MADELENE RYAN quizzes drummer HUGH WHEELER of local pop-rockers 52 FLICKS about life on the road, schoolkids and standing out from the crowd.

Brisbane three-piece 52 Flicks began at Brisbane Boys College in ‘06, and since then the local lads have developed a following supporting the likes of Short Stack and touring schools nationally to play tunes from their debut EP Sounds Of Real Life. With some road-earned experience in hand, the trio plan to record a second EP in September.

HUGH WHEELER: Yes it was! We knew our tour was going to be difficult, but we managed to come out on top. We toured four weeks in a row – we drove to the schools, set up, played, packed up, and then moved on. We were buggered, [but] it paid off. We did the same in Rockhampton and Bundaberg, and [they] went nuts there! Touring has really worked for us, in terms of growing our fanbase.

MR: What was it like working with Stuart Stuart (The Veronicas/Small Mercies) on your EP?

HW: Stuart is an awesome producer. It was difficult at first, because he wanted to change things and saw things differently, but we decided to listen and it worked out well. [He] captured our sound perfectly. We look forward to working with him again on our next EP. 

MR: How do you try to distinguish yourselves from other pop-punk acts out there?

HW: Well, there are two elements. We added a synth to become more original and to look different onstage. Secondly we all write songs, so there’s a good mix of ideas. We all lean to different styles in our genre, so it’s a good variety. 

MR: What’s next on the agenda for 52 Flicks after the School’s Out Princess Theatre show?

HW: After the Princess Theatre show we will be concentrating on writing more songs and moulding the songs that we’ve written for our September recording. The next EP is hopefully going to be breaking point. We’ve worked really hard this year. Once the EP is released, we’ll be touring nationally.

52 FLICKS will end their Back To School tour with Cardboard Castle and Minus Penny at the Princess Theatre on Saturday Jul 4, followed by a slot at the Emergenza festival at The HI-FI on Saturday Jul 18. SOUNDS OF REAL LIFE is available through iTunes and shows. www.myspace.com/52flicks