These gifts translated onto the stage where, from the outset, Big Scary proved themselves a remarkably fluid and compelling live act, capable of not only bringing their songs to life, but also of adapting their set to suit the moment.
In late 2008, the band headed into the studio for the first time, laying down six live tracks in a single day. Another quick-fire recording session soon after resulted in a four-track mini-EP, led by the towering single ‘This Weight’. Featuring Iansek’s huge distorted guitar and high-wire vocals backed by Syme’s thumping drums, ‘This Weight’ quickly caught the ears of the press, who hailed this ‘talented and fearless’ new duo.
Inspired by a wave of severe weather that hit the country, Big Scary went on to release the six-track ‘At The Mercy of The Elements’ ep. Ranging from rousing, piano-led ballads (‘Falling Away’), to thumping, distorted numbers (‘Hey Somebody’) and intricate, sonorous instrumentals (‘At The Mercy of the Elements’), the ep was a full-to-bursting showcase of the duo’s vital, dexterous sound. ‘Thoroughly excellent,’ raved The Australian. ‘Packed with anxiety and bravado,’ Beat said.
With a growing national profile, Big Scary embarked on a period of heavy touring, with a diverse list of supports that reflected the duo’s eclectic output: The Vasco Era, Florence and the Machine, Midlake, Little Red, Editors. Soon enough the duo began headlining their own shows, first in their hometown of Melbourne and then all over the country.
Big Scary remain endlessly fascinated by the natural world. In 2010, the duo released four seasonally themed, limited-edition eps, which were eventually collected as The Big Scary Four Seasons. A rich, thrillingly diverse set of songs, The Four Seasons showcased Iansek and Syme’s uncanny ability to translate the vagaries and glories of the elements into utterly compelling music.
‘Four Seasons proves to be the defining turning point for Big Scary, for they are no longer the next best thing in Australian music, they are the best thing,' Beat Magazine said of the lp, while the AU Review hailed ‘the versatility and obscene… talent of the players.’
A national tour followed, with the band playing to packed houses all over the country. Several months later, as the band began to ready their new album, ‘Autumn’, one of the standout tracks from the Four Seasons, was placed in a high-profile AT&T ad in the US, introducing the band to American audiences for the first time.
The vision for the new record came together on a small island farm, where Iansek and Syme holed up for several weeks after a run of successful summer festival shows, writing and demoing songs. ‘We knew we had a lot of songs that we liked, but they were all so far from each other on the genre scale—super bratty garage, really poppy piano stuff, epic guitar songs, folky acoustic stuff,’ Syme says. ‘The album will still have elements of all that, but we've got some really strong tracks that we think tie it all together.’
Instead of painting themselves into a corner, on the new album Big Scary celebrate the diversity of their songwriting. ‘We write songs with completely different feels and vibes,’ Iansek says. ‘In the studio, we thought that we should try not suppress this too much, and just roll with it.’
By their own admission, the two worked ‘a lot harder’ in putting together the new album material than they had before, re-writing parts and lyrics until they were satisfied. This process continued into the studio, where every sound was carefully considered and experimented with—often for hours at a time. Layers were added to some songs, while parts were culled from others, as Iansek and Syme sought to make each song ‘as strong as it could possibly be.’
The new album, which is due in October, promises to be another startling document from a band whose only constant seems to be their capacity for invention, their desire to keep moving forward.
www.bigscary.net
Label page: Pieater
Harmony Sometimes
Big Scary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your distaste was palpable
My mistake was shun-able
Damn, I hate this episode
But I was vulnerable
I desired your resolve
I secretly hoped that you chose
Now I just wait for the next high
Sleep through the first four nights
And when all is aligned
Attainment will be mine
Attainment will be mine
I want your attention
I want a body
So you'll want my body
But I also want to say no
And I've enjoyed the feeling
When you and I we're kidding
It's fun for the time being
But will it ever serve me
I'm barely able to decide
Now I just wait for the next high
Sleep through the first four nights
And when all is aligned
Attainment will be mine
Attainment will be mine
The lyrics to Big Scary's song "Harmony Sometimes" appear to be exploring themes of vulnerability, desire, and ambivalence in romantic relationships. The first verse, "Mud for the connoisseur / Your distaste was palpable / My mistake was shun-able / Damn, I hate this episode," suggests the singer may have made a misstep in the relationship and is now feeling regret or disappointment. They seem to feel their partner is discerning and critical, noting their "distaste," and that the situation could have been avoided ("shun-able").
The second verse, "But I was vulnerable / I desired your resolve / I secretly hoped that you chose / When you stood by my side," reveals the singer's vulnerability and desire for their partner's validation and affirmation. They express a sense of insecurity, hoping their partner will choose them and stand by their side. However, the chorus, "Now I just wait for the next high / Sleep through the first four nights / And when all is aligned / Attainment will be mine," suggests the singer may be relying on the relationship for temporary highs or validation, rather than seeking a deeper or more sustainable connection.
The third verse, "I want your attention / I want a body / So you'll want my body / But I also want to say no," further complicates the singer's feelings. They seem to want both physical desire and emotional intimacy, but also express a desire for agency and control ("I also want to say no"). The final lines, "But will it ever serve me / I'm barely able to decide," indicate the singer is struggling to determine if the relationship is truly fulfilling for them or if they are simply caught up in the fleeting moments of connection.
Overall, the lyrics to "Harmony Sometimes" seem to capture the complexities and contradictions of human relationships, particularly the push and pull between desire, vulnerability, and agency.
Line by Line Meaning
Mud for the connoisseur
Refined dirt for those with a sophisticated taste
Your distaste was palpable
You strongly disliked it and it was evident
My mistake was shun-able
My misstep was avoidable
Damn, I hate this episode
I really dislike this situation
But I was vulnerable
However, I was exposed and susceptible
I desired your resolve
I wanted your determination and firmness
I secretly hoped that you chose
I had a hidden wish that you selected me
When you stood by my side
When you supported me
Now I just wait for the next high
I now anticipate the next pleasurable experience
Sleep through the first four nights
I'll ignore the initial discomfort and unrest
And when all is aligned
And when everything is in order
Attainment will be mine
I will achieve what I desire
I want your attention
I want you to focus on me
I want a body
I want a physical presence
So you'll want my body
So that you'll desire me physically
But I also want to say no
But I also want to be able to refuse
And I've enjoyed the feeling
And I've savored the sensation
When you and I we're kidding
When you and I were joking around
It's fun for the time being
It's enjoyable for the moment
But will it ever serve me
But will it ever benefit me in the long run
I'm barely able to decide
I'm hardly capable of making a choice
Attainment will be mine
I will achieve what I desire
Attainment will be mine
I will achieve what I desire
Writer(s): jo syme, tom iansek
Contributed by Makayla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.