Phyllasoma

Two years ago, the members of PHYLLASOMA made the plucky decision to extract themselves from New Zealand and fall into the arms of Australia's largest city, across the Tasman. "We were too influenced in New Zealand because we mostly played covers," explains frontman Aaron Rose. "We isolated ourselves from the rest of the world which was also detrimental to our writing, so we decided to come to Sydney."

In addition to their relocation, the members of Phyllasoma have also gone through a reinvention. The two core members, Aaron Rose (vocals and guitar) and Apera Uriarau (bass), have enjoyed an eight and a half year musical relationship after having met at the Polytechnic on New Zealand's South Island. Aaron was joined by Apera after having started the first incarnation of Phyllasoma and very recently the two younger members, Kiel Rasmussen (drums) and Daniel Walton (guitar) have created an interesting dynamic in the group. "We're quite an eclectic age group. I'm 32 and our drummer, Kiel, for example, is 22," reveals Rose. "Our music therefore has very different influences. There have been many different band members over the years, but this combination now seems to be working really well. We're all really excited to be together because we're a relatively new band; this music that we're creating is a totally new thing. We've created music that we didn't expect to produce. Everything is an added bonus."

The band's name is an allusion to the larval stages of spiny, slipper and coral lobsters and very aptly describes the momentum of this alternative rock band that seems to just recently be finding their feet. "Because we were a covers band for years, it seems like now writing our own stuff is just part of the natural progression," Rose says. "It was a nice surprise when we moved with our two younger members because it was a make or break decision. Fortunately we began to really trust each other and wrote some really good music. The younger guys grew up away from New Zealand and that, I think, had a really positive influence on the band."

Phyllasoma's sound is very distinctive and echoes the post-grunge of a bygone era with an alternative progressive rock twist. The band are currently playing a small tour and visiting Canberra in August. "We're in a good position now to tour. We've played together a lot as a band and we have a pretty solid stage show," Rose says with an air of confidence.

Phyllasoma should be regarded in Australia as an asset gained and welcomed with open arms; judging from their samples they have many interesting ideas and already plan to put them into final production. "This time next year, we hope to have made an album," [NAME] offers. "At the moment we're involved in the pre-production of our demos. We're trying to get ourselves out there as much as possible. Sydney is an interesting scene. Over the last few months there has been a strong progressive rock movement in Sydney."

Phyllasoma play a free gig on Friday August 7 at 9 pm at the Holy Grail in Kingston.