With a strong focus on the Australian music scene, Australian Guitar is a rich source of information on playing techniques, styles, the wide range of instruments available and all the technology that guitarists have to consider in the 21st Century.
NEWS Ryan Siew, guitarist with Australian metalcore band Polaris, has died aged 26. The Sydney-based band announced the news with a moving post on social media, describing Siew as a man who “loved music, more diversely than you could ever imagine, and spoke its language in ways that only the rarest among us do.” “Our hearts are with his family first and foremost, but also with all those whose lives he touched,” read part of the statement. “We ask that you please respect the wishes of Ryan's family for privacy at this time, and likewise that you give us, our team and family the space to grieve & attempt to heal from this immeasurable loss. We know that you will be grieving with us and that we, and our community,…
Paul McCartney has revealed that the last ever Beatles song is set to arrive this year, but will do so with a rather notable, artificially intelligent twist. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 in June, the legendary songwriter spoke of the “final”, as-yet-unreleased Beatles track, which is rumoured to be John Lennon's unheard cut from 1978, titled Now and Then. And, while doing so, McCartney also discussed how he called upon AI to help create the final version of Lennon's vocal tracks. But don't be alarmed – it's not as blasphemous as it first sounds. Artificial intelligence wasn't used to completely create Lennon's vocal track from scratch, but was instead used to help “extricate” Lennon's voice from an old cassette. The cassette – which had been recorded by Lennon shortly before…
Godin is going all in on the nylon string craze, with its newly announced line of modern Multiacs – dubbed the Multiac Mundials – poised to offer a “more modern and stylish variation” compared to earlier models. These are ultra-light affairs, with a Silver Leaf maple body bedecked by a cedar top and neck, with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard at a 16 inch radius. The hollow body electrics are packed with Godin's Dual Source System, and in Godin's words, is “lighter, breathes, and resonates without feedback.” Meanwhile, Godin is also giving its G-Tour model – which is designed for primarily electric guitarists to get in on the benefits of nylon – a fresh Arctik Blue set of paint. Its chambered silver-leaf maple body has a cedar top and rosewood bridge,…
BLAKE WILLIAMS So, where are you from? I grew up in Penrith. I know this is not exclusive to one place, but nostalgia of making lifelong friends and playing music for the first time will always stay with me. Plus having a premiership-winning NRL team doesn't hurt. What's your latest drop? In February I released my single ‘You Probably Won't Care’. If you feel irrelevant and want to just scream into your pillow and/or at a random stranger in the street, then I think you probably will care about this. How would you sell your sound? Imagine jumping on a trampoline, feeling like you can reach the sky and touch the stars. Meanwhile, you're bumping into everyone else on the trampoline, thriving off everyone's adrenaline and screaming in each other's…
SAM TESKEY HAILS FROM NAARM/MELBOURNE, VICTORIA PLAYS IN THE TESKEY BROTHERS SOUNDS LIKE WHISKEY-SOAKED SOUL PLUCKED STRAIGHT FROM THE ‘50S LATEST DROP THE WINDING WAY (LP OUT NOW VIA IVY LEAGUE) How did you first discover the guitar? I went to a great primary school called the Co-Op in Hurstbridge – a parent-run school that allowed for a lot of exploring and self-learning. I didn't pay too much attention to the standard curriculum, but there were a couple of old, beat-up nylon-string guitars that I found myself very engaged with. I then borrowed my first steel-string off my dad, an entry-level Maton from the ‘60s. It wasn't long after that I managed to save up for my first guitar, my faithful 1987 Fender Stratocaster in TV white. I still play…
INTERVIEW The group Dawes debuted in 2009 with North Hills, a fresh slice of Americana distinguished by its vintage vibe. The album was the product of young guys who had musical depth beyond their years. Singer/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith was 24; his drum-playing brother, Griffin, was 19; and bassist Wylie Gelber was 21. North Hills marked a left turn from the indie rock the Los Angeles natives played in the band's previous incarnation, when it was known as Simon Dawes and featured lead guitar wunderkind Blake Mills. Over the 14 years since their debut, Dawes have expanded their palette, reaching into a variety of styles, including minimalist pop rock and ‘80s synth sounds. Their eighth album, last year's Misadventures of Doomscroller (Rounder), extends the band's reach even further. Produced by Jonathan…
