BACKSEAT BALLADS

Back in the early days of Backseat Ballads & Movie (Favourites) Night, @lawthority set himself a musical challenge. Each week he would ask one of us to suggest him an album from our favourite artists and write a review on his Tumblr account. I think as you get older it becomes much easier to get stuck within your musical taste or simply listen to the same playlists on Spotify and find yourself getting bored with it. Last year I began doing deep dive into the discography of some artists that I’ve been meaning to check out but never got around to (or so I tell myself). This time round I decided to set myself a new challenge: 1 album per day for a whole month. Although I tried to focus on new artists/albums that I’ve never listened to, I also thought it was worthwhile re-listening to some albums that I had mixed feelings about to see if my opinion has changed. There’s so much music out there and I feel it’s a disservice to myself to not broaden my musical taste. Even if I didn’t enjoy the album or the genre is not too my taste, I’ve generally found there’ll be at least one track on each album that I’ll end up liking. My rationale these days is simple: if I’m willing to buy this on vinyl then chances are I like it. #backseatballads (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqhlom7vshv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Good ole Mackenzie // 2012 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years #mackenziefalls #grampians #camp2 #canon (at Mackenzie Falls) https://www.instagram.com/p/CneWtewvwsr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

“I see myself forever and ever as the ridiculous man, the lonely soul, the wanderer, the restless frustrated artist, the man in love with love, always in search of the absolute, always seeking the unattainable.” — Henry Miller . Camp 8 // 2013 . . . #backseatballads #nikonem #film #bsb10years #camp8 #grampians (at Grampians National Park, Victoria) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj_n9iiy2Fy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

As the price of petrol continues to surge, I can’t help but look fondly at how carefree and willing to drive/cruise around for hours looking for late night spots to have coffees at and explore new areas outside of the western suburbs. I can still remember the conversation that @r_aye , @thaitran_ and myself had when we decided to do an overnight trip where we’d drive out somewhere far, sleep in the car and hopefully catch the sunrise. After organising 6 camps, it was refreshing to simply take whatever we needed without having to worry about previous boot space. With camp chairs, gas burner for hot tea and loads of snacks, we ended up watching the night sky as shooting stars would pass right by us. I’m pretty sure I had less than an hour of sleep before we woke up in excitement to catch the sunrise and dance to some @humannaturelive before a classic breakfast of spam and eggs before we made our way home that morning. I can’t help but feel sentimental as this overnight adventure became a yearly tradition spawning the Ninja Thermals the following year with @aemaethx. Our lives have changed drastically since those days as we all enter the next stage of our lives as ‘adults’… it’s bittersweet but I’m glad we had that opportunity to these things when we had the chance. The experiences we’ve had and the places we’ve discovered along the way (before TikTok videos and IG geotags) are irreplaceable. Who knows when the next adventure will take place, but I’m certain it’ll be worthwhile … even if I am on cooking duties as per usual 😅 // 2012 . . . #backseatballads #overnighttrip #thetrio #greatoceanroad #sunrise (at Great Ocean Road, Melbourne, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgZMDv6PCXS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

You’re The Best Around The Final Countdown Call Me Maybe I can’t believe ten years ago our fifth camp would be the legendary ‘All Boys Camp’ that would prove to be one of many important milestones in the BSB legacy // 2012 . . . #backseatballads #camp5 #bsb10years #fireburner2000 #sexbusters2000 #buxtonburger (at Cathedral Range State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfYsPOVvUWY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

When Backseat Ballads was still in its infancy, @thaitran_ had compiled a list of 5 places we had to visit (either as a daytrip or camp at). I think it’s only fitting that as we reach this 10 year milestone, that we should strive to revisit these spots before the year ends. // 2013 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years #victorianalps #mountbuffalo (at Mount Buffalo) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc9m3JPvdxL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Tom’s Green Pants: Unplugged // 2011 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years #tomsgreenpants (at Torquay, Victoria) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcCAvHKv87u/?utm_medium=tumblr

Yoga days // 2017 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years (at Bushrangers Bay, Cape Schanck) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbv4WdyPZtn/?utm_medium=tumblr

I’ve said it many times before… but it’s still hands down my favourite daytrip. Ten years on and Wilson’s Prom will always have my heart ♥️ // 2012 Photographs by @lawthority . . . #backseatballads #summerrain #beneaththesehazeleyes #alone #bsb10years #rayesoutdoorsmix (at Wilsons Promontory National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbUzAZqLFME/?utm_medium=tumblr

I guess I’ll need to be more strategic with my daytrips/adventures now that petrol prices are skyrocketing! // 2013 . . . #backseatballads #bab10years #film (at Wilsons Promontory National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca8Juh5h9W6/?utm_medium=tumblr

The Burger Crew. It’s pretty funny looking back at the burger craze circa 2011-2013 when seeking out a great burger became an adventure in itself. There were countless blogs and websites with their top 10 lists of the best burgers in Melbourne. Beatbox burgers use to be my go-to back in the day until Huxtaburger became our number 1 (before it became a franchise). The market has become oversaturated with new businesses still popping up trying to cash in on this trend. Honestly nowadays I’d rather just go get a Bacon Deluxe or Big Mac if I’m craving a burger… though I know the moment I land back in Japan, a visit to Shake Shack is a definite requirement! // 2013 . . . #backseatballads #theburgercrew #bsb10years (at The Merrywell Melbourne) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca5nQmavdZk/?utm_medium=tumblr

That one time Iron Chef John O’Neil made individual omelettes for everyone with their choice of toppings // 2015 . . . #backseatballads #foodporncamp #pagancamp #johnoneil #bsb10years #camp20 (at Mount Franklin) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca3cxLrP_RF/?utm_medium=tumblr

“Hanabi” - photos taken by @r_aye // 2011 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years (at Cathedral Range State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca0mASsviXV/?utm_medium=tumblr

I really do miss spontaneous adventures. // 2014 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years #picnic (at Mount Macedon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaeoKEQlyhm/?utm_medium=tumblr

Backseat Ballads: 10 Year Anniversary 2012-2022 Judging from the very first entry on the BSB blog/website, I honestly didn’t think anything would really come out of this. At the time during the height of my Tumblr days, I was filled with such joy looking back at the various adventures we had gone on over the summer break and felt a need to document it. Every week we’d look forward to new write ups with great anticipation, plan out our next camping adventures and see what tracks would make it on the Raye’s Outdoors Mix. It honestly felt like this phase would reach its conclusion by the end of 2012 but instead Backseat Ballads has continued to grow and evolve to what it is today. As I’ve mentioned in countless posts, there’s no doubt we’ll never reach the heights of our camping days as our priorities in life have shifted. I think it’s challenging enough trying to catch-up with people let alone organise a group outing/gathering, but I’m still going to try either way. I’ve got some big plans for what’s to come throughout the year to celebrate this special milestone… lets make it happen 🙏🏻 // 2012-2022 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years #carelesswhisper #HAM #anothernight #bsbhomecoming #backseatballadshigh #forthelongesttime #uwauwa #terratchethouse #sonsoftoyota #whatevswherevs #ninjathermals #movienight #sexbusters2000 #lms #ratpack #the4tunes teamcraejay #teamtswizzle #gochigang (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaYfxLIPT80/?utm_medium=tumblr

The goal was simple: catch the sunrise and eat spam and eggs with a view. Glad I got to tick it off the list… I think I might write a post about it 😬 // 2022 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years #spamandeggs #whatevswherevs https://www.instagram.com/p/CaWxqQYlaGF/?utm_medium=tumblr

Eating burgers and mapping out the BSBCU (Backseat Ballads Cinematic Universe) // 2013 . . . #backseatballads #bsb10years #bsbcu (at Tuck Shop Take Away) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaT8JcaFGiR/?utm_medium=tumblr