Perth band Ah Trees true to its roots

By Kristian Pisano Emerging Perth band Ah Trees are doing something right – even though their new single is called “Do It All Wrong”. The six-piece band is on tour with new material and, fresh back from a gig in Busselton, are preparing for the next show, on Friday, October 27, at The Bird in Northbridge. But behind all the dancing and positive reviews of the live shows, there is a sombre explanation of the single’s origins. Lead singer Ryan Adair, who grew up in Mount Gambier and later Perth, says the single was borne out of disenfranchisement with the world and all the doom and gloom that exists within it. “A lot of our songs are to do with mental health as well. So, at that time I was experiencing quite a low point in my life,” Ryan said. “I started writing it as a message to myself more or less, saying you’re doing it all wrong boy, like quite literally.” The band’s music includes elements of funk and dance and their style has been described as “new wave weird pop from the wild west”, the roots of which lie in a romance of the 1980s and the songs that Ah Tree’s members were introduced to as children through their parents. Ryan says every band member brings their own aspect to the table, and he enjoys seeing the different elements of each band member’s influences and inspiration coming into the music. Despite some promising signs of a bright future, Ah Trees are staying focused on the present and on writing songs. “To remain sane it is better to stay in the present moment as much as possible,” Ryan said. When asked about the role of technology in today’s music scene, Ryan noted some of the additional duties that can detract from writing and playing, but also said there is a wide range of bands and different styles that exist in the Perth music scene. See Ah Trees live at The Bird in Northbridge this Friday night.