Something For Kate are a band who have impressed me right from the first e.p. I heard from them, The Answer To Both Your Questions. Although a relatively young band, this quite awesome 3-piece have generated an impressive reputation through their live performances & their recorded work speaks for itself.

After badgering their record label, Murmur music, who also list Automatic, Jebediah & silverchair on their roster, I finally got to speak to Paul Dempsey recently, who comes across as a very together & down to earth guy with very realistic ambitions for both himself & the band.

We covered quite a variety of topics over the course of our discussion, starting with Something For Kate's new album Elsewhere For Eight Minutes, where I immediately enthused about the whole album.

"Hey thanks a lot, I'm really glad you liked it so much."

I firstly asked Paul about how the success of the first single Captain (Million Miles An Hour) had affected the band.

"We're in two minds as to how the it's been picked up. Of course it's great to have success at any time, but we're all a bit apprehensive too. We're only a very small band at this stage, so this is all quite new to us."

As labelmates of silverchair, I enquired as to how the band thought how success of that nature would affect Something For Kate.

"I don't think I can seriously compare us with silverchair, I mean they were instantly hugely successful, but I don't think we would ever reach that level. They were very fortunate in having good management to shield them from the music industry, where as we're dealing with it face to face. It would be nice one day to be able to worry only about making music & being shielded from the mechanisms that run the industry."

Paul's last comments pointed out to me that the band were really into their craft & I asked how they'd been recieved by audiences, given their live reputation & their positive attitude towards all ages events.

"That's an interesting question actually. There's 3 really great things we enjoy as a band. Firstly, we love getting into the rehearsal room & practising, secondly, we also get into the studio & have a great time. One of the best things of all for us is performing our music on stage. So to really answer your question, we love performing live. We enjoy the crowds at most of our events, but I must say this, I'd rather play an all ages show to 50 people than an over 18 show in a hotel to 500 people any day."

Curious, I asked further about Paul's comments.

"Well, it's like this, when any band performs at a hotel, at least some of the crowd are only gonna be there because they want to drink. I mean a certain percentage will only be there because of the alcohol. On the other hand, people who go to an all ages gig are there because they're really into the music. The atmosphere at all ages shows is really contagious & it helps us build the excitement."

Having a great attitude towards their live shows was goo to see & Paul soon got on to the subject of their early live career.

"It's pretty hard when you start out. It's only now that we're starting to get some serious recognition that we can finally begin to pick & choose where we want to play. But to do that, you have to be able to prove that, as a band, you can really cut it live & draw the crowds."

As with many band's I've spoken to, Paul soon started on about the state of radio in Australia.

"Well, Triple J have been really good, but then the people that work there aren't about getting the audience in because they can win something, the audience are listening because of the music. It's the same with community radio. We just did a live to air with 3RRR & 2SER & sometimes FBI in Sydney are also cool, in fact just about any community radio is great to us. However, until commercial radio in this country is run by some younger people, around our own ages, we're never gonna get rid of Barnsey, Farnsey & your bloody Mariah Carey's. That's okay for some of the time, but day in & out becomes too much."

Lastly, I asked how Paul felt the Internet might help out artists & bands to promote themselves.

"Wow, that's amazing, I only had this conversation with someone from Sony just the other day. I think there's advantages & disadvantages to it. Sure, the artists are going to be able to put themselves on a level with the big bands, but there's also the fact that there's little way they'll be able to make money without the power of the labels behind them. Maybe in the future, but I think it's really a case of wait & see."

With that, I wished Paul & the band well for the future. Catch up with Something For Kate near you soon or via their amazing album, out through Murmur.