It’s always rewarding seeing creatives that you form bonds with succeed in terms of not only publicity and acknowledgement but also creative progression. When Couchdog first started the band GRAZER were one of the first artists that truly caught our eye. From their take on the Shoegaze genre and their distinct visual presentation, we felt as if the band were carving something quite unique within the Melbourne/Naarm Music scene. Around about a year and multiple lockdowns later we had a proper chat to Mollie and Matthew about the progression of the band and their artistic influences. It was incredibly rewarding to spend an hour with our friends and provide each other with a distraction from the current state of the world around us. Couchdog left the zoom meeting feeling very fulfilled and eager to see what GRAZER come out with in the future.
GRAZER is an Indie-Pop/Shoegaze outfit out of Melbourne/Naarm. Made up of Mollie Wilson (Bass, Vocals) and Matthew Spiller (Singer, Guitarist, Primary Writer). They were formed in late 2019. A time Pre Covid where the prospect of gaining experience through live performance was still a realistic goal. When we first encountered the band, they had just released their debut music video for the track Fever Dream (their first major single). A beautifully orchestrated debut that puts the band's hypnotising melodies and textured vocals to the forefront. Since then, a fair bit has changed for Mollie and Matthew. Firstly, they managed to squeeze in their first run of shows in between the various lockdowns. Within this time (that we took for granted), GRAZER managed to play 15 shows. This was a huge step forward for the band as up to that point their existence has primarily been dictated by the pandemic. Operating the early stages of the band amid such a rare worldwide circumstance gave them a varying trajectory compared to what a new band traditionally goes through. Through playing live, GRAZER managed to workshop what songs out of their catalogue worked best in a live setting. The band found that via this navigation of live sets, their tracks pack a bit more energy in person opposed to recordings. While the dream-like aspects of Shoegaze is still definitely in play, there is also an added semblance of post-Punk and even Psychedelic rock. This adds a sense of variety to GRAZER and their catalogue. By being able to offer varying perspectives on the same song adds an extra level of engagement to listeners. Couchdog personally loves seeing artists bring something new to a recorded song in a live setting, it lays the ground for further development and experimentation. Even though a track may be written, recorded, and shared with the world, the way it can be used as a form of expression can always continue to be played with.
Experimentation is a word that needs to be utilized again when talking about GRAZER. Whether it be in terms of their sound, production or even the visual aspect the band utilizes to accompany their music. Following them on social media is a treat due to their focus and taste in terms of visual design. They have a unique visual styling that coincides perfectly with their sonic output. A term that was thrown around in our interview was Melancholic Optimism. A phrase that suggests a clash between sadness and nostalgia. A very specific feeling that can be triggered by going back through memories, feeling sad that the time has passed but also having a sense of joy that they happened in the first place. This term managed to contextualise the feelings that Shoegaze brings so clearly and provides a tangible term for that abstract and conflicting feeling this style of art brings. The sense of nostalgia can be seen and felt in the grainy VHS like quality of their Music Videos. A similar feeling can be inspired via the dream-like journey their songs take you on. Shoegaze is a genre that is inherently sad but allowing it to take listeners on a journey through a wider range of an emotional spectrum helps GRAZERS take on the genre seem more fulfilling. The art that influences Mollie and Matthew to create such introspective music comes from a wide range of places too. There doesn’t seem to be a time where the duo isn’t looking for influence, whether they mean to or not. From Andy Warhol screen tests to the Francis Bacon paintings, the source of influence is endless and is evident when looking at the multi-faceted style of offerings GRAZER gives to their fans. These offerings seem to be working quite well so far for GRAZER. Their latest single Without You highlights a real progression forward for the band in both terms of songwriting and production. It manages to walk the fine line between introspective and catchy which is a real strength throughout their whole catalogue. This is obviously a shared sentiment as following their Nostalgia Seed single it scored them a lot of traction and interest. The interest led them to securing a manager and getting them signed to American Based Label Cascine. The partnership between GRAZER and Cascine seems to be extremely creatively fulfilling and empowering. Giving the band some well-deserved attention and allowing them the time to release music at an agreed upon pace. Keep your eyes and ears peeled. There is a lot of GRAZER coming your way.
