News October 27, 2015

Exclusive: Ex-Amity Affliction member Troy Brady speaks out – Pt. 1

Former Editor

In Part One of atwo-part feature, the co-founding member of chart-topping band The Amity Affliction chats exclusively to TMN aboutwhy he left the band, the label he launched lastmonth and the music he's been working on.

“This band was my heart and soul and I couldn’t have put anything more into it, literally.”

It’s been nine months since The Amity Affliction’s co-founding member Troy Brady threw many for a loop. The announcement of his departure posted toFacebookdidn’t go into details, but as he drip-feeds information of his new ventures online – a record label and a music project – his reincarnation post-Amity is nothing short of remarkable.

Speaking from his home on Bribie Island, Brady is calm and focused, confessedly nonchalant about how his first interview following the split may come across.

“It was a decision which solely wasn’t mine,” he admits. “[…] It was something that we had to come to terms with on a personal and a business level.”

Ironically, it was Brady’s absolute devotion to the chart-topping band that forced him out. By the middle of 2014 Brady no longer saw the band as a sustainable source of joy. The constant touring had become taxing both physically and emotionally: Brady has worn away the cartilage in his ankles and knees – he walks more like a Rolling Stone now than the 31-year-old punk he is – and his fear of flying was crippling on his nervous system. To fans, he was worshipped with one hand and regarded as a peer with the other, but to the band he had become a financial liability.

“My body was tired, traveling had become exhausting for me and everyone had grown aware of that,” he admits. “I think at times I was unpleasant to travel with.”

Add to this a niggling marijuana charge pressed in 2003. Brady had become a hindrance during tours for the last six years, and crossing borders meant homeland security escorts and long-winded routes as he entered America from different avenues. During the band’s last tour Brady’s petition for a US Visa was under review; it quickly became apparent that he wouldn’t tour the US again.

“Not being able to tour America and having the band play at least 75% of the shows in America, it was a serious issue,” says Brady.

If Brady moved in the pop scene of false idols, he could have easily kept going, meeting the band onstage at each stop, giving greying industry players creative control; but what he offered his fans wasn't just the promise of a fun two hours. He offered fans a space to see themselves and their past as it truly is. He offered reality.

“There were certain unfortunate things that happened with The Amity Affliction. It was a career where certain tours don’t do as well and you end up with financial deficits. Music is taxed so hard it’s hard to keep up and make sure you’re above board.”

Brady brings to mind Amity frontman Joel Birch’s infamous tweet in 2012 over a label mate’s bigger budget:“Fuck you Roadrunner. Money for nothing….”

Brady hasn’t gotten on a plane since arriving back in Brisbane last September to play Amity’s last tour stop, a sold out crowd of 8,000 at Riverstage. Since then he has assigned the majority of his time toElevnth Records, a self-funded effort with a modest team of four and an agreement with Shock Records. The Melbourne-based independent will act as distributor while Brady has obtained all licensing. The Elevnth team is Brady, Michael McKiernan (owner of PR company Evergreen Artists), and Cullum Jensen, who handles A&R from his hometown of Sydney.

Now completely set up with a meaty roster that features four local acts and one international, Elevnth is at the tail-end of a month-long launch. Since uploading a teaser video to YouTube on June 2, Elevnth has been releasing singles from its bands piece-meal each week, along with accompanying videos. First up was Perth band Rat King (So Wrecked Youth), followed by Melbourne metalcore band Void of Vision (Sun//Rise), Gympie band Red Beard (Hells Gates), Blacktown hardcore band Elegist (Adherence) and East Coast Music Award-winning Canadian band Paper Lions (My Friend).

Elevnth signing Red Beard