Young & Restless

Young and Restless were drawn together in Canberra in April 2005. Ask the five members of the band what magnetised them and somewhere in the sprawling explanation there’d inevitably be reference to noise and energy. Because noise and energy are central to everything about Young and Restless. Guitarists Ash Pegram and Mark Falkland play with a hardcore intensity that struggles to be harnessed to the band’s blink and you’ll miss ‘em pop songs. Teenage bass player Ross Paxman makes it more than evident that he spent part of his youth growing up in Seattle and in tandem with drummer Nugie Utomo plays with a ferocity intent on waking the entire neighbourhood. And out front singer Karina Utomo effortlessly and unintentionally smashes every stereotype you may still be unconsciously clinging on to. This is a woman with something to say and a voice to say it with. Now calling Melbourne home (except for Nugie who is still in Canberra for studies), Young and Restless were thrust into the spotlight late last year when they won Triple J's Unearthed competition, which resulted in them performing at Homebake in Sydney. Six months on and the band has been ripping up stages across the country with the likes of Erase Errata, Cansei De Ser Sexy and Love Is All. Set for release mid-July, the album is completely self-funded and was recorded by Tom Larkin of Shihad, at his studio in Melbourne earlier this year. Despite several tracks having already sneakily, blasted out on radio (I Pointed At You and You Burst Into Flames, Satan, Dirty Kicks) the album will be the first official release for Young and Restless and Satan and Dirty Kicks have now been remade, remodelled and cranked for even more high energy action. Vocal collaborators on the album include Peter Saladino (Brisk) and Tom Lyngcoln (The Nation Blue).