One of the local ‘sleeper’ bands last year was local prog rock band FORMILES featuring Jack Forsey on lead guitar and vocals, Dougie Walker on bass and Samuel Patterson on drums.
Dougie, the barefoot bass player with the band is a keen surfer and former Leopard tank driver and gunnery instructor in the Australian Defence Forces. Music has always been a big part of his life.
“I started guitar when I was 16. I hated the fact that I needed a radio or CD player to hear my favourite songs so I decided to learn how to play them. I made the switch to bass guitar because the boys I met needed a bass player. I found I loved the challenge of something new and the power of the bass so I kept going. I’ve been playing bass now for five years in a three piece band called FORMILES.”
Dougie made the move to Torquay five years ago and it didn’t take him long to catch the surfing bug. “I was living in Darwin before that, no surf and plenty of crocs made it hard to learn to surf. I had a lesson in Byron Bay one day and just caught the bug. Torquay Point is my go-to wave. I also enjoy the Bells bowl when it’s 3-4 foot with my longboard.”
FORMILES are known for their sonic prog rock sound. Last year they launched their debut EP FIREFIELDS, performing shows in Geelong and Melbourne while making the final of K Rock’s ‘The Band’ competition at the Barwon Club (they came a close second).
The ocean and powerful waves of the Surf Coast have a big influence on Dougie and his music. “When I’m on the water I get ideas and grooves. It’s great to have a place to collect your thoughts and then apply them later. The clarity you get from surfing is something you can’t describe to someone who doesn’t surf. And as for music influencing my surfing when I’m having a great run and linking sections together, I have my own action music running through my head.”
You can follow FORMILES via their website at www.formiles.net or the usual Facebook/Soundcloud links.
Written by John Foss
