Everybody has a passion. Something they need, oxygen for their soul, as Bill Butler would say. What is it that you live and breathe? What drives you forward? Passion. Always passion.
For some of the most driven individuals I have had the pleasure to know, it’s music. There’s something so inspiring about the passion of a musician. Diving deep into one of the most over-saturated and competitive industries in the world with not a thought for the struggle to come, because to them, it doesn’t matter. Fame, wealth and success aren’t things situated in the heart of a true musician. What matters is singing, playing and creating. At the core of every musician is the low hum of a bass, the rhythm of the drums, and the riffs from a Gibson electric.
Situated in the heart of Wollongong city, down a tight lane off the side of a shopping centre, is a legendary local venue by the name of LaLaLa’s. It was here that I got to witness the tight knit community that is Wollongong’s music circle. The venue was packed with mutuals of all backgrounds trying their best to hold a conversation over the reverberating waves of punk, rock and metal bands throwing their sound to the crowd.
The feeling, the atmosphere, so raw and authentic. The passion and the love for the scene was so very evident. This was the night I first caught wind of One Vo11ume, through a conversation with a mutual student journalist. One Vo11ume is an organisation run by Daniel Marskell, dedicated to enhancing the Wollongong Live Music Community. Shortly after this brief exchange, I organised an interview with Daniel, in the hopes of helping the scene where I could, despite my limited expertise.
One thing I can say about Daniel, is that his passion runs deep. He began his musical career in a similar position to those running the local scene now, being a musician himself. Some years ago, he was at the centre of the community, performing shows and as he says, ‘experiencing the band-life’.
“This is a passion project that I pour a bit of my heart into,” Daniel said.
“It’s always been music for me, that is the one thing that’s always been around, no matter what.”
He went on to tell me his goals looking into the scene from a different perspective. One Vo11ume’s main platform is social media, where, purely voluntarily and with no monetary support, Daniel scours the scene for potential upcoming performers and promotes their music, as well as is involved in the creation of lineups for venues, where he mixes and matches bands based on genre and general atmosphere.
Daniel also said one of his main goals is to tell the stories and to know these musicians in a way that isn’t so often promoted.
“Success is defined very differently for a lot of people,” he said.
“For me, it’s just personal recognition from artists and being able to share part of their story that no one else is really sharing.”
Daniel reminisced on his beginnings in the scene and spoke fondly about how it has evolved since his more practical involvement. Wollongong has, for a long while, been a very active area in the world of creative arts. Countless art exhibitions, concerts and shows every single weekend give the city it’s artistic flair. A lot of this activity can be attributed to students and young people making their way through UOW.
“It’s the young, unexposed talent that comes through the university.”
“People use this area as a platform to start, gain a bit of an audience and start to play in some of our venues here,” Daniel said.
Bands across the country have seemingly also felt the draw of Wollongong’s scene, as it’s not uncommon for musicians from Sydney, Melbourne, even Perth to make the trek and broadcast their sound. Daniel outlined the involvement of ‘Gong Crawl’ specifically, explaining that it has significantly elevated the scene in just one event, an incredible feat.
One Vo11ume hopes to further elevate the scene and show Australia how much our city truly does produce, making it a destination for touring bands and tourists alike. It would be well supported to say that Wollongong is on its way to being one of Australia’s music centrals, considering it’s already on-the-rise successes.
“A highlight for me in the scene has been watching the band Alienist grow,” Daniel said.
“They started with backyard gigs, and all of a sudden, they’ve signed a unified label and they’re making some big shows and big names, and just firing on all cylinders.”
I’ve also had the privilege to interview another of Wollongong’s up-and-comers.
Self-taught producer, songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist Miranda Green joined me to speak about her recent release, ‘Sleepwalking’. Despite her extensive experience in musical education, Miranda describes herself most importantly as ‘just being a creative who loves to play music’.
“My style is influenced by RnB, Soul and Disco-haul” she said.
Miranda spoke about her beginnings in the world of music, and how her passion has outweighed potential struggles in the industry.
“I had never really seen music as a career, I had no family doing music, I just didn’t really know that it could be a career,” she said.
“Now that I’m surrounded by people doing music, I see that there are lots of opportunities in creative industries.”
“You’re probably not going to get super rich or anything, but if you care about it and love it, there’s a life there.”
Miranda’s inspiring passion for the industry is a testament to the passion of all musicians. In their minds, chasing what you love and creating what you want is far more important than any pursuit of wealth. As a local in Wollongong’s scene, I can confidently confirm that this mentality is not nearly as rare as one might think. All you need to do is pop down to LaLaLa’s on a Thursday night and I can assure you, it’s all there in front of you, blasting from the speakers and echoing in the surrounding streets.
Miranda’s choice to pursue music wasn’t one that came easily. It’s a tale as old as time for music students, it’s incredibly common to hear stories of students who began their tertiary education in other undergraduate courses, before hitting the tipping point and surrendering to their love of music.
“I started one week of Architecture up at UTS… That week I just decided, fuck that I’m doing music. It was the best decision I’ve made,” Miranda explained.
She also spoke about the importance of giving young people the opportunity to embrace that passion, explaining the difference a properly equipped classroom can make.
“If you invest in young people, and give them the right materials to flourish, they will.”
“Providing access to instruments, or even teachers who are knowledgeable, is so important.”
Miranda’s dedication to her craft is just one story among hundreds. There are so many musicians in Wollongong who are giving it their all, despite the hardships. The air is electric and humming with voices and songs, and it has been for a long time. As the scene continues to expand, and more performers come in, Wollongong is only going to become more of the destination it already is. Thanks to the support of volunteers like Daniel Marskell, promotion is roaring, and the sky is the limit.
So, if you weren’t already convinced, come on down. Free up your weekend for a loud and lively night at one of our many charismatic bars. Support our local artists and help us show the world what Wollongong’s got. Welcome to the city of sound.