The Australian Government isn’t the only entity that puts people through a rigorous cross-examination to prove their loyalty to a bunch of stars and a Union Jack. Each week at ‘M+N’, we make an Australian act kiss the flag by asking them questions about their favourite local acts: who they’ve been listening to recently, their underground heroes, or whether they prefer Gotye or Kimbra.

Taking the test this week is self-confessed nerd Elizabeth Rose, a 21-year-old singer/producer from Sydney, who will be launching new single ‘Ready’ across the east-coast this month. Accompanied by a psychedelic video directed by Ben Wilson, the track is the first taste of a forthcoming EP, due mid-2012.

Preamble

a. We hear EMI contacted you on MySpace at 17? Did they offer you a deal?
Yeah they found my crappy GarageBand pop songs on MySpace back then! In the end, time was really against me with releasing my single 'Ready' and it does take a while to go through the nitty gritty of a deal with a major, so I decided to go with an independent label instead to save time and get the single out there as quick as I could.

b. Do you always perform live on your own?
Yeah I do. Just me, my laptop, keyboard, sampler, vocal effects pedal and a fun outfit.

c. Where’s the sample at the start of ‘Ready’ from?
It's a sample of me singing. I recorded myself singing the chorus of ‘Lollipop’ by The Chordettes then reversed it, pitched it down and looped it. Oh, I'm such a nerd sometimes.

e. Is the song indicative of the EP?
Yes, it is. The tracks are all fun with a bit of dark, atmospheric edge to them. I have a bit of fun experimenting with samples and little melody hooks. I can't wait to release it.

d. What did you learn from touring with a band like Chairlift?
Never assume that the "big bands" are all stereotypically snobby, because Chairlift are not. They are the most down-to-earth, creative people I have ever met. It was such a pleasure to tour with them.

Part 1. Geography

a. Tell us about your hometown.
I've lived in the inner-west of Sydney my whole life. We live near the bay so it's always a great place to walk down to and escape the house from time to time. (Yes, I still live at home, I know!)

b. Name your favourite bands from your neck of the woods.
Hmmm, I'd have to say fellow Sydney-sider Jonti. He is such a talent and is onto bigger and better things overseas at the moment!

c. Where’s your local and what’s it like?
I'm going to say my “local” is this great Thai restaurant called Doy Tao and they cook up a marvelous chicken pad thai and massaman beef curry (not together in the one dish ... separately). I only ever order the pad thai or curry, I haven't bothered to try beyond that because I'm quite content with those two dishes for now.

Part 2. History

a. Which Australian bands did you grow up listening to?
I didn't listen to a lot of Aussie bands, strangely enough, when I was much younger. I followed a bit of Kylie, some of Savage Garden, Silverchair, Missy Higgins, Delta Goodrem, and a bit of that terrible band off Popstars, Bardot. shudders

b. What’s the first Australian record you bought?
I really can't remember this milestone. I'm going to take a guess and say ‘Can't Get You Outta My Head' by Kylie. I'm still obsessed with that song.

c. Who’s your favourite Australian band/artist of all time?
The Bee Gees! Are They Australian Citizens? If not, INXS.

d. What’s the most “Australian” record ever produced?
Anything by Hilltop Hoods. Aussie hip-hop sounds so Aussie.

Part 3. Current Affairs

a. Who are some of your favourite new Australian bands?
Over the last couple of years: Gotye, The Presets, Empire of the Sun, Flight Facilities, Jonti, Kimbra and The Jezabels.

b. If you could collaborate with one current Australian artist, who would it be, and what would it sound like?
I'd collaborate with Kimbra and it would be a very experimental pop duet, kinda like Bjork multiplied by two?

c. Last great local gig you saw.
Parking Lot Experiments down in Melbourne.

d. Do you think an Australian artist needs to go overseas to succeed?
It depends on what you really want out of your career and everyone is different on this idea. I feel I need to bring my music overseas and mix in with the culture and hype that's happening in the US and the UK.

Part 4. Multiple Choice

a. The Voice or Australia’s Got Talent?
Neither. I freaking hate both of those shows.

b. Hungry Jacks or Red Rooster?
Hmmm ... Hungry Jacks.

c. Newcastle or Wollongong?
Newcastle. I like the strip of fashion boutiques they have up there on Darby Street.

d. Potato cake or dim sim?
Dim sim. I love love love Chinese food.

e. The Presets or Cut Copy?
The Presets

f. Kylie or Dannii Minogue?
Kylie

g. Cate Blanchett or Nicole Kidman?
Cate Blanchett, yep.

h. Neighbours or Home & Away?
Neeeeeeighbours - I grew up watching the old Neighbours at 3.30pm every weekday after running home from primary school. That was when Neighbours was semi-good.

i. Cheezels or Twisties?
Twisties!

j. Kimbra or Gotye?
Oh, mega toughie. I'd have to say Gotye.

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ELIZABETH ROSE ‘READY’ TOUR

Fri, May 25 – Houndstooth @ Rocket Bar, Adelaide, SA
Sat, May 26 – The Toff, Melbourne, VIC
Thu, May 31 – Lambda Lambda Lambda @ Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane, QLD
Fri, Jun 1 – Elsewhere Bar, Gold Coast, QLD
Fri, Jun 8 – The Standard, Sydney, NSW
Sat, Jun 9 – Fresh Prince @ Transit Bar, Canberra, ACT