A QUICK DOZEN with LAUREN DAWSON of FINAL GAMBIT
A QUICK DOZEN with LAUREN DAWSON of FINAL GAMBIT
By Shane Pinnegar
Sydney-based three-piece FINAL GAMBIT serve up a slice of political punk rock with their second single You Sold Our City. The title says it all really – “You Sold Our City”. The band released their debut single back in August and this is their follow-up.
Bassist Lauren Dawson says, “You Sold our City is a song we wrote to vent our frustrations with the government of NSW killing off Sydney’s nightlife and music scene. We didn’t intend to beat around the bush with this single. We do think Gladys [Berejiklian] is doing a lot of damage and we figured what better way to capture this then in a fast, hard and loud punk song.”
Nick Burgmann (vocalist/guitarist) on the music video… “We wanted to give some reality to the words of the song and show what a night out in Sydney really looks like. The city is just empty after dark now. Sydney’s been a stark, deaf and cold home for years now but on the cusp of change which is really exciting.”
The release of the song comes during heightened discussion of the current state of Sydney, with Gladys Berejiklian allowing the Sydney Opera House to be used as a billboard for The Everest horse race as well as wanting to axe the Defqon 1 Festival. In addition, news has broken recently that Deputy Premier John Barilaro is considering ditching the lockout laws.
1. Tell us a little about your latest release. Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material that only diehard fans might pick up on?
I wouldn’t say hidden nuggets but if they listen closely to lyrics they will pick up on the theme of the song based around Sydney lock out laws, nanny state themes and some aussie colloquialisms in there too.
2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realised you wanted to be a musician?
I grew up in a house where classic rock and punk music amongst many other genres were played often and therefore picked up this taste in music mainly from my Dad. I started music early in school eventually finding the bass by sheer luck (picking it at random as no one else played it). I wouldn’t say I had a light bulb moment where I knew I wanted to be a musician, I enjoyed writing music at home and soon looked into joining a band when I then found what is now Final Gambit. Once we started rehearsing I came to realise how much I enjoyed playing in a band and collaborating to write songs we all loved and were proud of.
3. Who would be your main five musical influences?
1) Despite the difference in music genre I have to say the Beatles (as cliché as that is). For me, they are the best band ever. To be able to produce that volume of music and so much of it be great quality songs that topped the charts for weeks and months, not to mention how they kept up with the insane touring schedule they had in the early days. They also never failed to evolve their music, incorporating new tones, instruments, and other influences, its no wonder they had and still have to this day such an appeal to all ages around the world.
2) Aerosmith- I only truly found Aerosmith later but very quickly became obsessed and couldn’t stop listening to their 70s rock songs (much to the pain of my parents having to listen to Aerosmith on a regular basis). The amazing vocal range and nuisances of Steven Tyler combined with the guitar skill of Joe Perry and glue from the rest of the band had me sold from the get go.
3) The Clash- their punk and rock genre songs had me hooked as a kid listening to dad’s cd’s blasting through the stereo at home. They perfected British punk rock songs, voicing their opinions through fast paced catchy riffs.
4) The Rolling Stones- Another quintessential British rock band. Again, they have pumped out a great volume of quality rock music often demonstrating their heavy influence of blues. Mick, Keith, Bill, Brian, Ronnie and Charlie are all extremely talented musicians in their own rights and together they produce amazing music that features unforgettable riffs.
5) Royal Blood- How could I not pick this duo as a bassist myself. I am still bamboozled as to how Mike perfects that imitation guitar tone through his bass. The feeling seeing them live when he kick in his bass amp and that rumble hits you in the chest is a feeling like no other, combined with Ben’s tom heavy drumming the two truly are a great duo and have made music in a way many others have not and never thought to do before.
4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?
Steven Tyler- as a die hard Aerosmith fan I would love the chance to collaborate with him and see how he goes about song writing and just immerse myself in his aura.
5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?
It’s a mesh of rock and punk, with hints of metal thrown in here and there, which really is a mesh of each member of the band I believe. Think DZ Deathrays with Royal Blood, Queens of the Stone Age and some Wolfmother sprinkled on top.
6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?
For me I love being able to pick up a bass or guitar and just mess around and write random riffs and chord structures, and finding something different each time depending what I am feeling at that time.
7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?
To be honest, this isn’t a regular occurrence but previously Aleksi is happy to throw down the coffees at recording. I would probably cook (much to Nick’s dismay it would always be healthy), we would probably leave Nick to get the drinks in.
8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?
I am also a sports fanatic so I Would probably say working within the All Blacks rugby team.
9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep, or you would like to be able to “do over”?
Currently I don’t believe so, nothing springs to mind that I absolutely wanted to do over.
10. If you were made ruler of the world, what would your first orders be?
I guess invest heavily into health to try and eradicate disease and illness, boring I know.
11. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?
Any of the Beatles records. I would love the chance to see and be a part of their song writing process as they didn’t get the luxury of having long periods of time in the studio and applied effects over everything. Their albums to me are gold that will never die no matter how old it is and demonstrates the music skill they all had.
12. What, for you, is the meaning of life??
I’m not philosophical at all but I guess life is your opportunity to make an impact on the world through whatever it is you choose to do.
FaceBook- https://www.facebook.com/finalgambitband/
IG- https://www.instagram.com/finalgambitband/
Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpzeihXYaNTVIBO_tOnAQoQ
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/2zsubqrZABXkW6D0FFfe1X?si=6Y7D0SMzRWiI4UFpPlGlXg
Soundcloud- https://soundcloud.com/user-192909439
Some other stuff you might dig
Category: Interviews