Fiz
Fiz is the brilliant DIY indie-folk project of Fiz Eustance. Fiz's debut single Orange is a fresh, upbeat, feel-good ode to the colour and everything it means. Hazy Days Music would like to thank Fiz Eustance for taking the time out and having a chat.
What is your musical history? When did you fall in love with music? And have you always wanted to be a solo artist?
Firstly I’d like to start by acknowledging the people of the Woi Wurrung language group of the Eastern Kulin Nation on whose lands I live, work and learn. I pay my respects to ancestors, elders, and all Indigenous people - way back in the past, way forward into the future, and those living and breathing today.
Music has always played a very important role in my life. Growing up in a musical family, I have always been surrounded by music. The first instrument I learned to play was the violin from the age of four.
But my first real involvement and the time I recognised I could do my own solo project happened back when I was playing in the band Treehouses. I learned how to play the bass for that band. That was back when I was living in Perth. I was like, OHHH SHIT! I love this! I have always written songs, and I love performing. It just came so naturally and was something that I had to work hard on and took a lot of effort, but it was so enjoyable and natural for me.
I loved the music I used to make with my old band, but I have always wanted to do my own thing. So many people do, and eventually, I just had to do it. I had been writing for so long, and I had to start playing solo gigs. And in 2019, that's what I did. I played as many solo shows as I could.
It’s taken me a lot longer than I would have thought to get to a place where I am ready to release music. I'm so glad that it has because I feel like I’m a much better musician, haha.
Having all those years of just playing heaps of gigs by myself, writing new songs, and recently organising a band, even the process of getting that sorted took way longer than I thought (obviously COVID happened).
Getting my music ready for a band to play is something I had never done before, writing the parts for each instrument for all the songs was something I had never done, and that was the next stage. I feel like I have been working through stages. First, getting used to playing shows, then getting used to playing my set, and then now playing with a band. I played my first show with them at the end of January, and now I’m like ok, now I'm finally ready to release music. It’s a long game, and I am excited about this single. I want to do this for a long time.
The debut single Orange is unbelievable and I can’t take it off repeat! Where did the idea for the song originate? And could you share the story behind making this catchy single?
So, where do I begin with Orange?
I feel like it is very fitting that this is my first single out. Because it has taken over my life, for like two years having this obsession, and even talking about it doesn't do it justice.
It started a few years ago over a really cold Melbourne winter. My partner was away, and I was really lonely. I was going through a bit of a faze where I was confused about life (which happens regularly). Melbourne has these moments (It happens everywhere), but the sun comes out of the clouds for like 30 seconds, and it completely changes the whole experience. I was sitting in my living room, and suddenly the whole room is glowing this amazing orange. There wasn't particularly a moment, but this growing obsession had started.
In this greyness and coldness of winter, I was suddenly being sparked by things that have this bright luminous colour to them, as like a sign that life exists when it feels like things are shit. You know the sun is here anyway. The sun comes out even when I can't see it. I just became obsessed with this colour, and I would notice it everywhere.
In my art practice, because I’m a sculptor, I was drawn to it. I just kept making things that were orange. I became obsessed with citrus (what a delicious fruit). Orange is this glowing colour. It comes through the world, it's warming, it's safe, and so vibrant.
So yeah, it overtook everything, I was making sculptures, furniture and installations that were orange, and of course, it filters into my music. I wrote this song Orange, practically about the mystery of just living and the vibrancy that exists. The amazing colour and energy that gives life. It’s pretty deep, haha. I have thought about it so much. What a great colour, haha.
How was recording Orange? I am obsessed with your backing vocals, I love that they all have their own life. Every time I listen I feel like a new one captures my attention. What is the process of creating these beautiful harmonies?
I’d never done anything like this before. It was all such a new process. I worked with Alex Mosses. He is a great producer and also plays in the band Columbus and is a good friend. He produced the track, and we were talking a lot about what this song is. The big breakthrough came when we realised that the drumbeat should be swung, like a 60’s swung drumbeat.
I love the backing vocals of the late 60’s early 70’s, where backing vocals have their own life in the song and are so interesting. I come from a choir background, so I’m obsessed with harmonies. I always felt that this song needed backing vocals that had their own life. So hence why there are 1 million backing vocals, haha.
Whenever I listen to music, I think of harmonies that go along with the song, or when singing along, I create my own that go along with it. It's just something that comes very naturally to me. I come from a family of singers, so harmonies make sense.
It’s such an enjoyable process making harmonies for a song. It’s just something that comes easily and just a joy, compared to things that can be so hard to play. Backing vocals are so fun to do!
The trumpet goes off at the end! Who plays it and how did that come about?
It’s so cool!
Ashley Ballat plays the trumpet. I wanted to meet Ashley and be together when we record it. But I didn't get the chance because she was stuck up in Canberra and ended up sending me the recording. She sent me all these different solos for the ending, and they were all so wild and wacky. I loved it! She's so talented.
The music video for Orange is coming out very soon, could you tell us a little bit about it?
I am so excited about it, HOLY CRAP!
The video will be coming out on the 15th of April.
It's a workout routine, it's very stylised and filmed by my very good friend Billy. It’s very DIY, Billy set up the camera, and it's all one shot and done in one take. We set up the background, and we did it all. I’m editing it right now. It's the first time I'm doing anything like this. I'm confident I can figure out how to use Premiere. I am so excited!
How was your time over Melbournes Lockdown? Did it play any role in your music?
Wow-what a time! It was a tough time, but it encouraged me to relax, which historically I have not been good at, and something I am trying to prioritise now. Probably like a lot of people, I became super depressed. It was a really difficult time, and I was very lucky to be working a couple of days a week and studying as well, so I had things going on, which was awesome. But not being able to work on my music with other people was very difficult, and I ended up more depressed than I ever have before. Which a lot of people probably felt like that too.
I was alone a lot because my housemates were out at work or over at their partner's place. I spent a lot of time writing, and I wrote some of my best songs over lockdown. I just wrote a lot and explored and realised that writing is a way to help you deal with your emotions. And that's kind of what music does. It helps allow you to feel kindly towards yourself when you can't get any separations from anything. Sometimes you don't even know how you are feeling.
Being able to write lyrically, the words kind of just come out. I try to take a step back from them, not getting involved in the writing process as it happens (even though it's me obviously doing it). I try to avoid thinking about what this is going to sound like with that instrument and what people will think of it as I'm writing. I try to let whatever comes out come out, and that's the song. Music became a hugely important way for me to look after myself.
How do you find writing as a solo artist versus writing in a band? What is your writing process like currently?
It's interesting. So many different projects work in so many different ways. Because I have played in bands and was very aware of some of the expectations/pressures of new band members that join the project of a solo artist. I wanted to set it up so I can write 90% of the parts for everyone, at least for this first set of songs. I mean, the process of writing for me is something I do as therapy. It's like I have to do it. And definitely, during Lockdown, I found that I needed to write as a way to safely engage with emotions that are scary or a way to connect with emotions that otherwise feel a lot and express things that are hard to say in terms of words. The process of writing, for me, is a very personal process. Mostly when I say I’m writing, it's the main guitar and the vocals. All the other things come later. The thing is, it's still such early days, and I’m open to things changing and learning different ways of working.
Even right now, I have been writing some stuff, but I have been so involved with the process of releasing Orange, It’s been hard for me to step back and write in a way that feels genuine to me.
Do you find there is any connection between your art and your music?
I have a very strong connection between the way I write music and the way I create art. I often think very visually and stylistically, and my style of music and style of art come from the same place in many ways, and they are an expression of the same thing.
Lately, I have been getting more into video art and costume, and those things tie in so nicely with my music. It makes me think a lot about how gigs can be more visually interesting and the potential to change and bring in different ways to experience them.
What are the details for your single launch? Do you have anything special planned?
The single launch for Orange on the 7th of May, upstairs at The Gaso. I am being supported by Keaper and Eaglemont. I’m so excited! I used to work with Julia, who plays bass in Keaper, and I have known Bridge from Eaglemont for a little while. It's going to be a very lovely night with friends. I'm very excited!
I have been thinking about it for so long! I have nothing set in stone, but I have so much orange velvet fabric, like 18 metres of it. So obviously, I am going to bring that and set it up. I don't know yet. I trust that in time it will happen, trying not to put too much pressure on myself to organise everything now.
I’m making merch as well. I will be selling magnets of my face, haha I think it's really funny.
And I’m hoping to sell orange scented candles that I have been making. Hopefully, it happens. I'm very DIY and make everything myself.
I would love to (in the perfect world) do an orange drink special. That would be very cool. I'm just trying to take it one step at a time.
I’m just going to start it slowly and build it up, eventually T-Shirts, but that will come.
There are still some tickets available. Link here.
What are your plans for 2021?
The plan is to release Orange, then the video, play some shows, and in a couple of months do it all again for the next single.