Edgecliff Interview

Get your motor running with the classic rock stylings of Sydney's Edgecliff and their brand new tune Running On Empty. Officially dropping into the world today, Running On Empty is a raw and riveting peek into the band's forthcoming debut EP Uproar, which will officially thunder into the world on Friday December 2. The band will also christen their new single with two shows in Cobar on Saturday 5 November, with an official EP launch party set to take place on Friday 7 January 2023 at Sydney's Factory Theatre.

Channelling Aussie greats like AC/DC and The Angels, Running On Empty finds Edgecliff firing on all rock'n'roll cylinders, with the track boasting swaggering grooves, fiery guitars and raspy vocals dialled up to 11. A track that has been in the works for the band for a fair while now, Running On Empty may ultimately owe its sonic soul to classic rock, but it also itself evolved after Edgecliff were approached to write a song about the eponymous Running On Empty festival which took place in Cobar, also honouring the 1982 film of the same name. "We were asked to write a song to honour the Running On Empty festival, which took place in Cobar, a town that holds great history within the band," shares keyboardist Nick Murace. "The festival took place in September for the 40th anniversary of the 1982 Australian film, Running On Empty. We were honoured to be given the opportunity to write this track and to play the festival!". And of the track's deliciously rowdy-yet-familiar flair, drummer Jacob Lock explains, "For this one we really wanted to go for an old school rock n' roll belter to get the people dancin! It's got that dirty rock groove that you can feel in your bones and reminds you of the old school Aussie rock we grew up on".

Working alongside Callum Howell on producing and mixing duties, as well as the Grammy Award-nominated Mike Tucci mastering the new tune, Running On Empty is a track brimming with high octane energy and catchy melodies, while also offering an electric follow up to previous singles I'll Be Gone and Calling For More, which will also feature on the band's forthcoming EP Uproar. Covering everything from chest-bumping anthems amid prowling basslines (Running Out Of Luck), swooning rock ballads (Broken), galloping singalongs (Blackout) and balls-to-the-wall viscosity complete with sizzling guitar solos and infectious choruses (Who Are We To Be Silenced), Uproar is a genuine and ferociously fun collection of tracks that powerfully run the gamut of human experience. "We recorded six out of seven songs at the beautiful Grove Studios over a week," shares bassist Kai Stackhouse. "After many tweaks in the studio and Callum Howell's touch, we were able to bring these songs to life. The EP is mostly about average human experiences, one of the tracks talks about heartbreak and another track explores protest and outrage. We think there is at least one song in the EP that people will find themselves attracted to as it could summarise a certain time in their lives or the world around them."

Edgecliff will be busting out their brand new track live in action this Saturday 5 November, with a special all ages show at the Cobar Youth Centre, as well as an 18+ event the same day at the Cobar Golf Club. And that's not all the live Edgecliff goodness on the cards, with the band locked and loaded to officially launch their new EP Uproar early in the new year on Saturday 7 January at Sydney's Factory Theatre. As to what fans can expect at these upcoming shows, lead guitarist and vocalist Will Howell reveals, "Anyone that catches one of our shows can expect a loud and energetic performance. We strive to make live shows an experience for everyone. We want everyone to leave our shows craving more."

Bringing together five best mates hailing from Sydney's Northern Beaches, the beating Edgecliff heart ultimately thrives on a love for songwriting, hard edge rock and the desire to create original music. With all band members currently completing apprenticeships in their respective trades, Edgecliff have creatively continued to turn heads via their upbeat and modern take on more vintage rock territory. Influenced by the likes of Powderfinger, Wolfmother and the Foo Fighters, Edgecliff have been hard at work in the studio and the jam room to ultimately deliver Running On Empty, which also marks the final single fans will hear before the release of the debut EP Uproar. And all signs are pointing to pure rock, as Will concludes "Rock'n'roll is our passion and we want to share that energy with as many people as we can!".

Running On Empty

Uproar

Edgecliff Interview

How would you describe your music? 

Our music is loud. It's rock and roll with our own touch. We want to make music that makes you feel something!

Can you tell us about 'Running On Empty'?

Running On Empty is a song that touches on the authentic Australian rock and roll sound. We were asked to write a song for the Running On Empty Festival that took place a couple months ago in Cobar. This song was one of the most rewarding tracks we've written and it has a sound that we love!

Do you prefer performing live or recording?

We love both, they are completely different experiences and they both have their perks. Live music is great and bouncing energy between us and the audience is one of the best feelings ever. Recording in the studio and getting lost in the art is so rewarding and challenging and is another whole experience in itself.

Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

We'd have to say our track 'Broken'. It's a real turning point in our set as it's a slower ballad style song  and we get a great reaction from the crowd whilst playing it live. You can hear this on our upcoming EP.

What should we expect from your upcoming tour/shows?

Expect some rock and roll! Lots of energy and jumping around. We want our shows to feel alive and for every participant to leave the door amazed. Live shows are really important to us so we spend lots and lots of time on perfecting it.

What is the story behind the band name?

We've been through a few stupid band names over the years and we always agreed that the right one would come to us naturally. Edgecliffe Boulevard in Collaroy has a lookout that spans all the way North of the Northern Beaches. We found ourselves spending heaps of time up there together before and after jamming so once it hit us it just stuck.

How did the band come together?

We all met in high school and formed friendships through our love for music. Will has been playing music his whole life and it wasn't long before we all decided to pick up some instruments and form a band. What started off as just a few mates jamming on Nirvana and RHCP covers slowly became what Edgecliff is today!

What motivates you most when writing music?

This is a great question! However, it is quite a difficult one to answer. Our motivation towards writing definitely differs based on what we're all going through at the time. We are always keen to write new material, but often find that when we specifically dedicate time to it we yield little results. The magic of spontaneity is often motivating to us, some of our favourite songs we've written have somewhat appeared out of thin air and it's an awesome feeling!

Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Nickelback. There are two kinds of people in this world, people who like Nickelback and liars! 

What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Nothing actually sticks out to us too much. The toughest thing would be trying to find time that works for all 5 us to jam as we are all apprentices and work can get real busy at times!

What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

It's just been such a fun journey so far. We love all of it. Writing, jamming, playing live shows, getting creative and spending time together. It's just the best feeling to be in a band with your best mates and all achieving goals that we love!

What's a typical day like?

We all work 5 to 6 days a week in trades as apprentices so that takes up a lot of time. You will find us jamming most afternoons or down at the pub or at a gig on the weekends! 

What's next, for you?

We have some real exciting times coming up! Our debut EP "Uproar" drops on December 2nd and we couldn't be more keen! We have been working on it for over 2 years and can't wait to share it with everyone! On top of that, our EP release show is on January 7th at Marrickville theatre and it's gonna be huge. We have some sick local bands on the bill and we can't wait! Tickets are yet to go on sale, but it won't be long before you can get your hands on them.

Can you share your socials? (links please)

https://www.instagram.com/edgecliffband/?hl=en

https://m.facebook.com/edgecliffmusic/

https://www.edgecliffband.com.au 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1r3dVVFMJlfoZZB5pD2meq?si=UVKnFAaSQj6M8-ShubcitA