SWIFT AND CUNNING
One thing that can be said of Canberra’s music scene is that it’s surrounded and populated by friends. As a small but cosy audience sang along to a particularly beautiful POCKET FOX song at The Front just a few weeks ago, this truth was perfectly epitomised.
Sometimes it takes a village of musicians and friends to raise a band and help put out its debut EP. Luciana Harrison, frontwoman of Pocket Fox, said the achievements of the band are thanks to a lot of support from a lot of people.
“The first thing I think about when we’re talking about ourselves and this whole process is how grateful we all are,” she said.
Bass clarinet player Nicola Menser Hearn agreed wholeheartedly. “I think Pocket Fox has really done well from the supportive and kind Canberra local music scene. Our EP wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the kind people who helped us out along the way.”
You might recognise some familiar faces amongst the eight members of Pocket Fox. The talented and diverse musicians largely come from other local groups and, together, have created a unique style that’s hard to label.
Folk, jazz, pop, rock ‘n’ roll and a capella are all present at a Pocket Fox gig. You can even spot the occasional tribute to Latino and African music and all of this is held together with 1950s sweetheart harmonies.
Luciana said of the band’s style, “When it comes to arranging we have such an interesting group of instruments that the possibilities are just endless. I think we also have that intention to always make songs kind of unique unto themselves.”
Along with such a distinct and interesting sound, the ever-endearing onstage swishes of playful sundresses make this band somewhat irresistible.
Later this month the band is gearing up to launch their first EP, which was recorded in a lounge room, a studio, Llewellyn Hall and a strange place called Charlie’s Forrest Hall. The latter was in a spot just outside of Braidwood, which featured murals of transvestite robots among other things.
Nicola said the bizarre hall worked well for the group. “[It had] really good acoustics and it’s just a really great place to be creative I think because it’s just a really quirky place.”
Luciana added, “Because there’s no phone connection or anything it was just a really nice spot to go and camp out for a couple of days.”
If you haven’t caught the Foxes at any of their recent gigs, it’s well worth getting along to one of their upcoming shows. The band will soon be temporarily out of action while Luciana heads to Colombia but the group will be booking a few festivals for this summer.
The EP will be launched on Friday June 24 at the White Eagle Polish Club. Cathy Petocz, and Joe Oppenheimer and James Fahy will be ably supporting them. $10 entry or $15 with an EP.
