Anna Smyrk and the Appetites are pleased to present their latest musical offering unto you.
Please find enclosed their latest single “Apocalypse”, the first single to be lifted from their forthcoming debut album of the same name.
a·poc·a·lypse n.
1. Great or total devastation; doom
2. A prophetic disclosure; a revelation.
“Apocalypse was written on a ukulele while I was staying at a beautiful beach on the Mornington Peninsula- hardly the setting for a song about the fiery end of human civilization. But it’s a place I’ve been going since I was a kid and there’s something about it that always makes me see things in a new light. That’s really what the song is about; becoming aware of great change, while everyone else seems to be able to ignore it.”
The single was produced by Craig Pilkington (ARIA award winner for his work with Gurrumul) and recorded at Audrey Studios in Melbourne, a process aided by a kilo of hummus and infinite cups of peppermint tea.
Apocalypse puts storytelling at its centre as it follows the protaganist’s reaction to a huge, destructive event that no one else seems to notice. Through both the form and the lyrics, change and destruction are hinted at while the rest of the world “sleeps right through it.”
Apocalypse features meticulously crafted lyrics complemented by Anna’s soaring vocals and the Appetites’ signature saxophone, guitar, drums and bass textures which punctuate her often dark and always captivating songs.
“Anna Smyrk’s songs have such a charm about them. There’s a graceful understanding of all that has gone before, coupled with a determination to express what she thinks and feels, in her own beautiful way. A glorious combination of talents.” – Charles Jenkins.
Anna Smyrk and The Appetites are:
Anna Smyrk: (vocals, piano, acoustic guitar)
Sally Rochlin: saxophone
Martin Rotolo: electric guitar
Jimmy Nicholas: bass guitar
Kein Jenkin: drums
Anna Smyrk and the Appetites won the Queenscliff Music Festival Foot-in-the-Door competition in 2009 and later performed at Port Fairy Folk Festival. Anna also participated in PUSH songs program, where she received one-on-one songwriting mentorship from Jeff Lang and Abbie Dobson (Leonardo’s Bride).
In 2012 the band released their debut EP “Belly of Winter”, which was recorded with ARIA award winning producer Craig Pilkington. The months following the release were spent touring almost constantly. Hauling a second-hand Jim’s Cleaning trailer full of gear around the country, Anna and the Appetites began to make connections with audiences from Ararat to Maroochydore, Adelaide to Katoomba. With the help of a grant from the Office of the Arts Contemporary Music Touring Program Anna was able to travel further afield than ever, launching her acclaimed single, “There’s a War” last November.
In 2013 Anna received funding from Arts Victoria to record her debut album. The theme of this album is the End of The World As We Know It. Scheduled for release in 2014, it shaping up to be a whirlwind of destruction, revelation and seeing the world anew.
About Anna: Anna is based in Melbourne and enjoys op-shopping, cups of tea and swimming in large bodies of water. She first entered the world of music at age 8 when she squealed on the violin for the very first time.
She is currently juggling many balls alongside her music, including working on her Anthropology thesis and volunteering with a local asylum seeker organisation.
TOUR DATES
Adelaide
27 June 8 pm: (SOLO) Jam Room Songwriters Circle
29 June 8 pm: Wheatsheaf Hotel
Supports:
Kelly Menhennet http://www.kellymenhennett.com
Courtney Robb http://www.courtneyrobb.com
30 June 3-6 pm: La Mar Sundays at the Glenelg Surf Club
Maroochydore
4 July 8 pm: Sol Bar
Brisbane
6 July 12-2:30 pm: Queen St Mall Main Stage
7 July 3-6pm: Lock n Load Bar
Sydney
10 July 8 pm: Manly Boatshed
11 July 8 pm: (SOLO) Artichoke Bar
This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria.
