Bio

The story of the band known as Suburbia is a fairly short one at the moment. Suburbia hail from the west of Sydney, Australia and was generated in April 2000. The band has many members at the but the idea came out of the head of it's sole solid member at the moment: Philippe Perez, keyboardist and singer. A list of frequent (and not so frequent) muso's appearing with Phil can be found here.

History
Born in a Paddington hospital in the heart of Sydney, Philippe (namely, myself) found his love for music when he first twinkled his fingers on a piano in 1996 and decided, after a lot of deliberation on what to do with his mind-numbing life of everyday antics and his feeble attempts to pick up women, he became a musician.During his last year of high school, he took a JSSTAFE course in Music Industry Skills and was taught by Melanie Williamson of The Bushwackers among many others who are in the know of the Industry.

He has taken classical tuition from that time and is still doing so. At the same time, I maintained interest in more contemporary styles of music and thus enrolled myself into the Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) at Quakers Hill in the North West of Sydney at the beginning of 1999. There I have learned so much about the music industry. You can read more about the CMC here.

As part of the course I am currentely taking (Diploma of Contemporary Music), I will be releasing an as yet unamed album at the end of the year 2000. I will be continuing with Suburbia in some form or another after I finish my Diploma and still will be writing songs.

Former Projects
I was in a band that was called Loudmouth 2 years ago which disbanded about 6 months after they were formed. I played piano in the band. We usually rehearsed in this large church hall which had a great sound.

Equipment
I just got myself a Yamaha CS2X and loving every minute I use it. As well as that I have a Waldmann piano signed by Ben Folds Five which I won in a competiton. I was so happy the day I found out that I won it because Ben Folds is one of my all time idols, as well as that, I had buckley's chance of winning it. As well as that I also have one of the great kids instruments known to man... The Yamaha Porta Sound PSS-80! I could tell you every bit of equipment I have, but that will probably bore you.

Influences
Ben Folds / Ben Folds Five, Tim Freedman / The Whitlams, Tori Amos, Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley, Nick Cave, Beck, Crowded House, Jewel, R.E.M., Bob Dylan, U2, Moby, Bernie Hayes...I could go on and on forever with how many different influences I have.

Superstitions
I have heard it is bad luck to throw away your first ever instrument. That is why I still have the Yamaha Porta Sound.

I get the best feeling when I'm:
Going to and perfoming gigs
Seeing the amount of different reactions I get when I perform
Getting my crappy car fixed
Listening to and supporting great local Aussie music (such as Fbi radio)

philippeperez@cmcaustralia.com