CHAT SESSION 15 with Dee and Kev ‘The Calmer Miles’
Topic- Kindred Spirits
1pm Monday 7th August 2023 https://rppfm.com.au
Catch up and listen to our chat session https://megaphone.link/LCRUI9896943937
It was plain obvious to all onlookers that balmy evening way back in 2004, when two souls met and instantly knew they were ‘Kindred Spirits’. As I sipped on my icy cold beer at the coolest bar on the Peninsula, ‘Soulsa’s’, in Dromana (some described it as a ‘Little Amsterdam) a very cool dude in a Subaru Forrester arrived with gusto and seemingly unparalleled energy, he wore cut off sleeves, obviously he had spent more than the day soaking up the rays with his flawless tan and a smile that seemed to spread across his whole face. “Hello, how are you? I’m Kev” he said as he started unloading gear from his 4x4. As he entered the restaurant he was instantly greeted by a blond lady with a matching smile. I watched that day as two soul mates locked eyes. “Hi, I’m Dee”, she said to him, their skin changed colour from bronze to a glow of blush that swept across both of their faces, pupils enlarged, and I knew I was witnessing something very special.
Dee’s childhood best friend Kate was one of the owners of Soulsa’s, and had asked her to come, and ‘play’ cook with their amazing team. They had a blast, so much fun and laughter and many a cocktail or a ‘V’ and Vodka to kick off the evening. Kev had a regular Saturday Night gig, and, on that night, Dee got up to sing a harmony with Kev to ‘Fall at your Feet’ by Crowded House and the rest is history in the making. Kev finished his gig early wasting no time to re connect with his long awaited ‘kindred spirit’.
They had a rocky start to their relationship as Kev had some medical issues that landed him in and out of hospital and some major surgery over the next couple of years, but Dee was always by his side. They started a Duo by the name of 24:37 Martian Time…. yes, they changed it a few years later to THE CALMER MILES and that has stuck. They have been performing together ever since and you can find them every weekend, mainly on the Peninsula (although they travel anywhere). They feel very honoured to be able to call the Mornington Peninsula their home.
Kev started his musical endeavours at the age of twenty-three. Prior to this he had a string of accolades to his name. At school level he played rugby and was also the stroke of 8’s and 4’s in rowing. At sixteen, he landed a job as a landscape gardener then tree felling. Kev’s best mates mother suggested he should try out for the first New Zealand America’s Cup Challenge 1986/1987. He was selected for the development squad and off he went to Freemantle WA. Post Americas Cup Kev went back to Auckland psychologically shocked (depressed) from the high life, to existing jobless and living in a tiny caravan on a grass verge of a quite country road. Auckland Tepid Baths, the fresh beginning, cleaning the scum lines of the swimming pools. He made his way to become the Manager of the Fitness Rehab Centre. Within this time Kev studied Fitness Concepts, Aerobics Instructor, including Water Aerobics and Massage. He also ran a Triathlon Training Club. Outside of work Kev would row in surf boat carnivals, Triathlon, and single scull where he represented New Zealand in 1989.
Still the lifelong fear of singing and public performance was his achilles heel in his being. At 23, Kev decided to cut all ties with ‘THE WHEEL’ and dive headfirst into making a living out of music. Kev moved to Sweden in 1992 where he stayed for the next 7 years on a mission with nothing to lose. Opportunities arose in all shapes and colours, writing lyrics for Rodeo, Records, Loop Records a concept album called ‘Out There’ featuring, Kayo, a Swedish Icon. He acted and worked on TV commercials, a soap opera ‘Friends and Enemies’ and touring and playing gigs throughout Scandinavia with many various artists, but when dreams of blue sky and red soil and the message to follow the scent of eucalyptus calls, it was time to move back to my Mothers Country, Australia. Kev lived and gigged in Toowoomba for 2 years. One afternoon he was looking at a beer coaster and he noticed the little point at the end of Australia, that was on a Monday and on the Wednesday, he packed his car, swag, guitar, wok, and Bonsai and headed south to Portsea caravan park.
Kev started off playing at the Portsea Hotel, Soulsas and many other local venues.
Kev’s passion for boats grew into working as a deckhand on various charter boats then studied to be a Coxswain and Sailing Instructor and skippered yachts and worked as a diver and skipper for a mooring/salvage company until he decided that he would just solely focus on music.
Dee grew up in the South Eastern Suburbs of Victoria with her parents and two sisters. There was always music in her house, her dad had a magnificent tenor voice and just loved everything music. His passion rubbed off on his three girls and they would spend much time mucking around in the lounge room playing guitar, harmonizing, playing all different types of wacky percussion home-made instruments and her dad on Ukulele, harmonica, the spoons, leaves and whatever he could find to make a sound. Dees Mum would mainly listen, laugh, smile, and of course keep them all fed with her amazing cooking. As technology advanced, they could record their masterpieces on a tape recorder. Very hi tech! Dee was very much into sport, starting with callisthenics for ten years competing at State level, swimming, tennis, and volleyball all competitively and just loved being active.
Dee was always part of any school productions often sharing the stage with her younger sister Kellie. Kellie and Dee started a Duo together called A Browner Shade of Gray. Dee also performed with various other artists.
Dee went back to school to Study for a Diploma in Photography at Photography Studies College in the late 1990’s and started a Wedding and Portrait business that she ran alongside working for her Families Glass Business (Jacob Waverly Glass) in Burwood that her grandparents founded many decades before. She loved working for her dad, the best boss in the world, not just to her but to all that worked there. He even built her a fantastic dark room for her to develop her black and white photos for her folios.
Dee’s grandparents built a house and boatshed in West Rosebud (now Capel Sound) nearly seventy years ago and they were lucky enough to spend nearly every school holiday down the beach with her grandparents, auntie, uncle, and her cousins. Still to this day they love spending time at their boat shed, sailing, swimming, boating, fishing and just watching the sunsets whilst eating fish and chips. The simple things are what make Dee happy. She always wanted to live on the Peninsula and her dream came true in 2003 after a season of soul-searching working on Mount Hotham.
In 2022 after breaking his shoulder on his mountain bike, James Cargill from Cargill Custom Guitars gave Kev the opportunity to design the ‘Cargill Vagabond Travel Guitar’ to accommodate his injuries, a small ergonomic shape like no other. Without that he would not have been able to play guitar. They are now in production and have been exhibited in Canada and the Melbourne Guitar Festival. Kev and Dee solely use them and absolutely love them as do all that play or have bought one.
Kev and Dee are blessed with four beautiful vibrant children who all are following their own passions and dreams.
Kev and Dee are truly honoured and inspired by all that have been an integral part of their journey so far… The Calmer Miles is not only a band, it’s a philosophy about being one big family of ‘Kindred Spirits.’
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My hope is that when you’re looking at yourself in the
‘The Daily Mirror’ YOU SMILE, EMBRACE BEING YOU AND FIND 10 MINUTES IN YOUR DAY TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL!
To get in touch with Cathy email smileinthedailymirror@gmail.com
'The Daily Mirror' acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.
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