I, a Man

These Melbourne alt-rockers channel some of the dreamier aromas of Radiohead in the lush singles 'Less Travelled' and 'In Time', which presage their debut LP - set for april. Mixing Thom Yorke - flavoured pop vocals with the shuffling beats of the Oxford five pieces later works, the music ultimately boils down to soft, pink and pensive swirls full of warm, rainy guitars. - NME Magazine

Aussie's here, there, and everywhere have been releasing music to a western hemisphere / northern hemisphere audience far greater than their southern / eastern counterparts. It's an unexpected climb out of the shark ridden waters in to the thin o-zone layer with music, music, and music. They're constantly giving us new albums, and old traditions to go with it. Just last year saw Cut Copy and Jagwar Ma release similiar 90s-esque house albums. Confusing, given I, a Man's musical heritage seems placed in Brooklyn, New York rather than their native Melbourne.

Why Brooklyn? you ask. Well, I, a Man never sound like surfers or that they live in boiling heat for most of the year. In Time is very much a winter release, suprising given it's currently 31 degrees in Melbourne's reversed seasons. I, a Man sound like they're cold, shivering from a snowy Brooklyn in February - with dreary music and a dream pop feel that the venues of New York are used to feeling on a regular basis. It's warm though, like a camp fire in the woods late at night. I, a Man play soft, easy listening music for fans of an early Coldplay persuasion - with a debut album on the way, these Aussies are ones not to be missed.
~Eddie Gibson - Music Review Database

I, a Man - 'In Time'. Poncho's local clip of the week - Ponco

Touted as Australia’s best-kept secret, Melbourne’s I, a Man probably won’t remain a secret for much longer. We want to help make sure of it by offering their new single, ‘Less Travelled’ as today’s free MP3 download.

“My eager eyes, they’re open for the changing tides,” lead vocalist and guitarist Daniel Moss sings on the track. The emotional depth of the lyrics pairs nicely with the spacious sound created by the foursome (Ash Hunter on guitar, Simon Rabl on bass and Summer Fish on drums). The new single pushes the group’s alt-rock into new territories by incorporating everything from Krautrock to shoegaze and dream-pop.

“‘Less Travelled’ is the first track released from our debut album,” the band tells Diffuser.fm. “The initial arrangement of the song is something we’ve had floating around for over a year or so. It’s got a pretty hypnotic motorik quality in the rhythm section, so we tried to make the other elements kind of impressionistic.”

“It lyrically delves into a few of the ideas that are looked at through the rest of the album,” they add.

I, a Man are set to release their debut album — which follows the EPs ‘Fifteen Thirty-Three,’ and ‘You’re Boring Us All’ — later this year. - Diffuser FM - UK

Touted as Australia’s best-kept secret, Melbourne’s I, a Man probably won’t remain a secret for much longer. We want to help make sure of it by offering their new single, ‘Less Travelled’ as today’s free MP3 download.

“My eager eyes, they’re open for the changing tides,” lead vocalist and guitarist Daniel Moss sings on the track. The emotional depth of the lyrics pairs nicely with the spacious sound created by the foursome (Ash Hunter on guitar, Simon Rabl on bass and Summer Fish on drums). The new single pushes the group’s alt-rock into new territories by incorporating everything from Krautrock to shoegaze and dream-pop.

“‘Less Travelled’ is the first track released from our debut album,” the band tells Diffuser.fm. “The initial arrangement of the song is something we’ve had floating around for over a year or so. It’s got a pretty hypnotic motorik quality in the rhythm section, so we tried to make the other elements kind of impressionistic.”

“It lyrically delves into a few of the ideas that are looked at through the rest of the album,” they add.

I, a Man are set to release their debut album — which follows the EPs ‘Fifteen Thirty-Three,’ and ‘You’re Boring Us All’ — later this year. - Diffuser FM - UK

'Less Travelled' is the brand new song from Melbourne's I, a Man. After the release of their last EP You're Boring Us All - which gave us songs like 'Sometimes' - the band headed to rural Australia to write their debut album. 'Less Travelled' is the first taste of their creative sojourn, channelling the wide open spaces and long unending roads of the country. - Triple J - Home & Hosed

Yet another product of Melbourne's enormously healthy music scene, I, a Man have picked up a few plaudits back home, but with new single 'Less Travelled' they're aiming (ironically given the title) to push their music a bit further afield, and we're glad to help them do that, because in this track they have a very good slice of indie-rock that could well turn a few heads. - The Sound Of Confusion

Yet another product of Melbourne's enormously healthy music scene, I, a Man have picked up a few plaudits back home, but with new single 'Less Travelled' they're aiming (ironically given the title) to push their music a bit further afield, and we're glad to help them do that, because in this track they have a very good slice of indie-rock that could well turn a few heads. - The Sound Of Confusion

It's an innate human nature to want something new - the consequence of our ability to absorb information to subliminally instruct us how to process the data. While we need innovation for life to advance, its growth needs nurture and comfort for a healthy balance. After hundreds of years of its nascent, classical music still thrives in many aspects of modern life. Likewise, certain elements of rock music seems to comfort us, and probably for years to come. Hearing I, a Man for the first time feels like soaking in a foamy lavender-scented bath or walking through the shimmering dusk of an early fall day. Until the Australian quartet unveils their debut LP (sometime later this year), you can sample the lead single, “Less Travelled”, to get a taste of the undulating record of classic beauty. - Prefixmag

I, a Man perform live on a Melbourne tram - Tram Sessions

Sticking to window of the pungent 86 tram was not how I’d envisaged my evening beginning. However, the great expectations held for the night’s viewing was hardly something that could be spoilt by a greasy pane. Burrowing into the box-like bowels of the Northcote Social Club for the early kick off, we were instantly affronted by The Neighbourhood Youth.

Despite the hoodlum branding, The Neighbourhood Youth’s tight, shining melodies cut a crisp entrance while John Philip’s vocals leered onwards and upwards. While it’s not often that a band are excused for wearing shorts inside (not dressed as scouts), with a hint of The Rifles to go an unashamed nod to The Maccabees you will earn your keep. The Neighbourhood Youth do just that with promise of more to come.

Little more than the time to wriggle over to the bar and back saw the mysterious I’lls (say “Isles”) mount the stage with noted Ocean Party member Simon Lam hunched centre stage behind a desk. With Dan Rutman stage right on guitars and Hamish Mitchell on keys, the group brought a twist from their recent Thread EP to the evening. Far beyond the dream pop of Ocean Party, here under unfortunately harsh lighting the swelling crowd found equal measures of The XX, Atlas Sound and the parts of Kid A that don’t sound like Pac Man.

With Lam in full control of the sounds through the synthesised keys of his laptop, there was a hush of intrigue about the room. Diligently backed up, Lam’s seamless move to the unoccupied drum kit rounded out the set from the boyish, echoed vocals of the ghostly “Northern Quarters” to a crashing end all before we’d quite worked out what to do.

Third on the bill was the mighty, warbling psychedelia of Tehachapi taking to the stage in almost complete darkness. Making a swarming noise all of their own, the band are fronted by the shaggy haired Constatine Stefanou on guitar with James Ruse on bass while Anthony Cook rounded out the swarming mid range on guitar.

Brooding among the Melbourne scene for a few years, the sizable slabs of The Doors, Mogwai-esque twangs are toned by the haunting, vocal trades between Stefanou and drummer Laura Christoforidis. With their recent four-track EP Land Of Four Seasons uncovered, there are great signs of a band who’ve worked with steady verve to harness the raw intent of their early promise.

Curiously, for all the fuzzed out reverb and swirling chords lending to impending doom and terrifying acid trips, there’s a sweetness aloud to freshen the mood at will. Unlike the (slightly contrived) wavered vocals of Black Mountain’s Amber Webber it is the considered approach of Stefanou/Christoforidis that would hold firm. With the two allowing each other to take lead unannounced, it went as far as to trick those inattentive into believing there was loop flowing round the pattered cymbal crash which close out a wall of sound. Sadly, time stood slightly stiller than before and the fear of Pac Man was forgotten as we bid Tehanachi thanks before the final leg of an already impressive evening could begin.

With the black curtains drawn across the stage for reasons unexplained, a shuffle to and from the bar brought time to ponder and shout to be heard. Top of the conversation starter cards were the “Have you got the first EP?” followed closely by flowery worded disagreements of which track took the cake. When the curtains were drawn and Daniel Moss and co. immediately drenched the muttering masses with their sharp, well honed melodies. Moss’ voice brought a mellow drama before “Reprise” plucked from the stunning debut four-track EP Fifteen Thirty Three brought a known quantity to life.

Clever melodies coupled with the harmonies of Ash Hunter (guitars) and Erik Rene (bass) laced across the gently picked notes before Sumner Fish’s shuddering drums fill the room, the band shone on this their night to bare their gruelling months of work to the world as a new EP – You’re Boring Us All. Borrowing the title from its opening track, the band do anything but bore, proving stage theatrics redundant to the dole queues of yesteryear. Instead, the hushed lines of “Five Four” gave way to the soaring chorus’ before retreating back to poignant gloom.

Having skipped through the lull normally placed for an encore, the band held a gem back to close in “Ran My Ghoul”. With the lyrics more topical than you could plan, calling on faceless men to be unveiled, Moss’ vocal strains rang high. Here were a band with all before them. True headliners to a fine night, packed with well earned praise.

Should their relentless gigging and undoubted talent pay its deserved dues, what might become of I, A Man is set to become something of a secret handshake between anyone lucky enough to have been nudged into the cramped surrounds. Glory hunters beware – capacity has been noted. If the world’s half as right as it should be, I, A Man will fly high. - Tone Deaf

Sticking to window of the pungent 86 tram was not how I’d envisaged my evening beginning. However, the great expectations held for the night’s viewing was hardly something that could be spoilt by a greasy pane. Burrowing into the box-like bowels of the Northcote Social Club for the early kick off, we were instantly affronted by The Neighbourhood Youth.

Despite the hoodlum branding, The Neighbourhood Youth’s tight, shining melodies cut a crisp entrance while John Philip’s vocals leered onwards and upwards. While it’s not often that a band are excused for wearing shorts inside (not dressed as scouts), with a hint of The Rifles to go an unashamed nod to The Maccabees you will earn your keep. The Neighbourhood Youth do just that with promise of more to come.

Little more than the time to wriggle over to the bar and back saw the mysterious I’lls (say “Isles”) mount the stage with noted Ocean Party member Simon Lam hunched centre stage behind a desk. With Dan Rutman stage right on guitars and Hamish Mitchell on keys, the group brought a twist from their recent Thread EP to the evening. Far beyond the dream pop of Ocean Party, here under unfortunately harsh lighting the swelling crowd found equal measures of The XX, Atlas Sound and the parts of Kid A that don’t sound like Pac Man.

With Lam in full control of the sounds through the synthesised keys of his laptop, there was a hush of intrigue about the room. Diligently backed up, Lam’s seamless move to the unoccupied drum kit rounded out the set from the boyish, echoed vocals of the ghostly “Northern Quarters” to a crashing end all before we’d quite worked out what to do.

Third on the bill was the mighty, warbling psychedelia of Tehachapi taking to the stage in almost complete darkness. Making a swarming noise all of their own, the band are fronted by the shaggy haired Constatine Stefanou on guitar with James Ruse on bass while Anthony Cook rounded out the swarming mid range on guitar.

Brooding among the Melbourne scene for a few years, the sizable slabs of The Doors, Mogwai-esque twangs are toned by the haunting, vocal trades between Stefanou and drummer Laura Christoforidis. With their recent four-track EP Land Of Four Seasons uncovered, there are great signs of a band who’ve worked with steady verve to harness the raw intent of their early promise.

Curiously, for all the fuzzed out reverb and swirling chords lending to impending doom and terrifying acid trips, there’s a sweetness aloud to freshen the mood at will. Unlike the (slightly contrived) wavered vocals of Black Mountain’s Amber Webber it is the considered approach of Stefanou/Christoforidis that would hold firm. With the two allowing each other to take lead unannounced, it went as far as to trick those inattentive into believing there was loop flowing round the pattered cymbal crash which close out a wall of sound. Sadly, time stood slightly stiller than before and the fear of Pac Man was forgotten as we bid Tehanachi thanks before the final leg of an already impressive evening could begin.

With the black curtains drawn across the stage for reasons unexplained, a shuffle to and from the bar brought time to ponder and shout to be heard. Top of the conversation starter cards were the “Have you got the first EP?” followed closely by flowery worded disagreements of which track took the cake. When the curtains were drawn and Daniel Moss and co. immediately drenched the muttering masses with their sharp, well honed melodies. Moss’ voice brought a mellow drama before “Reprise” plucked from the stunning debut four-track EP Fifteen Thirty Three brought a known quantity to life.

Clever melodies coupled with the harmonies of Ash Hunter (guitars) and Erik Rene (bass) laced across the gently picked notes before Sumner Fish’s shuddering drums fill the room, the band shone on this their night to bare their gruelling months of work to the world as a new EP – You’re Boring Us All. Borrowing the title from its opening track, the band do anything but bore, proving stage theatrics redundant to the dole queues of yesteryear. Instead, the hushed lines of “Five Four” gave way to the soaring chorus’ before retreating back to poignant gloom.

Having skipped through the lull normally placed for an encore, the band held a gem back to close in “Ran My Ghoul”. With the lyrics more topical than you could plan, calling on faceless men to be unveiled, Moss’ vocal strains rang high. Here were a band with all before them. True headliners to a fine night, packed with well earned praise.

Should their relentless gigging and undoubted talent pay its deserved dues, what might become of I, A Man is set to become something of a secret handshake between anyone lucky enough to have been nudged into the cramped surrounds. Glory hunters beware – capacity has been noted. If the world’s half as right as it should be, I, A Man will fly high. - Tone Deaf

It’s 9pm inside Melbourne’s Forum Theatre. A swarm of 18-year-old hipsters are circling to get the best vantage point for headline act Bombay Bicycle Club. While sipping ciders and checking texts, they glance up to see three heavily bristled bandmembers and a frontman who has no facial foliage whatsoever.

The hipsters look puzzled, a little worried perhaps. It’s not exactly the warm up act they were expecting. The dishevelled quartet – otherwise known as I, a Man – proceeds to unleash a set that blows the following performance of Bombay Bicycle Club away. Confusion turns to appreciation and the hipsters can’t help but be converted.

Such a reaction has not been uncommon during the live shows of I, a Man.

Like most local up-and-coming bands, they have trekked the obligatory live Melbourne circuit. It’s a rite of passage that stretches from the confined Northcote Social Club, winds its way down Swanston Street to the Toff and lands on the spew-stained stairs of Revolver.

Unlike other young acts that take this road and taper off into relative obscurity, the talent of I, a Man cut through. Their live virtuosity led to several high-profile gigs, including the aforementioned support act at the Forum and a triple j Unearthed slot at Falls Festival.

“It’s a festival the band and I have attended numerous times,” says guitarist Ash Hunter. “To go as a performer was not only exciting but also set us a benchmark of what we need to do to get there and what to expect. To say we shared the same stage as the likes of Fleet Foxes and Unknown Mortal Orchestra is also pretty flattering.”

To pigeonhole I, a Man solely as a ‘live band’ would be underestimating their breadth of talent. It implies that their recorded material is not up to the same standard. Anyone who has sampled EPs such as You’re Boring Us All and their latest single ‘The Scenic Route’ would attest otherwise. There is an atmospheric yet muscular swagger to their sound that is grounded by the angular arpeggio work of Hunter and melodic vocals of frontman Dan Moss.

On first impressions, Moss looks the odd man out. For starters, he’s the only member who owns a Mach 4 razor. “I’m not sure if it’s by choice or just that Dan can’t grow any facial hair,” says Hunter with a laugh. “You’d have to check with him on that one.” Despite his stand-alone features, Moss is an integral part of the band, not only acting as frontman but also as one of the chief songwriters.

“With the process of the songs we’ve released up to date, it’s all sort of started with Dan,” says Hunter. “He’s had an idea with a structure, guitar part or vocal melody. The rest of the band works on it from there. It’s not a strict formula, though.”

It’s this chemistry within the group that makes their collective output work. Nearly all of the members were mates prior to the band’s incarnation, which makes late night slots at Revolver and rehearsals down at Inkerman Street in St Kilda far more bearable.

“It helps because, with the music we write, it’s pretty personal and emotionally driven most of the time. We’re close. We understand each other without knowing exactly where each other comes from; so that helps with the band’s dynamic,” explains Hunter.

Given their camaraderie and talent, a venture to overseas shores beckons. Still, there is a modesty and humbleness within the band that reminds them of goals that still need to be achieved at home. This includes the continuous pounding of the Melbourne circuit, beginning with their triumphant show at the recently refurbished Ding Dong Lounge.

“There’s a big picture that we’d like to get to. At the same time you have to start somewhere and we have plenty of stepping stones to go,” Hunter says. “We’re focusing on the next task at hand, whether it be the tour or the next release. Looking forward we’d definitely like to take our music overseas to see how it will be received around the world.”

Remaining humble to the end, Hunter adds, “we realise we have to work it in Australia first, though.” - Tone Deaf

IF it’s your wish to hear guitars that wash, I, a Man are your ticket to glide.

The Melbourne aquatic rock band with the difficult, slightly dorky bandname are one of the best new live bands in the country, you pretty much just need to bring shower gel along to one of their shows and you’ll leave properly cleansed.

Named after an Andy Warhol film, I, a Man’s lead singer and pedal-pushing aficionado Daniel Moss defends his turf. “We never set out to be a specific band, that’s why the bandname works. Our guitarists Ash’s grandma said in her Sri Lankan accent “That’s a stupid name Ashley!” and he said “There’s a comma after the I” and she replied. “Oh, that’s OK then,” he says.
“We probably should have given it more of a thought but like the ambiguity.”
And who doesn’t love sounding pompous and declaring “I….A MAN!”

I, a Man are about to set off on their national Scenic Route tour, a run of shows celebrating their superbly clipped single The Scenic Route, a song they’ve just done a video for at Bakehouse Studios. It’s taken from the EP You’re Boring Us All. “That song is poking fun at ourselves. There’s a lot of constant, minimal sounds on there, You’re Boring Us All has only one drum pattern, The Scenic Route has one pattern to it,” Moss contends.

The wider than widescreen quartet have played an impressive run of shows in a mere 18 months. They supported Bombay Bicycle Club across the country, nearly getting lost in the space ("I felt wimpy...at first") and performed well outdoors at the Falls Festival and The Hills are Alive, their wafting sounds allowed to weave through the leaves.
Listening to their EP, it’s all very Radiohead, a comparison not to be given – or taken – lightly.

“We’re all Radiohead fans. We don’t intentionally try and sound like them. I don’t hear a huge amount of Radiohead but it subconsciously seeps in. If there are any comparisons to be had it could be worse.”

They’ll find the Radiohead comparisons hard to shake for a while but Muse got through it and you feel I, a Man will do the same as they go from Kid A to A Men. Amen to that. Hmm, bit clunky. Sorry, patient readers.

Pretty sure Radiohead didn’t have Reg Grundies piffed at them in the first year of their existence. “We don’t have any Motley Crue tales, although someone threw underpants on the stage at an Espy gig a few weeks ago,” chuckles Moss. “It was multiple underpants actually. I looked at my delay pedal and they were sitting there, I didn’t even see them go flying. The first ones were definitely girls and the second ones were a guy’s underpants. He wanted in on the action.”

And now for no real reason, five dream dinner guests Moss would literally have for dinner? Go on, eat them like a man!!
“Speaking as cannibals? OK, who is hearty and full of nutrients? Anthony Hopkins because he’s eaten so many people himself. And for that matter the (Silence of the Lambs director) Jonathan Demme for making him. Jessica Biel. a. because she was on 7th Heaven, b. she seems to take really good care of herself. Matt Preston. He would sustain the longest of all the judges. The cravat? I don’t think it would go down very easily. And last would be the actor that plays the Water character (Halle Berry as Storm?) in X-Men to refresh me afterwards.”

Early next year the band should have an album ready to go and they’ll be roadtesting the new cuts on tours this year with “The Medics and The Darcy’s from Canada,” says Moss.

You just wait until tastemakers like Zan Rowe, Richard Moffat, Nick O’Byrne, Ken West, Millie Millgate and probably even Michael Gudinski see them live. There will be froth. - The Herald Sun