Volume is a new and unique festival that celebrates contemporary experiential music, film and performance. Bringing together experimental techno, indie rock, hip-hop, soul and pop musicians, boundary-pushing filmmakers and cutting-edge performers from around the globe, Volume is currently taking place at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Tonight a large crowd has arrived to see Mount Eerie (Phil Elverum), who is touring Australia for the first time in five years, with performances to include “new songs from an in-progress album”. Mount Eerie performs in “The Tank” of the Art Gallery – an old oil tank that was part of the decommissioned WWII-era naval oil storage facility on the site. Its raw, vast interior is beautiful and perfect for Eerie’s set.
Black Belt Eagle Scout, which is the musical project of Katherine Paul, often abbreviated as KP. Originating from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, a Native American reservation in Washington, her identity as a queer, indigenous person heavily influences her music. Her work often delves into themes like love, heartbreak, indigenous identity, feminism, and the intersectionality of these topics.
With her guitar in hand, KP fronts the stage. She transitions seamlessly between soft, introspective melodies and more powerful, raw indie rock numbers. Stories are shared between her songs, which deepens the connection with her audience. The highlight of her set is a rocking version of a song that she contributed to the series ‘Reservation Dogs’.
