You think you’ve had a busy past 12 months?
Well, maybe you have. But so have Inner West 60s revivalists Renee de la Motte and Thom Eagleton AKA Salarymen. It feels like every gig poster we’ve seen in last year has had their name printed on it somewhere, with the duo happy to start spreading their doo-wops all around Sydney and beyond, and other artists lining up to get them on a bill as a support while they still can. As it stands, there aren’t many people in the know that reckon Salarymen aren’t destined for bigger things and bigger venues.
Today’s release ‘Fine’ is their most instantaneous pop gem to date, with intertwining vocals, a bouncy rhythm and a fuzzy guitar solo, it takes us back to the days where rock and rollers wore suits and played in front of dreary sets. Sure you weren’t there to hear it when it happened, but this track has a powerful time warp effect, capable of sucking us back into the heydays of the mid 20th century.
Ironically, the lyrics stem from a not-so-happy time in Thom’s life. “Fine is about feeling outside the norm in more ways than just one, but most importantly it’s about relishing in that fact and coming to embrace it,” he says. “Growing up, being mixed-race in the Sutherland Shire and wearing skinny jeans wasn’t a great combo haha.”
“Moving into adulthood, I’ve been frowned upon for choosing a career path in the arts, among other life choices, but I don’t hold a grudge about anything. ‘Fine’ is about not seeking out validation that may never come, and leaving others to come to the realisation in their own time.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFzWThwYdls
Directed by Todd Stephen Logan, the video pays homage to vintage fashion films – and maybe there’s even a nod to Andy Warhol’s test shoots – as models Gala Nikolic, Alvi Chung and Olivia Brown play it up for the camera. Renee and Thom’s serenade is elevated with cheeky handheld zooms that add to the organic playfulness of the clip, which we film nerds wholly appreciate.
Salarymen’s debut EP Scene Change will be out everywhere June 4th, and they’ll be playing a little run of shows to go with it. Check out the dates below along with some more BTS from the ‘Fine’ video shoot:
SALARYMEN SCENE CHANGE EP LAUNCH
FRI JUNE 11 | Factory Theatre, Marrickville – TICKETS
FRI JULY 9 | Marly Bar, Newtown
SUN AUGUST 15 | North Gong Hotel, Wollongong
