Interviews: Cosmo Blue

We have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band Cosmo Blue from Australia. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or came out just like that?

Cosmo Blue was a compromise, it took us months to get a name we all agreed on. We are happy with it now and we intend to keep it, lol we are 2 songs into our career so, it looks like we are stuck with it. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We are trying to create something new and unique. This means pooling our influences from different artists like The Police and Arctic Monkeys. I found a guitar player on Youtube called Scotty Mishoe and he does a form of slapping, the song Take Hold Of The Night has me trying to figure out how he plays his slapping technique.

I feel as though, what we are trying to do doesn't fit into a conventional bracket but, if we had to choose this stuff over a band that does pentatonic solos and power chords. This is much more interesting. There is no limit to where we can go. We are not bound to pentatonic shapes.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

We may have? Haha Hamish and I went to the same school but I would have left before he had the chance to meet me. We were both taught by the same music teacher for a brief moment in our time there. 

Paul is a new addition to the band, we met him through Facebook and he has been a welcome addition to the band ever since.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Michael - I have been listening to some Elvis lately. I have found a new appreciation for his tone of voice. I also really like how his songs were written in terms of Melody and structure.  

Hamish - Matchbox Twenty, Flo Rida & Imagine Dragons

Paul - His favorite bands are Nickleback, Creed & Insane Clown Posse

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I usually come in with ideas, I scowl the internet for weird musical ideas. Right now we are playing a song with a Japanese feel. This is achieved through the use of the Kumoi scale. I'll sit there on guitar and try to turn a scale or idea into a Cosmo Blue song.

This is then followed by months of redrafting ... to the dismay of my band members.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was in Penrith at a venue called the Soundgarden. Interesting venue because it is outside and has an outdoor festival vibe without it being an outdoor festival. The people were welcoming and seemed to enjoy the show. 

7. Where would you like to act?

I would love to perform some shows in rural NSW, we have discussed the possibility of performing at a festival in Gympie which is in rural Queensland. It would be interesting to play there because I have been told the whole town comes to these festivals. It would be a unique experience because it doesn't sound like a typical gig instead, a community. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We would love to play with a band called the Lazy's. They are currently in Canada at the moment and it would be awesome to be a support act for them. 

9. Whom not?

I'm really enjoying playing with both Paul and Hamish. In the past, I have worked with some really bad musicians. For me, who not? are people I have worked with in the past. 

 I was in a band before this one called Melancholy Flowers, we worked with a musician who wouldn't bring in his equipment. And we were like, just go sit in the corner whilst we rehearse. Haha! He did, and he would provide us commentary on how to play our music better, which we ignored. 

Then one day he did bring his stuff in, and went to set up, but he forgot a special kind of cable that runs from a laptop to a sound desk. He didn't have it and then said, "Michael, you have to drive back to my house and pick up my cable because I forgot it." I told him no, he would have to walk (He didn't drive) back to his place and pick up his own cable if he wanted to play. 

As he was leaving he says, "This rehearsal would have gone better if Michael had done as I asked"

...He didn't last in the band for very long. 

10. Have Any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I still do, there is no cure. I think being nervous is good because it means you care about your performance. I do some push-ups (If the floor is clean ...)  and vocal warm-ups in the bathroom. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For me, a band like The Lazy's, seeing them start out like us performing in Sydney venues. They are now playing massive festivals in Canada. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

We played a show in Marrickville and I thought it would be cool to do a raffle. The raffle was for a phone holder. People were getting fired up because they weren't winning the phone holders. As I'm calling the numbers I hear a loud, "Fuck!" 

13. What do you think of your fans?

I'm grateful to have them, Cosmo Blue is thankful to everyone who has bought a ticket and liked our videos. Thank you and stick around cause there is plenty more to come. 

14. What do you think of our site?

I think you guys are very approachable and it's good to be able to answer these questions as a young upcoming band. Some journaling websites are very exclusive and will only want to talk to you if you pay. We really appreciate what you are doing for beginning bands. 

15. Something add?

We played a show at an emo night and I asked the crowd if they liked country music. The whole crowd collectively took a step back, and told us to, "Fuck Off" That was a thrill for us. Hence, why I like trying to find weird musical ideas or better yet, ways to country up my performance.