It’s been almost three years since Steve Towson has released a full-length album, but the Brisbane-based singer-songwriter certainly hasn’t been idle. Amongst a busy schedule of gigging, touring and advocating for social justice, Towson has put together a backing band, The Conscripts, who perform with him on his upcoming album release, SHAH MAT. The brilliance of this new album has seen his music take a new turn since his first releases. Towson embarked on a solo career in 2001 after the breakup of his previous bands, Penfold (formed during high school years in Toowoomba) and The Defectives. Initially surprising audiences with his unorthodox solo electric style, Towson rapidly established a reputation on his passionate live shows, mixing music and politics in scathing or humorous attacks on injustice and inequality. His one man, one guitar approach allowed him to play ‘anywhere, anytime’ – which he did with prolific intensity. He put this motto into practice in 2003 when there was no single national support announced for Billy Bragg’s Australian tour. Steve decided to do the supports anyway – playing outside the venues! Performing at each of the eight shows, Steve won over Bragg fans from Byron to Perth, and ended the tour discussing politics and life on the road with the man himself. In addition to taking his music to audiences within the relatively safe political climate of Australia, Towson has toured throughout South-East Asia six times. Despite the tight or turbulent political atmosphere in some countries, Towson has been unwavering in his advocacy for equality and social change. On one tour, he met self-labelled ‘nocore’ band My Precious in Singapore. Towson had just released his first CD with backing band The Conscripts (“The Straits of Gibraltar” EP), but he went straight back into Zero Interference studios to record tracks for a split release with My Precious. The resulting EP, “The Venom In My Veins” was enthusiastically taken up by community radio and Triple J’s Short.Fast.Loud, and gave a taste of things to come with the fledgling Conscripts. Collaboration with fourteen musicians around the world allowed Towson to develop the concept of The Conscripts. He invited five musicians into the studio to work on a full-length release. Titled SHAH MAT (meaning “The King Is Dead”), it’s an album of musical and lyrical diversity, to be officially released in May 2006. Illustrating this diversity, press and punters have compared Towson to artists as varied as Nick Cave, Billy Bragg, Jello Biafra, The Clash, The Pogues, The Ramones and Leonard Cohen. Musically Towson has rubbed shoulders with some of the big names in music, playing support to legendary Brit punk band The Stranglers, Billy Bragg (UK), Against Me! (USA), and Frenzal Rhomb (Australia). Steve uses Tym Guitars – www.tymguitars.com.au info@stevetowson.com / +61 433 233 991 / www.ciarecords.net / www.redneckrecords.com.au www.stevetowson.com
