Georgia Fair

Australian folk rock duo Georgia Fair have just released their latest album Trapped Flame and are currently touring the east coast of Australia.

Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley met in high school and have continued to write and perform ever since. The name Georgia Fair came about by mistake when a booker misunderstood the boys over the phone but nonetheless the name has stuck.

Jordan and Ben recently had a chat to Music News about their latest album and playing at SXSW in Austin Texas.

Music News - Can you tell me about the early days of Georgia Fair? How did the band form?

Jordan - We met in about grade 8, we were in the same drama class, but both being shy kids I didn't even really notice Ben. Sooner or later we both found out that we were playing guitar and Ben invited me round to his house to jam with his older brother who played drums. We haven't really stopped jamming since then, people have come and gone but Ben and I remained constant.

Music News - I understand that the name “Georgia Fair” came about by accident. Can you explain how that happened?

Jordan - We booked our first gig down at this taco joint. I called the booker to find out the details and when he asked our name I just said Jordan n' Ben. When we got there it said Georgia Fair on the blackboard, he didn't speak English too well so we just ran with it.


Music News - You just released your new album Trapped Flame, can you tell me about that? What inspired the album?

Jordan - It’s our second album and it was a time of real distinct growth, leaving the hometown, making it on your own kind of thing. So there's a real sense of pain and awkwardness to it, but also a strength and exploration.

Music News - What is your songwriting process? Do you write as a team or individually?

Jordan - Either I'll bring a song and Ben will inject his essence into it. Ben will play me a piece of music and I'll rap over it. Then there are those rare moments of magic where we happen to come up with something together on the spot.

Music News - Which artists have influenced you?

Jordan - All the great songwriters, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave. But also great bands like Kings of Leon, Nirvana.

Ben - A big one would be Jimi Hendrix, someone I wish I'd seen play. I love artists who put their entire being into their performance. Neil Young's another favourite. Howlin' Wolf's 'Moanin' in the Moonlight' has influenced me a lot – it’s a record I can always go back to.

Music News - What have been the biggest hurdles you have faced to get to where you are today?

Jordan - Just to persist in a passion that isn't exactly considered "normal" or adult.

Ben - Patience was a hurdle. It's something we're getting better with, but we're definitely better when we keep moving.

Music News - I hear that you showcased your new material earlier this year at SXSW in Austin Texas. That must have been incredibly satisfying. Can you tell me more about that?

Jordan - Yeah it was great, we took the whole band over, wandered the streets searching for something unattainable. I don't think anyone found it except our drummer Sophia.

Music News - What is next for Georgia Fair?

Jordan - We keep just looking for the next step as it comes, mainly just more music, more travel, definitely more records, hopefully mostly unknown.

Music News - Anything you would like to share, from upcoming shows to albums?

Jordan - Yeah we have two consecutive shows in Sydney 30th of Nov and 1st of December at the Hibernian house.

TRAPPED FLAME SHOW DATES

Saturday 30th November – SYDNEY – Hibernian House, Surry Hills
Sunday 1st December – SYDNEY – Hibernian House, Surry Hills

www.georgiafair.com.au