Australian duo Tom Iansek and Joanna Syme (better known as Big Scary) have just received the renowned Annual Australian Music Prize which honours excellence in music. Beating off stiff competition from 43 other contenders they won the award for their second LP, Not Art at a ceremony in Sydney along with a cheque for $27,000AU. Not Art was released on March 25, 2014 via Barsuk Records.
A tour with fellow label mates Say Hi kicks off next month in Vancouver. Big Scary have just released a video for their latest single Invest featuring a sinister backdrop with the pair performing on a rotating set. The modest setting of the video reflects the stripped back music of the track thus creating a powerful piece.
Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2006 Big Scary began experimenting with just acoustic guitars and egg shakers. Gradually they incorporated drums, synchs and piano for a greater sound. Their eclectic mix of garage, pop and instrumentals attracted a following in their homeland.
In 2011 they released their first album Vacation through their own Pieater label. The album earned them a nomination for ‘Album of the Year’ from Triple J and ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’ from Australian Independent Record Labels Association.
A small self-funded North American tour followed in 2012 bringing their clever song writing and dynamic live performances to a greater audience. Spurred on by the response they immediately got to work on their second full length album. The pair now found themselves with the overwhelming task of taking their sound worldwide while still being relevant to their Australian fanbase; the result was Not Art.
Grammy award winner Tom Elmhirst mixed the tracks which were all recorded and produced by Iansek. Not Art displays clear influences from indie, pop and hip-hop genres while integrating electronics and synths. All of this paired with Iansek’s and Syme’s diverse vocal creates a distinctive sound unlike anything else out there now.
4/11 – The Media Room – Vancouver, BC
4/12 – Sunset Tavern – Seattle, WA
4/13 – Bunk Bar – Portland, OR
4/14 – The Crux – Boise, ID
4/15 – Kilby Court Gallery – Salt Lake City, UT
4/16 – Lost Lake – Denver, CO
4/18 – Slowdown Jr. – Omaha, NE
4/19 – Duck Room at Blueberry Hill – St. Louis, MO
4/20 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL
4/21 – 7th St. Entry – Minneapolis, MN
4/22 – Canopy Club Void Room – Urbana, IL
4/23 – Radio Radio – Indianapolis, IN
4/24 – Beachland Tavern – Cleveland, OH
4/25 – The Drake Hotel – Toronto, ON
4/26 – Il Motore – Montreal, QC
4/27 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
4/28 – Rough Trade – Brooklyn, NY
4/29 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
4/30 – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA
5/1 – The Black Cat – Washington, D.C.
5/2 – Cat’s Cradle Back Room – Carrboro, NC
5/3 – The Mill Room – Asheville, NC
5/4 – The Vinyl – Atlanta, GA
5/7 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA
5/8 – Fitzgerald’s Downstairs – Houston, TX
5/9 – The Prophet Bar – Dallas, TX
5/10 – Mohawk – Austin, TX
5/13 – The Western – Scottsdale, AZ
5/14 – The Casbah – San Diego, CA
5/15 – The Echo – Los Angeles, CA
5/16 – Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco, CA