Lives of the Unsigned - Genshen

Genshen are an indie-pop band based in Brisbane, Australia, with a passion for their alternative early indie music. They mix together their own quirky blend of cocktails with a shot of their indie influences such as Stereolab, a big dash of the pop connection and just a sprinkle of their sonic, electronic sound as though they had come out of a 70s sci-fi movie. Just give it all a shake and you have the uniqueness and delightfully unusual sound of Genshen. Their live performance is fantastically energetic, showing their passion for the organicness of music and hitting the audience with a feel that no CD could give.

It seems like so long ago that Genshens hit Nothing Quite Like This off their Someplace Else EP was blasting over the Triple J airwaves, and theyve been hard at their music since, recording a new CD and working on Quentin and Gillians new side project, Loveless. The incredible thing? They are doing this completely independently.

We do stuff a little different. We want to have some control over our artistic direction, Quentin explains, The last couple of years have been a real eye-opener. Because we havent signed, there are so many things weve discovered within the music industry that other bands couldnt have experienced.

Its not like this indie-pop foursome havent had the opportunity. Many bands sign up to any recording contract that heads their way, but Genshen have taken a different approach.

We wanted to be in a position of strength when we went into a deal. The artist has to be absolutely confident that the manager has their interests at heart and they are doing the best for the band. You are asking an awful lot of someone if they are independent, with all the risks of the band flopping, so why not do it yourself? You know what the band wants.

Its been extremely difficult for Genshen, rehearsing and recording in their own little 3 * 4 metre space, self-managed, self-produced and, probably the most difficult, self-financed. When the EP was released, both Quentin and Gillian quit their jobs to focus on the band, which brought them into an entirely new world. They experienced things and developed skills that musicians within the business wouldnt accomplish throughout their entire careers. They are also distributed through MRA Entertainment/Little Big Music, without being signed to them.

They take a fairly steep percentage out of every CD. Instead of normally 15%, its now 30%.

However, at the time, Genshen was simply days away from touring Australia and needed their discs in stores, so the money factor was completely irrelevant it was speed that they needed. Quentin does feel that, at some point, it was almost a lost opportunity when Someplace Else was released.

If we were signed, there would have been a lot of money to record and release a follow-up. Once that EP was released, suddenly we were in demand, and we really struggled. We have gone in a complete circle because we not only dont have the relevant connections, but we also dont have the relevant skills, particularly for an international base. As Quentin explains, the industry is all about contacts and relationships, which is why you need to sign eventually.
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All the hard work seemed to pay off for Genshen last year when Music Mangers Forum of Australia (MMF) awarded them with the best self-managed band of the year.

Its completely mind-blowing. Youre standing next to some really prominent managers for people like John Farnham, The Vines and Jet and its like F*#!k what are we doing here? This is amazing! I had to make a speech; I try to plan them but I completely bum out. Its been a great experience.

The hotly debated topic at the moment for Genshen is the recent departure of bassist Steven, who was beginning to feel that it had become too much of a job for him. He was into the clichd rock n roll lifestyle, and wanted it to be more about fun. Genshen has developed their style tremendously over the years, creating an enlightening, quirky little niche that fits them so perfectly.

Steven was an integral part of the band. With him to leave, it really will change the direction of the band. Now that we have established a style, we want to follow that through.

Its obvious now that the band has gotten to the point where they know the industry incredibly well, but first, they need to sign to a recording contract because then everything just falls into place. What are they after in a contract?

The key things to look for are the terms, or the length, and the territories, or countries that are affected also. For an up-and-coming artist, limiting these things is extremely important. You shouldnt sell or publish too early either, because -publishing- is what will get you money in the long term.

Genshen has definitely rubbed shoulders with some of Australias more prominent bands, playing alongside the likes of The Panics, Magic Dirt, The Beautiful Girls, Pete Murray and Antiskeptic, which just shows how different their music can be!

Role models for us are those that manage to make a living, perform overseas and have a following in all their countries. They dont necessarily have to be superstars, but they have a following and a good financial gain.

Just before the clock strikes midnight on a Tuesday, I leave the exhausted Quentin in peace, but I will tell you one thing else - Genshen is soaring for fantastic things in the future. Who knows? They definitely have the potential to be those who arent necessarily superstars, but they have a following and a good financial gain.

If youre in Brisbane and want to check out Quentin and Gillians side project, Loveless, their first show is at Rics on June 24, but all Genshen shows have been put on hold until a new bassist is announced! Check out www.genshen.net.

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