Biography
Mid Ayr, the moniker of Brisbane-based singer/songwriter Hugh Middleton, has been a long time in the making. From his earliest days of picking up a guitar in High School, to his more recent role with renowned Brisbane band The Trouble with Templeton, Mid Ayr is a project that has been gestating with Hugh. Cultivating a sound best described as drawing a line between ethereal and new wave pop, Mid Ayr will be set for an EP release come September.
Like many faux-disaffected young teens, Grunge was Hugh’s induction into the world of music. This is evidenced in his first musical collaboration, A Divine Dichotomy, formed with his high school friend Tom Calder (notably, the two would again go on to be reunited in TTWT). Even at this stage, however, the presence of diversity of Hugh’s musical inclinations were becoming apparent, as he showcased as much proclivity for rousing piano-accompanied vocal harmonies as he did for the distorted thrash of electric guitars.
Subsequent to High School, Hugh became involved in a series of musical projects. In 2008 he joined ‘Jake Rush and the Bad Habits’ as a guitarist. During his time with the band, they played shows alongside such acts as Ball Park Music, The Basics, and Hungry Kids of Hungary. Then, in 2009, Hugh began a two year collaboration with fellow Brisbane artist Luke Mansini, operating under the title of ‘The Indigo Kids’. It was during this time that Hugh wrote, recorded and produced his first album, playing extensively around Brisbane, supporting artists such as Ball Park Music, Gotye and Tash Parker. Additionally, ‘The Indigo Kids’ featured in the line-up of festivals such as Woodford, Caloundra and Red Deer. http://theindigokids.net/
Meanwhile, Hugh’s long-time friend Tom Calder had likewise begun to display an interest and proficiency in music, which had its genesis in the short-lived project ‘Ohai’. In 2010, Hugh agreed to play bass for the outfit. When it was soon thereafter disbanded and Tom branched off to create ‘The Trouble with Templeton’, Hugh joined as a guitarist. The band quickly achieved minor acclaim in their hometown and it wasn’t long until they were offered a chance to take their sound to a bigger platform. The past 18 months have seen a hectic schedule for TTWT; releasing the album ‘Rookie’ to rave reviews, as well as an extensive tour of Australia, and over 40 gigs in the UK and US.
During this time, moreover, they have shared the stage with the likes of Father John Misty, Of Monsters and Men, Julia Stone and Jake Bugg at festivals such as Falls, Harvest, CMJ, SxSW, and Canadian Music Week.
Yet for Hugh, writing his own material has always been a habitual exercise, and this was no different even throughout the fast-paced elevation of TTWT. Teaming up with Brisbane producers Matt Redlich (Ball Park Music, Emma Louise, Hungry Kids of Hungary etc) and Tristan Hoogland (Gas Works, Hunting Grounds Studios), he has set his sights on producing an EP aimed for release early 2015. The single, ‘My Mayhem’, fully recorded and produced in Hugh’s bedroom studio, has already been released; the atmospheric and stirring choruses a taste of what’s to come. If reviewers’ comments are any indication, ‘My Mayhem’ has generated an eager anticipation of more material from the young artist.
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