Daybreak bass player Brodie Wilson and lead singer Shaun Cox.
Camera IconDaybreak bass player Brodie Wilson and lead singer Shaun Cox. Credit: Supplied/Marcelo Palacios

Band breaks into the big time

By Sarah Waters, Comment NewsComment News

Vocalist Shaun (15) and bass guitarist Brodie (15) make up the four-piece heavy metal band Daybreak along with Tranby College students guitarist Blake Pearce (16) and drummer Sam Warren (16).

Daybreak was one of six Australian bands selected as finalists, from over 650 acts, in the national talent competition which uncovers the next big secondary school music act.

The winner Japanese Wallpaper, 17-year-old Gab Strum from Melbourne, was announced last Friday.

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His prize included a recording of his song Breathe In by Triple J’s music producers, airtime on Triple J and a free concert at his school, headlined by hip hop artist Seth Sentry.

Although Daybreak didn’t win the top prize, Shaun and Brodie, were thrilled to make the final six with their song Retribution, inspired by Bane from the movie The Dark Knight Rises.

‘We’ve only been together eight months,’ Shaun said.

‘It was pretty overwhelming and unexpected. We were called into the ABC studio in Perth and told we were finalists.’

Daybreak was hailed on Triple J as ‘a group of 15 to 16-year-olds from Perth who make heavy music with devastating precision.’

Shaun’s self-taught vocals or ‘tasteful screaming’ have also been highly acclaimed.

‘I learnt by watching YouTube videos,’ he said.

‘It’s pretty much like coughing, but you have to push a lot of air out of your diaphragm.’

Brodie, a strong stage performer, only started playing bass guitar in November last year.

‘Shaun just asked me if I wanted to be in a band, so I thought I better learn an instrument.’

For the past eight months, the band have been practising two to three times a week in guitarist Blake’s garage.

Their sound ” which they acknowledge might not to be everyone’s taste ” resulted in the neighbours complaining to the council.

Despite being issued with a council noise control notice, restricting them to play for one hour between 7am and 7pm, the band continued to create music, which has won them national recognition.

Daybreak has already secured gigs around Perth since gaining a huge amount of exposure through the Triple J Unearthed High competition.

Triple J radio hosts said the Unearthed High finalists for 2014 impressed with their vision, skills and song writing.