Sure we’ve heard about you before, but we think it’s time for Tone Deaf to get to know you a little better. Slip in to something comfortable while we put on some music, pour us a couple of drinks and turn the lights down low. So, tell us about yourselves…Who are you – who who? We really wanna know….
Who are you and what do you do in your act?
Why hello there! My name is Novac Bull and I am a femme bot. No, not really, I am of course the lead vocalist and frontwoman for Boom! Bap! Pow! I wear fun dresses and dance like it’s 1999.
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
Janis Joplin, Buddy Holly, ELO and Kate Bush. I have no idea why I stole them…maybe it was because I thought I’d look really cool with some records in crates at home. So pre-‘90s and so pre-tape and stupidly postmodern.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
Active Child, Betty Davis and Justin Townes Earle.
‘Home taping is killing the music business was the catch-cry of the record industry in the 1970s, but it managed to survive until now. What do you think is the difference between mates taping copies of friend’s records back in the 80s and 90s and file sharing now?
File sharing is for tight asses and making tapes was to share the love.
You must answer this question honestly or we steal your rider. What was the first gig you went to.?Where was it and what was the venue?
John Farnham ‘Whispering Jack’ tour with my Mum and her bestie at The Perth Entertainment Centre (dubbed ‘the bottle cap’). I was 7 and thought Farnsey was the bestest!! I fell asleep about three-quarters of the way through it.
What’s your favourite site to download music from and do you ever pay for it? Can we find any of your releases there?
I don’t download music, I buy CDs. You watch it’ll all be the rage again soon – buying actual discs, that is. Just like buying vinyl. But not.
What artist made you want to pick up an instrument and/or sing?
The first instrument I played was the clarinet, only because I missed out on the drums. Subconsciously I may have chosen the clarinet (as my second choice) so I could try to emulate Peter in Peter and The Wolf. We had that on vinyl when I was a kid and it was my all-time favourite!
It’s between Taylor Dayne, Roberta Flack, Patsy Cline and Tim and Neil Finn who inspired me to get the hairbrush out. Can’t pinpoint that one.
Have you ever been arrested?
I’ve been in Northbridge ‘lock up’ for street drinking when I was 18 along with 4 of my girlfiends. Well, it wasn’t really ‘lock up’ as such…more like a white room with dirty hand prints and blood stains all over the wall. The female constable had to stand guard and watch me pee!! WTF?! Scarred.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
I make all kinds of silly noises and jump around. I make sure I eat at least two hours before I get on stage and I’ll generally have had a vino or two or a Drambuie (depending on availability) before we perform.
What’s been your most outrageous rider request?
I wouldn’t dare make an outrageous request because management would disapprove. I’ve spoiled them with my low maintenance ways and lack of complaints ;) Maybe I should start getting all diva ‘n’ shit…
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
Tim Rogers. I would love to make sweet, dirty, intense yet lax, blues/country/soul with that guy. He is one of my favourite lyricists and performers. A little messy and dishevelled yet strangely alluring.
Right, let’s get really intimate. Tell us what releases you have that we can listen to with the lights down low, or even better, where we can see you play in person next.
Righto, now it’s time to pour yourself a wine and dim the lights and put on a little No Pleasin’, Liar or Mind Is Gone and get real comfortable. If you’re after a little spritz and pop though, wrap your ears around our latest offering – double A-side “Furniture” and “Never Mean Nothing”. Sunshine in a compact disc! Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaahhh.
The best way to enjoy said tracks though is at a live show. We do our B!B!P! thang next at The FBI Social Sydney followed by a host of shows and radio performances in and around Melbourne town.
Word.
Boom! Bap! Pow! are hitting Sydney and Melbourne in a whirlwind this weekend. Get on board.
