By Vanessa Chircop
ALTONA based band My Lasting Reply are finalists in Nova’s ‘I Am With The Band’ competition – as well as nine other bands from across Australia.
Lead vocalist Ryan Enright entered as a solo artist in 2010 and decided to re-enter this year, but this time in a band.
My Lasting Reply was formed after Nova contacted Ryan asking him to play a gig at the Australian Open earlier this year.
The 26-year-old said he’d known the other members in the band previously and thought they would work well if they got together.
The band describes their sound as acoustic influenced, pop/rock and have played at several Melbourne venues including the Ding Dong Lounge.
The Altona Primary School music teacher said being a teacher fits in well with being in the band.
“The kids love it – they’re always jumping on YouTube to see our video clips.”
Ryan said he’s passionate about teaching children about music and believes it’s important they learn to play an instrument.
“It’s kind of my biggest push to kids – to get them to start learning an instrument or start performing.”
The competition which was formed with the Australian Government’s National Drugs Campaign will grant the winning band $10,000 cash, a mentoring and rehearsal session and studio time with Sony Music Entertainment, airplay on Nova and will perform with the Logitech Rock the Schools tour.
Ryan said the band is really eager to win and he’s been encouraging his students to vote for them.
“The mentoring from Sony would help us get to that next level,” he said.
My Lasting Reply have just released their second EP and are working on their debut album to be released later this year.
The 10 finalists will perform in front of a live audience at a gig in their state and the winning band will be determined by popular vote, registered through www.novafm.com.au.
Voting closes on Wednesday 18 May and the winner will be announced on Friday 20 May 2011.
