The Brag

Audego
Like Lego
By Annabel Maclean

“Paso and I were in the same friend circle for a while – I’d known him for years – but he did a remix for one of my tracks ‘Wonder’, which he did a really good job on, and we ended up getting married after that,” vocalist Carolyn Tariq says casually.

Tariq and her husband Paso Bionic, aka Shehab Tariq, make up Melbourne-based duo Audego – and they’ve had a pretty hectic last year, making both a baby and a record. “We had a kid born in December last year, so most of [Abominable Galaxy] was recorded while I was pregnant,” she says. “It was really good, because I used to smoke a lot – like, a pack a day – so all my previous musical work has been recorded with me having horrible smoker’s voice, and then for this one I had to clean up a lot. I think it helped the music, and I think I did a better job.”

They didn’t anticipate taking a full year to complete the record, but it’s a grand effort considering Paso works full-time at a printing store, and Carolyn is handling her new life as a mother. But the pair aren’t about to dwell on the challenges. “It’s really fun for us – we always make it happen,” Carolyn says of the family/music balance. “We’ve already got a few new tracks cooking for another release. We’re very into it.” Although she says collaborating with her husband on Abominable Galaxy was “really easy”, much of the work on the record was created separately. “We didn’t work together in the studio a lot; it was kind of like, I’d do it and then he’d come home from work and then do the rest, so it was just piecing it together, which was why we named ourselves Audego – like Lego,” she says. “It just felt like we were building and adding little bits as we went.”

Mixed by hip hop heavy hitter and producer Danielsan of Koolism, Abominable Galaxy offers silky vocals, edgy percussion and blurred synths, the result of an unusual musical collaboration which could prick up the ears of post-dubstep, indie, instrumental hip hop and folk fans alike. Although classy in its delivery, the record’s song titles are questionable. For instance, ‘Polish A Turd’: “It’s obviously not literally about polishing a turd – there’s actually a deeper meaning behind it,” Carolyn says. “Paso is such a peaceful person and I felt a bit guilty for being a mole. So it’s really about being a piece of white trash and feeling out of it in a classy situation. I had a moment of being agro, and I wrote that song.” The banging track ‘Burning Bridge’ is only slightly more literally titled. “For me, that track was about ending a relationship that you’re really happy to end,” she says. “It’s kind of literally about burning bridges and not feeling bad about that, because what you’re moving forward to is so much better.”

Carolyn used to organise and teach songwriting to disadvantaged youth in Victoria and Queensland, but it’s something she’s since moved on from. “I’m such a shit teacher,” she laughs half-heartedly. “You’ve got to have that commanding presence; it’s a tricky thing to be a good teacher.” So for now, it’s all about being a mum, and bringing her little girl up and into the world of music. “She dances and I think she’s singing all the time, but she’s probably just clearing her throat,” she says. “She’s always in the [home] studio… When Paso is doing turntable stuff, she’s mesmerised – it’s like her favourite thing ever.”

What: Abominable Galaxy is out now
With: Kilter & Saiko
Where: GoodGod Small Club
When: Saturday June 23