Stand Atlantic’s Bonnie Fraser: The 10 songs that changed my life

Stand Atlantic singer/guitarist Bonnie Fraser strolls down her musical memory lane – a path strewn with lots to cringe and laugh about…

“It was a song on this little tape we had lying around. I can still remember all the lyrics. When I hear it now it takes me back to being in my mum’s car, her driving and me thinking about all the stuff I used to think about when I was a young kid. I remember thinking about the woman’s life and imagining the song as her story.”

“I was in my first band. Those were the best times – we barely practised, really, we just hung out. The others played World Of Warcraft while I sat on my phone doing something else, and Spare Me The Details would be on repeat every day.”

“I’m gonna have to say Smoke On The Water. Ugh! I’m cringing at myself. My dad taught me, and I remember sitting in our old kitchen as he was trying to show it to me – no chords obviously, just notes on one string! And it was that one riff that I’d play over and over. After that I got lessons and taught myself.”

“This takes me back to our band practices again, and watching Good Charlotte’s Video Collection DVD. I remember bright red pants in the video, but I don’t remember who was wearing them. I was, like, ‘That’s pretty cool.’ It’s a really hooky song. I literally haven’t listened to it in years, but I can still remember how it goes. It’s such a classic pop song for little emos (laughs).”

“It premiered on Australian station Triple J and we all got together at Jonno’s [Panichi, drummer] house to listen in. I remember the hosts praising it afterwards and it felt nice to know people were connecting with it.”

“I listened to it on the bus home from school one day and I thought I was so in love with this guy I was dating. Even though that’s so cringe. I think I was, like, 15 (laughs).”

“The first song I got in a mosh-pit for was New Found Glory, My Friends Over You, at Soundwave. My friend dragged me in, but I have no regrets because it was the best thing ever. I was definitely not prepared for the amount of pushing that would happen. I recall my friend’s head got stuck between two people’s armpits – that was weird. I haven’t crowd-surfed yet (laughs). I have a fear of it. I’m worried that no-one’s gonna catch me, or I’ll drop something, so I’ve never done it.”

“This song makes me feel so emotional, no matter who sings it. It was played at a friend’s funeral when I was a kid – and he passed away really young, so it takes me right back there. It’s the meanest song to play at a funeral (laughs). No matter where I am, or what’s going on, it gets me – any version completely annihilates me.”

“Maybe I should go for something happy? I have actually thought about this before, but I’ve never managed to settle on anything… until now. So, I’m gonna go for this cover of Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. He’s this Maoli guy who plays it on a ukulele. It’s so nice. And the video has a lot of views. Why would I pick that? Well, because now I finally have my funeral song sorted. It’s really cute, and I don’t think it’s that morbid. Or maybe it is… (laughs).”

This interview originally appeared in issue K!1733

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