HOPE DEFTEROS
HAILS FROM MEANJIN/BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND
PLAYS SOLO (AS HOPE D)
SOUNDS LIKE ENERGISED ALT-POP PRIMED FOR PRE-DRINKS LATEST DROP CLASH OF THE SUBSTANCE
(LP OUT FEBRUARY 10TH)
How did you first discover the guitar?
When I was about six years old, my dad bought me a little Barbie guitar, which I played heaps and taught myself chords on, until I realised it’d never been tuned – I was playing in a tuning that didn’t exist. After tuning it properly and re-teaching myself, I finally took lessons in year six as a way to get out of playing compulsory violin at school. But I also had a huge passion for it, and never had to be forced to practise.
What’s your current go-to?
My current guitar is a Fender Acoustasonic. When I started playing live with a band, I needed an acoustic guitar and an electric, but my laziness made me search for something that could do both. It’s a great guitar, and I bought it with my cover gig money in early 2020. I’ve loved it ever since – it can make some sick sounds, and it’s so nice just taking one guitar to a gig.
Who and/or what are your main influences?
When I started playing, my main influences were Ed Sheeran, Hozier and Tash Sultana – nice-sounding chords with storytelling lyrics to accompany. But live looping as a cover artist allowed me to create scenic and atmospheric sounds that reflected on where I was. I would be at a beautiful cafe at Graceville in Meanjin, and loop songs depending on the weather outside – melancholy for cloudy vibes, and upbeat major chords and riffs when it was sunny. This is how I create my riffs and melodies for a lot of my own songs, too! Whatever the stories are saying through my lyrics, the guitar will reflect it.
Are you much of a gear nerd?
I have swapped and bought and sold heaps of pedals since I first started getting into them. I once had an Electro-Harmonix SYNTH9 – that was so fun and I wish I did more with it! I have a Boss [PS-6 Harmonist] that allows me to make some uncomfortable rising pitch sounds. I’m a bit obsessed with the [Pro Co] RAT at the moment, too. Also my [Electro-Harmonix] POG2 is so sick for low bass harmony sounds, but I need to learn to use it properly...
Do you have any ‘white whales’?
Nothing really in particular! I’ve been in my domestic Acoustasonic bubble. I have my Tele, too, so if anything I would froth a crazy coloured Strat or Jazzmaster. The LAVA ME acoustic guitars also seem so cool, I would love to own one one day.
What would your signature model look like?
It would be a Telecaster-looking body with five pickups and a built-in chorus/ reverb switch. The design would be colourful chaos, like the cover of my album ClashOfTheSubstance. I can’t talk too much about the spec –, just whatever my guitars do now, but with some crazy, colourful designs.
What advice would you give your past self?
Continue the self-teaching! Lessons were good, but I think the path I started on was more beneficial – discovering things myself with happy accidents. That being said, I wish I’d learned Jazz guitar when I first started, because then I feel like my solos would be more deliberate and intentional instead of random (but that’s cool too). And just playing and learning what you love to listen to!
If you could jam with any guitarist, dead or alive, who would it be?
Tiare Kelly, Benee’s guitarist. I think they’re so freaking sick. I’ve seen them play a few times and I am always in awe. I would love to jam to Afterlife’‘ by Benee – I played it throughout COVID and it’s a sentimental song to me. But I would just froth being in their presence in general. Otherwise it’d be Tash Sultana and we’d jam to ‘Notion’, one of my favourites from them!