It is more than a myth that forging a career from the Western side of Australia poses many more challenges than other music hubs around Australia. The isolation, costs of travel, reduced market, and subsequent lessening of opportunities faced are definitely quite difficult to overcome. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No.
Perth alt-rockers Late 90s are living proof.
Drawing influence from the likes of alt-metal icons Deftones, alt-pop and rock legends Paramore, and emo kings Basement, LATE 90s have shaped their own sound into something reminiscent of past greats, all the while tying together elements of something so fresh and distinct. With over 2.1 million Spotify streams and having spent recent years touring with the likes of Neck Deep, Taking Back Sunday, State Champs, Hot Mulligan, Free Throw, Short Stack, Slowly Slowly, and more, the band have recently announced their inclusion on the 2025 BIGSOUND line-up, which will see them bringing the heat to Brisbane this September.
It is an opportunity well deserved for the rapidly emerging band, who hit the opposite side of the country to their home base from September 2 to 5, armed with their explosive new single Low and an appetite for success. HEAVY caught up with vocalist Steve Loreck to find out more. With over 120 bands performing over the three days of BigSound, HEAVY questions Loreck on why punters should mark the name of Late 90s on their to-see-list.
"I think we're the only heavy band playing out of Perth, so that's a definite reason," he replied. "There isn't that many bands that have got those heavier influences, so I think we do a good job of representing that more alternative scene. I think our music is not too heavy where people might be put off by it, but they might still enjoy it if they're not necessarily into the heavier stuff. So yeah, we're kind of the middle ground, I guess, for the punter. The music we make is a little different, so I think people will like it."
In the full interview, Steve tells us what BigSound means to emerging local artists and the Australian music scene, the networking side of the event and how best to handle it, a brief history of the band and their sound, their new single Low and how it represents Late 90s moving forward, future music and more.
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