The Basics - Waltz Down Memory Lane

The Basics are undeniably the world’s most ironically named band. Formed in Melbourne in 2002 by Kris Schroeder (bass/vocals) and Wally de Backer (drums/vocals), and subsequently joined by Tim Heath (guitar/vocals), there is no other group which can lay claim to such impressive credentials, including: performances at the re-opened Marquee Club in London; tri-state Australian residencies; writing fiercely independent rock music that references sixties rock/pop, amongst many other genres; and releasing the unashamedly, original debut album, Stand Out/Fit In. And if this weren’t remarkable enough, they did this all off their own bat with no major record company in sight. The Dwarf decided to speak to Kris about all matters of nostalgia.

Tim once said they were “living the legend” with regards to touring and Kris did not need much encouragement when asked what The Basics’ legend would entail. “Bringing an honest, hard-working ethic back to being a band. We’ve played shows all around Australia and the world – all organised by us, all paid for by us, and we’ve carried our own gear every step of the way.”

“We’ve trundled through the streets of Tokyo in forty degree heat and 70% humidity, dressed in our cotton-wool blend suits, to catch three trains that’ll take us to a gig attended by thirty people. Afterwards, we’ll do the same back to the tiny apartment where we’re sleeping side-by-side on two mats in a friend’s lounge room. We have no manager, no agent and no record company to give us money or direction. If we don’t do it, then no one will step in and save our asses”.

The legend apparently began during the initial moments of the band’s first rehearsal. Kris recalls, “(My) earliest memory of being in The Basics is the first rehearsal Wally and I had, and me asking him if he could sing. He meekly said, ‘Oh, yeah, I can give it a go.’ I didn’t need to ask twice”.

Evidently, the band have grown up, something which will no doubt effect the work that has commenced on their sophomore album. Tentatively titled, Misery Is Currency, Kris reveals that it reflects the darker nature of the new material. “We’re going for something more natural-sounding, a record that better captures the vibe of what we’re like live – which I think most people would agree is still our greatest strength – and that can stand up alongside some of our favourite records…We’d like to more fully realise the potential that The Basics has as a creative unit. We’ve actually been talking about this album as potentially being a concept album! If you think about it, though, the idea of Misery Is Currency as a collection of dark-themed songs-for-sale is a concept in itself.”

Clearly these darker themes oppose the band’s self-proclaimed influences of ‘life’ and ‘love.’ Does Kris think a song needs to have an underlying message of love for it to be any good?

“Yes, a song needs to have an element of love…Music in general doesn’t, but those little three-four minute bits of it that we call songs definitely need heart. That can be love for a person or people in general, for the land (in Midnight Oil’s case), for the future, anything really – God obviously used to be a more popular topic, not that He’s disappeared yet. But a song does need to at least refer to love or its effects. There really isn’t any reason to care otherwise”.

In the meantime, Kris explains that the band have applied for a grant to tour Central and Northern Australia to play to some Aboriginal communities and a bunch of high schools, noting that the band would like to do a national high school tour. They also plan to finish the new album and return for further shows overseas.

As the interview draws to a close I remember Tim bragging on their Myspace blog about his ability to ‘talk shit’, and claims that his band mates can do likewise. I ask Kris if he had any final words, and he didn’t disappoint. “The word ‘Sincere’ comes from Greek times. In the original Greek, it means 'sun-tested'. Back in the day, merchants sold very fine porcelain that was greatly valued and therefore expensive. Sometimes when it was fired in the kiln, tiny cracks would appear. Dishonest merchants would smear pearly-white wax over these cracks, which would pass for unblemished porcelain - unless it was held up to the light of the sun. Honest merchants marked their wares “sine cera” - 'without wax'”.

Ladies and gentlemen, here is a band that know the origins of sincerity and create their own exciting rock music that many argue is the epitome of it, as these boys continue to honestly play out life according to their own chords.

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