ANZAC day may have been and gone, but remembering and honouring them is something we should certainly do more of. And that’s exactly what Lachlan Bryce has done in his album Rising Sons and performance with the Youth Victorian Symphony Orchestra on May 31. Honouring those further, proceeds go towards the White Cloud Foundation.
Hi Lachlan, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte Magazine, how are you and what are you up to?
Thank you for having me. I’m very well albeit busy getting the last of the orchestral arrangements finished for my up coming concert.
You’ll soon be doing a show with the Youth Victorian Symphony Orchestra (pictured), are you looking forward to having such a big sound behind you?
I am still pinching myself, it doesn’t feel like it’s happening to me. I’ve always wanted to play with an orchestra ever since hearing Bryan Adams play live with a strings group from Juilliard and Metallica with the San Fransisco Symphony Orchestra.A whole new story can be told with the addition of these wonderful musicians.
I know that’s as part of showing the ‘wartime experience’, did you think it’s important having such overpowering and emotive instruments at your disposal?
There are some things that cannot be said by contemporary instruments in a band. A person’s emotions can only be taken so far. The body of an orchestra can add that little bit extra to push someone from feeling something so strongly in their chest to having a tear escape from their eyes. That’s my goal with orchestrating my songs. Taking each song to an emotional point just out of reach normally, making rocky parts bolder, mellow parts more delicate. I have been very careful with the orchestration though as to not over power what I am wanting the audience to feel, as with all things there’s a very fine line between amazing and excess. Getting carried away with all of the possibilities and sounds available could lead to an aural mess – an outcome we are avoiding.
The gig is supporting the White Cloud Foundation as well, is that a charity that’s close to your heart?
It is. Mental illness is very prominent and something that everyone will experience either themselves or through someone close to them. Family members of mine are suffering from it, as are people who are very dear to me, They put up a brave front, however you can see the pain in their eyes but you can’t fix it. The White Cloud Foundation are treating those with anxiety, depression and PTSD. I chose the White Cloud Foundation to support as their Patron member is the Victorian Cross recipient Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith. It is suiting that an album and a concert dedicated to the soldiers past and present supports an organisation helping Australians that is also backed by an Australian hero.
Delving into these war stories in your new album and the show, have any tales come out that have stuck in your mind?
I spent some time in Canberra at the war memorial doing research and talking to people there and hearing their perspective. One of my songs, ‘Mount Up’, came from the admiration of a curator for the field medics in Gallipoli and the Western Front when he said, “They were the bravest of the brave.” It was that same day I took a tour (about my third in two days) and had come across the Pacific conflict in World War 2 display. We came up to a cabinet with a photo depicting the Japanese commander of that area surrendering to an Australian officer with the sword being surrendered below. There was an old man, and whom I would assume was his daughter or granddaughter with him in front of the display. As the guide was talking to us the old man was incredibly apologetic and moved aside. The guide said no need you can join us if you would like to listen and the old man replied, “No need that’s me in the photo,” pointing at a soldier standing by the Australian officer. I was awed! I also read letters home from soldiers. Some of those boys were beautiful writers.
And why should locals head along to the gig?
This is very much a once in a lifetime event. Honouring all ANZACs past and present in the centennial of their birth by fire through an emotional musical journey with a rock band and orchestra for $25 is not something that can happen again, not for another one hundred years at least and sadly I don’t think I will be around for that. Tickets can be purchased from www.VYSO.org.au.
Thanks again for having the chat, is there anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you very much for having me here.
When & Where: Coburg Town Hall, Coburg – May 31
Release: Rising Sons is available now with 5% of proceeds going towards the White Cloud Foundation (www.lachiemusic.com)