Q&A with The Norm

By Zoe Macedone and Sophie Zucconi

In this article we discuss the musical journey of Loreto’s most prominent band, The Norm! We’ll be giving Loreto girls insight into the goals, accomplishments, likes, and dislikes of the members, and what they hope to achieve in the future.

Joining us we have:

Ruby Stephenson; Main singer, keys and bass

Nayla Chiha: Guitarist, bass, keys and singing

Ashley Merhi: Guitarist, bassist, vocals

Mia Basic: Drummer

Q1: What is your favourite song to perform and why?

Ruby: ‘Birds of a feather’, because I think it’s a great song for crowd involvement.

Nayla: ‘Take me away’ was the first song we performed and had a cool guitar solo in it.’

Ashley: If not ‘Take me away’, probably ‘Teenage Dirtbag.’

Mia: Yeah, probably ‘Birds of a feather’ as well.

Q2: When did you start learning your instrument?

Ruby: Two years ago, I think.

Nayla: I actually have no idea; it’s been a while.

Ashley: I started learning guitar near the end of year eight.

Mia: I started drumming in year five, but I started putting bands/together in year six, and I started producing in year seven.

Q3: When and how did the band form?

Mia: We formed in year nine through elective music. We had to do a music night, so I asked Ruby to sing, and then we had the Joey’s Battle of the Bands, so we asked Ashley to play guitar, then Nayla asked to join.

Q4: Where have you performed and what was your favourite venue?

Ashley: Parramatta Lanes was our favourite, because it was the biggest crowd we played in front of, and that was really fun.

Q5: What’s your favourite thing about performing?

Ruby: I think I just like, enjoy being able to get up and perform in front of others and be able to share our music.

Nayla: I think, being able to see people enjoy what we’re playing.

Ashley: Yeah, I remember playing 'Am I ever gonna see your face again' and the crowd interaction was my favourite thing.

Mia: I love seeing people heal and feel through music and to me it’s so freeing being up on a stage as I feel I can fully be myself. I also feel I am making an impact on people no matter how small. I also love to dance.

Q6: What music or bands are your favourite and/or inspire you?

Nayla: I think that when we arrange and play stuff, we play it to our own taste, so I wouldn’t say we’re inspired by anyone in particular, but we sort of draw inspiration from everywhere.

Mia: I think I was always inspired by Nirvana, Foo fighters, Tame Impala, Gorillaz, Blur, The cure and Finneas.

Q7: What musical challenges have you faced?

All: Sometimes Pressure or leaving things to the last minute

Mia: We had an original song, but it was all done on a laptop software (logic), and we had to transition it to live instruments which was tricky, especially because of the layers.

Nayla: I think just finding time to practice and refine everything, which takes time to make perfect.

Q8: What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

Mia: I’ve always just been told to have fun, and I think if you have a talent or a gift no matter what it is, you should share it. If you have an opportunity to bring happiness or any type of good feeling to this world you need to do it.

Ruby: If you’re up there having fun playing stuff, even if it doesn’t sound the best everybody’s going to enjoy it because it’s a part of sharing your gift.

Q9: How do you get the venues you play at?

Ash: For Battle of the Bands, we mostly keep our eye out, it’s usually on school websites where they post dates and stuff. But for the youth fest gig we did recently, we spotted it on Instagram, and it’s an event for all these Aussie teen bands. We look for people who are looking for teen bands and apply, and if we get accepted, we get accepted.

Q10: Do you have any advice for new artists or musicians?

Mia: Keep going, work with people who are genuinely interested, try and take/make every opportunity you can, also ask yourself why am I really doing this? Find your purpose for it.

Ruby: If you enjoy it, just do it.

Nayla: Sometimes, it’s not perfect the first time.

Ash: I remember we had a rehearsal after school, and this Year Five girl came to watch us, and she was really impressed. She told us she wanted to start a band, and we told her she should do it, because when we leave nobody is going to be the school band. If you want to start a band with your friends, or play an instrument, go for it.

Q11: Have you guys produced your own music?

Nayla: Frontline is now on SoundCloud, you should go stream it.

Search ‘Frontline’ thenorm_official to listen

Q12: What do you want to be remembered for?

All: Getting people to enjoy music and getting people together and appreciating different types of music in our performances.

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