Snack aficionado and artist Jai Pyne delivers a flavoursome and textural delight with his EP Snacks

If you’re listening to the new EP by Jai Pyne and thinking that his voice sounds slightly familiar, you’re probably old, or at least old enough to have heard legendary Sydney indie outfit The Paper Scissors. His cutting falsetto had this sheer determination to be heard over jangly guitars and upbeat disco-flavoured rock, producing a completely unique style in the saturated early 2000s, post-Strokes scene.

Since The Paper Scissors’ last album back in 2011, Jai’s been releasing music seemingly as it comes to him, while also composing for award-winning films, museum installations and contemporary dance productions. In other words, the man’s been busy. He’s also started a family, which was part of the genesis for his new EP Snacks. As every parent knows, a handy snack can be crucial, often being the difference between a screaming child and a sleeping child.

Across the EP, he constructs immersive soundscapes – flittery, bird-like high melodies hover above and lower frequencies plod along like trucks on a busy Sydney road. It’s a musical rendering of the city that encapsulates the highway-to-park walk that he’s found himself on. “You may see me pushing a pram along with my little baby hanging out, hoping that the toxic fumes don’t fuck up her future. I hope not,” he says.

Amongst the texture of sonics sit his vocals, swaying from that falsetto mentioned above through to a raw spoken word. At times it’s doomy, but there’s a clear tenderness to the lyrics, with optimism underlying it… or maybe that’s just being optimistic. Either way, it nails the joy-fear paradigm of parenthood masterfully.

All that reading making you hungry? Us too. Have a listen to Snacks and check out Jai’s guide to snacks from his adopted area, along with his words below. PS – the man’s a musician, not a photographer…

Ashfield/Haberfield

A few years back I moved to Ashfield. Not the Paris end of Ashfield near Summer Hill but the mean streets of North Ashy where we can hear the dulcet tones of V8s hooning up Parramatta road at night.

I wrote my new record Snacks here – inspired by this new life and my new life as a dad: pushing my daughter around exploring parks and highways. One thing you always need is a snack. So I called my record Snacks. Here is my incomplete and very subjective guide to Snacks in Ashfield and Haberfield.

Samosa from The Ashfield Veggies & Grocery Store

The north side of Ashy is home to a bigger south Asian community, the Xiao Long Bao replaced by Momos and there are a few great little grocery stores packed with chilli’s and take home roti.

One of these has the best Samosa- get it out of a fruit box placed near the front door- and I recommend you do not microwave it, eat it a room temp. Buttery, crispy crust with super fragrant and spicy filling, complete with visible curry leaves: now that’s quality!
You’ll have to navigate a few bros hanging outside smoking darts but they’re all smiles.

Pork Buns from Chinese Bun Shop

This shop definitely does what it says on the packet. Always fresh and they’ll nuke them for you to go. Also a great selection of frozen dumplings and wontons to take home for last minute dinners. The duck shop across the road goes hard as well but does not really fit into the snack variety.

Fruit from Fruitarian.

I love Fruitarian. Contrary to the name, this place doesn’t just sell fruit. It’s a full Asian grocer with a great selection of noodles, frozen supplies and great tofu . The fruit is however, cheap and exotic. You’ll need berries for your child or perhaps you’re lucky enough to get to eat your own berries- so save getting fleeced by the supermarkets and depending on the season go here for cheap blueberries and strawberries, right now it’s mangoes. While you’re here grab a dragon fruit why not!

Zuccherati from San Valentino.

Ok so this is where snacks becomes a fairly subjective term: maybe you don’t wanna eat a custard filled sugar coated Italian donut for a snack? Perfect to split with your toddler to get them all jacked up on sugar and prepared for the playground. Or sit out the front and have it with a nasty syrupy espresso and throw a few ciao’s around to the locals to really get the vibe.

Arancini from Pepe’s Pasta Haberfield.

Skip the pasta and go straight for the hot box here and get yourself a ricotta and spinach or a bolognese arancino.
Perfect with a lunch time beer down at Algie park while you push your kid on the swings and maybe have a cheeky scroll on your phone.