The Year is 1997, and Something For Kate's Elsewhere For Eight Minutes debut album has been released in Australia, and it is like nothing else anyone has heard before.  A focus on rock melodies with a smooth, emotionally-driven vocal delivery by lead singer and guitarist Paul Dempsey, combined with mellow bass lines from original bassist Julian Carroll, and commanding drum work from Clint Hyndman, brings this Melbourne band into the spotlight with their first successful album. 

Even with the changeover of bass players a year after the debut album (Stephanie Ashworth came on board for 1999's Beautiful Sharks, and has been around ever since), the unique sound that Something For Kate brought to the music world in 1997 is recurrent in every other album they have released to date. 

Australians have embraced this band, sending them into Triple J's Hottest 100 for seven consecutive years (1997-2003), competing with big-name international artists to get a spot on the official countdown of songs that we Aussies like best.  No other band has managed to do the same. 

Having hit American shores recently, and with European tours already under their belt, Something For Kate are making a name for themselves outside of Australia in a big way.  In between the making of their fifth album in Los Angeles, Scrawled's Misha chats with super-friendly SFK's lead singer/guitarist Paul Dempsey and bass player Stephanie Ashworth about life, love, and what the future holds for this outstanding Aussie band. 

Scrawled:  Your website is a great resource for information on Something For Kate.  I see you support Indymedia, an independent media centre.  Do you think independent media plays an important role for musicians?
Paul:  Independent media is extremely important; a free press is probably the most important element of any functioning democracy, and it's even more important these days when huge conglomerates such as News Ltd. can own so many media outlets and push such an obvious political agenda on an unsuspecting public.  The more different voices there are in the media the more sides of a debate will be represented, and people can become better informed to make their decisions.  But I guess the most important thing is to be wary of who the source of information is... Paying attention to only one form of media just because they are 'independent' or happen to reinforce your existing point of view doesn't really help either... Best to take in as much information from as many angles as you can. 
Stephanie:  Yes, the independent media is vital generally, otherwise there is the inevitability of a conflict of interests arising and agendas that are propelled by money, rather than truth.  This goes for the arts as it does for every other aspect of industry and life - particularly political matters.

Scrawled:  "Elsewhere For Eight Minutes" was released in 1997, but when did Something For Kate form officially as a band?  Can you describe the events which led up to SFK getting officially signed to its first label?
Paul:  We formed around 1995.  Clint and I had just finished high school and we met our first bass player, Julian, through an advertisement, and started writing songs and trying to get gigs.  After about a year, we were offered a deal with Murmur records and have been with them ever since.  One of their A&R guys just kept coming to our shows and eventually offered us the deal, we went over it for about three months, and considered our options before signing.  After ten years with them, I can safely say that we made a good decision; they have allowed us to just do our thing, which I think is rare with labels, be they major or indie.
Stephanie:  (Joined the band "sometime in 1998")  They asked me to play bass for them.  I had seen them live many times, and was stunned at the intensity of the live show.  I had also toured with them in my previous band.  I said yes.  I felt privileged. 

Scrawled:  How did the name "Something For Kate" come about?
Paul:  The three of us were sitting around trying to think of a name, because we had our first gig coming up.  There was a note on the coffee table that said 'something for kate' on it.  It really has no significance; we decided to use it for the first gig, and then we got a second gig and it ended up sticking.  I have often reconsidered whether I like it or not, but then I wonder - what does any band name really mean?  You just look for something that you think people might remember.

Scrawled:  Who were some of your influences when you were growing up?  (Musical or otherwise)
Paul:  I went through a big metal phase early on, when I was about 12 years old.  Slayer, Napalm Death, all that silly stuff, until I discovered the Dead Kennedy's, which led me more toward stuff like Black Flag, Fugazi, Big Black, and then more melodic things like Sonic Youth and Pavement... and then I guess I stopped listening to particular genres and started appreciating just about anything, from Miles Davis to Gillian Welch to Interpol to Neil Young and whatever else.
Stephanie:  Oscar Wilde, Siousxie and The Banshees, Joan Jett, The Clash, The Smiths, The Cure, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Neil Young, Peter and The Test Tube Babies - mostly British punk stuff.  Edvard Munch, Frida Kahlo.   

Scrawled:  Australians are notoriously protective of their talent (whether it be musicians or actors or artists, etc.), so it's probably safe to say that your biggest fan base would be in Australia.  You toured parts of Europe in 2004 - how were you received there?  Do any countries in Europe that you played at stand out for you personally?
Paul:  We had a great time in Europe.  The reception was great, the crowds were really attentive and interested in a band that had come all the way from Australia.  We did a couple of laps of Germany, which we really loved, and another highlight was doing two nights in Copenhagen with Kashmir, who are one of our favourite bands. 
Stephanie:  Europe is such a large territory, so it's always difficult for bands and artists to make any impact there, but there are certain places that are more open to certain kinds of music, for some reason.  Germany is good, and London is always great.  We had good shows in Denmark last time around, too. 

Scrawled:  Do you have any crazy fan stories?  Have there been times where fans have crossed the line?
Paul:  Nothing too crazy; the occasional letter or email from someone who insists they are cosmically connected to you in some way that only they understand... Sometimes people have a little too much to drink, but hey - don't we all!
Stephanie:  There have been quite a few unusual things that have happened over the years.  There has definitely been some inappropriate stuff which maybe I shouldn't go into.  I should just say that sometimes, people don't think things through.

Scrawled:  What was it like supporting David Bowie when he was touring Australia?
Paul:  Definitely one of the highlights of our career so far.  He and his band and crew were completely accommodating and friendly; he is a very funny guy, and getting to see him play every night was incredibly exciting and inspiring.  What a career, what a life.
Stephanie:  Great - we are all big Bowie fans.  It's such a pleasure to tour with someone you really admire.  Hearing all those songs every night was incredible -- I couldn't drag myself away.  He's a great guy, and his band and crew are all lovely people.  In fact, his pianist has just played on our new record here in L.A.

Scrawled:  Something For Kate were in the USA earlier this month (from 11th Jan in Los Angeles).  What was that like?
Paul:  We're still here.  We've been here since October, and we leave in February.  It's definitely the longest time we have taken to make an album (there was a break in the middle for Thanksgiving and Homebake, etc.), but it's been very relaxed and more enjoyable than doing six straight weeks of 18 hour days, which is how we made every other album.  You can take your time a little more these days, because studios have all had to drop their rates dramatically since the advent of pro-tools and home-recording. 
Stephanie:  It's going really well.  We have been here in L.A. for nearly 4 months making this record, and we're really enjoying it.  It's a lot more relaxed than the usual process.  It's been great to live in another country and get a fresh perspective on everything, and to work with a new engineer/producer has been very important for us.  We wanted to turn everything on its head this time.  We'll be sad to leave. 

Scrawled:  Scrawled's February theme is Valentine's Day.  Do you love or loathe what the day represents?  Do you have any tragic Valentine's Day stories you'd like to share?  How about any successful stories? 
Paul:  I know it's another big commercial bonanza on the business calendar, but the romantic in me still enjoys the day.  Sorry, no tragedies or juicy stories!
Stephanie:  I can see that it's a commercial venture.  It's such a huge thing here in the U.S.  As soon as Christmas decorations were down, Valentine's stuff was everywhere.  I'm not that sentimental, really - the day goes by and I don't really notice.  That sounds terrible, doesn't it?