Two of Western Australia’s highest-flying exports – Birds Of Tokyo and Little Birdy – are making the trek to Splendour In The Grass this month. Before they get airborne, we asked Little Birdy’s Katy Steele to put Birds Of Tokyo bassist Anthony Jackson through his paces.

Katy: If you could share the stage with any other band/artist (dead or alive) at any festival around the world, who and where would it be?
Anthony: The Beatles of course, ha ha.

If there was actually “something in the water” in Perth, what would you like it to be?
There is something in the water, chlorine! Too much of it. My shower smells like the local indoor pool.

Perth or Fremantle and why?
I live in Perth and that is where our studio is located. I ride a bike so everything is nice and close. Leederville is great for food, coffee and shopping. Fremantle has a stronger “vibe” though. It has a sense of culture that is absent in Perth. I am considering moving to Fremantle!

You have done everything independently in BOT and had great success so far. What do you think is the key to getting your music heard without a major label behind you, and how important do you think the internet has become for independent bands?
We remain independent and sub-contract people that we need to get us in the right places. The internet has changed everything, though there are pros and cons. Platforms like MySpace and Facebook have bridged the gap between fan and artist and allow you to promote without any borders. The internet also has brought about the age of music piracy, which is forcing the industry into a major shift. Everything is evolving and working itself out. The industry will adapt and it will ultimately benefit both artist and consumer.

Who would win a game of table tennis – BOT or Karnivool?
We are about to set up a table tennis rig in our studio, so I guess pretty soon we’ll be experts. They will be the tighter band though, because they will be rehearsing instead of playing table tennis all day.

You’re back in Perth now (in between festival appearances) working on your third record. What can we expect to hear next from the mighty ‘Birds’, or are you as anxious as your fans to hear what happens next?
We are very excited about what we are working on at the moment. For the first time, we are really pushing our musical abilities. Everything up till now has just been composed in a rehearsal room. We now have the facilities and time to really look at what we are doing and give the songs everything they need to reach their potential. The material that has come out so far is our finest work to date.

You took home five winners cakes at this year’s WAMI Awards. How does it feel to be so well received by your home town fans and peers?
It is really nice. WAM have been great to us.

Are there any plans for you chaps to head overseas soon to have a crack at other territories?
We recently showcased at SXSW. That was our first attempt to take our music to the world. We are in contact with people in the US and are looking to release there. We are trying to find something that will suit us here and abroad.

Birds Of Tokyo and Little Birdy play Splendour In The Grass at Belongil Fields on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July.