Formed in August 2006 as an acoustic hobby by boyfriend and girlfriend Tristan Waight (20, guitar) and Amber Morris (21, vocals), Girl Vs Ghost was formed to create honest, catchy music which quickly exceeded the couples' expectations. Realising that they potentially had something special going on they recruited a few friends to help them turn their simple acoustic songs (which were not often heard any where outside Tristan’s bathroom, which is where they preferred to practise), into what would soon become a fully fledged recording and touring band.
The first of these recruitments was Dylan Jones (20, drums) who had played alongside Tristan for several years in earlier bands and who was hands down one of the best drummers in the whole town. For the next year and a half the band played as a five-piece, playing shows in any place, any venue, and in any town they possibly could. Often they played to a crowd of no more than 5 people, but it was their dedication and perseverance that taught them how to play the high-energy, explosive live shows that they’re known for today.
After a string of successes including an independent EP release, securing the top spot on Triple J's Unearthed competition for several consecutive weeks and scoring airplay on the same station, being awarded 'best rock/alt band' and 'best rock/pop song' at the 2007 Kool Skools awards, appearing on television, radio, newspapers and magazines through-out the Victorian area, the band's confidence and loyal fan-base began to grow.
In early-2008, after several line-up changes, the band added a new member by the name of Jason Shiong (23, guitar) who was already a big fan of the band. With the addition of Jason the band began to really find it's sound and place in the music scene and embarked on their first national tour in support of their self-funded 'City, Meet Hurricane' single; a three-song single that the band had produced to further make a presence in an industry already filled with thousands of young bands.
With their tour successfully completed late-2008, Girl Vs Ghost were making big plans for the following year when their world was suddenly turned upside-down; Tristan was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. His cancer was so advanced by the time it was caught that doctors predicted that if left another week untreated, it would have progressed too far to be curable. He is currently completing a six month course of chemotherapy, which has so far been highly successful. Although devastated by the news, the band strive to create as many positives as they can from the experience, and hope that through their music they can reach out and help other people going through the same thing: whether it be cancer, depression, or anything that threatens to destroy you.
Ultimately, Girl Vs Ghost are a band that want to make honest music that can change someone’s life. Every single member of the band has fought and survived difficult times, and their goal is to be living proof that life can get better.
The band is currently in pre-production for their debut album which is to be distributed country wide in 2010, and are touring as much as possible. A Girl Vs Ghost show is one that should not be missed!
Band Members
Amber Morris (21)Vocals
Tristan Waight (21) Guitar
Dylan Jones (21)Drums/keys
Stevie J (20) Bass
Awards
Kool Skools Awards 2007
Best Rock/Alternative Rock Band 2007
Best Pop/Rock Track (A Song In Black & White)
Nominated:
Best Rock/AlertRock Track (Wait For Me Tokyo)
