No Training? No Problem: Rumpus Machine Takes NZ Music by Storm
No music lessons? No worries. Auckland-based, four-piece sibling band Rumpus Machine are taking Aotearoa’s music scene by storm and doing it all without formal training.
Rumpus Machine recently placed first in their category at Auckland Council’s Stand Up Stand Out, Auckland’s premier music and dance competition, featuring secondary-school talent from across Tāmaki Makaurau. With another big performance at the national final of Rockquest on the horizon, the family is bursting with energy and vibrant even through the screen as they laugh their way through the interview.
“There’s arguing, alright. It’s a bit weird being in a band with your brothers and sisters,” Daniel, lead guitarist and eldest sibling at 16, jokes. “It’s good,” his brother Matthew chimes in. “You can’t kick anyone out.” They all laugh, but Daniel notes through the jokes that their relationship gives the band a sense of longevity.
The siblings have each been playing guitar for eight years, first taught by their dad, and as they progressed, turning to YouTube. It's been a significant journey from busking in Europe and throughout New Zealand, where they played as duos, to coming together as an unstoppable 4-piece band. Returning from a few years of travel just before Covid, the siblings played all together for the first time with a drum kit from a friend and their dad’s old bass, dragged “out from under the house.” Now, Rumpus Machine is seeking platforms for their original songs. Competitions such as Stand Up Stand Out and Rockquest have given them opportunities and motivation to write and develop their originals, and find their voice as a band.
“[Stand Up, Stand Out is] a great platform to play with other young bands and encourage you to write your own original music, and to get involved in a community that supports young original music,” Ashley, the band’s drummer and twin sister to Hannah, their bassist, muses. Daniel nods. “[These competitions] feed young bands into the music scene. It’s pretty cool to find those opportunities and make connections with other people.”
It’s an exciting time for Rumpus Machine. Two days after our interview, they won third place in the national Rockquest competition. Looking to the future, it seems like the sky’s the limit. Matthew wants to play on bigger stages. Ashley agrees, dreaming about opening for New Zealand acts like L.A.B or Six60. “At the moment we have a lot of covers, which is great, but playing original music is really the goal,” Daniel adds. “I think it’d be cool to have an album of some sort, at some point in time,” he says, and his siblings agree.
Rumpus Machine are full of advice for other young musicians. “Just get yourself out there,” Ashley shrugs. “Practicing is very important,” Daniel mentions, and everyone nods. “You can learn a lot from learning covers,” Matthew says, as long as you practice hard and “get them real good.” Daniel adds that practice can help reduce nerves before performances and make sure these performances sound as good as they can. But the most important thing, according to Daniel, is to “make sure you’re having fun. Because if it’s not fun, why are you doing it?”
To follow Rumpus Machine’s journey, make sure to keep updated with their social media pages and their Spotify. On their social media, the band uploads covers, gig clips, and information on upcoming events where you can see them live, and their Spotify features several of their original songs.
https://www.instagram.com/rumpusmachinenz
https://www.facebook.com/rumpusmachinenz