With a healthy serving of jaunty, Australiana new wave, ARIA Award-winning performer Gareth Koch's lead single of his new EP, 'Code Blue', is an "up-tempo romp" that portrays a serious message.
Currently working on an album with The Church's Steve Kilbey, 'Code Blue' is a four-track EP from the classical and flamenco guitarist that also features 'Come Heavy Sleep' – a type of re-imagined Elizabethan ballad.While 'The Flame' carries echos of the great Blue Oyster Cult. Then there's a ballad-type interpretation of The Angels' classic, 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again'.
With his classical background alongside contemporary sensibilities, Koch's music crosses an array of genres; from catchy pop tunes, soulful ballads, country, to blues grooves and rock songs.
"'Code Blue' is somewhat atypical of my other output – one out of the box perhaps," Gareth says. "When Steve Kilbey heard one of the takes he described it as 'jolly'!
"[But it] began life as an acoustic ballad, inspired by the life-saving interventions of staff at the Launceston General Hospital."
A 'code blue' is a hospital crisis situation in which the patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest, requiring a team to rush to the specific location and begin rescue efforts.
"The issue with a ballad however, is that when coupled with serious subject matter can run the risk of becoming morbidly gloomy," continues Gareth.
"The idea was born therefore to re-imagine the song as a mid/ up-tempo romp, complete with double entendre lyrics – to communicate the same message, but in a light-hearted vein."
With the 'Code Blue' EP released today (8 May), scenestr is stoked to premiere the music video for the title track. Enjoy.
"The video highlights hospital scenes, replete with glamorous nurses of course, and shiny ambulances," Gareth adds. "Looking on the bright side of death, as it were."
