By: Lidia Vila

NXNE has attracted bands from all over the world, one such band is Australia’s The Tiger and Me.

According to your bio you formed after Ade finished his honour degree, how long have you been together as a musical duo?

We’ve been playing music together as a duo for about a year and half. We met through singing together in a choir, and got to know each other by playing together in a different band. We played one gig together about a year and a half ago under a different name, which we thought was a made up word but later realised was actually a rarely used and outdated racial slur. Needless to say we were horrified. The lesson is: always plug your made-up band name into Google. We quickly changed our name to The Tiger and Me, which we think is a much better fit anyway. We’re hoping it doesn’t turn out to be racist.

Jane, your voice has been described as haunting, what do you attribute your vocal style to?

I grew up listening to my mum’s old vinyls. My favourites were Nana Maskouri (the exquisite!) and Steeleye Span.  Both Maskouri and Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span have a very clear tone and it appeals to me.  I have spent most of my vocal life in choirs also as a soprano soloist and that has really shaped my style significantly.  In fact, when we started the band Ade and I had to coach each other vocally, I had to teach him how to use better technique to support his singing and he had to teach me to be a bit less classically choral and a bit more ROCK.  Well, sort of rock…

According to your blog the show you played in Vancouver for The New Music West Festival the venue that you played in differed greatly from the area your hotel was in. What was the experience like?

We were in Vancouver for about a month and stayed with friends in four very different suburbs for about a week each, so we had a good range of experiences. When the festival was on we were with a friend in a Yaletown apartment, and when we went to check out the venue we must have taken a wrong turn on the way and ended up in the exact place everyone had told us to avoid. We were surprised at how sudden the change is from hip and trendy to, “I think we should go back.”

Between the two of you Jane’s project (THE NYMPHS) and Ade composing music for films (Fallen: www.eyeofaduckproductions.com), I must ask, do your side projects interfere with The Tiger and Me tours?

The Tiger and Me is our first priority musically.  We think it’s important however to have a few fingers in a few pies though; keeps us busy, active and ultimately enhances our creativity and performances.  Time wise it can be a bit of a stretch, but who needs sleep these days?  Melbourne has good coffee, so we’re fuelled!

With your touring experience, what festivals would you recommend groups look into and what ones would you recommend to avoid?

We’ve loved both of our festival experiences in Canada so far, New Music West and North by North East, and we’d definitely give them the nod for other bands. Australia has a great range of festivals. I’d highly recommend all of Port Fairy Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Meredith Music Festival, Golden Plains, Queenscliff Music festival and Apollo Bay, to apply to play at or even just attend. I honestly can’t think of a festival I’ve played or attended that I’d recommend avoiding. We’re not quite at the rockstar stage of demanding limos, fresh fruit and still drinking water straight from a Norwegian glacier in our trailors.  If there are plenty of people to play to and a decent stage/venue, then we’re happy.

Ade, seems you’ve developed a taste for Keith’s, will you miss it when you head back to your native Australia?

Yes, and Tim Hortons and Ice Hockey. I watched every minute of the Stanley cup final, after starting my day with a donut, coffee and bagel from Tim Hortons. We don’t have it in Australia. I’m going to start it up and make heaps of money. Ssshhh don’t tell anyone though.

What are your plans for the future? What can we expect?

Aside from being the new head of Tim Hortons Australia, our immediate plans revolve around recording our first studio album. We go into the studio in late 2008 when we get home, and hope to release it in early 2009. We’re planning an east coast of Australia tour to launch the album, and then looking at a return to Canada in 2009. I (Ade) am an Australian/Canadian dual citizen (thanks mum!), so it makes the logistics of playing here much easier. Before heading home we’re travelling through Eastern Europe, which we hope will further fuel our recent foray into gypsy flavoured music (see Lead a Merry Dance around the Fire for an example).  So, expect to see us again soon, next time with our boys on upright bass and drums (and possibly even banjo).

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 19th, 2008 at 2:48 pm.