Love Letter To A Record: Jack Biilmann On Silverchair's 'Frogstomp'

Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.

In this series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.

Here are their love letters to records that forever changed their lives.

Jack Biilmann – Silverchair’s Frogstomp

I was 10-years-old and music suddenly became more than just noise to me. Frogstomp, you were my first love and the love has stood the test of time.

This may seem like an interesting choice for an artist who has released predominantly acoustic/singer/songwriter stuff for the majority of his career, but you have been a constant source of inspiration. What fascinates me about you is that Silverchair were 15. For me, that is mind blowing — for three 15-year-olds to not only have written and recorded an album, but for it to be as good as it is — it just rocked me.

Writing music and music in general to me is something that is so different to each and every person. How quick you develop your writing and playing skills is an extremely personal journey and something that is very hard to relate to. Hearing you just kicked everything off for me and it still inspires me to this day. The record has all the key ingredients nailed for a rock album. Moments of power, attitude, moments to breathe, climaxes and everything in between. Much like a good relationship really.

Daniel Johns’ lyrics at fifteen are so powerful that the tag of “well beyond his years” is a waste of breath because it’s painfully obvious. Highlights from the album for me are the tracks ‘Tomorrow’, ‘Shade’ and ‘Faultine’. ‘Tomorrow’ because that song was their introduction to the world and no one could question its quality, and to start with that is massive.

‘Shade’ shows that the band is not just about rock and roll and all that comes with it. ‘Shade’ reveals that the band are already using their art to express themselves on important issues and are leaving themselves vulnerable, the song is beautiful.

‘Faultline’ is a track that I feel sums up all the different sounds and tones into one song, to get it all in one song and for it to work as good as it does is remarkable.

Although you aren’t as young as you were and many years have passed. When I hear your voice it still empowers me the same way it did when we met, I am grateful everyday that we did.

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Canberra singer-songwriter Jack Biilmann’s new single ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ is out now & you can catch him performing live around Australia this month, July & August. Dates below or head to his official website for more info