A QUICK CHAT WITH IVEY
photo credit: Natasha Leisakowska + Esme Dyer
Congratulations on the release of your new EP “Silver Linings” ...it’s a beautiful collection of songs that deal with heartbreak, loss, love and healing. You mention it serves as a poignant reflection of the experiences shared by you all over the past two years. Can you tell us a bit about that and how you dealt with these themes to create this inspiring EP.
Over the last 2 years, we have all been heavily effected by the loss of Lachie and Matts father. He was not only a dad, but a friend, our tour manager and our biggest supporter. Since we came together 10 years ago, Adam was there cheering us on. We all hadn’t really experienced such loss or tragedy before - especially in the circumstances of suicide. Writing about the impact of Adams passing and dealing with all forms of mental health became something we felt passionate about. It has been a seldom and healing process trying to put these emotions into songs but something we are proud of.
Tell us how the band Ivey came together and how it has evolved from then til now?
Wow, we have some lore. So - Lachlan and Matthew are brothers. So there’s blood!! And Dante became their best friend and next door neighbour at the age of 5. When the three boys were around age 11-12, they formed a band together, as they had all been taking music lessons. Fast forward to 2013. A 15 year old Lachie was at a house party hosted by none other than Millie’s parents. Sometime towards the end of the evening Millie’s parents begged her to bring out the guitar and sing for everyone. Keep in mind, Millie was only 12! Somehow or another, Lachie ended up finding another guitar, and together they performed a rendition of Maroon 5’s Sunday Morning. Lachie was so blown away by Millie’s singing, that he asked her to join the band there and then....and the rest is history.
You have relocated from the Gold Coast to London – how have you found the move so far and how has it inspired your music and live shows?
The move has been an absolute whirlwind. Navigating a new city with new cultural experiences and a totally different industry has been interesting - yet so fun. The London scene has a place for everyone (at least I feel it does), so our first shows felt like we had already been accepted into the scene. Its been such a creative fulfilling city with all the talented producers, songwriters and locations at arms reach.
Can you tell us a bit about the creative process for creating “Silver Linings”?
The EP came together actually across a few years of writing, scrapping songs, arguing with each other and a lot of learning. Most of this record was self produced and written entirely by the band - which is a new adventure for us. We spent a lot of time together in Matt’s little studio and Chris Zanes studio, working out how to make this record cohesive and true to our feelings and stories.
What do you hope people will take away from “Silver Linings”?
I think the beauty of making music is that someone can take away something entirely different from the next person. We hope people can relate to emotion, feel nostalgic and if possible - help them in a time when they need it. At the very least - we want people to feel our genuine we are through our music.
You supported some incredible bands including Vacations, Last Dinosaurs, Delights, THE GROGANS, Confidence Man, Lime Cordiale, Ruby Fields, Middle Kids, Cub Sport and more. Tell us how these experiences have influenced Ivey in the studio and performance style?
We take great pride in our live shows, so being able to experience first hand how some of our favorite acts play live - has really pushed us to become better. I think seeing that acts can make mistakes, laugh, have fun, play sad songs night in and night out - is a surreal lifestyle. All of us are love what we do, and I think the passion hasn’t died for artists that we have toured with; which keeps our little flame going too!
Which Australian bands are you listening to at the moment?
Royel Otis, 1tbsp and Daste are on our heavy rotation currently!
What does Ivey do when not making music and performing?
- Surviving in this big bad world (and working). We also love socializing with each other outside music, catching up for a beer, coffee, exercising together. Thats what happens when you work with your best friends.
Tell us a fun fact about each other that people wouldn’t know?
Dante has had 5 ingrown toe nails.
Millie is a qualified massage therapist.
- Lachie was school captain of his high school. - Matt has never broken a bone.
What’s coming for Ivey this year?
- We are releasing our EP and playing shows - stay tuned!