Name: Shelly.H
Age: 21
Band name: E.E.S.
Where did you grow up: Wagga Wagga, NSW
Role in band: Emcee/Producer
How do you describe your bands’ sound?
Funky, fresh, positive hip-hop.
Name one song or album that totally sums you up?
The album “Pigeon John is Clueless by Pigeon John, an awesome mix of heartbreak, humour and good messages.
What other bands influence your music?
Groups like Ugly Duckling, J5, People Under The Stairs, BFF, Pigeon John and De La Soul.
ActNow is all about taking action on issues that people are passionate about – so what does “action” mean to you?
To me, action means letting people know your opinions on a certain issue, but doing so in a sensitive way as to respect others opinions and standpoints.
What issues are you passionate about?
World Aid, so many people in the world live poverty.
What are some hot issues in your local area?
I’m from Wagga Wagga so the drought is a hot topic (pun intended) at the moment and has been for a while.
Do issues in the world around you effect how you write your material?
I think hip-hop music is a direct representation of self and surroundings so it can’t help but be directly or indirectly affected.
How important do you think music is to create awareness around issues that the world faces today?
I believe music can be a powerful tool, to push issues, look at Rage Against The Machine, for example, but I think it’s important that you do it with a sense of humility otherwise people will think you’re arrogant, look at Bono.
If you weren’t a musician what would you be doing?
I’d be studying how to be a high school music teacher at university.
Where do you see your band in five years time?
I have no idea at all, we just take each success as it comes and enjoy what we have, there’s no use in boasting about what will happen years from now when I can’t even predict what tomorrow will bring.
If you could change one thing about the world in which you live, what would it be?
I would make people more respectful of others differences.
