Biography
Hot Spoke is a project of Sydney-based songwriter Vanessa Muir. The band is made up of Seb Bartels (guitar), and Tully Ryan (Drums). Hot Spoke’s smoky and enveloping sound is complimented by Vanessa’s melancholic, fragile yet brooding vocals. Inspired by the scuzzy sounds of 90s indie bands like Mazzy Star, Rilo Kiley and Jesus Mary Chain, but grounded in the classic songwriting styles of the likes of Gram Parsons and Fleetwood Mac.
Originally a solo folk singer/songwriter from the Central Coast of NSW, from a young age Vanessa was taken under the wings of alt country music legends Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson. Discovered at a local cafe up the road from their family home, the two invited Vanessa around for writing and recording sessions and up on stage with them a number of times. It was from their encouragement that she was inspired to take her music further. She packed her guitar and moved to Sydney where she would later meet the musicians who would join her to form Hot Spoke.
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As a solo artist Vanessa toured with Lisa Mitchell, wrote with Toby Martin (Youth Group), Adrian Deutsch (Red Riders) and Josh Pyke, and travelled to the U.S where she wrote songs with; Mike Daley (Whiskeytown) and Lee Alexander (Norah Jones). Her original song 'My My' was handpicked as the in-flight theme song for Qantas in 2010. It was soon after this though that Vanessa felt her songwriting and musical tastes had outgrown the solo format. It was from this feeling of discontent that Hot Spoke was born.
Early this year Hot Spoke released their debut single Don’t Go through Triple J Unearthed. The single went straight to high rotation and received spot plays on Triple J. The band plans on recording their debut album later this year.
"A classy indie pop tune showcasing an amazing voice and a skilled songwriter. Looking forward to more from this lady”. - Dan Buhaglar Triple J
"This had me on the hook from the start. Vanessa shows a lot of class and doesn't hammer out some skyscraper chorus, leaving things held back and concealed just enough to make me want to hit repeat as soon as this tracks three and a half minutes are up." - Dave Ruby Howe Triple J
"What a voice, and this song's a stunner, swimming in melody"- Dom Alessio Triple J
" this one-girl/three-guys band sent us straight a nostalgic yet warm state of mind. With a very soft voice together with the acoustic guitar, over tight and steady drums and bass line, Hot Spoke had us remember those beautiful days behind us. The singer’s shy and somehow fragile vocals, playing with the slow, emphatic chorus guitar riffs made a very comfortable combination throughout the band’s five-song set. As the band got to their fourth track of the night, the band’s confidence grew. With an air resembling Cat Power’s Jukebox, the slight change in the song’s dynamics and the restful harmonies made it clear that Hot Spoke’s punchy and mellow sound had achieved what they wanted that night".- Alejandro Magaña, Sofar Sounds Review
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.