Big Scary

Big Scary are an Australian musical duo formed in Melbourne in 2006, by Tom Iansek and Joanna Syme. The pair have released several EPs and five studio albums. Their 2013 album Not Art was nominated for the Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards of 2012, Best Independent Album at the AIR Awards of 2013 and also for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 2013. Not Art won the 2014 Australian Music Prize, winning the band $30 000. In 2010 Iansek formed a side project, #1 Dads. Big Scary's 2016 single "The Opposite of Us" was certified gold in Australia in 2020. Big Scary formed in 2006 as a modern folk band with simple shakers and acoustic guitar after the two met through a recommendation of mutual friends. Joanna Syme recalls "Tom was looking to put together a band and needed a drummer. He ended up on my doorstep with a guitar". The duo played casually together in between day jobs until 2008 when Iansek completed a program in audio engineering. Syme said "All of a sudden he was paying a lot more attention to production, and the direction of the band changed." In late 2008, the band headed into the studio for the first time, recording six live tracks in a single day. In October 2008, they duo uploaded "The Apple Song" onto Triple J Unearthed and officially released in December 2008, alongside a self-titled debut EP. In March 2009, "This Weight" was released followed in July 2009 with their 4-track EP The Mini EP and single "Hey Somebody" and EP At the Mercy of Elements in January 2010. In 2010, the duo recorded and released limited-edition EPs named and inspired by each seasonal turn. Upon completing the task in December 2010, the four EPs were compiled into the compilation, The Big Scary Four Seasons. Beat Magazine said "Four Seasons proves to be the defining turning point for Big Scary, for they are no longer the next best thing in Australian music, they are the best thing" while the AU Review hailed "the versatility and obscene talent of the players." At the J Awards of 2010, they were nominated for Unearthed Artist of the Year. The song "Autumn", was placed in a high-profile AT&T advert in the USA and released as a single in January 2011. In July 2011, Big Scary released "Mix Tape", the lead single from their debut studio album, Vacation. This was followed by "Gladiator" in September 2011. Vacation was released in October 2011 and peaked at number 37 on the ARIA Charts. Beat Magazine said the album "delves into the theme of slowing losing touch with all those important things we like – friends, lovers, a home and that nifty thing known as employment." Two further singles were released from the album and the band extensively toured USA in 2012. In February 2013, Big Scary released "Phil Collins", followed by "Luck Now" in April. The duo's second studio album, Not Art was released in June 2013 and peaked at number 32 on the ARIA chart. "Twin Rivers" was released in November 2013. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, the album was nominated for two awards. The album won the Australian Music Prize of 2013. The duo signed with Barsuk Records who released Not Art in North America in March 2014. In September 2015, Big Scary released "Organism", the lead single from their third studio album. In June 2016, the duo released the six-minute sonic, "Over Matter" and announced the released of their third studio album Animal; a four-part experience drawing inspiration of the daily cycle of the animal kingdom, hunting, lurking, resting and waking. Animal was released on 2 September 2016 and peaked at number 5 on the ARIA charts. The album was supported by their first Australian headline tour in three years. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2017, Iansek was nominated for Producer of the Year. In February 2021, Big Scary released "Stay", their first new music in four years and announced the release of their forthcoming fourth studio album Daisy. Singles "Get Out" and "Bursting At the Seams" preceded the album's release on 30 April 2021. In August 2022, Big Scary released "Real Love" and "Devotion" preceding their fifth studio album, Me and You, which was released on 23 September 2022. The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Big Scary have been nominated for three awards. The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005. "Australian Album of the Year Nomination". Triple J. Retrieved 20 January 2014. "Triple nominations for Big Scary at Independent Music Awards". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014. "ARIA NOMS + FINE ARTS & ARTISAN WINNERS". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014. "Music News - triple j". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 5 April 2020. Mathieson, Craig (2 July 2015). "Big Scary's Tom Iansek on a winner with #1 Dads". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 13 December 2015. Fragassi, Selena (January 2014). "Big Scary Interview". undertheradarmag. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Indie Accent Artist Big Scary". Indie Accent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary on Triple J Unearthed". Triple J Unearthed. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary : The Big Scary Four Seasons". Beat Magazine. December 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary Unearthed". ABC. 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary's Vacation". Beat Magazine. September 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary 4". Beat Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary "Twin Rivers"". Tone Deaf. November 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary Win $30,000 Australian Music Prize". Tone Deaf. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2021. "Big Scary return to the fore with new single "Organism"". Pilerats. September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary Drop New Single "Over Matter" From Forthcoming Album Animal". MusicFeeds. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary Return with First Headline Tour in Three Years". Beat Magazine. 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2021. Fuamoli, Sose (23 February 2021). "First Spin: Big Scary are back with their first new music in four years". ABC. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Big Scary Announce New Album Me and You, Share Two New Singles". MusicFeeds. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022. Peaks in Australia: All except noted: "australian-charts.com - Discography Big Scary". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 September 2016. Me and You: "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1700. Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 October 2022. p. 6. "Daisy (DD)". Apple Music. Retrieved 26 February 2021. "Big Scary Announce Return With Album Number Six, 'Wing'". Music Feeds. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024. "The Big Scary Four Seasons". Apple Music. December 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "The Mini EP (DD)". Apple Music. July 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "At the Mercy of the Elements". Band Camp. January 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2021. "Chart Watch #382". auspOp. 20 August 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016. "The Apple Song – Single by Big Scary on Apple Music". Apple Music. December 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2020. "Hey Somebody – Single by Big Scary". rateyourmusic. 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2020. "Big Scary - Autumn *Official Video* (The Big Scary Four Seasons EPs