words by Joanne Brookfield
Things are heating up in Ballarat this Winter, with the return of Be_Hear/Now live music festival for the fourth year running.
This year’s festival will present the biggest program yet of Ballarat artists and performers in unique curated collaborations, different venues and unused spaces across the weekend of June 30 to July 2.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Each year, the festival selects the “ones to watch” and it’s an honour that involves not only playing headline gigs but receiving professional support in the form of mentoring and training, assets and resources to help local musicians take their career to the next level.
The five acts selected this year are Confetti Western, Pyrex, Cassells, Sami and newly formed duo Iridescence. Although inspired by the bop and sway of the 60s and 70s, the pair are not long out of high school. Forming mid-way through last year and already in the process of recording their first album, Beat spoke with Hattie Frdelja (keys) and Jade Moran (vocals/guitar) to find out more about Iridescence.
Do you both live in/near Ballarat?
We both grew up in Ballarat, recently moving to Melbourne but still very involved in the community through work and family commitments.
How did you meet? What is the band’s ‘origin story’?
We went to school together but met through family. Our mums were friends and so were our grandparents, so it’s almost fate that we became best friends. We played in school bands together and both realised our mutual interest in the Carpenters, Beach Boys and Beatles.
Have you been in bands prior to this? Can you give us a quick potted history?
We have both been in a few bands. Jade played in a punk band based in Hepburn Shire called Short Fuze, and Hattie played in a few duos but coordinated and played for a band called Soul Volume. Both of us have been involved in big bands as well, but have a long history of solo material.
As Iridescence, how have things gone so far? What have been some of the career highlights?
Great! We spent a lot of our early days recording and writing music towards our album, while also playing smaller gigs in cafes and restaurants. Our biggest highlight has been from our most recent gig at CresFest, where we partook in a competition and won $500.
Any recordings/releases we need to know about?
We are very close to releasing our first single, so keep your eyes open for Loving Is Hard which is coming out soon.
How do you describe the Iridescence sound?
60’s/70’s pop, influenced by the Carpenters, ABBA, The Beatles and the Easybeats.
What about lyrically, what topics are inspiring your songs?
Largely love and heartbreak, but also friendships. Our songs tell stories and reflect personal experiences with loss, abuse, and mental health.
For Beat mag’s Melbourne readers, tell us what the Ballarat music scene is like these days?
The Ballarat music scene is very close. Small town communities are always very tight and that reflects on the music scene too. Every musician knows each other and the venues. We have found that gig organisers in Ballarat pay fairly and have an abundance of opportunities for young bands and musicians. There are plenty of groups in Ballarat that are specifically designed to help young people build contacts in the music scene, the biggest one being Sonika which Jade was a part of for a few years.
When and where was your first gig in Ballarat?
We played at a local cafe called Clothesline Cafe just before Christmas 2022. Since then, we have planned a few different things to spice up our setlist, including different costumes and song transitions. The biggest change has been the size of our setlist, it is now mostly originals rather than covers.
What does it mean to be part of the Be Hear Now 2023 cohort?
We are so excited to be part of this cohort, to us it means that we have the opportunity to display our work in the way we envision it.
What are you hoping might come from being chosen to be a part of this?
It’s a great way for us to build our contacts and give us a head start in our promotion for our single and album.
Finally, what can audiences expect from your show?
The audience can expect a bit of a throwback to the 60’s and 70’s. We’ve got some disco, vintage britpop, surf rock and love ballads, so it’ll be a mixed bag of original, retro-inspired music.
Visit the Be_Hear / Now website here for all the information and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
This article was made in partnership with City of Ballarat