HURB JEPHASUN

 Hurb Jephasun grew up in the thriving hub that is Gunderman on the Hawkesbury River in NSW, taking up piano lessons at an early age to while away the lonely hours. Raised on a mixture of Deep Purple, Elvis and John Thompson’s piano lesson books, his world was changed the day he discovered Neil Young and David Bowie hiding in his aunt’s record collection.

This lit the fire that is still burning today.

Before the 1980’s were through Hurb had moved to the big smoke and was working at legendary Sydney venue The Lansdowne Hotel and immersed in the hotbed of the local music scene where heard, and soaked up the Tao of such diverse legendary artists as Screaming Jay Hawkins, Billy Thorpe, Mudhoney and Nirvana.

In the late ‘80s he formed cowpunk outfit Squelch, playing with them into the next decade, as well as working behind the scenes of the music biz as a booking agent, roadie, and occasional procurer of recreational stimulants. He toured Australia with his own band until relocating to the West Coast in 2000, where he took a hiatus from music after unexpectedly becoming a single parent.

He may not have been playing in a band, but he never stopped writing songs, and during the ‘00s also started toying with digital art.

Around 2009 a friend suggested he post some of his raucous demos on JJJ Unearthed, and a week later he had the number 1 and 3 songs on their punk charts.

This was the impetus he needed to start playing again, visiting Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide for solo folk/rock shows. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, he was still firmly told at one Melbourne venue to “turn down”!

His own outfit The Jephasuns was formed in 2010, and he went on to play countless gigs with The Polite Society and The Beautiful Losers (featuring Greg Dear of The Holy Rollers), as well as The Jaycos, Potato Stars, Wasted Sons and more.

Through many years in and around the music scene playing in rock, folk and country bands, to teaching music, cameo appearances in movies, establishing himself as a digital artist - not to mention the trials, tribulations and enormous joys of parenting – Hurb has gained valuable insight into both the business and pleasure of music and art.

It’s this perspective and balance which continues to drive him to this day.