IVY, from left, Connor Cooper, James Axton, Jesse Hanan, Ocean Temple Wilson and Louis Stevenson.
Local band IVY has gone from strength to strength since winning OUSA’s Bring the Noise competition last year. Laura Hewson talks to lead singer and student Jesse Hanan about combining music and study, the state of the local music scene, and what’s coming up for IVY.
Dunedin, New Zealand, Australia, the world … that’s the basic four-step plan for Dunedin band IVY.
And so far, it’s going pretty well, says lead singer Jesse Hanan.
“We won the Radio One Bring the Noise competition last year and the main prize was two days recording time at Sublime Studio in Kurow,” Jesse says.
During the session, IVY recorded two new songs, which will come out on an EP in the coming months.
“To be able to record in a studio like that is something you shouldn’t take for granted because it doesn’t happen very often. For musicians that are young and aspiring, it’s such a contrast from what you’re usually offered. It’s really a priceless kind of prize.”
IVY is made up of Jesse (vocals, rhythm guitar), James Axton (lead guitar/acting manager), Connor Cooper (bass), Ocean Temple Wilson (drums) and Louis Stevenson (violin).
Their sound, which Jesse describes as alternative rock with a variety of influences ranging from classical to heavy metal, has evolved since they formed four years ago in high school.
“I think when we started, we wanted to fit everything in, and we recorded absolutely everything that we thought was kind of okay. Now we’re trying to really hone our craft and understand the process of writing music more,” Jesse says.
“I think our songs are a lot more personal now and I’d also say we’re a lot more mature now in terms of our selection of notes and actual formatting of music. We’ve had some good influences from a few Dunedin bands like Julian Temple Band and Marlin’s Dreaming where they say a lot and yet they keep it very refined, so you can digest each part.”
Jesse is in his second year of a BA majoring in music with a minor in history. Bringing his classical background to his songwriting and performing may be an asset now but it didn’t come naturally.
“I feel like in first year it was kind of a jarring experience. I grew up on classical so I’d always kind of put it in a separate box. I couldn’t blend the lines between the two different styles of music at all.”
Having one-on-one voice lessons as part of MUSI241 Performance 2 has made a big difference, as have teachers Dr Tessa Romano, Tom McGrath and Professor Terence Dennis.
“This year I’m able to blend them more. Tessa especially has taught me a lot about combining genres and taking the techniques that classical singers use to preserve their voice and maintain it in a rock setting. She’s an incredibly talented musician with unending knowledge it seems. And very patient. She just wants the best for you.
“I have lessons with Tessa every Friday, classes on Thursday and Friday and practice all week in the classical genre so when I come to do band stuff it has almost become second nature to bring these techniques.”
Balancing the band with his study, work, extra-curricular activities and maintaining relationships with friends and family can be a juggle.
“It’s difficult but I think, that being said, every young person has to deal with this. It’s about being mindful of what’s going on in the rest of the world. We live a privileged lifestyle where we get to play in a band, which is like, who does that? It’s great.”
Otago student Jesse Hanan is the lead singer of local band IVY, which won OUSA's Bring the Noise competition last year.
IVY regularly plays at U-Bar on campus, which – in a city of dwindling music venues – offers a valuable opportunity for bands starting out, Jesse says.
“It’s a great venue and we’re very grateful to them. They’ve given us lots of opportunity to play in front of an audience. University audiences are sometimes there for their own personal reasons but the ones coming to see us definitely stand out in the crowd. It’s great to see that.
“The Otago music scene is pretty small. There’s a group of 200 students that really keep it all together. Without U-Bar there wouldn’t be any student scene.”
OUSA and Radio One have also been a major source of support for the band, from pitching them to the radio or giving them opportunities, Jesse says.
“They put in the hard yards for us because they believe in us. It’s really nice. And there’s a good musician connection and community within the university scene. We’re good friends with a lot of people from doing music here.
“Often at times people are struggling with money and looking for places to play. There’s kind of this feeling like we’re all in this together. Despite what we have to face, the adversity is communal.”
Jesse recommends anyone considering entering this year’s Bring the Noise competition to just go for it.
“Being part of the competition was an awesome experience. There was a great feeling of community, and I really felt the enjoyment of others. The prizes were also incredible.”
Entries for this year’s Bring the Noise (brought to you by Sublime Studio) are open from now until 17 July. All writers and performers of original music are eligible to enter, with the proviso that the act/band has at least one Otago University or Polytechnic student.
“I would say to any aspiring musicians who haven’t found their people to play with, Dunedin is a very welcoming environment and there’s not a lot of exclusion,” Jesse says.
“You’re only 21, 22, 23 once. You might as well just give it all and have fun while you’re doing it.”
Dunedin and beyond – what’s next?
Dunedin has played a big part in the creation and evolution of IVY, say Jesse and lead guitarist/acting manager James Axton.
“In Dunedin you’re so far away from the rest of the New Zealand music scene, and therefore the world music scene, that you only really can rely on yourselves and the scene that is around, and its history as well. I think also weather-wise it’s kind of a humbling environment,” Jesse says.
James agrees.
“We watched a Dunedin Sound documentary last night from 1986 and everything they said was exactly how we feel about the place. It’s like a perfect haven for creativity and it’s got the right atmosphere and a lack of influences and isolation so you can be really authentic, creative and original.”
As well as U-Bar, IVY plays at other Dunedin venues, including Yours, Errick’s, Dive, and The Crown Hotel but an increasing lack of venues is a major concern, Jesse says.
“Watching that documentary was kind of tragic at some points because, despite there being an isolated crowd, it was a crowd nonetheless and there were places to play regardless.”
“And they were hopeful for the future,” James says.
“They were saying, ‘We can’t wait for the Dunedin music scene to grow in the future. We’re sure there’ll be many great musicians to come’. Little did they know that the majority of venues would close, which would drive out a large amount of talent.”
IVY has been doing more out-of-town gigs in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka and are looking to broaden their horizons further by building a national fan base.
“We're really happy with what we have now but we’ve got to be ambitious,” Jesse says. “I wouldn’t want to just put us in a university box. Without it sounding overly confident, I think our music has something to offer for people of all ages, particularly the crowds between 25 and 40.
“So, we’re looking to spread across New Zealand and hopefully Australasia next year and even extend it from there in the long term.”
For New Zealand Music Month, IVY had planned to have a release out but that’s been delayed. Instead, the band is focussing on playing live and showing their support for other local musicians.
“It’s a shame about the release but we’ve got a big plan for music coming out and we didn’t want to rush it and release it too early,” James says.
“We recorded two songs at Sublime Studio that really encapsulate our sound and the trajectory we want to go in. Some of our songs on Spotify aren’t entirely indicative of how we view ourselves anymore and we’re looking forward to releasing new music in the coming months.”
Jesse says next up for IVY is a new website, an EP and there’s also an album in the works.
“We’ve got an album written. It’s not recorded yet, but we’ve got a collection of songs that we think are worthy to put in a ten-song album. We’re starting to show people what we’re capable of.”
James says the band is “going through the steps and making sure everything’s done properly”.
“We’re really close to getting what we want, which is really exciting. When put in perspective, we kind of have dream lives. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
*To find out where IVY is playing next and when their new music comes out, follow them on Instagram or facebook
*More information about Bring the Noise 2024 here