INTERVIEWS
"There's magic all over": Badger on touring off the beaten track
The UK artist is down under for the first time, & keen to see as much of it as he can.
Our capital cities can no longer contain all of the excitement for electronic music, it’s spilling over. All over every international artist’s tour announcement, there’s countless calls to visit capital and regional cities that have been sadly overlooked or simply don’t make sense timing wise.
While Meanjin/Brisbane, Kaurna/Adelaide and Boorloo/Perth are some of the most vocal cities in these situations, more and more we’re seeing artists step a bit further afield to entertain crowds in lesser toured areas.
The United Kingdom’s Badger (he/him) is one of those artists. His recent tour, taking him to Naarm/Melbourne, Meanjin, Kaurna and Kiarama/Kiama, has demonstrated the intense hunger for international acts across every corner of the country.
In a brief sit down with Mixmag ANZ, it became clear that touring to less visited national stops was something that Badger, and artists like him, stand to gain a huge amount from too.
Q: What’s excited you most about coming to Australia?
B: The heat, the fun loving culture, the incredible countryside & wildlife. There’s always such good clubs and such good crowds. Going to the other side of the world to play music and connect with people is truly a blessing.
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Q: Do you think UK artists are catching on to the idea of an Australian Summer?
B: I mean it makes sense doesn’t it. Escaping the dreary, dark at 4pm, January blues of the UK seems like a no brainer! I’m excited to experience that for the first time very soon.
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Q: In what ways do you think that rural Australia & the English countryside are similar?
B: Not many to be honest! I guess both countrysides have rocky areas? But Australia's is far more varied, rich and dense.
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Q: How do you think that they’re different?
B: The English countryside can be beautiful, but the Aussie countryside has far more to offer. From deserts to rainforest, with a breathtaking multitude of animals and wildlife.
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Q: Why do you think that bringing world class artists outside of capital cities is important?
B: To spread the sound and culture as far and wide as possible! International and local music shouldn’t just be kept within the big cities. It makes sense that they would have the most popularity amongst metropolitan areas, but I think it’s still super important to be testing sounds in more rural spots.
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Q: Do you have any memories of seeing big artists in smaller towns when you were younger?
B: I would say not really, but I guess this shows it's a sign we need to have more of it!
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Q: What do you hope for the future of touring? Do you want more experiences like playing in locations similar to Kiama?
B: Absolutely! It’s such a blessing to get to go to the more niche and intimate places to play music. There’s just as much (or even more) beauty and excitement in going somewhere more off the beaten track or lesser known. That’s where you can help to build something brand new!
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Q: What does that kind of experience give you as an artist?
B: An opportunity to see a wide range of places and connect with a wider range of people! There is magic all over, in the big cities and in the less populated more intimate towns and venues!
