Triple J’s Al Newstead claims that Booster Seat is not the kind of song to “blow up”, as it lacks the high energy of Australian songs that have previously ranked at the top of the Hottest 100. If the assertion that “all art is screaming” is true, then the album Sunlight is a sustained scream truncated into twelve tracks.Īudiences have eagerly embraced Spacey Jane’s music - Sunlight debuted at #2 on the ARIA charts and Booster Seat placed second in triple j’s Hottest 100 this year - and the anxiety-filled songs have struck a chord with young listeners. Songs like Head Cold, Straightfaced and Trucks paint a vivid picture of someone who is grappling with mental turmoil, and the destructive impact it has on their life. Harper’s voice - which soars to the higher octaves with an almost rasping tone - provides the perfect vehicle for lyrics about depression and anxiety. This cathartic effect is not limited to Booster Seat most of the tracks of the band’s debut album Sunlight, have the same emotive punch. As the chorus swells into its crescendo, the song invites you to let go of - or even work through - all that pulls you down. Engulfed by the climatic choruses and sensitive verses, the worshiper feels relief as their life stresses momentarily melt away.īooster Seat is no different. The grandeur of the songs induces a sense of abandon – the listener drops their worldly worries and opens themselves up to a higher power.
Beyond the politics of religion, this genre of worship - often associated with the likes of Hillsong - is written to be cathartic. Harper, the principal songwriter, grew up Christian, and this charismatic style of music punctuated his formative years. Sonically, Booster Seat is reminiscent of the worship songs Evangelical church-goers would be all too familiar with. On the 7th of May 2021, the band’s now most-renowned song, Booster Seat went platinum. I stand and watch as a hoard of young bodies dance, singing along unashamedly to lyrics that seem to be itched into their hearts. Tonight, the crowd is enthralled by the now-familiar guitars riffs.
Now, five years later, the band has far surpassed playing for their friends in a backyard, but their energy is still the same. From the start, their bright and energetic guitar work - coupled with passion-filled lyrics - enticed crowds to lean into the live music experience. Tracks like Feeding the Family and Still Running disregard psychedelic sensibilities and pay homage to a cleaner, harder rock sound. Spacey Jane brought something different to the table. It was 2016, and the Perth music scene was flooded with bands following in Tame Impala’s psychedelic footsteps. I was one of the lucky few who attended their first gig in lead singer Caleb Harper’s back garden. I have watched Spacey Jane from their inception.
It was as if the venue was a church, the band its preachers, and the audience its loyal congregation. Tonight, the four-piece were reminding everyone why. It was one of Spacey Jane’s last shows on an extensive tour around the state, and the band have solidified themselves as one the most promising live acts to come out of Australia. I stood on the top balcony of the amphitheatre, watching the audience below swell under the high ceiling.