who have worked in the industry and know what it’s all about.”
In September last year, The Jefferson played a 5-week tour in the US. They visited Nashville and met with US manager Paul Zamek. They performed at the Next Big Nashville Music Festival and following that show, Geoff was asked to do some co-writing with the Music Den Publishing House. “This was our first time to the States and what better way to start the tour than in the renowned music city of Nashville,” says Geoff. After returning to Australia, the band compiled all their tour footage into a video, which can be viewed below or at http://www.youtube.com/thejeffersonmusic
Another milestone in The Jefferson journey so far was the South by South West (SXSW) Music Conference in the US. The band had a busy schedule, in particular the last day of the SXSW week which saw the band perform two songs live on TV on the NBC Austin Morning Show, then do a live on-air radio interview at the local radio station.
“Our music is best described as pop/rock,” says Geoff. The band’s debut album, Safe Return to Earth, was recorded with Award-winning producer Craig Porteils, who has worked with numerous artists including Guns n Roses, Fleetwood Mac, Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll. The dynamics between Craig and the band resulted in an inspiring first album, and is just a glimpse of what this indie band is all about.
The band is currently in talks with management companies in Australia and plans to release its latest single in conjunction with an Australian tour. “The American music market has been very responsive to our music and we hope to recreate that same positive response back home here in Australia.”
Guinea Fowl is yet another band featuring AIM graduates that has its sights firmly set on success. The band started out as a solo project for Sam Yeldham, who wrote and recorded the songs. His demos got some good attention but he needed a band to perform them, so Imogen Harper, Nick Meredith, Lachlan McQueen and Yarran Hominh jumped on board. “We’ve been playing as a band for just over a year. I guess you could describe our music as good ol’ indie rock ‘n’ roll,” says Imogen.
The band leaves in four weeks to embark on its first US tour. “We are all so excited,” says Imogen. “We’ll be playing shows over three weeks in LA, New York and Boston. We’ll also be documenting the tour in a diary, which I’m sure will feature all sorts of silliness.”
When asked about her studies at AIM, Imogen says that it was the inspiring and talented teachers that made her time at the school enjoyable. “I also enjoyed the focus on your own individual creativity, and performing your own music in class.” Imogen was studying a Bachelor of Music - Contemporary Performance, majoring in Voice before she deferred due to band and performing commitments.
Guinea Fowl launches its new single in November and will follow up the release with a national tour. The band is also working on an album, which is expected to be released in 2012.
