By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
SPARKS is a three-piece band from the Dandenongs that recently won the Yarra Ranges finals of the Freeza Battle of the Bands competition.
Self-described as “the three biggest Coldplay fans you’ll ever manage to find in the eastern suburbs,” Sparks is formed by Michael D’Emilio, Liam Bell, and Dylan Knur.
The tree boys met at Billanook College where Liam and Michael are in the same year, and played together as a duo before Dylan got to know them. Dylan joined the duo about three years ago, through the school’s music theatre shows, and got to know them better in the smaller vocal ensemble at school.
Sparks formed around September 2014 when the boys decided after the school production was wrapped up that they loved performing together enough to practice outside of school.
They play high-energy acoustic music on violin (Dylan), guitar (Liam) and piano (Michael), along with three part vocal harmonies.
Liam and Michael’s previous duo performances had not been dissimilar to the music that Sparks now plays. The differences come mainly from the fact that, with three voices, they started using harmonies for texture, rather than just as a means of accentuating the lead vocal.
“The harmonies are, I feel, a pretty key aspect of what sets us apart – it’s a component of our signature texture,” said Dylan Knur.
Dylan said the battle of the bands competition was really tough but they are very pleased to be crowned winners.
“It was amazing,” he said.
“Especially since all the other bands were so talented, to come out on top was an honour.”
The band is now deciding on a future as two of the members enter their last year of high school.
“We want to get out there and play as much as we can, and write as much as we can,” said Dylan.
“The other two are completing their final year of VCE next year, so that’ll constrain our time a little, but we’ll find a way to get out there!”
