Ned traces path to Freo
Thank Ned Beckley’s wife for introducing the Melbourne expat to Perth. Beckley, who produces experimental electronic music as Lower Spectrum, released an album in Melbourne before moving to Fremantle.
But he has been embraced so quickly in WA that Lower Spectrum has been invited to perform at the State of the Art local music festival later this month.
“My wife is originally from Perth,” he says from his West Perth studio. “I’d been travelling the world for six months, I got back to Melbourne and didn’t want to get locked into routines.”
Last year he released the locally produced Traces EP to acclaim and has become a fixture supporting the finest electronic and experimental tours to Perth, including Jon Hopkins and Colin Stetson.
“There’s such a great music community in Perth, in some ways better than Melbourne or Sydney because it’s so tight-knit and everyone’s supportive and keen to do interesting things,” Beckley says.
While 2013 debut album Little Appeal was written on his travels around the world, Traces was written in WA and is more energetic.
“Probably since moving to Perth my music has been more dance-floor driven,” he says.
“I think I ride on that amazing vibe you get when you play live and people get absorbed in the music and move to it.
“Now that I’m firmly in one place my music is probably a bit more cohesive and flows together better than it did before.”
Currently working on a follow-up EP to release once the right label is firmed up, Beckley will then start work on a second album that will hopefully see the light of day in 2016.
“I’m ready to move on to the next step and release something that is quite a bit different to Traces, and probably more beat-driven and uplifting,” he says.
Writing with a combination of Ableton software, synthesisers, Gospel vinyl samples and a range of instruments including harp and guitar, Beckley plans to road-test new songs at State of the Art.
“I’m going to be playing unreleased tracks that will be interesting to hear on a big system,” he says. “I’ll also have my analogue synths and drum pads — it’ll be quite an interactive show.”
Lower Spectrum playsState of the Art at the Perth Cultural Centre on May 30. Tickets from sotafest.com.au.
