Bassling blog: May 2025

Disquiet Junto 0700 View Frame

I couldn't resist recording this piece for the 700th Junto project.

The directions were to show people a glimpse outside my world, so here's my backyard and some of the laundry that I washed today.

As I haven't packed away my drumkit yet for winter, I decided to have a bash.

A 303-style bassline has been added because it was the easiest thing to consider at this time.

One bit of reflection is how I began recording videos for Junto projects at number 100.

Since then that playlist has grown to over 450, which means I've responded to three-quarters of the prompts in that time.

I was first introduced to the Junto community around 027, which involved music from text but I worried my response had misinterpreted the instruction and didn't share it.

Straya by Kink

Bought this pedal because I was amused by the graphic.

For anyone reading who isn't an Australian, the character represented is the kind of lower socio-economic figure that might be considered a "redneck" -- although I wouldn't use that term with them directly.

The signifiers are the mullet haircut, "Jackie Howe" blue singlet and Southern Cross tattoo.

As for the sound of the pedal, I was pleasantly surprised.

On the right-hand side is a tubescreamer-style boost, while the left has a throaty overdrive.

It had me playing rock riffs as soon as these were engaged.

I tried it alongside my CopperSound Foxcatcher and Ly-rock King of Clone, which revealed the former to have a bassier boost and fuzzier overdrive (running at 9v, as I haven't tried the 18v option yet).

The Ly-rock pedal has an okay boost and fuzzier distortion, but has sounded way too trebly for my liking.

A friend introduced me to Kink pedals last year, when he brought a Dozer along to a jam.

While graphics on pedals have been a weakness for me, I really like the sounds that I'm getting from Straya.

Wanderer

In my backyard is a mint plant that I hoped might grow to replace my lawn.

Many butterflies land on the flowers when it blooms.

I started researching their varieties as I began photographing them and became interested in the Wanderer, which is the Australian version of the Monarch.

It has distinctive white spots on a black body and magnificent wings coloured like autumnal leaves.

This type of butterfly arrived in Australia around the time my father's great-grandparents migrated here.

It is thought it may have been blown here by a cyclone, but found the imported milkweed plant that supports Monarch caterpillars and was able to survive.

My parents were both born in North America, so I've come to adopt the Wanderer as a symbol for my identity.

I've performed the song using a ukulele, as it is an instrument from the Pacific – the ocean that unites Australia, Japan and the USA.