BY ISABELLA TILLEY
The State of Music is an online series designed to fill the void left by the lack of live concerts during this pandemic, with episode three to be broadcast tomorrow night.
The Victorian Government and Mushroom Group’s Michael Gudinski have come together to deliver weekly live music to an audience staying safe at home.
This six-episode weekly series features exclusive interviews and live performances from some of Australia’s best talent.
Throughout the episode, there is opportunity for viewers to interact with the guests by asking them questions through a moderated live stream.
Episode one features G Flip, Birds of Toyko frontman Ian Kenny, Diesel, Michael Gudinski, and James Reyne from Australian Crawl.
The first episode was a celebration of Australian music and the Melbourne music scene, with G Flip, Birds of Tokyo and Diesel all performing their new material.
The show can be seen as a representation of human strength, as even through adversity musicians find a way to band together to provide connectivity and joy.
As many Australians grew up listening to Birds of Tokyo, it was comforting to listen to Kenny’s music, which reflected his cool, calm, and collected nature.
“We are going to get out of this [pandemic] soon enough,” one can hear Kenny say during the episode.
“We’re all going to get through this together.”
Kenny performed two new songs from his modest home studio, with fellow band member Glenn Sarangapany live streaming to play keys from his living room.
It was a stark reminder of the new normal of a digital reality.
The sound was stripped back and raw, with the experience seeming personal despite a camera lens separating audience members from the artists.
G Flip’s performance was equally as intimate as she sang of love, heartache and alcoholism from her small studio apartment.
Episode two featured female performers and hosts as a tribute to Mother’s Day.
Audiences grooved to the performances by Missy Higgins, Vera Blue, Mahalia Barnes, Montaigne, Mia Wray, and Kate Miller-Heidke.
The episode was hosted by Carrie Bickmore and Jane Gazzo.
Tune in live on YouTube or Facebook and watch from the comfort of your home every Saturday at 7.00pm (AEST).
