Definitely not bubblegum pop

Definitely not bubblegum pop

BY NICOLE HOYE 

BRISBANE — With the empty lyrics of bubblegum pop music artists like
Britney Spears and NSync hogging the mainstream music charts and airwaves,
selling millions of albums worldwide, Steve Towson's debut album In
a Shattered State is welcome relief.

Brisbane-based Towson, who refuses to tag himself with any political
label, knows there is a definite need for social change. What he hopes
to achieve through his music is to raise awareness.

“It's a sad thing that there are so many people with no compassion for
their fellow human beings. Look at the Australian government's refugee
prisons. If our government had respect for basic human rights, they wouldn't
be there”, Towson states.

Towson believes music can be powerful if it can convey messages to its
listeners. His style is based on no-one in particular. He can play several
instruments, but his first love is the guitar. The entire album is electric,
with just Steve and his guitar (and an occasional harmonica) belting out
songs with clear anti-corporate, pro-peace and pro-love messages.

Mainstream media is another aspect of capitalist society that Towson
loathes, as the track, “Who Do You Believe?”, makes clear. Perhaps to soften
the edge of the more political songs, there are several love songs on the
album. He finds a happy medium in “15 minutes of your Love”, a comical,
anti-corporate love song.

Towson's calling card is the well-known “When the Revolution Comes”,
which earned him a place on the Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ's
top 20 for 2001.

He is relentless in spreading his message and is prolific in the Brisbane
live-music scene, and plays gigs anywhere from Toowoomba to Melbourne.
He also practices what he preaches, doing plenty of benefit gigs and supporting
progressive causes. Towson's second album is already in the making.

To order a copy of In a Shattered State, email <stevetowson@yahoo.com>.

From Green Left Weekly, July 3, 2002.

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From GLW issue 498