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The Silents
 In the past few years, it seems all too quickly that much of the music climbing our radio charts has lost depth. Whereas once music used to be about lyrics that really tugged at your heartstrings, today it seems that merely a marketable image is all that is needed to make the cut. Yet The Silents, an emerging garage rock four-piece from Perth, are one group who have not forgotten what it means to envelop yourself in the music. And their recently released debut album Things To Learn does just that.
"The record really captured a chunk of a period of our lives," remarks bass player Sam Ford, a fact unsurprising for an album containing lyrics swarming with innuendo of girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, regret, loss, moving on and change. "There was a lot of turmoil in that period," he says. "It was complicated because we were still growing up. The band itself was experiencing growth, becoming more of a 'career' band rather than just all of us messing around in a garage." When the group's second EP release hit the stands in 2007, a song called 23 that sang of a "downward confusion" immediately set the tone for the record - the hardships of growing up.
"Originally there was no focus on writing music based on that turning point in our lives," says Ford. "We actually decided three years ago that the album would be called 'Things To Learn' but it ended up being very appropriate. Most of the lyrics of our songs ended up being very personal for all of us, like 23, which I think with the lyric 'I'm old at 23, I got sold at 23' really reflects the band growing and the confusion that goes along with that."
Yet it hasn't all been a journey of battling with emotions and changes in career velocity for The Silents. After securing a record deal with the infamously successful Ivy League Records, (despite their "disaster" of a first meeting with the recording company's associates board, missing their album release deadline five times and spending days upon days searching for album cover art) the group have seen smooth sailing on their journey to the limelight.
"It was great to be signed up with Ivy League, because for us they were really the only recording group in the country that we really felt were right for us. They were the only option," say Ford. With its steadfast reputation for musical success and big names like The Mess Hall, Youth Group and Josh Pyke all tucked under the recording company's belt, it would only be natural to assume that the four lads from Western Australia would feel the pressure to meet Ivy League Record's high standards. Yet it seemed that once again for The Silents, everything fell into place most naturally. "When we signed up with them we were also recorded by a good friend of ours, so it was a pretty chilled affair," Ford laughs. "I mean, we didn't really feel like we had match up what some of their other bands had done. We just wanted to get out there and create the best music that we could."
Unsurprisingly, as many musicians do, Ford reveals the band's streak for insomnia while recording 'Things To Learn'. "Most of our songs were actually recorded in the middle of the night, we would never really hit our stride until after twelve. It could be frustrating for the sound guys," he chuckles. Thankfully late nights seem to work beautifully in the group's favour, with musical gems like Bruised Sky and Little Girl Lost being but a few results of their early morning recordings.
Kicking off their first national tour next week in Ballarat, The Silents are amiably excited to have their first taste of a lengthy time on the road. "The last couple of tours we've done have been really short, only three to five dates. I mean, after three shows you're just getting into the groove," Ford sighs with a hint of sadness. "But for us just to be able to play to people and for them to hear us is so exciting," he quickly chirps. "We can't wait to do it, and we can't wait to play every gig!"
Miranda Freeman
The Silents play at The Edinburgh Castle on Sat 3 May.
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