Gamba is a musical project that began in late 2014. At its core is lead singer Tessa S, the primary songwriter, and her four piece band, including permanent members Joe Simich and Kim Thair. After a year and a half of writing, rehearsing and playing tiny open mics in Perth, Gamba recorded their first five track release with the help of WAM award winning producer Matt Gio. Taking the various musical influences of Fleetwood Mac, Corrine Bailey Rae, Oasis and countless others, they moulded their first EP – a sonic artwork of love, loss, resentment, discontentment and rebirth.
“‘Leave The Boy Behind’ revels in the frustration of not letting go of someone, despite the consequences or personal ramifications, and celebrates the weakness of toxic attraction,” says songwriter Tessa on the creation of the track.
Read more about the band below.
How did the band come together?
We all came together at different times. Me and Kim (Drums) met in high school. I met Joe (Bass/Guitar) at a party at the end of my degree. Eventually we decided to get together and try a few of the songs I had written and the rest is history – give or take a few line-up changes.
Who or what has inspired your sound and debut track “Leave The Boy Behind?”
Leave The Boy Behind’ was written at a time where I had came out of a relationship and was making some bad decisions and felt quite guilty about the whole thing. It kind of occurred to me that it was pointless feeling awful as long as I was going to continue to make these choices, so I may as well enjoy it until I decided to make the right decision. That’s where the uptempo feel for the song comes from, amidst a pretty bleak situation.
Is there a story behind your band name?
It was actually a street name next to a place where we were getting together to rehearse and write the EP. I really wanted to remember that as I learned a lot from those first few months.
What is your favorite show memory?
We did a show back in February at The Odd Fellow in Fremantle which was so much fun. Our friends were the line up and the crowd was great, good vibes – just magic!
What would be your dream tour and why?
Fleetwood Mac World Tour because Stevie Nicks is just everything.
Tell us about your writing process; any unusual quirks?
I’m still exploring what my writing process is but currently I write the song at the piano, chords first and lyrics after and then we take it from there.
What’s your favorite song to cover?
We play ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac at most shows because no matter how many times you play it, that song just gets better.
If you were to create a “soundtrack to your life,” what songs would be on it?
It would be a big soundtrack – I listen to a lot! Fleetwood Mac would be a definite, some Oasis and I love Corrine Bailey Rae and Lianne La Havas. I’d need some different kinds of folk music too – Joanna Newsom is brilliant and I’ve recently been listening a great French folk band called Les Poules a Colin.
Would you like to add anything else?
‘Leave The Boy Behind’ is out on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud and we have an EP coming soon.
Filed under: Creation Stories Tagged: Creation Stories, gamba, leave the boy behind
