What is your full name?
Gideon Preiss
How old are you?
32
What is your genre of music?
Alternative Folk. Or something like that..
Give us a little Bio of the you.
Myself and Husky grew up to the soundtrack of the great 60’s and 70’s harmonising bands like Simon and Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills Nash and Young. Singing and piano lessons were an important part of our childhoods and because we are family we shared all these things as little boys. Other things that featured around these years were the movies of Van Damme and 80’s pop hits that were on the radio at that time. We were lucky to have spent these years together but of course it was just normal life for us back then. When we were older we pursued different musical interests and it wasn’t until we were both well into our twenty’s that we starting making music together. In 2011 we released our first record Forever So and have since continued to work very closely together touring and making music until today.
How long have you been doing music?
I was always interested in music as a child and I have very fond memories of listening to records and hearing my brothers and cousins singing and playing. I learnt piano from an early age but didn’t really take to it until I was a teenager. I studied music throughout high school and was very lucky to have great teachers, mentors and young musicians to inspire me.
What made you go in to music?
I never had to make a choice to go in to music. It was something that just happened. I started gigging with my high school band (consisting of musicians I still play with today) and I never really stopped. I joined a number of bands after school and played around Melbourne taking small tours when I had the opportunity. Husky himself was on a different musical journey with more of a focus on writing. When we started seriously working together the partnership felt right and we wanted to keep exploring the kinds of music me could make together.
Are you a signed?
We are signed to different label’s in different territory’s. Liberation in Australia, Embassy of Music in Germany and Nevado Music in the US.
What instruments do you play?
My main instrument is piano and I also sing harmonies in the band. I play a few other instruments badly also.
Who are your influences?
I’ve always had very wide influences and there is so much great new music that my influences change with time. But I always come back to the great songwriters like Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon. I also grew up listening to lots of Jazz and soul music. Recently I’ve been listening to the Milk Carton Kids and Jonothan Wilson.
When will your new material be out?
We’ve just wrapped up a big period of touring in Europe and we’re finally home in Australia for a while. It will be the first time in a long time that we can sit and write in any routine way. So we will start working towards a new record to be recorded and released next year.
Will you be doing any gigs?
We have a homecoming gig coming up very soon in Melbourne and then it’s back to writing for a new record.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Inspiration can be a mysterious thing. Sometimes it’s hard to know where it comes from. Movies, books and great music is a tangible kind of inspiration but I like when it comes in more abstract ways – through dreams or strange interactions with people.
Where do you see yourself in 2-5 Years?
Hopefully still trying to mkae good music with good people.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Watch movies, drink coffee, read, cook.
If you could collaborate with one UK Artist who would it be?
Guy Garvey – an amazing singer and he seems like someone who’d have some good stories to tell.
If you could collaborate with one USA Artist who would it be?
Jonothan Wilson – he channels and pulls together so much about what I love in old recordings.
Where is your dream venue or festival to perform in UK?
Brixton Academy – because that’s where Faith No More’s live record was recorded and it’s a knockout!
Where is your dream venue or festival to perform in USA?
Not sure if you can really play there but I’d love an excuse to go to Burning Man.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Great Gig In the Sky – Pink Floyd. My piano teacher at the time taught me the chord changes and I played it obsessively as a teenager – jamming along with the vocal solo at the end of the tune.
What was the first song you wrote?
Not really sure but probably something corny for a girl in high school.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Our UK tour manager has given some words of advice over the years but nothing that I’d share in public so I’ll take Tom Waits’ advice and say ‘know how to take a punch.’ Not that he gave me that advice personally but its still pretty good..
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
‘Know how to take a punch’
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool“ – Shakespeare
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
- Money for a beer
- Good attitude
- Ear plugs
- Comfortable footwear
- A tambourine or harmonica to jam along
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
