The road so far with Twelve Parsecs

Emerging Fremantle rock trio Twelve Parsecs launch their debut EP, The Only Thing (That Matters), with a special afternoon gig at Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle on Saturday, March 15, with special guests Suburbia and Broken Pedal. BOB GORDON chats with vocalist/guitarist Riley Spowart about the young band’s interesting ride so far.

The title track of your debut EP, The Only Thing (That Matters), won the ‘Schools 14 And Under’ category at the 2024 WAM Song Of The Year Awards. Tell me about the song itself.

The Only Thing (That Matters) taps into those emotions of feeling alone or undervalued, whilst also finding the strength to move forward and become a better person because of it. I feel like it captures that longing to be truly seen and appreciated and the frustration of feeling like you’re not enough—or maybe too much.

The song has evolved since it was first written in 2023, and performing it live has always been such a highlight for us. We have a load of fun playing it live and pour so much energy into it onstage, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see how audiences connect with it. Recording and releasing it has been an exciting journey, especially after winning a WAM Song Of The Year Award for it last year—it’s a track that really means a lot to us.

What does music bring out in you? How does it feel when you hone in on an idea and evolve it into an actual song that previously didn’t exist?

Music brings out the most creative parts of me. It unlocks a level of concentration, expression, and—annoyingly to some—perfectionism that doesn’t appear in other aspects of my life. Finishing a song I’m truly proud of, like the ones on the EP, is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling feelings I’ve experienced. It’s incredibly validating as an artist to create something that not only resonates with me, but also my bandmates, family, and friends.

For me, it’s not just about creating something; it’s about sharing it too. The most rewarding part of the process is seeing others connect with the song and find their own meaning in it. That’s when it truly feels complete—when it’s no longer just my story, but something others can relate to in their own way.

You and your sister Georgia (drums) have been jamming since you were young kids and infamously went viral on social media when a video of you both playing Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog at a school community event was posted on social media in 2021 when you were 12 and 10. Even then you were locked in—do you feel there’s a kind of telepathy between you when you play music together? Describe it…

There is absolutely a connection when Georgia and I play together where we can communicate ideas without having to say anything. I suppose being siblings adds a sort of unspoken connection where we just instinctively know where the other is going with a song. I think it’s a big part of what makes our music feel so cohesive—it’s like we’re on the same wavelength.

I remember one time when we were writing a song together, we were running through the ideas we had so far, and I wanted to add this weird time signature bit but wasn’t sure how to explain it to her. As it turned out, I didn’t have to—she played it exactly as I had in my mind! Moments like that really highlight how connected we are musically.

What’s also special is how tuned in Jacob (Burro, bass) is to both of us, even though he’s not a sibling. He just gets it. He has this incredible ability to pick up on the energy we’re creating and amplify it, making everything feel seamless. It’s like the three of us share this musical language, where we’re constantly feeding off each other’s ideas and instinctively knowing where the song needs to go. That connection is what makes playing together so exciting and rewarding.

You released two singles—Off My Shoulders and Ghost Hug—in 2023. What evolution is present in the debut EP compared to the ones that you put out two years ago?

I definitely feel like my songwriting in particular has gotten a bit more complex. Over the two years since we put those songs out, I’ve been experimenting a bit more with a little bit of keyboards on the EP, some weird chord stuff, just trying out new things instead of stock, standard rock’n’roll kind of things.

I’ve been listening to a lot of later Silverchair stuff where they worked with orchestras and whatnot, a lot of Crowded House, and listening to a little bit of classical music lately and also trying to learn a bit of piano as a songwriting tool.

What are the hopes for the band in 2025 and the dreams beyond?

At the moment, the big focus is on the release of our EP and everything that comes with it. We’re hoping it connects with people and opens the door to new opportunities. We’d love to build on the momentum, grow our fanbase, and share our music with as many people as possible. Beyond that, the dream is to keep evolving. We want to write more, record a debut album, and push ourselves creatively to see where our music can take us.

Ultimately, the goal is to keep doing what we love—making music that resonates and connects with people and hopefully leaves a lasting impact.

Twelve Parsecs launch their debut EP, The Only Thing (That Matters) at Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Tickets are on sale now from oztix.com.au