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The new EP, Heart Sucker, says it all, and the new single The Penisth Song is going to beone for the gals to roar along to as an alternative to chewing a blokes arm off...

Jodie Lawlor and her guitar escaped from Hicksville to Brisvegas and started playing solo gigsfrom a tender under-age sixteen. To finance her habits, which include writing and illustratingunpublished childrens books; she moonlights as a popcorn girl. But not just any old popcorn girl, no siree, the Government has INVESTED in Jodies future in the popcorn retail industry withtheir most informative course, certificate II in retail. It just goes to show, they really do careabout the little things. Speaking of the little things, Jodie also wrote the Penith Song, along with a large share of the other tunes that make up the bands new set list.

I remember first auditioning for Semicolon, listening to them play, and thinking, this sounds crap. I was later notified that they hadnt played for a couple of months, said Jodie.The gal made an impression on her new bandmates. I think seeing Jodie jumping up to aerobicise to the music at this year's Big Day Out with somesolitary guy in an aerobics outfit (and managing to encourage a decent crowd to join in no less)more or less conveys the Semicolon vibe. Lots of energy and enthusiasm amongst persuasive idiocy! said Nathan, the drummer.

Nathan Lee is an ex-Townsville lad, inspired by a dislike of piano to move onto skins, lids and sticks. Hes sure any day now his Bachelor of Information Technology will help his music careeralong somehow, but in the meantime, hes looking for an angle on a Nobel Peace Prize. Luckythe worlds not short of causes. In his spare time, he plays God with other peoples money, and his musical influences include They Might Be Giants, Foo Fighters, Placebo, Ash, New Orderand The Smashing Pumpkins.

Heres a story about Nathan from Jodie:This one time, at band camp, Nathan woke up in somebody elses 4WD with no recollection ofhow he got there. At about 5am, the owner snuck out of his tent, so as not to disturb his sleepingfamily, and opened the door to a startled Nathan who blurted, have you seen my camera? No-ones sure what happened after that, but in his drunken journeys that night at Double IslandPoint, Nath managed to lose his jacket and doesnt remember throwing up near our car.

I just wanted to know if he'd seen my digital camera... responded Nathan.

Nick Bragg is the thumping bass that welds the elements together like an oxy (it could be something to do with capsicum?). An expert on negotiating Brisbanes public transport system(understanding which could have major implications one day if applied to something lesscomplex, like say the Australian economy), he is currently devoting his time outside the band to letting dub and reggae guide him and his trusty bass on a quest for the mystical brown note.Its probably because he is male he can only do one thing at a time. I guess that explains why he always moves off-beat on stage. Its like theres the note, theres a move. He is the only bassplayer I know who can move out of time, said Jodie. Have you ever witnessed a dog masturbate? Bragg owned a dog with that unique skill. In someweird way I think he was part of our inspiration and vice versa! added Nathan.

How would the band describe Heart Sucker? Less dictated, more relaxed, definitely more communal and yet still very member-oriented, said Nathan.

I guess the EP is largely relationship based - not love, but the interactive nature of everythingand everyone around you. Writing about love is overdone -- a safe-heaven for songwriters whohave nothing else to say. Id also imagined the music to express meaning, rather than simply through the common and more focused-on medium of words, said Jodie.

The CD is not man-hating. It merely expresses a view of the world through a confused poststructuralist pair of cheap glasses, because the rest of our middle class economics are sucked up through taxes, rent, food and the increasingly disturbing price of alcohol and cigarettes. And lets face it addictions aren't that bad. Spend your time focusing on living, not condemning others for doing so, she added.