News: Troye Sivan Heading Back to Australia

Troye Sivan has announced the dates for his highly anticipated ‘Something To Give Each Other’ tour, scheduled for November. Following the successful sell-out of arenas across Europe, the rapidly rising pop sensation will perform in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney.

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With over twenty-six billion streams and ten million adjusted albums sold worldwide, Troye Sivan has firmly established himself as a global music icon. Raised in Perth, Australia, Sivan first captured attention with his EPs ‘TRXYE’ (2014) and ‘Wild’ (2015), before achieving platinum status with his debut album ‘Blue Neighbourhood’ and gold status with his sophomore album ‘Bloom.’

His latest album, ‘Something To Give Each Other,’ earned Sivan two Grammy nominations, four ARIA Awards, and nearly 250 million album streams. In 2024, he won Song of the Year at the APRA Awards for ‘Rush,’ with the album also being shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize.

Beyond music, Sivan has carved out a remarkable presence in film and television, aligning himself with fashion titans like Prada, Valentino, Gucci, Cartier, and Yves Saint Laurent. His influence extends deeply into LGBTQI+ representation, a commitment recognized by accolades such as the GQ Man of the Year award in Australia and multiple MTV Europe Music Awards.

TROYE SIVAN: SOMETHING TO GIVE EACH OTHER 2024 BY LIVE NATION & SMIRNOFF
Tour Support: Nick Ward
Tues 19th Nov 2024 – The Drive, Adelaide
Thurs 21st Nov 2024 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Tues 26th Nov 2024 – Riverstage, Brisbane
Thurs 28th Nov 2024 – Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney

Head over HERE for ticketing information.

Pleasant Mob • 2024

At a glance Pleasant Mob evokes a carefree spirit, but below the surface, their uncluttered compositions are a comforting utopia. Their judicious use of tone, color, and melody strike the perfect balance between masculine and feminine energy – take that Piet Mondrian. Their clarity and resolved tension has smoothed down the sharp edges of rock and roll into a joyous flower powered jangle.

For the Sake of the Song: Creedence Clearwater Revival “Lodi”

Getting a namecheck in a song is one way for a town to bring in tourists. Winslow, Arizona will forever be deemed a place to take it easy but for one town in northern California, a song reference provided something of a mixed blessing. Lodi is on Route 99 between Stockton and Sacramento and in 1969 it became the inspiration for a song about failure. A young John Fogerty was leading Creedence Clearwater Revival to international fame when he heard the town’s name and thought it sounded just the kind of place he might end up in if the band’s success proved short-lived. The very sound of the place – pronounced Load-eye – seemed unusual and Fogerty imagined himself scraping a living with barely enough to catch a Greyhound bus home.

In little more than three minutes, the song describes a young singer setting out on the road, “Seekin’ my fame and fortune/And lookin’ for a pot of gold”. But over the years “things got bad and things got worse” as the contacts are lost and the audience becomes a crowd of disinterested drunks. Wishing that he had a dollar for every song sung in such surroundings, he confronts reality with a refrain that concludes each of the four verses – “Oh Lord, I’m stuck in Lodi again”.

It’s often supposed that Creedence may have played a dismal show there, or broken down in their van, or that the song is autobiographical in some way, but Fogerty maintains that it is a piece of pure imagination. The apparent simplicity of the song disguises its genius for the story resonates with anyone who has ever wanted to stand in front of an audience.

Perhaps the mark of a great song is that it can be played in almost any style, from campfire to concert hall. The easy chord structure and spare arrangement make it suitable for a solo act but over the years it’s been covered by artists as wide-ranging as Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam on the one hand and Ronnie Hawkins and Bo Diddley on the other. Blues and bluegrass versions work well, from Freddie King to Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers and a year after its release it was given the full orchestral treatment by Tom Jones on American TV. The Welshman belts it out with the same powerful delivery that Fogerty employs in a song like ‘Fortunate Son’ and there’s a similarity in their voices but the presence of a full string and brass section makes it harder to believe Sir Tom is playing alone in a dive-bar. Unlike Tina Turner’s big-band treatment of ‘Proud Mary’, it’s a song that is more suited to a plaintive vocal such as the versions by Shawn Colvin and the American blues singer Janiva Magness. These cut to the quick.

In 2013, Fogerty himself released a new version of ‘Lodi’, accompanied by his sons Shane and Tyler, who also play in his touring band. It’s a freewheeling, thumping blues in the manner of Canned Heat’s version of ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’. It works well.

Fifty-five years after he wrote ‘Lodi’, Fogerty continues to tour with his enduring songs and at his 2023 UK shows, a bottle of champagne was brought onstage in order for him to toast the reacquisition of their copyright. In amongst the string of well-known hits was ‘Lodi’. Originally released as the ‘B’ side of ‘Bad Moon Rising’, it’s up there with the best of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Thankfully things didn’t end badly for John Fogerty, nor indeed did the townspeople of Lodi suffer, for the phrase “Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again” is always the first thing they hear when a tourist drops by to check out this thriving town in the Californian wine country.

What Happens To Your Studio When You Die?

Have vintage gear? You may want to get your things in order and make an estate plan or your studio could end up in the bin…

It’s not the kind of thing you usually think about, but you will die. Eventually, we all do. Hopefully, that happens naturally after a long and fulfilling life. However, if it should happen sooner than later, do you have all of your end-of-life preparations in order?

If you’re like most people, you don’t. It’s not something that young people tend to think about. And that includes music producers. But if you have anything even remotely valuable in your studio – vintage synthesizers or drum machines, costly gear, a fully loaded computer – you may want to consider what will happen to it if you should suddenly pass away. 

Because if you don’t make up an estate plan, it’s probably going into the trash.

What is an Estate Plan?

To make sure that your musical equipment ends up where you want it to, you’ll need to make a will. This is known as an estate plan. Laws around estate plans differ from country to country (and in the US, often from state to state) but the following should give you a general idea about them.

“An estate plan ensures that your wishes are respected and your legacy is preserved,” said Patricia De Fonte, JD, L.LM, Founder of De Fonte Law. De Fonte Law is a boutique estate planning firm in California that works with artists, musicians and writers.

“An estate plan is a set of legal documents and instructions that outlines how you want your assets,” she continued, “including musical instruments and gear and other possessions, to be managed and distributed after you pass away. It also includes details about who will take care of your responsibilities if you suddenly cannot.”

How to Make an Estate Plan

You need to create an estate plan to leave your studio gear to someone. In it, you have to say who you want to receive your property clearly. This can include anything and everything you own, from your synths and samplers to the cords that connect them.

You’ll also need to make a list of all the things that you want to bequeath.

Next, you should choose an executor. This is the person that you will entrust to make sure your wishes are carried out. “It might be that you name a close family member to oversee your estate,” said Patricia, “but (you could choose) another musician or industry professional to oversee … the distribution, sale or donation of your equipment and gear.”

Finally, you should store your estate plan somewhere safe and let someone, likely the executor, know where it is.

When Should You Make an Estate Plan?

We tend not to think about dying when we’re busy living, but perhaps we should. If you suffered an unfortunate accident tonight, would you be comfortable with what happened to your studio? If it’s just a 2017 PC, Scarlett Solo and a pair of Rokit 5s you might not be too concerned. However, if you’ve just spent the last three years building up a professional studio with high-class gear and enviable vintage instruments, you may want to start thinking about end of life preparations. 

“It’s never too early to start thinking about making an estate plan,” urged Patricia. “Even young people should consider it, especially if they have valuable items like music gear.”

[quote align=right text=”If you’ve just spent the last three years building up a professional studio with high-class gear and enviable vintage instruments, you may want to start thinking about end of life preparations”]

Is a Homemade Will Legally Binding?

Say that you decide it’s worth it to make an estate plan. Surely you can just write up a list of your things and who gets them, and that’s good enough? Unfortunately, no. You can’t just dash out, “I (your name) being of sound mind and body…” There are rules to follow.

“A homemade estate plan can be legally binding,” clarified Patricia, “but it must meet strict legal requirements. This usually includes being written clearly, signed by you, and witnessed correctly. However, it is safer to get professional help to avoid any mistakes that could make your estate plan invalid.”

What Happens to Your Studio if You Don’t Make an Estate Plan?

Should you pass without having made an estate plan, the law will decide who gets your possessions. This is called being intestate and it varies depending on where you live. However, it usually means that your immediate family inherits your belongings. 

“This might not align with your wishes,” said Patricia, “so it’s better to make an estate plan to have control over who gets what.”

In the worst case scenario, as when immediate family can’t be located, your items will be disposed of quickly – and that can mean throwing everything away.

Who Should You Give Your Gear To?

Who to gift your gear to in your estate plan is entirely up to you. It could be your musical partner or bandmates, or it could be friends or fellow musicians. 

You may want to consider donating some or all of your gear to a local school or charity. Some charities, like Save The Children, have policies in place to help you bequeath items to them in your will. 

[quote align=right text=”In the worst case scenario, as when immediate family can’t be located, your items will be disposed of quickly – and that can mean throwing everything away”]

The Vintage Synthesizer Museum

If you have particularly rare pieces of gear in your collection, one such recipient could be the Vintage Synthesizer Museum in Los Angeles. VSM is an interactive museum and electronic music recording studio. You would be sure of your gear being used and cared for.

Vintage Synthesizer Museum

“If someone was looking to leave their studio to VSM, we would certainly prefer to have a discussion about what that would look like,” said Lance Hill, the curator at the Vintage Synthesizer Museum. “That being said, a discussion in advance isn’t always an option and we would certainly be open to taking in whatever gear was being offered.”

Lance encourages anyone thinking of leaving their gear to VSM to discuss it with their immediate family before doing so. Interested parties can email Lance to discuss the details.

The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

Another possibility is the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to making the inventions of the late founder of ARP accessible to the public. We spoke with Dina Pearlman-Ifil, Executive Director, about gifting any ARP gear to the foundation.

Attack: Are you open to people leaving you their vintage gear when they pass?

Dina Pearlman-Ifil: Yes, we are. We believe the instruments belong in the hands of artists to make new soundscapes and this should not be cost prohibitive to the musician. One of our main projects, ARPs for All, enables these often rare synthesizers to be played by musicians of all levels and means. 

If so, how should people arrange this? 

People can reach out to me at any time via . We can discuss what works best for you. In many cases, a donation of an instrument is considered tax deductible. We can arrange for shipping or pick-up if necessary. If it’s been in storage for a long period of time, we suggest that the instrument not be turned on without consultation, and either inspected by a professional vintage synthesizer restoration expert or sent to us to give the instrument new life.

Do you prefer that they speak with you ahead of time?

I am always happy to chat with someone about this. I know firsthand that dealing with estate planning is emotional and one thing we can assure is that the instruments will live on. We are happy to create a plaque to memorialize the original owner, and/or include a story on our website about the history of the synthesizer.

In part two of this series, we’ll look at what happens to your music – your copyrights, your publishing rights, and even your voice and likeness – when you die.

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