Caught In The Crossfire – the emerging Geelong rock trio carrying the torch for a new generation of Australian guitar bands – sat down ahead pf their performance at Melbourne’s iconic Espy Hotel for APRA AMCOS SongMakers Live 2025. In this Noise11 exclusive, Paul Cashmere speaks with two-thirds of the band, Angus Kaos and Andrew Thompson, about their creative process, their shared musical DNA, and the power of songwriting as a form of storytelling.
Angus and Andrew grew up in homes filled with music – everything from classic rock to metal to 90s alt-rock – and both discovered early that songwriting created a space to express themselves, connect with others and experiment with ideas. The duo talk openly about how songs can take on new meanings depending on who’s listening, revealing how their track No Rest Of Fame was interpreted completely differently by Andrew’s mum. For the band, that unpredictability is part of the magic.
In this conversation they break down their writing process: looping chords for hours, workshopping ideas on a whiteboard, bouncing riffs and lyrics off each other until songs come to life. They also admit that songs often evolve far from the original idea – sometimes completely changing vibe halfway through rehearsals – and how performing tracks live is often the final piece of the puzzle.
For Caught In The Crossfire, the goal is simple: connection. Whether fans take the intended meaning or find their own, the band hopes listeners walk away feeling part of a community and inspired to support local music.
Watch the full interview to hear the band reflect on their influences, unpack their creative workflow, and share excitement about performing at SongMakers Live at The Espy in St Kilda on Sunday 23 November 2025.
Find at more about the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program here
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