The Incredible Tiger
Photo Credit @juanp.mera
Sydney quintet, Tiger have just released the band’s self-titled debut Ep, which includes all the previously released Tiger singles including ‘Innocent Look’, ‘Style At Night’, their latest track ‘Incredible’ and a few brand new tracks. We wanted to know more about the “Neon Rock” group so we caught up with lead singer and songwriter Silvas to ask him about the history of Tiger, the “Neon Rock” genre label and of course the new EP.
For those that haven’t heard your music before , how you describe your sound? What genre box does TIGER fit into?
Describing a sound to people is always the most difficult thing. We’ve decided to coin our sound as “Neon Rock”. We are combining the grittiness of hard rock, the danceability that you hear in dance oriented genres like deep house, disco and new wave, then pairing it with an aesthetic that is futuristic and forward-looking. To sum it up, the best way to describe our sound is just by listening to us!
“Our main rule behind our songs is that they have to be club friendly”
TIGER, you have your self-titled debut EP due out on the 20th of April. What can fans expect from the new release?
Well, the fans get to hear all of our previously released singles remastered alongside two brand-new numbers that I recently wrote with Tommy and Raf respectively. Putting all of the singles inside one EP was a decision we made last month, and it ensures people get a full authentic taste as to what TIGER is about. We dare say that all of the songs are easy to dance and sing to. Our main rule behind our songs is that they have to be club friendly.
Do you play a part in the production side of this Ep?
Yeh so all the production and mixing was all done in my garage then sent out for mastering. When I needed certain parts done from some of the band, I would get them over to mine and we would lay them down. In the past, getting our previous singles done, I had some poor experiences with producers. I guess it’s difficult to describe a sound to people like I said before, so at this stage of our career, recording everything in our garage ensures complete control of the sound we’re crafting.
“When I was writing it, I was thinking of a hybrid between the Sex Pistols and Sneaky Sound System”
Your latest single is titled 'Incredible' ,Tell us about your new song. where did the inspiration come from for this track?
Our single “incredible” is one of my personal favourites to play live. It’s probably one of the most hard-hitting songs we have. When I was writing it, I was thinking of a hybrid between the Sex Pistols and Sneaky Sound System, which is quite an odd pairing, but in a way, that’s what we are as a band. Like all of our songs, the main aim is to get people dancing and to get people singing.
What did the writing process look like for 'Incredible'? Did the song turn out how you originally thought it would or did it morph and grow during creation?
It’s taken countless years in my garage crafting the neon rock sound that TIGER carries. When I first put down the foundation for the song, I knew instantly how I wanted it to sound. In the end it is quite close to how I envisioned it. When you're playing around with the synths in the studio and hearing Raf‘s guitar solo getting put down, it just gets more and more exciting.
Are there plans to hit the road and showcase the EP live for fans?
Yeah so we’ve got our first ever headliners to be played. We are competing in a massive battle of the bands grand final, and we hope to win that. We’re then playing for all the Northern Beaches fans at Avalon Beach RSL on 6 May, then we’re into the City and playing at The Alley on 19 May. In June we have more special shows opening up for our mates, and another special headliner to announce at a later date.
Where was the first TIGER gig? Was it a success or flop?
Hahahaahah. TIGER’s first ever gig was the beginning of last year at Kellys on King in Newtown. Tommy and I were the only members in the band at that point, and I remember playing to no more than like 4 people but It was great to really get it going. Our first show with our current lineup was in December I think down at our local bar in Manly. Again, there weren't really many people there, but we got through it, that’s for sure.
Having average shows early in our career ensures our great shows are ever so sweeter!
“I wanted to start a band immediately when I realised I could write songs at home”
What is the history of TIGER? How did the band form?
I wanted to start a band immediately when I realised I could write songs at home. I don’t remember the exact time, but I was about 16. I’ve always fantasised about being in a massive band, so I think when I realised it was all possible, I just went for it. It took a couple years through lockdown to really figure out what the hell I was doing. It was then finding the right band, and now we’re at a lineup that I hope can stand the test of time.
What struggles if any have you faced trying to launch a music career in this modern world of streaming and social platforms?
Of course it’s going to be difficult forming a band in this day and age, but if something is hard, it usually means you will reap greater rewards. If being a rockstar was easy, everyone would do it, but obviously people are very aware of how difficult it can be so no one actually tries. It’s good that we have a mentality right now where money is not the driving factor. If we stick to our guns overtime, that will all come. We just want as much exposure as we can!
“I guess having bands like AC/DC and INXS growing up on our doorstep in Sydney has always been a massive motivator”
Who do the band credit as their musical influences?
There are so many influences it’s not even funny so it’s difficult to really bring it down to a certain few bands or artists. I guess having bands like AC/DC and INXS growing up on our doorstep in Sydney has always been a massive motivator. We feel our sound, in some instances, is like a hybrid of both of those bands. We’ve also all grown up through the boom of electronic dance music, so we’re always very eager to integrate ideas that we hear in club friendly music.
If TIGER coul collab with any artist or band who would it be and why?
The main names that have always popped up are the Prodigy, Billy Idol and INXS. They’re all acts that everyone in the band can agree on! I would personally love to write with like some big commercial popstar. Someone like Dua Lipa or Katy Perry hahahaha. I reckon I could funk them up a bit and get them going a bit wild in a track.
“Playing festivals is definitely a way to make a name for yourself”
Is TIGER looking to break into the festival circuit or would the band prefer to stay in a concert/event realm of live shows?
We would like to break into any sort of field that ensures more exposure for TIGER. Playing festivals is definitely a way to make a name for yourself, so when the time comes, we’re all in and ready to go.
After the EP release and the launch shows, what's next for TIGER? What does the TIGER 5 year plan look like?
It’s a long long road ahead and we’ve only just started. We want to get as big as possible, as quick as possible. It’s as bold and simple as that. We’ll be releasing new material and playing as many big shows as we can in the hope of going abroad and getting noticed by a VIP. Our music is for the people, hence we want maximum exposure.
In 5 years time we all want TIGER to be the biggest band in the world and we definitely won’t settle for less!
Follow Tiger on Instagram : @omgitstigerr
Ticket links for Tiger live shows
Battle of the Bands Grand Finale : https://events.humanitix.com/northern-composure-grand-final
Fridays at the Alley : https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fridays-at-the-alley-tiger-tickets-594195513777
Interview by Michelle Symes
April 2023