Big Scary | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Genres | Indie pop, garage rock |
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | Big Scary, Pieater |
Members | Tom Iansek Joanna Syme |
Website | http://bigscary.net |
Big Scary is an Australian musical duo formed in Melbourne in 2006, by Tom Iansek and Joanna Syme. The pair have released several EPs and five studio albums.
Their 2013 album Not Art was nominated for the Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards of 2012, [1] Best Independent Album at the AIR Awards of 2013 [2] and also for ARIA Award for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 2013. [3] Not Art won the 2014 Australian Music Prize, winning the band $30 000. [4]
In 2010 Iansek had formed a side project, #1 Dads. [5] Their 2016 single "The Opposite of Us" was certified gold in Australia in 2020.
Big Scary formed in 2006 as a modern folk band with simple shakers and acoustic guitar after the two met through a recommendation of mutual friends. Joanna Syme recalls "Tom was looking to put together a band and needed a drummer. He ended up on my doorstep with a guitar". The duo played casually together in between day jobs until 2008 when Iansek completed a program in audio engineering. Syme said "All of a sudden he was paying a lot more attention to production, and the direction of the band changed." [6]
In late 2008, the band headed into the studio for the first time, recording six live tracks in a single day. [7] In October 2008, they duo uploaded "The Apple Song" onto Triple J Unearthed [8] and officially released in December 2008, alongside a self-titled debut EP. [7]
In March 2009, "This Weight" [8] was released followed in July 2009 with their 4-track EP The Mini EP and single "Hey Somebody" [8] and EP At the Mercy of Elements in January 2010.
In 2010, the duo recorded and released limited-edition EPs named and inspired by each seasonal turn. Upon completing the task in December 2010, the four EPs were compiled into the compilation, The Big Scary Four Seasons . [9] Beat Magazine said "Four Seasons proves to be the defining turning point for Big Scary, for they are no longer the next best thing in Australian music, they are the best thing" [9] while the AU Review hailed "the versatility and obscene talent of the players." [7] At the J Awards of 2010, they were nominated for Unearthed Artist of the Year. [10] The song "Autumn", was placed in a high-profile AT&T advert in the USA and released as a single in January 2011. [7]
In July 2011, Big Scary released "Mix Tape", the lead single from their debut studio album, Vacation . This was followed by "Gladiator" in September 2011. [11] Vacation was released in October 2011 and peaked at number 37 on the ARIA Charts. Beat Magazine said the album "delves into the theme of slowing losing touch with all those important things we like – friends, lovers, a home and that nifty thing known as employment." [11] Two further singles were released from the album and the band extensively toured USA in 2012. [12]
In February 2013, Big Scary released "Phil Collins", followed by "Luck Now" in April. [12] The duo's second studio album, Not Art was released in June 2013 and peaked at number 32 on the ARIA chart. "Twin Rivers" was released in November 2013. [13] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, the album was nominated for two awards. The album won the Australian Music Prize of 2013. [14] The duo signed with Barsuk Records who released Not Art in North America in March 2014. [14]
In September 2015, Big Scary released "Organism", the lead single from their third studio album. [15]
In June 2016, the duo released the six-minute sonic, "Over Matter" and announced the released of their third studio album Animal; a four-part experience drawing inspiration of the daily cycle of the animal kingdom, hunting, lurking, resting and waking. [16] Animal was released on 2 September 2016 and peaked at number 5 on the ARIA charts. The album was supported by their first Australian headline tour in three years. [17] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2017, Iansek was nominated for ARIA Award for Producer of the Year.
In February 2021, Big Scary released "Stay", their first new music in four years and announced the release of their forthcoming fourth studio album Daisy . [18] Singles "Get Out" and "Bursting At the Seams" preceded the album's release on 30 April 2021.
In August 2022, Big Scary released "Real Love" and "Devotion" preceding their fifth studio album, Me and You , which was released on 23 September 2022. [19]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [20] | ||
Vacation |
| 37 |
Not Art |
| 32 |
Animal |
| 5 |
Daisy |
| 46 |
Me and You |
| 74 |
Title | Details |
---|---|
The Big Scary Four Seasons |
|
Title | Details |
---|---|
Big Scary |
|
The Mini EP |
|
At the Mercy of the Elements |
|
Autumn |
|
Winter |
|
Spring |
|
Summer |
|
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [25] | ||||
"The Apple Song" [26] | 2008 | — | Big Scary | |
"This Weight" [7] | 2009 | — | The Mini EP | |
"Hey Somebody" [27] | — | At the Mercy of the Elements | ||
"Autumn" [28] | 2011 | — | The Big Scary Four Seasons | |
"Mixtape" [29] | — | Vacation | ||
"Gladiator" [30] | — | |||
"Leaving Home" [31] [32] | 2012 | — | ||
"Falling Away" [33] [34] | — | |||
"Phil Collins" [35] [12] | 2013 | — | Not Art | |
"Luck Now" [36] [12] | — | |||
"Twin Rivers" [37] | — | |||
"Invest" [38] [39] | 2014 | — | ||
"Organism" [15] | 2015 | — | Animal | |
"Over Matter" [16] | 2016 | — | ||
"The Opposite of Us" [40] | 100 | |||
"Stay" [43] | 2021 | — | Daisy | |
"Get Out!" [44] | — | |||
"Bursting At the Seams" [45] | — | |||
"Real Love" [19] | 2022 | — | Me and You | |
"Devotion" [19] | — | |||
"Goodbye Earle Street" [46] | — | |||
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | themselves | Breakthrough Independent Artist | Nominated | [47] [48] |
themselves | Best Independent Artist | Nominated | [49] | |
Not Art | Best Independent Album | Nominated | ||
"Luck Now" | Best Independent Single/EP | Nominated | ||
themselves | Carlton Dry Global Music Grant | Nominated | ||
2017 | Animal | Best Independent Album | Nominated | [50] |
"The Opposite of Us" | Best Independent Single/EP | Nominated | ||
2022 | Daisy | Best Independent Pop Album or EP | Won | [51] [52] |
2023 | Me and You | Best Independent Pop Album or EP | Nominated | [53] [54] |
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. [14]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Not Art | Australian Music Prize | Won |
2016 | Animal | Australian Music Prize | Nominated |
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Big Scary have been nominated for three awards. [55]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Not Art | Breakthrough Artist - Release | Nominated |
Best Independent Release | Nominated | ||
2017 | Tom Iansek for Animal by Big Scary | Producer of the Year | Nominated |
2021 [56] | Daisy | Best Adult Contemporary Album | Nominated |
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 [10] | themselves | Unearthed Artist of the Year | Nominated |
2011 | Vacation | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
2013 | Not Art | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
2016 | Animal | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005. [57] [58]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2013 [59] [60] | Not Art | Best Album | Nominated |
2020 [61] [62] | Tom Iansek (Big Scary) | Best Musician | Nominated |
Art vs. Science are an Australian electronic dance band based in Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in February 2008, the three-piece consists of James Finn on vocals and keyboards; Daniel McNamee on vocals, guitars and keyboards; and Daniel Williams on drums and vocals.
San Cisco is an Australian indie pop band that formed in 2009 under the original name of King George, in Fremantle, Western Australia. The band are a three-piece, and currently consists of Jordi Davieson, Josh Biondillo and Scarlett Stevens. Davieson and Biondillo share duties on keyboards. In November 2011, the band was signed by Albert Productions, but moved to Island Records for the release of its debut album. In October 2012, the band described its 'vibe' as "squelchy, crispy, streamlined, hairy, indie". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 the group were nominated for Best Independent Release and Best Dance Release for the album; and Best Video for "Fred Astaire", which was directed by Andrew Nowrojee.
Husky are an indie folk band from Melbourne, Australia. They have opened for Neil Young, Devendra Banhart, Gotye, The Shins.
DZ Deathrays are an Australian dance-punk trio from Brisbane, Queensland. Composed of Shane Parsons (vocals/guitar), Lachlan Ewbank and Simon Ridley (drums), they put out two EPs before releasing their debut album, Bloodstreams, in April 2012. The album won the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2012. To date they have released six studio albums: Bloodstreams, Black Rat, Bloody Lovely, Positive Rising: Part 1, Positive Rising: Part 2 and R.I.F.F
The Rubens are an award winning 5 piece alternative rock band from Menangle, Australia. The band comprises the three Margin brothers, Zaac, Sam and Elliott, and friends Scott Baldwin and William Zeglis. Their debut self-titled album The Rubens gained them domestic success with it reaching number 3 on the ARIA Charts and being nominated for a J Award for Album of the Year.
The Jungle Giants are an Australian indie rock band from Brisbane, Queensland, who formed in 2011.
Tomas Henry Gaynor, known professionally as Allday, is an Australian rapper, singer and songwriter from Adelaide. Gaynor became active in 2011, when he began uploading his music for free online. Following his works becoming increasingly popular, he moved to Melbourne, to pursue a serious career before later relocating to Los Angeles in February 2017. His works have been influenced by acts such as Silverchair, Frank Ocean, and TLC. Gaynor released his debut album, Startup Cult, in July 2014 to Australian audiences. Startup Cult achieved success and reached number three on the ARIA Charts.
Client Liaison is an Australian indie pop duo made up of vocalist Monte Morgan, and keyboardist and producer Harvey Miller. The pair first came to prominence in 2012 after the release of their first music video "End of the Earth", and went on to release a self-titled EP in 2014, and studio album Diplomatic Immunity in 2016. Their second studio album, Divine Intervention was released on 1 October 2021.
Gretta Louise Ray is an Australian singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Victoria. In 2016, she was the winner of the national Triple J Unearthed radio competition for bands and songwriters, and the 2016 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, with her song "Drive". To date, Ray has released two studio albums – Begin to Look Around (2021) and Positive Spin (2023) – as well as the EPs Elsewhere (2016) and Here and Now (2018).
Animal is the third studio album by Australian Indie pop duo Big Scary. It was announced on 2 June 2016 alongside the album's second single "Over Matter" and released on 2 September 2016. The album was presented as a four-part experience drawing inspiration from the daily cycle of the animal kingdom; hunting, lurking, resting and waking. The album debuted and peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts, becoming the duo's first top ten album.
Not Art is the second studio album by Australian Indie pop duo Big Scary. It was released in Australia on 28 June 2013. The album debuted and peaked at number 32 on the ARIA Charts. In late 2013, the duo signed with Barsuk Records and the album was released in North America in March 2014.
Ocean Alley is an Australian alternative psychedelic rock band from the Northern Beaches. The band is made up of Baden Donegal, Angus Goodwin, Lach Galbraith, Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Nic Blom (bass) and Tom O'Brien (drums). Their style of music has been described as "cruisey psych, rock and reggae fusion".
Georgia Claire Flipo now going by the name G, known professionally as G Flip, is an Australian singer, songwriter, producer, drummer, and musician from Melbourne, Victoria. Their debut studio album, About Us, was released on 30 August 2019.
Confidence Man are an Australian indie electro pop band formed in 2016 in Brisbane, Queensland. They released their debut album Confident Music for Confident People in April 2018. The front-duo and their band members have been a part of many festivals across Australia, most notably Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival.
Crooked Colours are an Australian alternative dance group from Perth, Western Australia, who formed in 2013. The band consists of Phil Slabber, Leon Debaughn and Liam Merrett-Park.
Slowly Slowly are an Australian pop punk and indie rock band from Melbourne, Victoria. The band consists of Ben Stewart, Patrick Murphy (drums), Albert Doan (guitar), and Alex Quayle. They released their debut album Chamomile in 2016.
Teenage Joans are an Australian indie rock and punk rock duo from Adelaide, South Australia, who formed in 2018. The duo consists of vocalist and drummer Tahlia Borg and vocalist and guitarist Cahli Blakers.
Daisy is the fourth studio album by Australian indie pop duo Big Scary. It was announced on 24 February 2021 alongside the album's lead single "Stay" and released on 30 April 2021. Big Scary described the album as "playful", while including "plenty of drama and for the first time, no guitars".
Vacation is the debut studio album by Australian indie pop duo Big Scary. It was released on 7 October 2011. The album debuted and peaked at number 37 on the ARIA Charts.
Tom Iansek is a Melbourne-based Australian record producer and songwriter, best known for his work with #1 Dads, Big Scary, and No Mono. Iansek has produced music for Emma Louise, Airling, Lanks, and Slum Sociable.