Lava Lounge Radio Australia

Where do you live?
We live in Gadigal / Sydney, Australia. 

How did you all meet?

The two of us met in school when we were 14. We were good friends, and dated for two minutes. After one of us had to leave the school (Tez), we reconnected when we were 20.
We soon began dating again and started to play music together too. Stevie taught Tez how to play guitar, which led to learning other instruments.
We both played in a few musical projects together that didn't work out, and then we started smallways. in 2023. Just the two of us, a total experimentation, and here we are.

What do you like most about playing music?

It's a needed release. We just love doing it. We love creating, writing, playing, and recording. It's both fun and stressful working on visual art, and music movies, but there's just nothing else either of us get as much joy or relief from.
 

What inspired you to start playing and making music?

Since we were both little, we've both loved music. Stevie grew up in a musical household, with his Dad playing and teaching him music from a young age. He was in a band with his dad, brother and sister early on, and then as a teenager formed his own band and the story goes on. In an opposite sort of way, Teriece grew up in an environment where music wasn't encouraged, and access was limited. Once she got older and reconnected with Stevie, that's when the exploration of music really began for Teriece.
In many ways, music is a significant part of the dynamic and connection between Stevie and Teriece.

Describe your creative process when you write new music.

We jam. We head to our rehearsal space and jam for a couple hours, listen back, and play with ideas. We're very experimental, there's not a lot of thought in terms of "we want to create this kind of sound, or sing about this topic" - it's more a release to see what comes out, and then we choose how to refine and build a song, or connected songs.
We write in our live set-up, which is drums, 5 string bass and both of our vocals. With that particular set-up, it's only once we get to the studio that we play, and that means experimenting on the spot. Our debut album BROKE BRAIN, is very much an experiment.
We also have different ways of writing, but we can't share everything, that would be like saying we want to make baby smallways. out here in the world, and neither of us want kids.
 

How would you describe your musical style and the evolution of your sound over the years?

We’re sarcastic, cheeky, confrontational, and we’re aware that we can feel abrasive or attackful to some people. That’s part of the point.
We’re also implicated in everything we’re poking at and pointing towards. We know that’s something that can easily get lost or overlooked in music and art, especially when it comes to lyrics and how a band presents itself. We like playing with that tension. Maybe we’re lying. Maybe we’re not. Maybe we’re taking the piss out of everyone and everything, or maybe we’re being completely upfront with what we feel and think. Maybe it's both? Maybe it doesn’t matter.
Over the years, the sound has evolved naturally with us. The music has become a way of exploring those contradictions and using expression as a form of relief.
We’re not interested in telling people what to think, or do, or in giving them an answer to anything. If you connect with the music and the art, and you can feel where it’s coming from, then enjoy it. That’s what it’s there for.

Are there specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your music?

It's whatever people want it to be. We can say where we feel it's coming from, but do we really know?
We know what we think we mean. We know what we think we've experienced. We know what we think we want to say, but just like anyone else, it's make believe, like money, like jobs, like anything. BROKE BRAIN is a made up musical and art project that we created and it's coming out on Friday, October 2nd.

Can you share the story behind your latest album/project?

It's a collection of past, present and future interpretations. It's lived experiences, real relationships, thoughts, feelings and internal vomit.
It's going to mean something different for everyone, but we feel it's psychological, philosophical, political, and at the same time it's stupid, it's nonsense, and it's ridiculous.
We wanted the album to be strange, and we want to challenge norms, traditions and people, including ourselves. We also wanted it to be funny, and a little insane. 
We intentionally set out to challenge ourselves with smallways. and we do that, with everything we do.
There aren't many bands that play live with drums, 5 string bass, with a woman upfront and a crazy multi-instrumentalist in the back singing too. We jump in the studio with no set ideas and we see what happens when we play with a bunch of instruments and tools. We're unusual, and intentionally so.
Ironically, we're releasing this album during the most difficult period of our lives. Times are tough, and for so many in the world at the moment. We find some sentiment in that.
The world is never going to stop being insane and nonsensical, so we figure, why not do something weird, and fun, that barks back a bit at the absurdity of all of this, you know?
That's what smallways. is, that's what BROKE BRAIN is.
We've already got our next album ready to go, and of course, it's nothing like BROKE BRAIN.

Who's your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?

That's hard, but if we got to choose we were able to have a jam with, here are the top 10:
- Serj Tankian
- Gareth Liddiard
- Karina Utomo
- Bjork
- John Frusciante
- Aldous Harding
- The Garden
- Les Claypool
- Grian Chatten
- Ollie Judge

Are there any musicians who inspire you?

Many do. We're inspired by a range of music, and different kinds of artists. We tend to lean toward the heavier, stranger, and otherwise more emotional expressive styles of music and art. An easy way to say it is, we don't like things that are typical, or otherwise what's easy to do. Be that interesting musical composition, or lyrics, there has to be something that makes it feel intense, and odd for us to feel intrigued. We don't really enjoy things that are made to be comforting or pretty, and we're inspired by artists that in some form, create a sort of discomfort, and that make you really think and feel.

What made you want to be a musician?

I have been creating music since childhood, singing with my guitar. The songs were not great, my first being a comedic tune called “Bassface.” It was my music GCSE in 2020, that made me realise I actually wanted to be a musician: during lockdown, I wrote and recorded my first original song on my iPad, spending hours experimenting with these new effects and digital instruments. My teacher played the final product as the example track, and that feeling of pride and discovering I was actually a somewhat skilled songwriter opened up so many possibilities for the future. 

Which instruments did you play in high school?

My main instrument has always been my acoustic guitar. However, having not been part of the main school orchestras, I was in a small sub-par band which had three ukulele players, two saxophones, and two keyboard players. I also sang alto in the choir, but when I was older, I focused more of my time producing and creating music by myself in my room. 

What accomplishment do you see yourself achieving in the next 5-10 years?

I hopefully will have built a fanbase which appreciates my music and be able to travel and perform live for people. I definitely want to have seen more of the world, as I haven’t left Europe yet. Perhaps, I will have completed a masters degree. I mainly want to have met like-minded and creative friends through acting or writing. Act in great films, write a novel - I don’t really have a solid plan; whatever will be will be. 

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside music?

Alongside music, I enjoy acting and recently booked a role in a big feature film which was an amazing opportunity. I also have spent the past three years achieving a first class law degree, and just had my graduation on Tuesday. I love writing, especially short stories. My job at the moment interests me - I’m an activity leader for a language school, and it is brilliant meeting so many new people from around the world, and leading their tours and discos. 

What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?

I think my lyricism takes my songs to another level - I feel like I’m able to use everyday language in a strange way which creates dark undertones to otherwise melodic music. I suppose I’m quite a sensitive person which allows me to write songs with emotion. I think I have an ear for a catchy tune which people seem to like!

Do you have any weaknesses that you’re actively working to improve on?

As a musician, I actually have very little understanding of music theory. I am able to tinker on the keyboard or come up with guitar chords, with not a lot of awareness of the technical aspects. I’ve begun having piano lessons to master sight reading and become properly skilled at the instrument. 

What instrument is your favourite to play and why?

My favourite instrument has always been the acoustic guitar - I write all my songs by finding a nice chord progression on guitar first and then it spirals into lyrics and melody. I’ve been playing for a long time, so I’m naturally comfortable playing - I’ve had hard fingertips since I was about nine.

What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?

The feeling you get when an original idea or new chorus seems to just appear sparks so much motivation and passion to create a song. Especially when it has a powerful meaning behind it, or is something that people haven’t heard before and you feel like they need to. For me, the reaction of people I care about to my songs makes me passionate - if it makes them feel emotion and that shows me that I really care about what I create.

Describe your favourite and least favourite part about being a musician?

My favourite part about being a musician is when you finally hear the finished version of the song, after so many different versions, ideas and time. You have this complete track which you can share, and listen to yourself. I love being able to bring a brand new melody to the world, knowing that I created it myself. I can be proud of that, and also feel the satisfaction of working hard on a project and it paying off.

My least favourite part is how difficult it is to maintain the right values; the right reasons for making music. Sometimes you feel obsessed with the end result - streams, fans, success - but that’s not what it’s about. You have to learn to enjoy the journey, and the creation of something you are proud of, without caring too much about the outcome. I often find this frustrating, that I feel impatient and want the end result too much rather than enjoying the music and the present.

Which instrument is your least favourite to play and how do you make sure you play well?

My least favourite instrument is actually my voice! I am not a technically showy singer, but I like to think that the emotion and quirky English singing style is what makes my voice special. I admire how many inspiring artists aren’t vocal acrobats and depend on their soul and presence to perform. I definitely lean into being more unique than impressive vocally and I think this adds originality to my songs.