The Falls

Hi, I’m Melinda. I drink too much coffee and play music in a little band called The Falls. We’re based in Sydney and recently release our debut EP Hollywood. In March we went to North America for the first time which included a performance at Communion NYC, and showcases at SXSW (Austin, TX) and Canadian Music Week (Toronto, ON). Earlier this year we also played our biggest Australian shows to date, hitting the road with The Lumineers. We’ll be returning to the US in the coming months and will be announcing a US release date for our debut EP and tour dates soon!

What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?

All I have ever wanted to do is play music. This was evident to mother who often recounts how at age two I wanted to play the violin…Lord knows where I got the idea from…I was two! Without her realising it, I think my grandmother was probably the most instrumental person in my life in developing my absolute infatuation with music. My happiest childhood memories are of lazy afternoons watching Singing In The Rain ad nauseam and dancing around her living room to old records – we’d always put on Day Trip To Bangor.

It’s been a pretty massive year for The Falls already, what have been your personal highlights for 2013 so far?

I think getting such an amazing response from our first trip to America would have to be the absolute highlight for us. It has resulted in representation in the US by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for bookings (The Eagles, Brittany Spears)and Evan Winiker at The Creed Company (Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson) is managing us. We also made lots of new fans there and can’t wait to head back for our first tour. Pretty huge news for a little band from Australia!

What records did you grow up listening to that helped shaped The Falls sound that we hear today?

The music we listen to has been a huge influence on the way we write. Both Simon and I are very inspired by music and songwriters from the mid to late 60s and early 70s like Neil Young, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. What’s kinda nice is that we discovered a lot of this music together for the first time playing exhibition openings at Blender Gallery in Paddington. I think it has really inspired and shaped the way we harmonise together.

Where do you like to song write? Is this something The Falls do as a team or individually?

I have a sunny little studio in Darlinghurst and it’s where I most like to be, so it’s where I like to write the most. While we both write independently, it is rare that a song is completed without input from both of us. We bring very different things to the songs we write and I think we combine in a way that inspires and compliments each other.

How do you find new music?

Ooooh so many ways – at gigs, online, recommendations from friends…

What has been your all time favourite live show, you’ve played and been to as a punter?

Last year we played at the official launch of Blender Gallery’s exhibition of Graham Nash’s photographic works. Graham Nash was there, and when we covered ‘Helplessly Hoping’ by Crosby, Stills & Nash, he unexpectedly jumped on the mic with me and joined us to fill in the missing 3rd harmony!

Best live show I’ve been to – Ryan Adams at the Sydney Opera House. He took my breath away. Most inspiring show I’ve ever been to.

Because it’s more fun to do things together, which The Falls do as duo, which living artist/s would you most like to collaborate with?

Nick Cave. He was the first Australian artist whom I truly fell in love with and am enamoured with as much today as when I first discovered him. He is an artist who’s depth of creativity is truly inspiring.

What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?

An indie film by Lena Dunham or your next break-up.

You’re performing at the Darwin Festival on the 21st and 22nd August, are you looking forward to being performing back in Darwin and spending some time there?

I am pretty excited to be heading to Darwin to play my first ever hometown shows as part of the Darwin Festival! It will be the first time that my Grandmother has seen The Falls play so I think this gig will be my personal highlight for the year!

What’s in store for the rest of 2013 for The Falls, will we hear any new material before the end of the year?

Lots of writing and lots of touring! We’ve been writing a lot this year and are itching to get some new songs out there, so stay tuned….definitely some new music coming soon.