Split Seconds
Perth, Western Australia, Australia | INDIE
Music
Press
RECENT LIVE REVIEWS
Jebediah 'Battle for November' Tour – November 2011
Perth's Split Seconds played easily accessible, beautifully arranged and crafted pop songs. Rhythmically interesting, they had a swinging Talking Heads thing happening for one of their songs and a refreshing 3/4 beat folk rock ballad that kept things interesting... A solid, honest performance by Perth's new next big thing. - Francesca Palazzollo, Drum Media Sydney.
Source: Print edition, Issue 1087, 22/11/11
Fellow WA alum Split Seconds offered an assured bounce to open the evening, the five-piece providing a quintet of crisp vocals bursting out of every mic on stage. The frontline trio of strummers - Sean Pollard, Rhys Davies and Ben Golby - seem to hold an unspoken kinship and make for great viewing, while the band's confidence as a whole seems to swell with each song. Splitting their two cracking singles, Bed Down and All You Gotta Do, with a cover of Coffee and TV that would put Blur to shame, it's a faultless finish to a pure performance of indie pop. - Benny Doyle, Time Off Brisbane.
Source: Print edition, Issue 1555, 01/12/11
The Panics 'Majesty' Single Tour - July 2011
Then West Australia’s Got Talent begins. Between swapping instruments amongst themselves and tackling an impressive diversity of subjects, Split Seconds play a sweetly melodic set of folk-pop-indie-country that needs more hyphens and a new thesaurus to describe. Sean Pollard’s songs go from making The Paper Boy a folk hero with steely eye and deadly aim to issuing a biting challenge in All You Gotta Do while about him the band goes from thumping rock to stirring a cappella effortlessly. - Don Sinnamon, Rave Magazine, Brisbane
Source: http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28016, accessed 25/07/11
Perth six-piece Split Seconds delivered an uplifting set of harmony-soaked folk pop. Not exactly a new aesthetic, sure, but as their touring mates Cloud Control could vehemently attest, skilled musicianship and impassioned harmonies can flourish into something unexpectedly epic. In their performances of Paper Boy, Bed Down and All You Gotta Do, they hinted at something grand. - Christine Lan, Beat Magazine, Melbourne
Source: http://www.beat.com.au/music/panics, last accessed 25/07/11
A love letter from Perth to Sydney on this freezing night started with a strong set from one of the Western city's recent buzz bands, Split Seconds. The six-piece impressed with airtight harmonies, which often built from two voice to incorporate all six. Some of Us emplyed all members' voices, sitting starkly against a simple piano backing, and Maiden Name saw busier accompaniment with a pounding bass drum, but stilla strong focus on vocal melody. It was in the harmonic stakes that this group really shone, hitting their stride when voices danced together effortlessly and meltingly. - Giselle Nguyen, Drum Media, Sydney
Source: Print edition, Issue 1068, 12/07/11
WAMI Awards and Closing Party - May 2011
Riding high on their successes in the award ceremony, talented indie pop sextet Split Seconds proved the other standout performer on the night, picking up the Favourite Newcomer, Most Promising New Act, Best Indie Pop Act, Best Drummer (Todd Pickett) and Best Male Vocalist (Sean Pollard) awards before closing the evening with a short but sweet selection from their folk-tinged self-titled debut EP. - Jennifer Peterson-Ward, Xpress Magazine, Perth
Source: http://www.xpressmag.com.au/index.php/live-a-local/live-reviews/3718-wami-awards-a-closing-party, last accessed 25/07/11
- Various
RECENT LIVE REVIEWS
Jebediah 'Battle for November' Tour – November 2011
Perth's Split Seconds played easily accessible, beautifully arranged and crafted pop songs. Rhythmically interesting, they had a swinging Talking Heads thing happening for one of their songs and a refreshing 3/4 beat folk rock ballad that kept things interesting... A solid, honest performance by Perth's new next big thing. - Francesca Palazzollo, Drum Media Sydney.
Source: Print edition, Issue 1087, 22/11/11
Fellow WA alum Split Seconds offered an assured bounce to open the evening, the five-piece providing a quintet of crisp vocals bursting out of every mic on stage. The frontline trio of strummers - Sean Pollard, Rhys Davies and Ben Golby - seem to hold an unspoken kinship and make for great viewing, while the band's confidence as a whole seems to swell with each song. Splitting their two cracking singles, Bed Down and All You Gotta Do, with a cover of Coffee and TV that would put Blur to shame, it's a faultless finish to a pure performance of indie pop. - Benny Doyle, Time Off Brisbane.
Source: Print edition, Issue 1555, 01/12/11
The Panics 'Majesty' Single Tour - July 2011
Then West Australia’s Got Talent begins. Between swapping instruments amongst themselves and tackling an impressive diversity of subjects, Split Seconds play a sweetly melodic set of folk-pop-indie-country that needs more hyphens and a new thesaurus to describe. Sean Pollard’s songs go from making The Paper Boy a folk hero with steely eye and deadly aim to issuing a biting challenge in All You Gotta Do while about him the band goes from thumping rock to stirring a cappella effortlessly. - Don Sinnamon, Rave Magazine, Brisbane
Source: http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28016, accessed 25/07/11
Perth six-piece Split Seconds delivered an uplifting set of harmony-soaked folk pop. Not exactly a new aesthetic, sure, but as their touring mates Cloud Control could vehemently attest, skilled musicianship and impassioned harmonies can flourish into something unexpectedly epic. In their performances of Paper Boy, Bed Down and All You Gotta Do, they hinted at something grand. - Christine Lan, Beat Magazine, Melbourne
Source: http://www.beat.com.au/music/panics, last accessed 25/07/11
A love letter from Perth to Sydney on this freezing night started with a strong set from one of the Western city's recent buzz bands, Split Seconds. The six-piece impressed with airtight harmonies, which often built from two voice to incorporate all six. Some of Us emplyed all members' voices, sitting starkly against a simple piano backing, and Maiden Name saw busier accompaniment with a pounding bass drum, but stilla strong focus on vocal melody. It was in the harmonic stakes that this group really shone, hitting their stride when voices danced together effortlessly and meltingly. - Giselle Nguyen, Drum Media, Sydney
Source: Print edition, Issue 1068, 12/07/11
WAMI Awards and Closing Party - May 2011
Riding high on their successes in the award ceremony, talented indie pop sextet Split Seconds proved the other standout performer on the night, picking up the Favourite Newcomer, Most Promising New Act, Best Indie Pop Act, Best Drummer (Todd Pickett) and Best Male Vocalist (Sean Pollard) awards before closing the evening with a short but sweet selection from their folk-tinged self-titled debut EP. - Jennifer Peterson-Ward, Xpress Magazine, Perth
Source: http://www.xpressmag.com.au/index.php/live-a-local/live-reviews/3718-wami-awards-a-closing-party, last accessed 25/07/11
- Various
Recent Press
'80 bands to showcase at growing Bigsound' - There’s a good mix of experienced artists (Adalita, The Adults, Luluc, Damndogs) and some of the nation’s most promising emerging acts (Oscar + Martin, WIM, Stonefield, Split Seconds, Gossling)... - Street Press Australia (via themusic.com.au)
Source: http://themusic.com.au/newsletter/80-bands-to-showcase-at-growing-bigsound, last accessed 25/07/11
New single - All You Gotta Do - July 2011
'Triple J New Free Music' - Perth's WAMi award slayers Split Seconds' glorious new single 'All You Gotta Do' is a feel good track whose jangly guitar line and incessant piano thwacks hit all the right spots - Triple J (via Triple J website)
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/listen/mp3s.htm, last accessed 25/07/11
'Exclusive download: Split Seconds' - theMusic.com.au is proud to present the latest single from Perth hopes Split Seconds, All You Gotta Do. The award-winning indie outfit are one of the nation’s most prominent ‘emerging’ bands... - Street Press Australia (via themusic.com.au)
Source: http://themusic.com.au/newsletter/exclusive-download-split-seconds, last accessed 25/07/11
Addition to the Panics 'Majesty' Single Tour - June 2011
'WAMI whizz kids Split Seconds supporting the Panics' - They say winners and grinners, and if that’s true then Western Australia's Split Seconds might need facial surgery to remove the smiles from their faces. The hotly-tipped indie group walked away with a sackful of gongs at the recent WAMi Awards, incredibly outscoring every other WA-based band. Among their accolades included awards for MOST PROMISING NEW ACT and BEST INDIE POP ACT, as well as BEST VOCALIST for frontman Sean Pollard. Not bad for a band who only formed just over a year ago. - Groove Magazine, Brisbane
Source: http://groovemag.com.au/music/20110617656-wami-whizz-kids-split-seconds-supporting-the-panics, last accessed 25/07/11
'Split Seconds to join The Panics on national tour' - After cleaning up the WAMi Awards last month in Perth, winning gongs for ‘Best Indie Pop Act’ and ‘Best Promising New Act,’ the WA-based band Split Seconds are just about to add another impressive stint to their repertoire – a national tour spot supporting The Panics this July. - Rip It Up, Adelaide
Source: http://www.ripitup.com.au/article/3670, last accessed 25/07/11
WAMI nominations and awards - May 2011
'WAMis announced, Taco Leg misses out' - The surprise packet of the night was little-known (at least to east-coast audiences) outfit Split Seconds, who won Favourite Newcomer, Best Indie Pop Act, Most Promising New Act, Best Male Vocalist (Sean Pollard) and Best Drummer (Todd Pickett) - mess+noise
Source: http://www.messandnoise.com/news/4268958, last accessed 25/07/11
'WAMI Winners' - The two biggest winners were Tame Impala and Split Seconds, taking home four WAMi awards each. - ArtsHub
Source: http://www.artshub.com.au/au/news-article/news/performing-arts/wami-winners-184170, last accessed 25/07/11
'Street Press Australia Editor wins award' - Tipped to be prominent before the awards, Split Seconds won awards across the publicly and industry voted characters, vocalist Sean Pollard even beating out the likes of Birds Of Tokyo’s Ian Kenny for best vocalist. - Street Press Australia (via themusic.com.au)
Source: http://themusic.com.au/newsletter/street-press-australia-win-wami, last accessed 25/07/11
'Split Seconds - Video Hits interview' - Video Hits
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbs_SpMp8q8, last accessed 25/07/11
'Split Seconds, Groom lead WAMi Award nominations' - Unsigned indie pop Perth act Split Seconds, who released their first EP in March, scored an impressive six nominations for Wamingtons (that’s the name of the award) across the WAMI’s 37 categories, including Most Popular Act, Most Popular Live Act and Most Popular Single - themusicnetwork.com
Source: http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/industry/2011/04/14/split-seconds-groom-lead-wami-award-nominations/, last accessed 25/07/11
'WAMI noms: Impala, Birds, Split Seconds, Felicity Groom' - New to the scene and recent triple j darlings Split Seconds led the nominations with six, including Most Popular Act, alongside Felicity Groom, who also received six. - Street Press Australia (via themusic.com.au)
Source: http://themusic.com.au/newsletter/wami-noms-impala-birds-spit-seconds-felicity-groom, last accessed 25/07/11
- Various Publishers
Discography
Promo Single: "Paper Boy" (2010)
Promo Single: "Bed Down" (2010)
EP: "Split Seconds" (2011)
Single: "All You Gotta Do" (2011)
Single: "Top Floor" (2012)
Album: "You'll Turn Into Me" (2012)
Single: "She Makes Her Own Clothes" (2012)
Photos
Bio
On the 22nd March 2010 central Perth was hit with a freak storm. Around 3pm, out of absolutely nowhere, the sky opened and 24mm of rain fell in only 30 minutes. Hail stones the size of hockey balls were widely reported. Kings Park was so drenched that it's banks gave way to cause a minor landslide. To this day you can still see cars driving around Mount Lawley with hundreds of pock marks - immune to any kind of reasonable insurance claim.
As the rain rolled in, Split Seconds' singer Sean Pollard was trying to get home from work on a bus. Rattling down Beaufort Street, the number 21 repeatedly tried to dodge the huge puddles that were quickly forming. At the corner of Beaufort and Stirling Street just 200 metres from home the puddles won. The bus stopped in front of what was essentially a small river, rain pounding down outside, hail still fully formed and littering the street.
Now, Stirling Street is well known for it's after hours activity. Women practising the worlds oldest profession are often seen plying their trade in what is a relatively leafy area of Perth. Whilst living here, in the home studio that produced Split Seconds' well loved first EP, Sean saw his fair share of ladies of the night. Unlikely though, to see one wandering up and down attempting to flag businessmen in the middle of what was the biggest storm the city had seen since 1944. There she was though. Shock of wet hair, damp leather jacket and the same knowing look so often seen before. And guess what? Up drives the black Mercedes and open swings the passenger door... It was in that baffling moment that Split Seconds' new single She Makes Her Own Clothes, the cornerstone of their brilliant debut album You'll Turn Into Me was born.
The song itself sees Pollard creating a fictional backstory for his real life protagonist, something he does often on You'll Turn Into Me. Specific names, states and streets repeatedly pop up throughout the record, demonstrating a lyrical intuit borrowed from the greats of Australian song.
I'm not particularly good at writing about myself, Pollard explains. It's something I worked with on the first EP but with You'll Turn Into Me, I really tried to create a group of characters and tell a story through them. Sort of like a group of short stories. I always find short stories so much more fascinating... the idea that you only have so long to get your yarn across.
That would explain then, the constant references to somebody named Oliver throughout the record. He pops up on no less that 5 occasions. Whether it be the jagged opening salvo Security Light (Olly when you hold my heart, steady in your hands), searching mid album highlight Oliver (Love is not an excuse for the things I'll do to you), or the self titled album closer (Oliver, I don't have the words to say how disappointed I am). So what's it all about?
Oliver isn't really anybody. he admits. I started writing these songs about a group of characters and about half way through realised it made sense to tie them together with a name. A mate of mine who works at a guitar shop had just had a kid at the time - and he'd named him Oliver. Nice three syllable name. That's handy.
Surely it's not all so flippant though?
The whole thing is about expectation, Pollard reveals when pressed on the themes within You'll Turn Into Me. I suppose we get the opportunity these days to spend most of our twenties treading water and taking years figuring out what we want to do and who we want to be. Our parents, their parents... they weren't so lucky. What I tried to do lyrically was to draw a line under that constant expectation that surrounds us. Whether it's from your family (Oliver), your country (Top Floor), your wife (Maiden Name) and I guess most of all yourself. That's why we called it You'll Turn Into Me. Because at the end of the day, we all have to turn into something. It may as well be yourself.
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