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Basement Birds

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Basement Birds, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 30 November 202515 sources
Basement Birds
Company typeMusical ensemble
IndustryMusic
Founded2009
Defunct2011
Headquarters
Perth
,
Australia
ProductsMusic albums, singles, EPs

Basement Birds was an Australian indie pop rock ensemble formed in mid-2009, consisting of four singer-songwriters: Kevin Mitchell (known from Jebediah and his solo work as Bob Evans), Steve Parkin (formerly of Vinyl and Autopilot, also a solo artist), Josh Pyke (previously with An Empty Flight and a solo performer), and Kavyen Temperley (member of Eskimo Joe). The band emerged from their mutual appreciation for rich vocal harmonies and an affinity for alt-country sounds. Mitchell, Parkin, and Temperley were already well-established musicians based in Perth.

Drawing inspiration from artists such as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Wilco, their debut track "Waiting for You" was first broadcast on Triple J's Drive show on 14 April 2010. Their only album, released on 16 July 2010, attained a peak position of No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart. To promote the album, they embarked on a nationwide tour and gave their final live performance together in Perth in April 2011. Subsequently, Mitchell confirmed that the group had no intention to continue as members returned to focus on their primary musical pursuits.

Formation

The concept for Basement Birds originated with Kavyen Temperley, the bassist and vocalist from Eskimo Joe, who envisioned a project centered around vocal harmonies. This idea materialized into Basement Birds after Josh Pyke joined Eskimo Joe’s national tour.[1] By 2008, Kevin Mitchell was engaged in his solo Bob Evans project, with Steve Parkin serving as a member of his supporting band.[2][3]

The quartet collaborated remotely via telephone and email to craft acoustic-driven songs influenced by the styles of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Wilco.[4][5] The songwriting process saw Mitchell and Parkin co-authoring "Waiting for You," while Pyke and Temperley composed "Reasons." Both compositions were officially credited to all four members.[6][7]

Recording sessions commenced in mid-2009 over a span of four weeks at Temperley's home studio located in Hamilton Hill, Perth.[5]

After debuting on Triple J's Drive program on 14 April 2010, "Waiting for You" was officially released on 26 April. The group announced plans for a tour scheduled for mid-2010.[8]

The album’s tracks were initially distributed digitally through iTunes as three EP collections along with two singles over several weeks—an innovative approach within the Australian market.[9] The first EP bundle, released on 17 May 2010, featured "Reasons," "Skin of the Sky," and "Bus Stop," which included guest vocals by Julia Stone.[9]

The full-length self-titled album was physically released on 16 July and included an exclusive CD-only track titled "All I Want."[10] Additional musicians contributing to the sessions comprised Rachael Aquilina (violin), Malcolm Clark (drums), Hugh Jennings (flute), Lee Jones (guitars, lap steel guitar, piano), Lucky Oceans (pedal steel guitar), Joel Quartermain (electric guitar), Shaun Luke Sibbes (drums), along with guest vocals by Stone.[7] Production was handled collaboratively by Basement Birds and Andy Lawson under Inertia Records.[7]

Reviewer Alexey Eremenko from AllMusic characterized the album as "a solid release featuring pleasant vocal harmonies alongside acoustic guitar arrangements." It achieved a peak chart position of No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[11] Mid-2010 saw the release of three iTunes-exclusive acoustic session recordings. Additionally, the band performed a cover of The Presets' "My People" for Triple J's "Like a Version" series in July.[12][13]

Following their national tour between August and September 2010, live appearances became infrequent, culminating in their final concert in Perth during April 2011.[3] Mitchell later confirmed there were no plans to revive the collaboration.[3] After Basement Birds disbanded, Mitchell rejoined Jebediah to record Kosciuszko released in April 2011; Temperley returned to Eskimo Joe for Ghosts of the Past issued in August; Pyke resumed his solo career with Only Sparrows also released that month; meanwhile, Parkin relocated to Melbourne. Both Mitchell and Parkin signed publishing agreements with Select Music in 2012.[14][15]

Members

  • Kevin Mitchell – lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitar (2009–2011)
  • Steve Parkin – lead and harmony vocals, toy piano (2009–2011)
  • Josh Pyke – lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitar (2009–2011)
  • Kavyen Temperley – lead and harmony vocals, upright bass (2009–2011)

Studio albums

Studio albums with notable chart rankings
Album title Album information Peak chart positions
AUS
Basement Birds
  • Release date: 16 July 2010
  • Label: Basement Birds, Inertia (BB001CD)
  • Available formats: CD, digital download
 12

Extended plays

Extended plays
Title Details
"Skin of the Sky"/"Reasons"/"Bus Stop"
  • Release date: 17 May 2010
  • Label: Basement Birds
  • Format: digital download
"Holly"/"Hardest Part"/"Heartache on the Radio"
  • Release date: 29 June 2010
  • Label: Basement Birds
  • Format: digital download
"Cinnamon and Smoke"/"All That I Feel"/"Ghosts"/"Hamilton Hill"
  • Release date: 13 July 2010
  • Label: Basement Birds
  • Format: digital download

Singles

Title Year Album
"Waiting for You" 2010 Basement Birds
"Not the One"

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (AIR Awards) celebrate achievements within Australia's independent music industry. |- | 2010 |themselves | Most Popular Independent Artist | |-

ARIA Music Awards

Since 1987, the Australian Recording Industry Association has hosted the annual ARIA Music Awards. |- |2010 | Basement Birds | Best Adult Alternative Album | |-

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Deming
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Tompkin
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Hanna
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Salter
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named West
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named APRA Waiting
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Eremenko
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Feather
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Pascuzzi
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NLA Basement
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AUS Charts
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Findlay
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Like a Version
  14. ↑ Steve Parkin Facebook
  15. ↑ Select Music

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