Robkaay Music
Business | Music | Novels
FULL SCALE
Full Scale was my band from Melbourne that launched two EP’s in 2001 and 2002 on my indie record label Popstar Records. I started Popstar Records with my good friend Andrew McGuiness from Perth.
My band was best known for non-stop touring and eventually being signed to Columbia Records (Major Record Label) in New York in 2004. Our home base during 2004/2005 was Hollywood, California.
In 2001 we released the Black Arrows EP, which consisted of the following band members:
- Ezekiel Ox (Zeke) – Vocals
- Rob Kaay – Songwriter, Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals, Band Manager, Co-Founder of Popstar Records (Indie Label with Andrew McGuiness)
- Jimmy Tee (James Thompson) – Songwriter, Guitar
- Matthew Crute (Crutey) – Songwriter, Drums
Black Arrows EP (2001 – Popstar Records) (Produced by Forrester Savell and Full Scale)
| 1 | Crush |
| 2 | Where’s Your Energy |
| 3 | Feel It |
| 4 | Billy (Say What You’re Feeling) |
| 5 | The Story To Tell Your Children |
| 6 | System Of Shame |
In 2002 we fired our guitarist (as mentioned in the Color, Light, Movement, Sound documentary) and then wrote a new EP called the White Arrows EP, which consisted of the following band members:
- Ezekiel Ox (Zeke) – Vocals
- Rob Kaay – Songwriter, Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals, Band Manager, CEO of Popstar Records (Indie Label with Andrew McGuiness)
- Triston Ross – Guitar
- Matthew Crute (Crutey) – Songwriter, Drums
White Arrows EP (2002 – Popstar Records) (Produced by Forrester Savell and Full Scale)
| 1 | Party Political |
| 2 | Empty Texas |
| 3 | Here Comes The Weekend |
| 4 | Smiles |
| 5 | Yellow, Brittle |
| 6 | Five-Six |
Shortly after releasing the White Arrows EP, I worked hard on shopping the EPs to as many major record labels in America as I could. Pretty soon, the 4 biggest record labels of the time wanted to sign us. Our new guitarist Triston Ross wasn’t up for the massive life and country change, so we asked our old guitarist, Jimmy Tee, back into the band.
The fan-shot video above captures the raw live energy and tight live jams of one of Australia’s earliest influential political-rock bands (apart from Midnight Oil) on a balmy night in Sydney during the year 2003.
A few months after this very show, the band were whisked off to America and we were signed to Columbia Records in New York for a multi-million dollar deal. Don’t forget, this was all before Napster and Spotify and music streaming. Extensive touring of America occurred during 2004 and 2005, where we headlined small to medium bars across the country.
After living in Hollywood, being signed to Columbia Records (SONY BMG) in New York on a multi-million dollar 7-album record deal, Full Scale officially disbanded in 2005. We had played The Big Day Out (2000) in Australia, and toured relentlessly across Australia and America as main support for bands such as Evanescence, System of a Down, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Shihad (Pacifier), The Butterfly Effect, COG (Sydney) and Sunk Loto (Gold Coast).
Outside commercial forces, including a record store owner suing the band, internal band tension, various substance vices from particular members of the band, and band arguments caused our Hollywood management team to resign from managing the band. All this drama combined at once caused the special and unique musical chemistry between the four of us very different individuals to burn out prematurely. I was willing to go back to managing the band again, but too many chiefs wanted to co-control the band management. The band’s lack of interest in standing behind me taking back management duties saw me leave the band in 2005. The band subsequently completely disbanded shortly after and never released another record.
I thank the band members, band staff and all the fans for making that period of all our lives so memorable and special. I always look back on it fondly and proudly and appreciate the growth and strength it gave to me as an entrepreneur.
FULL SCALE TIMELINE
2000-2002 – BLACK ARROWS EP
Musicians and Songwriters: Rob Kaay. Jimmy Tee. Matt Crute.
Singer and Lyricist: Ezekiel Ox
Band Manager (Music Business): Rob Kaay
2002-2003 – WHITE ARROWS EP
Musicians and Songwriters: Rob Kaay, Matt Crute.
Guitarist: Triston Ross (Tritty)
Singer and Lyricist: Ezekiel Ox
Band Manager/Indie Label Head (Music Business): Rob Kaay
2003-2005 – FULL SCALE INTERNATIONAL ALBUM – COLUMBIA RECORDS (SONY BMG)
Musicians and Songwriters: Rob Kaay. Jimmy Tee. Matt Crute.
Singer and Lyricist: Ezekiel Ox
Band Manager (Music Business): Rob Kaay
Full Scale (Melbourne Band) Live in Melbourne – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SsHUNj3rPE&t=1203s
Documentary about Full Scale (2003) at:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/39128394
You can view another live performance of Full Scale’s song FIVESIX in Melbourne from 2003 at: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/112396902
SUNK LOTO
In 2008 I wrote music with Gold Coast band Sunk Loto and toured the Between Birth and Death album. As a side note, I also began writing my Silverbirch science fiction novels. I lived and wrote music with these legends for 2 years. Below is one of the last live shows we played at the Hard Rock on the Gold Coast.
SILVERBIRCH
In 2009 I wrote and recorded my own music for my Silverbirch novels called Silverbirch Soundtrack that I hope to turn into an audiobook and possibly something else one day.
AFTER THE MUSIC
Just like sports professionals and runway models, musicians eventually have to pick their time to retire and let the new blood shine. It’s often hard for professional musicians to let go of writing music every day as it becomes their identity. I can relate to this.
In 2010 I decided to use my business experience of building bands and brands and writing songs into building businesses and brands to see how much money I could make for my family. When you’re planning on having a couple of kids you start to think, “I better start making some real money”.
In 2013 I sold my first Perth local technology business and started buying premium Australian domain names. Then I started developing a few of them…
By 2019 I sold my first three businesses and made my first million dollars.
To this day, as an entrepreneur, I continue to disrupt, destroy and rebuild new businesses every day, especially through the use of premium domain names. Music taught me the art of creation, the art of creative death and rebirth, and I will never forget the experiences and lessons I learned. I continue to create new business ideas, services and products every single day. And, maybe most importantly, I still find a new, young, awesome metal band to listen to at least once a month. Once a metal-head, always a metal-head. Party on, Wayne.