A special broadcast hit the airwaves last week in the Yarra Ranges, celebrating incredible young talent ahead of the Hilltop festival on Sunday 15 September.
Three different youth bands set up and performed on the radio in the 3MDR studio in Upwey, giving the teens a chance to showcase their talents on community radio and gain valuable experience in the music industry. They chatted with Star Mail over email after the event, telling us all about their bands.
Paranoid and the Androids are Wilbur on drums, Campbell on guitar, Jamie on bass, Morgan on bass, Ava on drums, Kit on guitar and Eden also on guitar.
Paranoid and the Androids are in Years 11 and 12.
Ava: “I’m Ava , a Year 11 student at Monbulk College. My mum and her family were very musical and her mum played drums as well.”
“I began with drum lessons in Year Three, and loved it so much I haven’t stopped since.”
“I was nervous and it was my first time on the radio, so I didn’t want to mess up, but it was an awesome experience to see how studios work. I enjoyed it a lot and I will definitely want to do it again.”
“To prepare for Hilltop, I’m practising every night, listening to my set songs every day and working with our other drummer, Wilbur, so we both know what we’re doing.”
Kit: “I’m Kit. I was brought to music by mum when I was little because she’s a musician, I had been on 3MDR before when I was younger but was still happy about it, I’m getting ready for the upcoming festival by practising what I need to play.”
Eden: “We are an instrumental band in the Dandenong Ranges. Our band is an instrumental band consisting of four guitarists, two drummers and two bassists.”
“This band formed at the start of this year. We have access to rehearsal rooms at our school, which is where we do most of our practice.”
“Music has been in my life ever since I was 11, and I first played the guitar. I have been in other bands in the past and love every single one. I have so much passion for music. This was my second time on the radio at 3MDR, and I enjoyed it the same as last time. ”
“The band is doing lots of practice and rehearsal for Hilltop, and we are all super excited to play!
Jamie “My name is Jamie (they/them), and I play bass and guitar in the Monbulk College-based band The Androids, focusing on bass with our current setlist.”
“What brought me to music is a combination of listener-based interest and creative drive, the idea of outputting an experience close to what I had when listening being particularly enticing.
“The experience of playing live on the radio was initially nerve-racking due to lack of prior experience; however, the difference of playing indoors in a smaller environment became an easier concept than physically standing in front of a crowd.”
“Having participated in the past two Hilltop Music Festivals, I am going into the experience with some level of confidence. This is mainly due to the consistent welcoming tone featured at the events, creating an environment indicative of musical enthusiasm.”
Campbell: “Our group plays a wide variety of genres of music from many different decades, and we even incorporate over 10 different songs into one huge riff song with pieces going from the Beatles to Deftones.”
“I started playing guitar just over two years ago and actually started on bass guitar from the influence of a friend. I got my first electric guitar a few months after playing bass and from there have not stopped playing since.”
“My parents were never very musical in the sense of playing instruments, but I can say for certain my musical taste has originated from them.”
“Before guitar and bass, I played drums in primary school, keyboard/ piano in early high school and singing in the last few years as well. My whole life it feels like I’ve always played an instrument at some point.”
“When I got told I was going on the radio, I was super excited. It’s one thing to have the opportunity to play live in front of audiences, but then there is going into a radio station, getting to talk on the radio and finally playing for them. Having these opportunities to play in so many different ways really gives a good insight to being a musician and being a part of the industry.”
“The upcoming Hilltop music festival is the next step in being a part of the music industry, getting to play at a festival with so many other artists and building all of those connections with others. I have played last year through the school, and this year I will be a part of two different bands, Paranoia and the Androids, and Dapper Chaps who were formed in January this year (and have released their debut single last week!). Being able to meet so many people and play in front of so many people is such an amazing opportunity and I cannot wait to perform in a few weeks there.”
Tanisha: “I got into music when I was 13 and I got my first guitar for my birthday. It was almost a rite of passage for me because my whole family plays guitar. I was very nervous to go on the radio, but I was also very
excited and told all my friends and family to listen to me play. Every night I go home and practice for Hilltop and I hope to see lots of other amazing artists there!”
