Chris  from Sydney band Colour Coding popped into our offices to chat about the upcoming Major Raiser gig on May 5.  The Operator Please members are keeping it in the family with their new venture.

Colour Coding are:

Chris Holland - Vocals / Guitar / Keys / Bass (22)

Tim Commandeur - Drums / Keys / Bass (21)

How'd Colour Coding come about?

We're cousins and we've both played and recorded music together from the age of about 12 or 13. Tim co-founded Gold Coast pop group Operator Please and a few years later I joined on keyboards. We've been wanting to return to making music by ourselves again for sometime and about eight months ago, Colour Coding was born. We released our debut EP 'Proof' and recently did our first film clip for our single 'Perfect'.  

Favourite gig? We've only played a few gigs so far as Colour Coding but our first gig at Oxford Art Factory was incredible. Everything fell in to place and we had a heap of mates and family there cheering us on. 

Favourite Place to visit?  It's hard to go past London, it was the first place I got to play with Operator Please. So many fun times had there!

Funniest moment on tour? We were touring with Operator Please when Tim turned 18 at a music festival in Berlin. We all drank way too much, especially Tim! He tried to jump a fence and somehow managed to tear his jeans. He spent the rest of his 18th birthday walking around the festival with what looked like arse-less chaps without a care in the world.

Musical Influences? We both have pretty broad music influences, but I suppose the main influences for Colour Coding's music are bands like Phoenix, The Wombats, The Killers, Friendly Fires and The Naked and Famous.

Favourite Movie? Definitely Dumb & Dumber. 

Favourite Food? All food. It's our favourite past time. 

How would you describe your style? 

Keep it simple with a pair of skinny jeans a t-shirt. 

Favourite Urge style? Charlie is wicked! 

Are you excited about Major Raiser? It's an absolute honour and pleasure to be on the line-up for the next Major Raiser party. Dom at Major Raiser is an extremely self-less and inspiring guy. He's worked so hard to build this organisation to where it stands now.

What's next for Colour Coding? We are consistently writing, so we are just building up new material for our next release. But currently, just pushing our debut 'Proof'. We're also keen to play as many shows as possible and just enjoy ourselves. 

Tickets for Major Raiser are on sale through Moshtix.

Self-confessed full-time Lifestyler and part-time Surf Shop Assistant, Matt Berry is also studying to become a shoemaker - a perfect fit for the Northern Beaches surfer who has always had a passion for fashion.

We had a chat to find out how Matt came to be a shoe designer in the making...

"I have always had a mild addiction to shoes, clothing and accessories.  I found myself working 9-5 straight after school finished and I had no ambitions.  I wasn't the brightest at academic subjects at school, but found out that I have skills in design and drawing.  So as I looked around I came across shoe making!!!  I was intrigued, paid for the course right then and there and it is the best thing I have done to date.

"I'll finish my studies this year and at first the plan was to start my own company designing and hand making bespoke shoes, but it is the most niche market. I would love to do that when I'm older and have a greater knowledge of the industry.  I know that it will be beneficial to start off under a well established company, allowing me to gain knowledge and contacts.  I love to design so, a designers job in a company would be so good!

"I feel I have my own style and don't fit into a stereotype…(but I probably do!!!) I pride myself on my sense of fashion and style haha... but seriously, I just dress how I want to.  I am frothing on a surfer called Otis Carey. Best surf style around. Same with Ozzy Wright. Amazing. I also love the old James Dean style. He is and will forever be the man when it come to classic 50's style. Leather jackets, white shirt, riding boots. And motorcycles and porches. Oh man. Sick!!!!!

It's a role that seems is a perfect fit for Matt - combining his interests in surfing, travel, music and fashion.

"After I finish my course I want to travel and tick off all the tourist destinations - Dapto, Umina, Darwin & Bondi. Hahaha! I just wanna head to Europe and live it up. Soak up the culture with some wine & cheese tastings, wearing my Beret and driving my Vespa! I also love surfing Hawaii. Not much can beat the Hawaiian Islands, but my home break Suck Rock at Mona is definitely up there. 

And his other passions?

"I'm super picky with my music, but I'm lovin some Deep House and lo-fi Surf punk - haha - if that is even a genre? I love the movies. Midnight in Paris, Empire Records, and Tron are my favs. And food - there is nothing better than a Bento Box and Asahi to wash it down.

And what's caught your eye from the Urge range?

"The Charlie. No matter what colour it is, or what you're wearing, they are such a gem and go with everything. And the Sonic backpack. There are just so many little pockets and it seems to fit everything you want in it perfectly! Spot on for my trip at the end of the year!!!

Name: Nicholas Edward Riley

 Age: 23

 Born: Hong Kong

 Home: Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia

 Job: Surfer

Favourite Wave: Canggu, Bali or Queenscliff corner. Can’t beat home!

 Favourite Place: Chile and Bali

 Favourite Music: Anything and everything!! I love music nearly as much as I love to surf.

 Favourite Movie: I just saw 21 Jump Street which was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. The Rum Diaries would be up there too.

 Favourite Food: Can’t go wrong with Japanese.

 Dream Girl:  I am going to be completely cliche and say Miranda Kerr.... No faults at all with that woman. 

Favourite Urge Shoe: Black Sultan. It’s the bomb!! Super comfy and I can wear them wherever/whenever I please.

Urge Bag:  The Raging Bull bag is pretty cool.... it fits everything I need in it and isn't too much of a pain the arse to lug around.

Describe Your Style: Wow... Um I would like to think it’s quite relaxed. I usually try to look at everything in life that way and I'm always wanting to be having the most fun out of anyone.

What do you want to achieve this year: Continue to build my profile in the surf scene as well as keep the people paying me happy..... and having an awesome time doing it!

It's great to have Nick on board with the Urge team. Stay tuned for updates on Nick's adventures throughout Australia, Chile and Bali over the next few months.

James wears PUNCH - featured in the September ish of FHM mag.

Available now at Glue Store www.gluestore.com.au

The latest This & That mag is out... check out all styles available online at www.surfstitch.com