Alternative Dance Vibes From A Land Down Under

Gold Fields

Catch Gold Fields at the Constellation Room Sept. 9.

Australian band, Gold Fields, will be performing their “80s, new wave-influenced, dance-pop” music on Monday, Sept. 9 in the Constellation Room in Santa Ana. Formed in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia in 2010, Gold Fields feature vocalist, Mark Robert Fuller; guitarist, Vin Andanar; keyboardist, Rob Clifton; bassist, Luke Peldys and drummer, Ryan D’Sylva.

The band released their first self-titled EP in 2011. In 2013, Gold Fields delivered their debut full-length album; Black Sun. OC Concert Guide spoke with the band’s vocalist as they head back to the U.S. after successful tour with Capital Cities last spring.

OCCG: Can you introduce yourselves, your part in the band and where you were born?
MRF: Yeah it’s Mark (Fuller), I was born in Ballarat and I sing in Gold Fields.

OCCG: Which genre would you say your music is in?
MRF: We think about it as dance music, especially when it comes to the live show. We’re starting to write new music at the moment so it’s hard to say where it’s heading after Black Sun.

OCCG: Your music has very strong percussion. What or who influenced this?
MRF: Yeah Ryan writes all the drum parts. I think because he knows he’s got Rob to help him play the stuff live, he can write things as complex as he likes and they’ll always figure out a way to pull it off live. It’s good fun for the rest of us to watch at practice. Having a big percussion set up definitely makes the live show more interesting for us too.

OCCG: What was your biggest struggle after forming Gold Fields?
MRF: For me it’s being away from home so much. We’ve spent a lot of time away over the past couple of years an its tough leaving girlfriends and friends and family for months on end to tour.

OCCG: Do you have a theme or message in your debut album, Black Sun?
MRF: Not an intentional one. Listening back, lyrically I actually think the album is really self-absorbed. The whole record is in a way. We were only thinking about ourselves when we made it. Trying to come out with something we liked.

OCCG: What’s the process like when putting a new song together?
MRF: It changes every time. Ry or Vin might program an instrumental, we’ll record vocals on it then take it into a jam room and play it out till it feels right.

OCCG: You’ve been touring through several countries now. Is there a particular city or country that’s been your favorite?
MRF: Yeah I really like San Diego. Pretty much anywhere in California and around LA. Our shows in New York have been highlights. Portland and Seattle, and also any shows in Australia are always great.

OCCG: What can we expect in the future from Gold Fields? Is there another album in the works?
MRF: After this US tour, we’re going to start writing properly again. Not 100% sure at this stage but after this tour, the next thing you’ll hear from Gold Fields will probably be some new music early next year maybe. I think we’re sort of looking at next year as the next chapter, so to speak.

OCCG: Can you give some advice to up-and-coming artists or bands?
MRF: Well we’re still up and coming ourselves so not really. But anything that’s ever worked out for us is the result of some pretty hard work. So I guess just work a lot and make sure you love what you’re making