Cassette Kids

Fri 20th Feb, 2009 in Features

With an album taking shape, Sydney electro-pop upstarts Cassette Kids are looking at a stellar 2009. The year gets off to flying start this month with The Big O mini-festival, making pit-stops at the nation’s universities. We catch up with frontwoman Katrina Noorbergen to talk favourite bands, travel games and higher education.

In terms of support shows, what’s the most memorable you’ve played? Whose set have you been stoked to stand side of stage for?
The last show we played with The Presets at the Enmore was a nice one.

Katrina, you’ve studied a Creative Arts degree. Arts degrees still get a bit of a bad rap: what did you major in, and how did you find the experience?
I completed a degree in creative arts/international studies, majoring in visual arts. It was designed to prepare me for employment within the arts or creative industries through which I obtained a scholarship to go overseas and work in an art institution for six months. I worked in a Dublin art gallery and also did a few weeks at their National Visual Arts library. I’m really glad I did it because it reinforced to me that I really want to belong to a creative environment.

I have always wanted to be a curator and probably would be doing a masters by now if the band hadn’t of kicked off the way it has! Music is obviously another hugely creative fiend to belong to so I’m not complaining at all. I wouldn’t deter anybody from getting an arts degree though. I think the experience was very positive.

You’ve mentioned before in interviews that it’s hard to name all the band’s influences because they are so broad. Is there one artist or group that you can all agree you hate, or love?
Nobody that we all love really. My favourite bands are not Jake’s favourite bands, and Dan’s favourite bands are not my favourite bands. Our tastes range from the extremely commercial to the experimental Brooklyn bands that nobody has heard of! I guess bands like TV on the Radio, Metronomy, Hot Chip, CSS are admired to some degree by everyone.

Are you travelling in style for The Big O tour?
We will be driving to all the NSW shows in our Cassette Kids Van. We’re going to fly to Melbourne and Brisbane because we’ve driven there before and it’s too damn far with five people squished in with all the gear.

Have you had any time off to get along to shows as a punter? Any amazing ones?
Lately I’ve been checking out some really new and young local acts. You forget that there is a whole new generation rising up. I saw the Cheveliars the other day. They are amazing and they’re like 15 years old! The Protectors are another band I’ve really enjoyed watching live.

What non-musical activities does the band get up to on the road?
Sleeping, playing Eye Spy and once we went through our set list with our mouths. That is mouth guitar, bass and beat boxing. It was shit and funny.

How has your mini-album We Are been received?
It’s got our name out there, which is what we really wanted to achieve. We’ve had some good radio support nationally and had clips played on rage, MTV, Channel V, Video Hits and son on. We have been writing new material for the album, so our head space is all in the – œnew’ right now!

When is your next release planned, will it be a studio long-player? Any producers, studios or locations in mind?
We have been working every day to get material together for our first album. We don’t want to rush it, so we’re just letting it take shape organically. We’ve been working a bit with Paul Mac and Mikey from Van She, so it’s been great to throw another perspective into the mix on a couple of tracks. As for the fine details, it’s too early to say. But we are really excited about the potential involvement of a few people we’ve been in conversation with.

Cassette Kids hit the road this month with The Big O tour, coming to a university near you.

Thursday 26 February – Queensbridge (over two levels), Melbourne
Friday 27 February – University of Sydney, Manning House
Saturday 28 February – University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus Amphitheatre, Brisbane
Tuesday 3 March – Australian National University Bar and Refectory, Canberra
Thursday 5 March – University of Wollongong, The Great Hall & Uni Bar
Friday 6 March – Newcastle Uni, Bar On The Hill & Outdoor Surrounds