Our ongoing series of artist influences continues. Keeskea‘s Vanessa Marousopoulos discusses with us the artists who have influenced the way she has approached music. Her debut EP “Find Yourself Alone” was released August 2019.
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Bombay Bicycle Club
“Definitely the most influential band for me. I can never really put my finger on why! I think Bombay Bicycle Club were the first pop band that challenged my understanding of pop (when I was 14/15/16/17). I loved how each album was so different, and I’ve gone through phases of loving each of them (currently it’s ‘I Had The Blues But Shook Them Loose’). I loved the idea of sampling in music which is something Jack Steadman did so much in this band… just unusual rhythms and textures that fit in seamlessly. I guess at its core I just feel so much when I listen.”
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James Blake
“I remember in uni, a friend and I were lucky enough to ‘The Colour In Anything’ on these amazing monitors, and I was just so utterly blown away. Again, it’s the sonic soundscape that got me. It pushes and pulls you in every direction – everything feels so rapid and slow all at once. The amount of space in James’ music is something that I have always valued, it gives it time to ebb and flow. I love how James’ music doesn’t have traditional structures. It’s more like A/B/A/D/A/E! This is something that really resonated with me because it has always felt a little bit unnatural for me to write the whole verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/double chorus thing. I love lots of different sections, it stimulates my listening a lot and makes me really excited when something unexpected happens (guaranteed with James Blake)”.
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Mckisko
“Mckisko made me really believe I could write whatever I wanted. She was one of the first musicians I saw live when I lived in Brisbane, and it opened up this entire other world of ideas and emotions. When you grow up listening pretty much only commercial radio stations and then get to see an experimental artist out of the blue at the age of 17… it’s safe to say I felt as though I unlocked this part of me that defines me the most. Mckisko is gut wrenching, haunting and filled with textures and sounds that feel like a beautifully warped version of home.”
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Little Dragon
“First Little Dragon song I heard was ‘Twice’. There’s so much movement and a really clever interplay between the instruments and the vocals. It’s not predictable which is why I love it so much – just a relationship that teeters on the edge of an obvious choice. Further exploration and I discovered that ‘Ritual Union’ was possibly my favourite album of time. I love the percussive elements through the entire album and also the use of dissonant notes. GOSH it’s just so good I don’t know what else to say!”
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Seagull
“I can’t put this band into words. Chris Bolton is one of the most fantastic writers in the world IMO. The descriptive nature of the textures in his music almost equate to how strong the imagery in the lyrics are. Every single sound serves a huge purpose in communicating the song. When I listen I feel like I’m underwater and when I’m finished it’s as though I remember to come up for air.”
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Avril Lavigne
No one writes a better bridge than Avril Lavigne!!! ‘Let Go’ was a huge influence on me wanting to write songs in my youth, and still is today. Fun fact Avril and I have a song named the same :D. Just honest lyricism that I have always really valued, and the structure of the songs unintentionally taught me about the importance of dynamics in music.
