‘Millennial Blues’ is the lead single and accompanying video from the upcoming debut albumEscapism by Sydney based alt-rockers Interim.
After moving to Sydney just over a year ago, the five piece featuring long-time mates Alec Snow (yes, that guy from Summer Bay), Jock Houston, Jimmy Basnett, Matt Hollonds and Lachy Becke were shocked by how much the local music scene was operating in total counter-culture, some sort of subsistence mentality driven in by the closure of a great deal of the live music venues. With lockout laws driving bands to play earlier to less people, for less money in less established venues, the band weren’t really sure if there was just a major disconnect between the artists and punters or if this disconnect was felt by both groups.
The track ‘Millennial Blues’ talks to the relativity and legitimacy of the issues our generation is dealing with – whilst many would be happy to call these all ‘first world problems’, the issues that face the younger generations of Australia are still overwhelmingly real. Whether it’s the Lockout Laws, negative wage growth, unattainable housing prices, the government’s current media war on the poor, riot police being called in to close down concerts in Sydney etc, they all have a very real impact on how our generation are going to get by, yet the decision making for all of these things rests with the people who no longer have any stake or interest in things like nightlife, work opportunities and modern culture. It’s a protest song, pure and simple.
Recorded at Airlock Studios in Brisbane with producer Yanto Browning (Art of Sleeping, The Jungle Giants, The Belligerents), ‘Millennial Blues’ comes from an intense 13 day recording session that produced the band’s upcoming debut long playing release Escapism. The accompanying video was shot by Richie Miller, a local filmmaker and punter filming at the Sydney Lock Out Laws protest, a day the band realised that Sydney’s population was actually right behind the local scene, and that this pressure on Sydney’s nightlife was the Baird government’s attempt to reschedule entire areas of the city for apartment or casino development.
The protest called out for artists to rally to the protest and ‘beat the drum’, and so with a small generator and a PA that would eventually get fried by the end of their performance by an unexpected downpour, Interim came out and played some music to add their voices to an outraged chorus of locals. Miller got in touch with the band following the performance to give them the raw footage to use for the clip.
To mark the release of ‘Millennial Blues’ and the forthcoming album release Interim will hit the road through late January.
ITERIM 2017 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Thursday January 19 – Sydney – Frankie’s
Friday January 20 – Melbourne – The Penny Black
Saturday January 21 – Adelaide – The Ed Castle Hotel
Friday January 27 – Brisbane – Ric’s Bar (Out Back)
Saturday January 28 – Toowoomba – The Spotted Cow
Sunday January 29 – Bundaberg – Norville Pool
For ticket info visit: http://www.interimband.com/