Spotlight On: Southie

January 12, 2011 at 17:28 (Artist Profiles)
Tags: adelaide, emily smart, folk music, southie

Image courtesy of Southie

The veins of folk music run deeply in South Australia, which at times can be problematic because you really have to dig to find it. Throughout 2010 Southie was one of those artists that was just a surface-scratch away for the prospecting Australian music fan. In an interview with South Australian street press magazine Rip It Up, Triple J’s Home & Hosed presenter Dom Alessio said diplomatically on the topic of the absence of Adelaide artists in the Triple J Next Crop list-

“There are some fantastic Adelaide bands at the moment. I’m loving all the new stuff being released by Paper Arms, Steering By Stars, Southie and Pagen Elypsis. I think Adelaide is really strong and has a really unique musical voice.”

So there you have it, Australia’s most influential voice on emerging talent has Southie bookmarked. So how did an act that only released their debut EP in July last year manage to make such an impact so quickly? Well… there’s no secret master-stroke of marketing genius here, I’m sorry to say. Southie is simply another example of deserved success earned by fantastic song-writing.

Southie is the moniker of Tim Lucas, who is often accompanied live by fellow Adelaide song-writer Emily Smart; a fantastic artist in her own right who performs with her band under the name Emily Smart & the Clever Girls. With the aid of Arts SA, Southie released a debut EP Nobody Out There last year. The 8 track EP is a fantastic start-to-finish listen with radio-worthy singles scattered throughout. The first track “Wait Here” is reminiscent of William Fitzsimmons. Its quick, rhythmic guitar picking, which is practically percussive, is a motif that returns mid album in “Hey Love”- another personal favourite of mine. The overall sound of the EP feels like it’s derived from acoustic glitch-electronica acts like The Postal Service and early Electric President, but all the while it remains folky and organic, and never whole-heartedly crosses over that “indie” line. The song that probably best summarises Nobody Out There is the title track, and last song on the EP. As a man that finds a twisted excitement in all that’s melancholy- the single and music video (embedded below) appeals to me perfectly.

Southie is about to launch a tour interstate. Not all the dates have been finalised as yet, but Melbourne is definitely on the itinerary. Timber & Steel will keep you posted on the tour details as they are locked in.

Country of Origin: Australia (Adelaide)
Sounds Like: William Fitzsimmons, Electric President, The Postal Service
File Under: Folk pop, Indie Pop
Myspace: myspace.com/southiemusic