It's not uncommon to hear of bands that were born out of friendships formed in high school. But in the case of North Fitzroy three-piece Biddlewood, the girls have a relationship that stretches back to Grade Two.
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"Me and Tali used to write songs in primary school but none of them were serious at all," says bassist and vocalist Bridget McArthur.
That was a decade ago. Now the Year 11 students are taking their music a bit more seriously.
With the help of Darebin City Council's Decibels Records, a youth-run record label, the girls have recorded an EP, filmed a video clip and worked with industry mentors. Next Saturday, along with fellow Decibels signees and local students The Black Harrys, Biddlewood will perform as part of the Decibels Records showcase at the Darebin Music Feast.
Biddlewood and the Black Harrys were both signed to Decibels in February after auditioning alongside four other young acts at Northcote Town Hall.
It's an opportunity that has opened doors, the girls say.
"There's things I'm still in shock about, like hearing our song being played on the radio twice," says guitarist and vocalist Tali Harding-Hone.
"I think it's been the label's faith in us that's pushed us forward," says McArthur. "Before we got signed we were like, 'This is a joke', and now it's like, 'Oh. We're a real band'."
Launched in 2011, the year-long Decibels program takes a hands-on approach to teaching young people about the music industry. Participants gain first-hand experience in the various facets of running a record label, from business management to technical and sound production to visual design and packaging, resulting in an experience that's equally as exciting and rewarding for those running the label as it is for the musicians.
"I really, really love it because it's a two-way street, everyone on the committee gets to learn about the nitty-gritty and the ins and outs of the music industry itself, also you're helping other young artists get a step up," says Ellen Lewis, who works in the business department.
Julian Steel of all-male three-piece The Black Harrys admits it hasn't been easy to balance the requirements of the band with his Year 12 studies.
"A lot of it's about being organised, which I guess for a bunch of 18-year-old dudes isn't always the easiest thing," he says.
Having the label take care of the business side of things helps.
"It's a big weight off our backs so we can concentrate on writing and performing music."
The Decibels Records Showcase is at Darebin Town Hall on Saturday, October 18 as part of Darebin Music Feast.
