TRAWLERS

Words: Keeley Thompson

Image: Jacob McCan (@blokeyoucantrust)

The Queensland sun hovers on the horizon casting long shadows across the overgrown backyard. Streaks of amber seep through the stained-glass windows, painting the yard with yellow warmth. Inside, the air hangs heavy with the remnants of laughter while empty beer cans stand sentinel on the coffee table, a silent testament to the previous night's revelry.

The optimistic promise of "I'll mow this weekend" now broken for another week. A lone figure perches on the rickety back step, cigarette smoke curling upwards like a lazy question mark. They watch the grass sway in the April evening breeze, a scene strangely reminiscent of the vast cane fields of Far North Queensland.

Inside, a symphony of clinking pots and muttered curses spills from the small, dishevelled kitchen. Another housemate, battles against the tide of unwashed dishes, wrestling with a pot of "unemployment pasta"— a budget-friendly concoction featuring more garlic than protein.  

From the record player, another housemate sprawls across the worn-out couch, typing furiously into a borrowed laptop, desperately trying to bridge the gap between a looming university deadline and the siren song of a well-deserved nap.  

This is Trawlers. 

The musical interpretation of inner-city share housing and the struggle to make ends meet as a young adult, Trawlers is the indie-slacker-rock project of Sean Rogers (vox, guitar), Luc Ambrosoli (guitar), Cam Ide-Cottle (bass) and Marc Ambrosoli (drums). 

A nod to all that’s beautiful and broken, Trawlers provide the backdrop to driving down suburban streets in a worn out 2003 Toyota Corolla with broken windows and an asthmatic aircon. 

Image: Riley Dale (rileydale__)

KEELEY: How did your personal relationships with music begin? 

LUC: I started drums before I started playing guitar actually. It was during primary school so probably around the age of 6.

MARC: Yeah I started with guitar actually. I moved to drums a bit later. 

SEAN: Woah, you both did a 180. 

For me, my dad just really liked Rodriguez and my mum wanted me to learn an instrument so I decided to learn Rodriguez on guitar. 

KEELEY: His death was a heavy loss 

SEAN: Yeah bro. I remember going to my mates’ place on the day he died with a boombox playing I Wonder. 

KEELEY: So from there, what was the beginning of Trawlers? 

LUC: Sean and I were in another band prior called Wet Matches. That project died and Sean and I wanted to keep going because we like playing music together. 

I knew Cameron from High School and we got him on board to play bass. He’s one of those bass players that actually plays guitar primarily. 

KEELEY: Ahh yeah, do you think it’s better that way? 

LUC: I do prefer it, but it’s definitely hard at first. He’s figured it out now, but when he first joined he was playing the bass like a guitar and it was too hectic. He’s watered it down now. 

But yeah, we had Cameron and Sean and I thought “god forbid I ask my brother to play drums with us” but I did ask him and here we are. 

KEELEY: Where do you get inspiration from, lyrically and instrumentally? 

SEAN: Lyrically, a bunch of tragedies really. I used to have a Soundcloud project and the bio for that was “driving my life into a wall so I can write a song about it”. 

LUC: Sparkleboy… Don’t think I’ve forgotten

SEAN: Ahhh damn. 

Anyway, it kind of comes like that; from a lot of thoughts and feelings. It’s a nice concise way to get them out and into a 2-5 minute song. 

Only problem is, you then realise you’ve got to play the song dozens of times a week and think “fuck, maybe I shouldn’t have written a song about that, it keeps reminding me of that”. 

LUC: For me, if someone came to me and said I sound like Stephen Malkmus, Graham Coxon and Neil Young all in one I’d be so chuffed. 

SEAN: Do you want me to say it now?

LUC: No, I wouldn’t believe you.

MARC: I listen to a lot of music which is constantly changing what I play. The drum parts often change depending on what I’m listening to at a certain time. 

KEELEY: What’s something you’ve learnt about yourself through being a musician or in a band? 

LUC: I would never normally say this, but I’m about to anyway. 

In a band setting, I’m a bit more of a control freak than I’d like to admit. 

… 

From Sean’s silence I’m going to say that’s true. 

SEAN: Yeah it’s definitely true. 

I’ve learnt that emotions can be expressed in many different forms and ways, musically and in general life. I’ve realised that even if two people wrote the exact same song, it would sound different based on their own experiences. I hope that makes sense. 

Image: Jacbon McCann

KEELEY: Any memorable or favourite moments as a band? 

SEAN: This is an easy one. Goulburn. 

LUC: Yeah definitely. 

About two years ago we had the grand plan of doing a week away for the sole purpose of writing songs. Sean’s uncle has a farm in Goulburn so we packed two cars full of gear and spent two weeks (including travel) away for this trip. The plan was to write a bunch of music and  maybe even record some of the tracks. 

Long story short, we got there and proceeded to abuse substances and write maybe one song. 

SEAN: Yeah we basically just got drunk for two weeks and played GeoGuesser. It was a lot of fun, but not productive at all. 

LUC: I like to think we just weren’t ready and that the creative energy wasn’t there. I don’t believe you can force creativity (I know some people think you can), but if we weren’t all in it then it’s just not going to happen. 

SEAN: Despite the lack of music writing, that trip was a really nice time for us. 

KEELEY: I’ve seen something written on your guitar, Sean. What does it say? 

SEAN: “My friend Toby Young gave me this guitar”.

The guitar had no pickups or anything but one night all my other guitars got stolen so I figured I’d get it working and give him a shout out. 

KEELEY: Luc, I’ve heard you can play guitar behind your head? 

LUC: Ah I’m never going to live that down.

We were playing a backyard gig and naturally I’d had one too many beers and thought I’d give it a shot.

SEAN: It was so funny because the week before the gig Luc said it would be cool to do. The day of the gig he was like “I’m going to try it”. He practiced it once and said “Yeah I think I’ve got it”. 

I was like “Luc, there’s no way you practice that once and nail it”.

Image: Dane Beesley

KEELEY: How have you found the reception of your most recent EP? 

MARC: I think it’s been quite good actually. Better than some of our other releases which is encouraging.

LUC: Definitely. It’s been good considering we had a year off as well. People seem to be quite receptive to it which is nice.

SEAN: Yeah, every now and then we’ll get tagged in a 4ZZZ post that they’ve played a song. 

My mate Will is a classic example of that too. Every now and then he’ll send me a photo of him listening to the album. It’s nice. It’s nice to know that something we think we’ve done a good job on, other people think the same. It’s very validating. 

MARC: One of my friends still listens to Grown Young.

SEAN: Oh gross, I thought we took that song down. 

MARC: Obviously not. We can’t take it down now anyway, my friend will be disappointed.

LUC: Nah I’m going to take it down. He can have the full .wav file. 

KEELEY: But that’s just classic isn’t it. Often the things we create that we don’t like are the things people like the most. 

LUC: Yeah but we all mutually hate that song. It’s just a very naïve song. Like, there’s a drum solo and a bass solo back to back. 

KEELEY: What’s the best flavour of lollipop? 

LUC: Cola. Easily.

SEAN: Strawberry Ice Cream

LUC: Ewwwww

MARC: Watermelon

KEELEY: What’s coming up for Trawlers? 

LUC: On the 25th of April we’re supporting Carla Geneve which is very exciting. Probably one of the biggest bands we’ve supported.

I suppose we’ve also gotta keep saying we’ll release music. If I say it here it might be a good accountability measure. I’d be chuffed if we could make it happen.

SEAN: Well, you’re the one that does all the things. 

LUC: Yeah but I don’t write all the songs. 

SEAN: Yeah fair, that’s a good point. 

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