Thank you d.tail. The date has been fixed….dunno how I got that wrong. Headuparseitis probably.

Cheers!

Paddy

Steve
Teak

There’s nothing but fact in JJ’s blog. Anyone who is an experienced independent Australian musician will also know that what Paddy is saying is also fact.

The reality is, here and abroad, the music industry is suffering badly. No one can deny this especially in comparison to how the industry was 10 or more years ago. There’s a lot less money in the industry therefore there’s no room for risk taking from the soon to be extinct major labels. This has a huge impact on artists obviously, and the sad reality it that artist development is dead and there is so much amazing potentially life changing music out there that will never get heard by the masses, simply because it can’t break through the industry in the state that it is. It is not only about if you have the quality or talent. Take for example, Lady Gaga. Yes she’s a great singer, songwriter and live performer… and she can sing her ass off. But take away all the controversy, YouTube vids, marketing, image, crazy personality and there’s no way in the world anyone could say that her music would be as successful or well known.

In the case of MojoRising, we have taken our independent project to the limits and have decided that we want to do different things. There are no fingers of blame to point between JJ and I. We’ve been best mates for years and that will last for years to come. We achieved as much (or more) than any other independent band who took on the USA by themselves, for 6 months, with no labels, no industry or government support and self funded the whole thing. That takes balls! People will never see what we had to do to be able to play venues like The Viper Room, Whisky TWICE, House of Blues, the LA Grammy Museum (where Ben Harper and Michael Buble had performed only weeks before) and all around Santa Monica and Venice. Meanwhile back home we continually get shunned by the press, government funding, and other bands for aspiring to be a successful, internationally recognised band.

The problem with Australia is tall poppy syndrome. Don’t get me wrong, I love Australia and have lived here all my life. In the USA if someone wants to be the best at anything, people are supportive and encouraging. Yes it’s still tough, it is definitely more competitive, but there are a lot more opportunities, and a positive mindset. Here, like you Ana, people CUT DOWN others who aspire to be things which are great and spectacular. Paddy is sad to hear we’re breaking up. You clearly revel our split.

Tally poppy syndrome is why we have so many small minded people living here, and also why the Australian music industry is years behind, will rarely launch an artist with international appeal, and is ultimately doomed. Anyone who disagrees should look at the facts. The biggest Australian artists internationally over the past 15 years…. INXS, Savage Garden, Jet… Wolfmother temporarily… maybe Temper Trap. The others are kept in our safe haven and told that they cant break overseas because they’re too good, or that they’re better than those bands overseas… when in actual fact, the Australian music scene needs to wake up and realise that it isn’t that good. Indie bands, elctro pop bands, ska, and Aussie hip hop dominate the local scene. Unless you fall into that category, then Australian’s will be very un-Australian towards you. Ana you are not a musician so I don’t think you can give an opinion here…

In closing, Ana, MojoRising did not have ‘misguided carer decisions’. MojoRising over 4 years, changed, evolved, ROCKED, worked hard, and did everything possible to try and become a nationally and internationally recognised band. JJ and I stand by that proudly. We have no regrets and we enjoyed every minute of it…

JJ – You only appreciate those that agree with you but if someone has a different opinion to yours, they become the enemy. Don’t take it personally.

the thing that sucks about the internet is that anyone can write in response without proper research or thought.