Interview : The Silence In-Between

Interviews — 23 May 2011

Interview by Chris Martin

Up until recently, THE SILENCE IN BETWEEN haven’t really been making waves. But that’s all about to change with the upcoming release of their debut EP and the release of their first ever music video for track ‘Mistrust & Deceit’. For lead singer Juanita Pegrum and the crew, which also includes lead guitarist/keyboardist Sacha Tostevin, rhythm guitarist Robert Luxford, bassist Tim Attenborough and drummer Nathan Gaunt, the journey has been nothing short of eventful.

The cornerstones of the band were first laid in 2005, but that first gig did not come until 2009. Pegrum explains that it took time to find the right people. “We did have an ex-member, our former lead guitarist. We then got Lux and became a three piece. After a while Nate came to hang out, we had a few drinks and we decided to get this guy. He also brought Matt (Goodson, ex-bassist, now in Delusions Of Grandeur), then we found Sacha. Tim came in to replace Matt and here we are!” While four years is a long gestation period in anyone’s language, Pegrum states that after four years you would hope that the baby is well developed, which certainly seems to be the case with this band. “Plus”, adds Gaunt, “the band didn’t really exist until they got me!”

The band members seem more than familiar with themselves. Perhaps this is due to the fact that many of them met in high school back in the mid 1990’s. Both Luxford and Gaunt went to Balga Senior High School. Attenborough became friends with Luxford at the age of 14. And Gaunt was previously in a band with Tostevin before both joined The Silence In-Between. Tostevin elaborates on how he joined the band. “Nate asked me to join and I said no three times. It took a fourth!”

They all have different tastes in music, but there is some overlap. Tostevin’s tastes are split between 80’s legends such as Def Leppard, Metallica and Joe Satriani to modern rockers such as Tool and Disturbed. He’s also influenced by industrial metal bands such as Rammstein and Stabbing Westward, as well as Italian electronic musician Robert Miles. Attenborough represents the more extreme side of the band. He worships Sepultura, Soulfly, Slipknot, Burzum and Dying Fetus. On the lighter side of the band’s influences is Gaunt, a died-in-the-wool Blink 182 fan. He’s also a fan of The Offspring, Vera and D.R.U.G.S. The Blink 182 influence is also shared by Luxford. Luxford has also mentioned Boys Night Out, The Wonder Years and Set Your Goals. Pegrum has mentioned several bands with female lead vocalists as her influences, such as Flyleaf, Evanescense and Paramore. She’s also mentioned Eyes Set to Kill,Tonight Alive and of course, Blink 182.

With each member in their mid to late 20’s, they’ve obviously been around music for quite some time. Pegrum benefitted from studying music in high school and at Leederville TAFE. “I didn’t do any vocal training. I did keyboards and guitar in high school, the rest I learned from friends and family.” Luxford was introduced to music by his parent’s collection of John Farnham records. “In high school I did music in Year 9, but I was only learning these Spanish songs. My mate taught me Dammit by Blink 182 and it started there.” Gaunt cut his teeth on keyboards, but soon found his passion lay behind the drum kit. “I learned keyboards in high school, no offence to keyboard players but I thought it was gay. One day I saw a drum kit, my parents gave me the money and I bought it.” Attenborough benefitted from his older brother when it came to his musical background. “I’ve never had any real training. I watched my older brother play guitar for many years. One day I picked up his right-handed guitar, turned it upside down and once I got a right handed guitar I got better I suppose.” Tostevin also has his older brother to thank for his development. “My older brother helped introduce me to music. His was the first guitar I ever played, and I still appreciate the fact that he let me use it. I’ve been tutored in voice, guitar, keyboard, bass & woodwind. I was also in the Year 7 Choir”.

The turning point for the bands fortune’s came very early, in the form of winning a band competition hosted by now defunct Perth venue The Castle. The prize was three tracks worth of recording, which make up the entire EP. The video for ‘Mistrust & Deceit’ is an extra present. Pegrum explains the concept behind the video. “It’s a satire about female social settings. It’s about a friendship gone wrong, guys can relate to it to. You’ve got the seven deadly sins in it. It takes place at a pool party and all these random things happen. I want people to watch it and make up their own mind”.

Does the band have any opinions about Perth’s local scene?
“The venues that are around need bigger stages. We also need more quality venues north of the river. I think there also needs to be more support between bands. Half the people out there seem to be up themselves, we might as well support each other.”

The support cast for the launch is equally impressive; Hostile Little Face, Fools of April and Wing-It. Pegrum has nothing but positive words for the supporting bands. “We’ve gigged with Hostile Little Face and Fools Of April before. We try to match the genres of the band to the audience. We can’t just go with any band. Everyone can buy Nate a drink too.”

Once the EP is launched the band has more work to do, according to Pegrum. “Once we have an album out we’re looking at touring to promote that. So at the moment if we record our album and tour it I would like to go down south to promote it. I’d like to go overseas too, given we’ve got the right audience to promote it.”

Catch The Silence In-Between as they launch their debut EP at the Rosemount on Saturday June 18! Support comes from Hostile Little Face, Fools Of April and Wing-It)!