Sydney dream-pop duo, Fathom, has completed an extraordinary musical marathon, performing nine shows across New South Wales and Canberra in just 12 hours as part of an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record.
Vocalist Cate Guirguis and keyboardist Jaxon Italiano began their challenge in Singleton on Saturday and travelled through Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Penrith, Lithgow, Bathurst and Goulburn before concluding the final performance in Canberra.
The pair were required to perform more than eight concerts, each lasting at least 15 minutes, at venues separated by a minimum of 50 kilometres.
The locations also had to meet specific population requirements under the proposed record category.
Their ambitious schedule involved an unusual combination of transport. A tour bus carried them between most locations, while a helicopter was used for the journey from Penrith across the Blue Mountains to Lithgow. They travelled by car between Lithgow and Bathurst before taking a plane from Bathurst to Goulburn.
The challenge came close to collapsing on several occasions.
Traffic on the M4 slowed the journey between Sydney and Penrith, while the helicopter leg was thrown into uncertainty when the aircraft was unavailable because it had been deployed to assist with bushfire operations in the Blue Mountains.
The band eventually secured the helicopter about 30 minutes later, allowing them to continue to Lithgow.
Another setback occurred during the flight from Bathurst to Goulburn. The duo initially went to the wrong terminal and then encountered a technical problem shortly after take-off when one of the aircraft’s propellers stopped functioning.
The pilot subsequently transferred them to a jet, but the disruption left the musicians about an hour behind schedule.
Despite the delays, the final leg to Canberra went remarkably smoothly. The pair encountered favourable traffic conditions and reached the venue with barely enough time to complete the challenge.
They took to the stage for their final 15-minute performance and finished with only about 15 seconds remaining on the allotted timeframe.
“It was right down to the wire,” Italiano said, adding that the original plan had been to attempt 10 performances.
“In hindsight I’m so glad we just stuck to nine,” he said.
Fundraising for Mental Health
The record attempt was also designed to raise money and awareness for mental health.
Fathom said it raised at least $2,200 for Beyond Blue during the tour, while also directing part of the proceeds to musicians and bands that supported the performances.
Italiano said the duo deliberately chose not to make a profit from the project, citing the difficult conditions facing Australia’s music industry.
He said musicians had continued to deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, including venue closures and cancelled festivals.
The band also highlighted research indicating that musicians face significantly elevated risks of depression and anxiety because of the pressures associated with securing regular work.
Evidence Submitted for Verification
The duo is now preparing the documentation required to support its Guinness World Records application.
Among the requirements are evidence showing that at least 10 people attended each performance, along with the presence of a minimum of two witnesses throughout the attempt.
The musicians also recorded their journey and performances, with Italiano wearing a body camera throughout the challenge to document the attempt.
Once the evidence has been compiled, Fathom will submit its claim to Guinness World Records. The verification process could take several months.
Italiano already has experience with Guinness World Records, having previously set a record for the most pull-ups completed in 24 hours in 2022.
Following the exhausting challenge, the duo plans to take some time to recover. Fittingly, Fathom released a new track titled Record Breakers on the same day as the marathon.
“That’ll be our soundtrack for the next few months,” Italiano said.
