Mandy Nolan
There is clearly something in the water around Byron Bay, and it’s not fluoride! A wave of super-talented young bands seems to keep washing through. The most recent is Tora, a five-piece who effortlessly fuse acoustic indie pop with alt-electronica to produce lush, pulsing soundscapes threaded with seductive melodies.
Jo Loewenthal, Tobias Tunis, Jai Piccone, Thorne Davis and Shaun Johnston all went to a Rudolph Steiner school in the small NSW north coast town of Mullumbimby. They first came to attention through the 2010 Mullumbimby Music Festival Youth Mentorship Program, and were booked for the festival in their own right the following year. Seven spoke with Jo on the eve of their gig at the Byron Surf Festival.
Jo, how did attending Shearwater impact on your musicality? Who were the people there that influenced your musical development? (Am I right in thinking that quite a few of you were old school buddies?)
As a hyperactive and easily excitable child, I was a nightmare for any classroom unless it involved hands-on action.
Luckily Shearwater harnessed this energy in music class by providing a hands-on learning environment, which encouraged us to create our own music. To this day I strive to be unique with my music as a result.
Who are the musicians that have most influenced you?
I have been making music with Shaun and Toby since the start of high school, which is seven years ago now. We have all influenced each other more than anyone else; our differences in musical taste shine through in the music we make.
Over the period of my career my musical tastes have changed dramatically but the first names that come to mind are John Mayer, James Blake and Bon Iver. All of these artists drove me to obsession and inspired me to make better music.
How did the Mullum Music Festival Youth Mentorship Program assist your musical development? Was it an integral part of your early musical path?
The youth mentorship program has helped us make invaluable connections in the music industry. As a young artist it is hard to know what to do with your talent, so I think the program gives a sense of direction and is a great way to get your foot in the door.
Is there a song that you love that you think ‘I wish I had written that!’
There are many songs that I wish I had written but if I had to choose one it would be Gravity by John Mayer; it’s so perfectly simple and solemn.
Tell me a little about your new debut EP – where did you record it? Who with?
We recorded the EP in one of our garages, which was difficult because of the bad acoustics. We took it upon ourselves to self-produce the whole thing, which we soon realised was easier said than done.
What did you set out to achieve with the feel and sound of it?
We set out to create something that anyone could easily listen to. We wanted a soothing sound with lots of space and dynamics.
How close did you get?
I feel that we achieved what we set out to achieve but there is always room for improvement, which is an exciting prospect, and I think any good artist would agree.
What are the stand-out tracks for you?
This is a question that I have been asked a lot and my answer remains the same: to me Calming Her is the most interesting and I think it best represents the sound of Tora. My next favourite is Due To Lies, when I play it on my nice big sound system; the synth just massages my brain after a long day.
What should we expect for your performance at the Byron Surf Festival?
When we play live we do everything in our power to recreate the sound of Tora on record. It’s a challenge having five people in a band that plays such a minimalist style of music; a lot of the time there are only one or two musicians playing at once.
You can expect to see five young men enjoying themselves and hopefully enjoying the weather.
TORA debut self-titled EP is out now on iTunes and www.toramusic.bandcamp.com.
Saturday 6pm Byron Bay Surf Festival, Apex Park, Byron Bay – FREE, all ages. Later that evening at the Hotel Great Northern 9pm supporting Sticky Fingers.
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