It's True Love for Verticoli
Photo by: Ross Giblin
Verticoli are a three piece alternative-rock band from Tassie, known for delivering an absolutely killer Alt-Rock live set. ‘True Love’ is the second single from Verticoli’s forthcoming album, but for now the band are embarking on a Single Launch Tour that kicked off in Melbourne on the 15th of July. They kindly interrupted preparations to let us ask them some questions about the meaning of ‘True Love’, the struggles of being an Alt-Rock band in Tasmania, and their loyalty to the music they want to make, like their role models Luca Brasi.
For those that haven’t heard Verticoli before, how do you describe your sound? What genre do you label yourselves as?
We think of ourselves as alternative rock. We don’t exactly know what that means, but we like the wider scope that gives us than say punk rock, classic rock, metal, you know? We try and be all the bits of rock, jazz, pop that we like. If it works, it works! Our sound is a balance of melodic and raucous.
You have just released your second single from your forthcoming album 'True Love'. Tell us about the new song? What does the song mean to you?
The song is about that mixture of affection/obsession you feel for the things you’re passionate about, and straddling that line. Music is kinda of like the keel in all of our lives, which is what I’ve tried to sum up lyrically. The song arose from one of my ‘song in a day’ challenges, where I sit down and smash out a song start to finish in a day (smoothed over with a bit of direction from producer Jon Grace of course!).
Will there be a video coming to accompany the song or are you not fans of doing music videos?
We don’t like them; we don’t hate them. They’re necessary and we have fun with them. True Love has a music video and it’s dropping mid this week, July 13th!
Your second studio album is due for release soon. When will the album be out? What can fans expect from the new release?
Date to be confirmed, but likely early 2023. It’s us at our very best. It’s just enough polished, very dynamic, and sounds absolutely huge. We even have something verging on a ballad on there, which we haven’t dabbled with in years! We can’t wait to get it out.
Is the new EP a continuation of your 2021 EP 'Heavy' or is it an evolution?
She’s going to be a 10 track LP!
It’s definitely an evolution. No massive changes in direction. But it’s the best version of ourselves to date!
“If anyone is out there willing to bankroll a world tour, we’re listening!”
You’re doing a 5-show national tour for the 'True Love' release . Are there plans to tour for the album as well?
Hell yes. We’ll do as much as our day jobs will let us get away with. If anyone is out there willing to bankroll a world tour, we’re listening!
What's the best and worst things about being on the road and touring?
Worst thing is flights. Best things are hanging with your mates, pubs, and playing the music we love.
What is the one essential item you need to take with you on tour?
Headphones.
Jon Grace was the Producer for 'True Love’, and he worried you at first with his direction for the song. What concerned you and why did you decide to just "trust the process"?
We came into the first session with Jon (we recorded two songs then and then eight songs a few months later) with the idea that one song would be as Sam had written it, and one song totally open to Jon’s input. That song that we let Jon do whatever he wanted was ‘True Love’. What was hard was letting go of control, and being open to an end product we didn’t expect. We haven’t let many people outside Verticoli have a hand in the writing process. We were impressed with how he worked on ‘Hits of the Summer’, and valued his input on ‘True Love’. That’s why we went back for the next eight!
“We grew up with a lot of rock music in the 90s, ...and wanted to bring those influences together and be our own favourite band.”
How did Verticoli start? What was the conception for the band?
Sam and Will have been playing music together since high school, which is a long time ago now! The band came about because we both loved talking about, playing, writing, and performing music. We grew up with a lot of rock music in the 90s, and earlier stuff from our parents, and wanted to bring those influences together and be our own favourite band.
Did it or does it make it more difficult being a band based in Tasmania? Do you find there are challenges not faced by mainland groups?
Definitely. Biggest challenge is networking. Second biggest is cost. Third biggest is probably the fact Hobart is so small you just can’t gig that often! And it’s certainly not an industry hub. But we’re trying our best to make it work.
Who do you credit as your musical influences?
At The Drive In, The Seattle big 4 (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains), Refused, Fugazi, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers. We’ll throw in Violent Soho for a more modern and local influence!
Where was the first Verticoli gig? Was it a success or flop?
Tuesday night at Irish Murphy’s in Hobart. We played our set, got a great response from some random punters, and got told by the sound guy that we needed to play more songs. We didn’t have any more songs, so we just played the set again! The soundie got in trouble for letting us play too long in the end.
“Our mission has always been, and will always be, to play exactly the music we want to play”
If you weren’t a musician what else would you be doing now?
We all have full time jobs. Our mission has always been, and will always be, to play exactly the music we want to play. And we have to be able to support ourselves financially to do that. We wouldn’t be nearly as content without music though.
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
Cam Hull at The Wick Studios. Amazing audio engineer, and a great guy in the studio. Did a great job of keeping us laughing but working hard while recording the album. Legend.
Where would you like to see Verticoli in a year's time and five years down the road? What do you hope the band has achieved?
Obviously, we’d love to be touring to big crowds, playing festivals, and continuing to write and release music that we love. It’d be a dream to give work a rest and focus solely on the band! What is really satisfying is seeing a band like Luca Brasi thrive. Tassie boys, being themselves, being in total control of their music, and playing kick-ass shows. Wouldn’t mind following in their footsteps!
TRUE LOVE SINGLE TOUR
Friday July 15th Bad Decisions with Guests Melbourne
Thursday July 21st Frankie’s Pizza with Guests Sydney
Friday July 22nd The Shy Postie with Guests Wollongong
Saturday July 23rd the Lass O’Gowrie Hotel with Guests Newcastle
Friday July 29th Altar with Guests Hobart
Saturday July 30th The royal Oak hotel with Guests Launceston
Interview by Michelle Symes
July 2022