Gimmie recently asked Jakob, vocalist of the punk band ALF, a few questions, and he responded with these thoughtful musings. He shares the journey of the Boorloo/Perth-based band, which has become central to his life as a singer. Having come to singing later in life, Jakob is passionate about music’s power to connect people and inspire change. ALF put out their “UK 77 with post-punk spice” debut release The Demo on cassette in 2023, which quickly sold out. We LOVE them!
JAKOB: When I think about what has value to me in this world, music is right at the summit. I remember, as an 11-year-old, heading into Target and holding Demon Days, Gorillaz’s sophomore album, so excited at the prospect of purchasing my first album. I was fascinated by the strange cartoon characters who represented this ambitious multimedia project, captivated by the urban cool wasteland fantasy. It was a brief escape into a world of instrumental wonderment, the kind that left a boy wide-eyed in awe.
As someone with a partly English background through my mum, I’ve always had a soft spot for British musicians. The voices of creatives like Damon Albarn, from Gorillaz and Blur, have influenced me deeply, both in subject matter and singing approach. The connection it grants me to place provides a certain comfort—a soundtrack, if you will, to a part of my identity.
In general, my music taste both resembles and diverges from that of a punk. I really love bands like Crass, Mental, Joy Division, and the Ramones, but on the other hand, artists like Alex G, Dinosaur Jr., Aldous Harding, and Oasis have resonated with me and touched my musical core.
I think it’s essential for any creatively minded person to keep their influences broad. It’s critical to avoid the trappings of scene bubbles, which, though brilliant, can impose limitations on artistic expression. While it’s good to draw inspiration from sounds aesthetically similar to your project, you shouldn’t restrict yourself from exploring ideas outside your usual musical sphere.
When ALF jammed for the first time in 2022, I was nervous about whether I’d be capable of singing. I was completely green when I became a singer at 28—my only previous experience coming from primary school choir (pretty cool, right?). One day over Messenger, I proposed to Chris that we start a band reminiscent of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, The Mummies, and Television Personalities; something that encapsulated the lo-fi DIY energy present in the amazing local Perth punk scene. I had seen the likes of Chris pour their heart and soul out on those hot, sweaty stages, and I had always envied being in the same position, where I could channel my energy into a powerful, public force.
To finally enter a jam space felt surreal; I couldn’t believe I was treading a path I had once only imagined.
Everyone who has been in ALF I consider to be family – they are the cogs who have kept the train chugging along. I am no greater than the whole, and without the whole I would simply be a person with an idea.
Kane has been a constant from day one. He is the calm guardian who harmonises all pieces of the jigsaw, the big bass who tells you gently I’m there. When we first started, having a total sweetpea like Kane made my entrance into punk a seamless process.
Alec, who is no longer in ALF, was instrumental in launching us into the audial world. Alec suggested the name, as well as tracked and mixed the 8 track demo. He additionally organised Goodbye Boozy to release The Demo on vinyl, a copy of which sits in my front room. To this day it is a peculiar idea an essential stranger could be spinning our little piece of Perth in the comfort of their own home.
After Alec left, Matt came in to fill the void. He is someone I consider to be of great integrity. His style I would describe as physical and rock based, matched with the same gusto he approaches guitar playing with in bands such as Pleasants. Matt infuses a space with his enthusiasm for the craft, a man who is genuine and enjoyable to be around. After some time, unfortunately, Matt became too busy, and we again were in the pursuit of a new drummer.
Fortunately for us, the most lovely of individuals came to grace us with their presence. Ash is someone who I have a lot of time for, and I would have said this before she even joined ALF! Her artful quality imbues her character and drumming style; she is straight up with her joy for the music of punk. Ash is a good one.
For ALF we would be nowhere, however, without the tone of Chris’s guitar. Chris is the life hum, the strings which hold the essence of the band up. His ‘Japan Crust’ hair is as big as his importance to ALF. I would be naive to assume we would be anywhere without Chris. He is a wonderful friend who I and everyone involved appreciates, much in the way a fern appreciates shade – considerably.
Music environments in general lack representation from people with visible physical disabilities – it is symptomatic of the passive onlooker stereotype placed onto many disabled folk. As a person who sees themselves as a person who happens to have a disability, I believe it’s important to live life as close as you can to an able-bodied person. Having a disability doesn’t make you any less of a person; in fact, it grants you perspective and an increased level of empathy.
To live with disability can be lonely at times. I am a 30-year-old man who has never truly experienced romance; it is an experience which equally produces envy and fear and reminds me how important love and kindness are. I used to express love to my darling cat Brann by singing sweet lullabies. He would purr loudly, nestled under my wing, lounged on my wheelchair desktop. Kindness is what binds the relationships we have. Our pets embody the trust that is built from acts of kindness, which we express most to those we love.
Living with disability certainly stokes the fire which burns inside my heart. Singing is the vessel that carries my burdens, my observations, my creativity, the essence of my personhood – to be in a band allows me to walk. It is important to remember everyone can sing to some extent. Music is how so many of us share bonds and develop connections with others. Punk is no different; it is a conduit where people passionately and fervently demonstrate solidarity in the pure youthful abash of the music. These qualities are what drew me to the genre and led to me finally performing in a space where passion and effort were all that was needed to be accepted.
I had butterflies before ALF performed our first show, something uncommon for me, as I generally feel little fear in the public performance space. The first show was a very special one at The North Perth Bowls Club – a mixed bill raising money for The Purple House, a charity that assists Aboriginal people in remote communities in accessing dialysis treatment. The event went over capacity and raised more than $1,000. I still feel very proud for organising this fundraiser/gig along with Chris; it demonstrated how independent music scenes can contribute in such a positive way to society.
Having a springboard to launch from is critical for any band. When you live in Perth, you are pulled in by the tenacity and launched forward by the can-do attitude. I love our scene and wish the best for everyone who makes it what it is.
On the future of ALF, our future is hopeful. For the past year, we have slowly been building our sound in the band’s third reincarnation. Our set list now features no songs from The Demo; it represents our evolution from garage punk to post-punk. I have a better understanding of my voice, which I believe has provided me with the confidence to experiment and, additionally, to use more variability in my vocal approach. We are wandering the desert, but we are feasting on the cactus fruit under the twinkling lights spread across the navy blue. Our ship is travelling to Jupiter: we will land on new ground, cast with dust hued purple covering our faces. 2025 will be characterised by ALF laying down new music, something which I am so desperate to see happen.
While ALF is caught in the daydream of aspiration, there are many bands which I cherish seeing perform. I am a massive fan of this band, a call-back to riot grrrl, Streets of Separation—a band I have relished seeing develop and improve. Maybe I am biased because I’ve been jamming with the guitarist, but check ’em out. Gaoled is another one you need to keep an eye on. They call themselves bestial hardcore, but it’s essentially gnarly powerviolence. I also should give a shoutout to Alec’s band Ghoulies; hard-working and well-deserving of all plaudits. Hysteria with their two singers, Sooks with their snap and snarl, and Nervous with their oomph have all been very supportive of our band. Lastly, I should mention Termite and Amerol, Chris and Ash’s other projects, respectively.
I have drivelled on here; hope you enjoyed my 2 cents.
Follow @melmac.punks & LISTEN to ALF HERE.
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