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Music

A Look Back at Two Bright Lakes

A celebration of a very special record label through the eyes of the Two Bright Lakes’ team.

Image by Lucy Spartalis

Two Bright Lakes have spent the last eight years brightening up the national music scene with a truly game-changing roster, consistent but eclectic releases, trend setting parties and a generally great vibe. Last week they broke music hearts across the country when they announced that they were no longer going to be releasing any new material..

But it’s not all bad news for fans of the label, as the current TBL artists will continue under new and equally exciting labels, and a new imprint, Little Lake Records, has formed to continue the magic of Two Bright Lakes.

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Founded in 2007 with a series of showcases featuring artwork, design and music, the Melbourne arts collective transformed into a record label with the release of Otouto, Kid Sam and Psuche albums. The label came to define a young new taste and direction of the Melbourne music scene in the mid 2000s with an emphasis on experimental pop, beats and dance.

For now, it’s time to celebrate. We got Tig Huggins, Hazel Brown and Blake Byron-Smith to pick out their eight fondest memories of their eight years at Two Bright Lakes.

1. A Pocket Full of Stones at Horse Bazaar
Everything started here with a group of musicians, writers, animators, video artists and good friends putting on a packed out show in the wonderful Horse Bazaar. Like a lot of crazy ideas, the label was birthed in a late-night conversation in the bar after a few drinks, and nurtured to life through many meetups in houses, cafes and Internet bulletin boards.

2. The early Northcote Social Club shows with Seagull and Nick
It was really satisfying to see the reaction to these early records and put together some really tight launch shows with specially created animations and video projections and a crowd of friends, supporters and new ears. Seeing our first release on the label get RRR's album of the week was a big boost as well. It was the first of quite a few that the station got behind. RRR is such an important champion of Melbourne culture.

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3. The Two Bright Lakes East Coast tour
In which Otuoto, Seagull and Touch Typist went on the road and had a hilarious time. So many hours in the car and no energy for nerves, so the shows were a breeze! We met some great people and played in some great venues, some which no longer exist (RIP Hopetoun and Troubadour).

4. Working with Nick Huggins
Nick is a lynchpin of the label, one of its founders and the producer of many of the records. One of our favourites that he recorded was Otouto's debut Pip. As Hazel put it: "That man is such a joy to spend time with no matter what the activity but it was just pure heaven to meet every morning with Kishore, Martha and Nick. A lot of the studio time was in autumn I believe, I've never eaten so many hot cross buns in my life."

5. The Meredith and Golden Plains shows
Some of our favourite memories are from Golden Plains and Meredith, both as punters and players. We can't thank Woody and the Meredith crew enough for all the times they had us along. From Kid Sam and Oscar + Martin, to most recently with Banoffee and Total Giovanni, getting boots and all. So many memories, like hanging out with Oscar and Martin, doing 'Vin Diesel’s' (crunches) with them back stage.

6. The Melbourne Music Week shows
Any day of the week there is a great gig in Melbourne, but during Melbourne Music Week, we're particularly spoiled, and Elise and El and the crew at Melbourne City Council gave us some great opportunities to realise some event dreams. From the torrential downpour on Melbourne Central Rooftop with Lost Animal, Bamboo Music and Nick Huggins with amazing visual artworks from Cornelius Brown and Josh Batty - to the Cosmic Disco in the Great Hall at NGV with Tim Sweeney, Collarbones and Teengirl Fantasy - the Club Kids show under the dome with Oscar Key Sung and Banoffee - and most recently with the intimate Three Keys show, it's been an unforgettable few years for us.

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7. The KIPL Warehouse, 'Night Swimming' Buffalo Club and Schoolhouse Studios shows
A few years back we had the chance to curate some of our favourite Australian artists and bring together different communities in Melbourne and start some rad dancefloors too. The KIPL warehouse was a melting pot of great ideas, and birthed some great records, including Andras and Oscar's Embassy Cafe. Thanks to all the residents at KIPL for having us, and all the bands that played there including Pikelet, Wintercoats, The Townhouses among all the great TBL acts and DJs.

Buffalo Club (now Hugs and Kisses) took us back to feeling we had dancing on Melbourne club dance floors growing up and hosting the Night Swimming shows there allowed us to try and recreate some of that magic and book some of our favourites. Absolute Boys and Collarbones blew it up on that stage (I'm pretty sure Collarbones literally blew up some speakers that night).

The Schoolhouse Studios show allowed us to work closely with our friends, family and loved ones on a show for their wonderful Place of Assembly exhibition, featuring performances from Fox+Sui, Speed Painters and Client Liaison - was such an amazing show by Speed Painters, in a warehouse style space that we literally tore the walls off to get the sight lines right!

Image by Angie Pai/Jordan Drysdale

8. Making connections internationally
One of the great things about the label has been the opportunity to make some fine international friends such as the Boiler Room crew, No Kids and Virgo Four and to meet people like Caribou and Toro Y Moi on different support tours.

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It's led to some great collaborations including, Martha, Oscar and Hazel singing backups when V4 covered Chic's "Good Times". Hazel: "I nearly peed my pants with nerves, in front of that massive crowd; I have no idea whether we sung in tune or anything it was over so quick."

Overall our favourite memories are of watching young artists develop on stage and on recordings and as people. To plot the trajectory of artists as diverse as Chris Bolton, Martha Brown, Marcus Whale and Oscar Slorach Thorn among all the other talented artists is a joy, the types of place they go with their music is impressive to behold, and we're proud to have been able to assist them in the journey.

Two Bright Lakes throw a final party, 'Two Bright Lakes Go Bang', April 10 at Melbourne’s Schoolhouse Studios.

Performances include Collarbones, Sui Zhen, Nick Huggins, Hello Satellites, Seagull, Brendan Welch and Two Bright Lakes DJs with more special guests and collaborations to be announced.

For information on Little Lake Records head here.