The Examiner reached out to Party in the Paddock's Launceston artists to hear their plans for the festival's last event.
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It will take place at in White Hills from February 6-8.
RELATED: Full PITP lineup unveiled
Medhanit
Q: What is your background?
A: I've grown up performing and writing acoustically, only this year beginning to transition into the world of production. For most of my childhood, I was usually on stage to dance but in high school, I decided to focus on music. I love writing, so songwriting quickly became a natural part of my existence.
During high school, I began gigging and after playing acoustic sets at Mona Foma and Junction Arts Festival I knew that I wanted to take my creative journey further.
Q: How long have you been performing for?
A: Since primary school, I have performed with just my guitar or piano to accompany me, but only recently began produced shows.
Q: How'd you form, what have you been doing in the lead up to getting here, etc?
A: At the beginning of the year I began working with Jack McLaine (Sumner) as a producer. From that point on, his support, insane creativity and innovative production values have been instrumental in building a signature sonic experience as Medhanit.
Through the recording and production of my upcoming debut single Her, we began aiming for the creation of a live set with Emma Anglesey on percussion and Charlie Pyecroft on synths. My first show was at the Junction Arts Festival. Like Jack, Charlie and I didn't properly meet until Emma's album launch where the collaboration idea started. Emma has been an invaluable force in my music journey, and when I decided to make the leap into creating a live set she pretty much instantly volunteered to drum. Over the past months we have focused on creating an introspective, yet dynamic set.
Q: Is this the biggest festival you've played at?
A: It's definitely up there. I've been lucky enough to play Mona Foma's Block Party and Faux Mo as part of their festival lineup and am set to feature in MOFO 2020, but Party in the Paddock will be such a new experience.
Q: Are you excited to play at PITP? Why?
A: I am so stoked to be on the lineup; to be involved in such a charismatic and iconic live music event is exciting. It feels like the perfect setting to share my newly-crafted live set and to have the opportunity to perform on the Party in the Paddock stage is something I am very grateful for.
Q: What can crowds expect from your performance?
A: A high-energy set. I'll definitely be having a groove so you can expect that, too.
In terms of the content, my writing explores provocative themes such as cultural and racial matters, drawing inspiration from my own and others' social experiences. But, most of all, I'm fascinated with the human condition. Feelings of both broken and divine love, crippling jealousy, conflict and peace; how we emotionally evolve.
Q: What excites you most about the PITP lineup?
A: There is such a wonderful mix of artists, which I think is important and makes for an insanely fun and engaging festival.
Q: Who are you most excited to see?
A: I can't wait for Matt Corby, Mallrat and Cosmo's Midnight.
Q: Who would you liken your music to?
A: I would say Angie McMahon and Lorde my biggest musical influences.
RELATED: PITP to call it quits
The Embers
Q: What is your background?
A: The Embers have become one of Tasmania's most sought after live bands attracting a diverse crowd not often seen in the same room together, since forming in 2012. The five-piece blends a heady mix of reggae, funk and dance all wrapped up in a kicking high tempo live show. It doesn't matter who you are or what floats your boat, if you catch the group's live show then you're going to find something to connect to.
The success of The Embers has seen them selected to play many a festival stage, including Falls Festival, Party in The Paddock, The Basin Concert, Cygnet Folk Festival, Jackeys Marsh Forest Festival, Junction Arts Festival and Swagger Festival. The bands' appeal has also opened doors for The Embers to support some amazing international and national acts such as The Violent Femmes, Ash Grunwald, The Beautiful Girls, Bomba, The Red Eyes, Lior and Faker.
In 2015, the group realised a long-term dream and recorded a full-length album "Bright" with Nicky Bomba as producer (Bomba, John Butler Trio, Bustamento Melbourne Ska Orchestra) and sound engineer Robin Mai (John Butler Trio, Augie March The Cruel Sea).
The Embers released and toured their debut album Bright nationally in 2015 2016 introducing themselves to new friends and audiences around the country. The long-time friends continue to play shows across Tasmania while working on the new album for 2020.
Q: How long have you been performing for?
A: Seven years in and around Tasmania and have performed at the major festivals and venues in the state with a national tour in 2016.
Q: How'd you form, what have you been doing in the lead up to getting here, etc?
A: The group of friends got together in 2011 and worked on a couple of songs the singer had written, everyone clicked and then the group started composing together. Embers got some cool shows at Junction and Falls Festival in 2012 which helped the group gather momentum and play heaps of shows in the following years.
In 2014, the band realised a huge dream and hooked up with producer Nicky Bomba and recorded its first album. The album was released and toured nationally during 2015 and 2016. The band is currently working with producer Laurence Maddy to record the second album in Tasmania due for release in early 2020.
Q: Is this the biggest festival you've played at?
A: This, and Falls Festival Marion Bay.
Q: Are you excited to play at PITP? why?
A: Very excited and pumped to play at PITP. We love PITP. We played Party in the Paddock in its early years and have witnessed the festival grow from a local party on a small truck to a full-blown major national festival.
Q: What can crowds expect from your performance?
A: Uptempo very original style music which tips its hat to dance rock reggae pop.
Q: What excites you most about the PITP lineup? Who are you most excited to see?
A: I'm digging the variation in the lineup and the two stages that run together. I'm most excited to see Hermitude as they have been rocking the scene and changing it up for a while. Also pretty keen for Matt Corby, Odette, The Chats, Confidence man, Isla Ka, Briggs, Denni and discovering bands I don't know yet.
Q: Who would you liken your music to?
A: Ah that's always a tough one. It's definitely NOT like Slayer, One Direction or the Spice Girls, but it is a little like The Embers. I have asked followers on our Facebook and they find our music hard to define and very unique which is great because this is what we have been all about since the beginning. Some comments on the posts said Dave Mathews Band, Michael Franti, Mumford Sons and Bob Marley. I guess you'll need to come and check us out and see what you think?
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: So proud of the PITP crew who have the passion and drive to put this on. They are the real deal a lot of them being musicians themselves and they have created this festival coming from an honest and music-loving place. Cannot wait to get amongst it all.
Denni
Q: What is your background?
A: My name is Denni Louise Proctor, I am a pakana woman and the collaborative artist known as DENNI based in Launceston.
Community is a big part of my background, I started out as a cultural dancer and social activist. I didn't find music until I was 20, I started busking in Launceston mall and playing at community barbecues.
Some friends helped me start up my music page and I started uploading music mostly through Triple J Unearthed which led to me opening Marion Bay Falls for Triple J and many other opportunities like supporting Uncle Archie Roach at putalina for our annual Tasmanian Aboriginal community festival, big jumps.
Without my community's support, I wouldn't have been able to turn what I love to do into a career. I now work as a singer-songwriter, actor, trainee puppet maker and designer for theatre.
I have been really lucky to be heavily involved in PITP as a cultural liaison, dancer and artist. I think this will be my sixth time on the lineup.
Q: How'd you form, what have you been doing in the lead up to getting here, how long have you been performing for?
A: DENNI has been my music project since 2013, it has given me the freedom to collaborate with other artists and write whatever music I want.
Sometimes it's political, sometimes it's about love and loss, but mostly it's a platform I've created to have the freedom to express myself and share that with people. Music has opened a lot of doors for me to play all over the country, but mostly I've been active in Tassie.
Some of my best memories are getting to be on the PITP lineup, the first back in 2013. I have also performed all the Welcome to Countries for the festival.
Being given the chance to play at the very last PITP 2020 has given me the push to get back in the studio. I have been lucky enough to find a good vibe with Alex O'leary (AO) and Max Bladel (hipOmokE) and they will be joining me on the Vibestown Stage. I think it's safe to say expect a hip-hop-inspired EP in early 2020.
Q: What can crowds expect from your performance?
A: They can expect to have a good time because that's exactly what I will be doing. Sharing the stage with mates, performing some fresh material and maybe a few oldies, who knows I might even wear a dress.
Q: Is this the biggest festival you've played at?
A: No, but it is definitely the most involvement I have had with a festival. If I put all the sets I've played over the years together it would add up to a big crowd. PITP has been a big platform for me and many other local artists to perform.
Q: Are you excited to play at PITP? why?
A: It's always really exciting to be on a lineup with big names, it gives me a lot of drive to keep performing and writing new music. I am most excited to hang out with my mates and watch Matt Corby, Briggs, Sneaky Sound System, Claire Anne Taylor, Jay Jarome Band and to hear some new music, too.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: PITP has been the best run of festivals and I want to give a massive shout out the crew behind it all for creating so many special memories for tens of thousands of people over the years, and for allowing me to share my music and culture.
- Hurricane Youth and Isla Ka were also contacted.