The interview with Vacant shade, live @ TheLair @ Metro Theatre on Thursday, March 26th for EmergenzaFestival Australia: 

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BAND NAME: WHO CHOSE IT AND WHY?

We all mutually agreed on the band name, we wanted something that sort of showed a fusion between a variety of moods, so we took the Sex Pistols upbeat song, "Pretty Vacant" and Silverchair's morose song "Shade" and made "Vacant Shade”.

PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR BAND: HOW AND WHEN WAS IT BORN?

We were formed in 2012 when the guitarist and the drummer were jamming at school with their new bassist; then some guy ran up to the window and started singing along with us. So we invited him in, and he quickly became our vocalist. Hence Vacant Shade was born.

WHEN DID YOUR INTEREST IN MUSIC BEGIN? AND HOW HAS YOUR MUSIC CHANGED FROM THE MOMENT YOU BEGAN TO PLAY TOGETHER?

Our interest in music began in our early teens, the guitarist and drummer often jammed to songs by Nirvana and Green Day. When all the members joined, we realised we all had a mutual appreciation of Punk and Pop Punk so we aimed for that, before branching off into a more alternative sound.

WHAT ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

We have a huge range of musical influences, from the garage rock sound of Nirvana, to the beautiful melodic Coldplay. Bands that we're influenced by include: The Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Pink Floyd, Violent Soho, U2 and the Sex Pistols.

IS THERE A SONG THAT IS SPECIAL FOR YOU? IF SO, WHICH ONE AND WHY?

Ashes is our most advanced song we've made, technically challenging all of us and also being the most lyrically meaningful song we've ever wrote.

WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION TO WRITE SONGS (EVENTS, MOOD....)?

We're often influenced by our personal encounters with love and sadness; whilst also sometimes being influenced by socio-political issues like the child soldiers of the developing world. The desire to escape is a common theme in our songs, and we often find new ways to express this.

HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT EMERGENZA FESTIVAL AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO TAKE PART IN IT?

We received an email from Emergenza, and thought it would be a good opportunity to start our EP off with a show at the Lair in the Metro.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM EMERGENZA AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR FIRST EMERGENZA CONCERT?

We expect Emergenza to offer us great exposure in our advancement to being a more serious band. We hope through this concert we gain new fans, friends and opportunities to play more shows and develop more as performers. We're very excited to be a part of the Emergenza competition this year.

Wanna enrol your band in  Emergenza Festival Australia? Click here!