Eptic made his debut on Monstercat with “Let It Go” with Dillon Francis earlier this month, and now the Belgian import is back with his second dub-heavy single “Power.” The new track is aptly named, and not for the faint of hear – -even before the drop, it delivers a frenetic fusion of stabbing synths and video game-esque sound effects that will make you feel like you’re whopping on Koopa Troopas in Super Mario Bros. Combine this initial energy with a breakdown filled with mechanical, serrating basslines and spastic vocal riffs, and “Power” is a hybrid dubstep killer that will ignite dance floors around the globe. Both “Let It Go” and “Power” will be featured on Eptic’s forthcoming “Flesh & Blood” EP. Check out what Eptic had to say about the new release below, and keep an eye out for its animated music video dropping soon:
“I’m not gonna lie, it took me a while to figure out this song. I wrote the drop pretty early on in progress, but I couldn’t get the mix or intro right. It was only after I was about to give up and really reflected on my own production skills that I tried a different approach and could make it work. I’m proud to say that after all this “Power” is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever made – production and songwriting wise, and it really set the standard for all the other tracks on this EP.” – Eptic
Since bursting onto the scene with his “Like a Boss” EP on Never Say Die Records in 2014, musical wunderkind Eptic has established himself as one of the most formidable young players in bass music. After his debut EP soared to the top of the Beatport dubstep charts for 7 weeks straight, it was clear that Epticwas here to stay. He has had a streak of successful releases on Never Say Die and Spinnin, and recently released the heavy-hitting “Southside” with DJ Snake. The multi-talented Eptic not only illustrates all of his tracks’ music videos and designs his show’s live visuals. He also runs a highly entertaining vlog on Youtube, which has featured guest appearances by the likes of Skrillex and other special guests. Watch Eptic and Marshmello test their chef skills in his new video (insert link) and keep an eye out for what Eptic cooks up next!
4B makes his return on Ultra Records in the form of a brand new heavy-hitting single “Told You,” serving as an epic announcement of his forthcoming “Explosive” EP. “Told You” delivers elements of trap and hardstyle in its percussion-heavy buildup and stabbing, driving basslines, rounded out with serrating synths and distorted vocals. It is a prime example of 4B’s party-ready, hard-hitting style – the same one that kicked off DJ Snake’s label Premiere Classe with “Whistle” in 2018. “Told You” follows 4B’s “Blackout” with Flosstradamus released this month, which was his debut on Ultra Records. Keep an eye out for new tunes and the full “Explosive” EP coming soon!
Robert McKeon Jr., better known as 4B, may only be 26 years old, but he’s already been honing his musical skills for nearly half of his life. The American DJ and producer has relentlessly pursued his signature sound and vision, garnering support from some of the industry’s legends like Skrillex, DJ Snake, Diplo and Tiestofor his unique sound and meticulous production style. His trademark single was “Pop Dat” with Aazar in 2015; the track became one of the most played track songs of the year and topped over 12 million streams on Spotify alone, putting 4B firmly on the map as one to be watched in the dance music scene. Since then, he has remixed the likes of Fetty Wap’s “My Way” with Flosstradamus and DJ Snake’s “Middle.” 4B has also earned himself somewhat of a cult following from his electric live performances, which include his wildly popular set at EDC Las Vegas right before ZEDD, where he brought out Soulja Boy as a special guest. Bobbycontinues to evolve and mature as an artist, and we are excited to see what the next wave of his career brings.
Title: Glocks
Label: Dim Mak Records
Two dons of dubstep and hard trap (respectively), Riot Ten and SAYMYNAME team up on “Glocks,” a hyper-charged single featuring Milano the Don. Showing no mercy on the track, these two festival regulars produce stadium-booming drops and hype energy, uniting rail-breakers around the world.
“SAYMYNAME and I go way back. We’ve watched each other grow from basically day 1 and it’s been nothing but love and support. I’d honestly say this collab is about 5 years in the making, so to finally have something coming out is exciting. Due to our storied history, I can see this being one of the most anticipated of the year.” – RIOT TEN
“One of the hardest collabs! Riot Ten is a real one, and a good homie of mine. We wanted to give our fans something special, and I’m so hyped we got together on this huge record.” – SAYMYNAME
“Glocks” is the first single from Riot Ten’s upcoming debut studio album, Hype or Die: Nightmares, due out this September 13th via Dim Mak. The new material follows his Hype Or Die: Sun City EP and months of heavy touring, which included stops at EDC, Paradiso, Electric Forest and Global Dub Festival at Red Rocks. When he wasn’t on the road, Riot Ten was home in Texas organizing events for his local community. In the wake of this summer’s devastating events in El Paso and Dayton, Riot Ten teamed up with Nazaar to produce the 915 Strong charity concert, raising nearly $20,000 for the families of recent victims. Riot Ten’s Hype or Die 2019 Tour continues this weekend at Electric Zoo.
Joining Riot Ten on the heavy-hitting single is HARDTRAP pioneer SAYMYNAME. The Los Angeles-bred artist has had a monumental 2019, joining the likes of DJ Snake, The Chainsmokers, Fisher, and Major Lazeras one of Wynn Nightlife’s latest resident DJs. His summer was highlighted by gigs at Audiotistic and an insane EDC, where he performed three sets, including closing out Cosmic Meadow b2b with 4B. Fans can catch him this weekend at Electric Zoo and at Shaq’s Bass All Stars Official EZoo Afterparty.
Riot Ten Hype Or Die Tour 2019
August 24 – Bassrush Massive Arizona 2019 – Phoenix, AZ
August 31 – Electric Zoo – New York, NY
September 6 – Republic, New Orleans, LA
September 7 – Wobbleland – Dallas, TX
September 8 – Riverside Festival – Quebec, Canada
September 20 – Dream Nation Festival – Paris, France
October 4 – Showbox SoDo – Seattle, WA
October 5 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
October 8 – The Pub Station – Billings, MT
October 9 – The Wilma – Missoula, MT
October 10 – Senator Theatre – Chico, CA
October 11 – The Catalyst Atrium – Santa Cruz, CA
October 18 – El Rey Theater – Albuquerque, NM
October 19 – The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
October 25 – Escape Halloween – San Bernardino, CA
October 26 – Get Freaky – Salt Lake City, UT
October 30 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO
October 31 – Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO
November 1 – The Wave Outdoor – Wichita, KS
November 2 – Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS
November 6 – The Bourbon – Lincoln, NE
November 7 – Blue Moose Tap House – Iowa City, IA
November 8 – Elektricity Nightclub – Pontiac, MI
November 9 – EDC Orlando – Orlando, FL
November 14 – Rec Room – Buffalo, NY
November 20 – Soundcheck – Washington, DC
November 21 – Peabody’s Nightclub – Virginia Beach, VA
November 22 – Europe Night Club – Saint Francisville, MO
November 23 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
November 29 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL
November 30 – Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
December 11 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL
December 12 – Thompson House – Newport, KY
December 13 – Velvet Underground – Toronto, ON CAN
December 14 – Club Soda – Montreal, QC CAN
January 1 – NYD Foam Festival – Brisbane, AUS
January 2 – Bay Dream Festival – Tauranga, NZ
SAYMYNAME 2019 Tour Dates
August 31 – Electric Zoo – New York, NY
August 31 – Shaq’s Bass All Stars – Brooklyn, NY
September 6 – Output Presents Rare Bangkok 2019! – Chom Thong, Thailand
September 14 – Nocturnal Wonderland – San Bernardino, CA
September 20 – Encore Beach Club – Las Vegas, NV
October 5 – Encore Beach Club – Las Vegas, NV
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
Im currently based east of Manchester in a little village called Tintwistle. The music scene is pretty non-existent but I’m only a thirty-minute drive from Manchester, which is a musical hub for the Northwest. Having lived in Central London and Manchester it’s been nice for me to have a bit of quiet. It’s really allowed me to take that downtime but also given me the freedom to be in a city pretty quickly.
How did you first get involved with playing music?
When I was 13 my mother told me I could have any musical instrument for Christmas. I’m actually not sure what preempted that. As much as I liked music, I don’t think I had really expressed an interest in playing anything. Anyway… I picked the drums and she stuck true to her word and that year I got a drum kit. I had zero clue how to play, and I stuck at the drums and after years of playing I fell into production.
What’s been happening recently?
More recently I’ve been trying to take a bit of time out with my family, Go on long walks or bike rides and take in a bit of nature. It can be quite easy to isolate yourself when making an album so its been a bit of a breather.
You’re new single ‘Coming Back’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?
Thinking back, night-time driving has played a big part in recent writing. It’s been one of the more consistent times I’ve had to be alone, reflect and listen to new music, which has in turn kind of shaped my musical intentions.
How did you go about writing ‘Coming Back’?
I start every track I write differently. ‘Coming Back’ started with experimenting with synth sounds. I wanted to create something warm and analogue sounding. Something groove based that would have a bounce but didn’t feel overly dance music.
Where and when did you record and who with?
I have a studio in my attic where I do all my writing and recording… I rented a Neumann U87 for a couple of days and got Ben P Williams round to lay the vocals down one afternoon…
What programs/instruments did you use to record?
I use Logic Pro X as my main DAW. I use a plethora of percussive instruments that I’ve acquired over the years. The main synth line was made on the Korg Minilogue and under-pinned with the Moog Sub Phatty.
How did the concept for the ‘Coming Back’ music video come about?
Simon Brooks produced the music video, who always seems to capture the essence of a track. We had spoken about influences previously and I had mentioned a few ideas. He included the late-night driving vibes i mentioned earlier and just generally got the tone of the video right. Simon has worked on every Frameworks video because he just gets it.
Where and when did you film?
We filmed the video on the 11th of June at Sitcom Soldiers, Manchester.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding through the creation and recording of
‘Coming Back’?
I think the most challenging thing was probably the mix-down.. It can be a laborious task mixing sometimes and trying to get the right balance and feel across the board. I mix with Gareth Metcalf at studio-nyne not so far from me. I’ve been working with Gareth some years now and he gets what I’m going for. It’s a massive help having a second set of ears on mixes that I trust.
How do you prepare for your live shows?
I generally lock myself in my studio for a while basically. The studio can be an overly critical listening environment sometimes which is great for fine tuning things, but I think there is a lot to be said for just getting out there on a system and finding out realistically what’s working.
We also have the full live outfit which is a bit more time consuming to organize, but all the musicians involved are super talented and have helped create something really special.
What programs and equipment do you use whilst performing live?
For live i’m using Ableton Live with a PUSH, the Korg Minilogue, SPD-SX and a Pioneer DJ mixer.
What do you most enjoy about playing live?
I think I get the most out of finishing playing and feeling it went really well. When the energy is right in a room and you just seem to hit the road-running is a great feeling… Being in the flow.
What do you like to do away from music?
Spending time with my family. I have an amazing wife and two kids that keep me busy outside of music. Having children has been my greatest inspiration and fuel for work.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to the latest Jungle album recently, the production is great.
Also here’s a link to a playlist I try to keep updated regularly with things I’m listening to.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/513wJiNd4pBvnCtY1B4CnG?si=Geruhy1VTlOeP8CIDOtIug
Where and when are you playing next?
I’m taking a minute off playing right now but we have some things in the works for early next year to keep an ear to the ground on that.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
Im always working on new music… Right now I’m also working on a remix or two which should be out later in the year..
What’s planned for the remainder of 2019 going into 2020?
Any secrets that you care to share?
I’m really excited to be sharing a lot more content VERY soon, and early 2020 will see a large tour with two other artists i’m a big fan of! Shhhhhhhhh haha
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Right now, I have a thing for Tacos! My brother in law came round and made the best tacos ever and since then i’ve been on a regular taco fix. Favourite local would be Harvey Leonards in Glossop which is a bar that specializes in imports, Really lovely place.
Made of recordings between 2016–2019, “Existenz” is a step away from the corporeal techno of the last years, as a reaction to traumas Function had during all his life. “Existenz” is about religion, sexuality, healing, and liberation. “Existenz” features collaborative tracks with house icon Robert Owens. “Existenz” is following Function solo album debut out via Ostgut Ton back in 2013, and an album in collaboration with Vatican Shadow via Hospital production in the following year.
Impressed by pop art, rave and gay scenes, and early memories of block-parties in New York, Function founded the seminal Infrastructure label back in 1998 and has been a regular collaborator with legends like Regis and Damon Wild, releasing also on their labels Downwards and Synewave since the early days. He is now collaborating with London’s techno milestones Luke Slater and Steve Bicknell for their LSD project. Together with Regis and Silent Servant, Function is one of the founding members of the legendary Sandwell District collective.
Tresor just shared a video teaser of “Existenz” sourcing from New York’s cable-television era of the ’80/90s, and showcasing very short excerpts of the album in the background. It’s available to share for you at this link below.
1/9 Atonal, Berlin
11/9 Magick Bar, Rome
13/9 Bassiani, Tbilisi
21/9 Rural Festival, Nagano
28/9 Vent, Tokyo
4/10 Brown Alley, Melbourne
5/10 Civic Underground, Sydney
11/10 Bozidar, Ljubljana
12/10 RB Music Festival, Istanbul
18/10 ADE, Amsterdam
19/10 Mutabor, Moscow
25/10 Warehouse, Denver
26/10 Warehouse, Los Angeles
1/11 Basement, New York
2/11 Flash DC, Washington DC
8/11 Foro Normandie, Mexico City
15/11 Culture Box, Copenhagen
16/11 Elysia, Basel
22/11 Bassiani, Tbilisi
29/11 Bla, Oslo
30/11 C12, Brussels
1/12 OHM, Berlin
6/12 Corsica Studios, London
7/12 Kepler Club, Giovinazzo
27/12 Bassiani, Tbilisi
As an essential body of work spread over 4LP/2CD, “Existenz” follows the album by DeepChord’s Rod Modell, and represses of seminal Tresor albums like Robert Hood’s Internal Empire and TV Victor’s Moondance released on Tresor earlier this year.
Already known for their meticulous development of ethereal indie-pop sounds, built on dark and brooding musical foundations, Melbourne trio Howlite have returned with a dive into a glossy atmospheric soundscape – their brand new single, ‘Reducer’. The first taste of their forthcoming EP Not Here, the song is the beginning of a new chapter for the band.
Vocalist Alison Thom remains a driving force behind the emotive punch of the song, her voice easily captivates in the same vein as Empress Of, BANKS and London Grammar’s Hannah Reid. Sonically, Howlite explore a more distinct electronic path with ‘Reducer’, swapping their folk roots for samples and throbbing bass and loops that make the realm the song sits in one that shines with music texture. “‘Reducer’ has a noticeable pop edge to it, which was a decisive choice. We wanted to strip away the layers, and really focus on the things that we felt defined our soundscape.” Howlite
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Continuously proving themselves as one of Adelaide’s premier indie-pop exports, The Montrealshave doubled-down on the fun and careening melodies with new single, ‘Lilac, I Think’. Navigating themes of conflict and personal resolution, the band uses their usual bright musical disposition in putting otherwise darker material at the core of their songwriting. A step forward in the band’s creative evolution, ‘Lilac, I Think’ launches The Montreals into exciting new territory as a band.
Following on successful single releases since 2017, The Montreals’ latest is a snapshot of a young band flourishing within the indie-pop realm with great impact. Supporting the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kingswood, as well as winning more fans at the South Australian leg ofGroovin’ The Moo this year, The Montreals are positioned perfectly to tackle the second half of 2019 and triumph.
Now anticipating a brand new EP release, The Montreals are bristling with excitement over the release of ‘Lilac, I Think’. Drenched in musical texture akin to UK contemporaries includingDayglow and Wallows, the track is laden with bop-worthy sounds. “‘Lilac, I Think’ dabbles with issues of intra-personal and interpersonal conflict, but in a super fun, approachable way. We are all pretty darn good at handling ourselves when things are going well, but how we deal with conflict is really defining. Are you a pacifist? Do you embrace conflict? Do you avoid it entirely? Conflict is a motif that sort of dances through the entire Horror Movies EP.” The Montreals
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YEEVS is out now.
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed
After months of recording and mixing, The Good Minus are primed to share their debut album. The record will be released on Friday the 27th of September and launched at the The Wesley Anne, Northcote on Friday the 11th of October with Anna Cordell supporting.
It is a collection of harmony rich and multi-layered songs. Recorded and engineered by the band’s bassist, David Kean, with tracks mixed by Greg J Walker (Machine Translations) and Rohan Sforcina (Head Gap Studios). The album was mastered by Alan Douches of West West Side Music NY (Sufjan Stevens, Midlake, LCD Soundsystem).
The Good Minus are an all-singing, instrument-swapping power trio. Their songs feature intricate three-part harmonies with a style described as Grizzly Bear reimagining the songs of Elbow.
The Good Minus bring you their own inventive take on angular prog-pop. Matt Welch, David Kean and Stu Hazelman blend wildly different influences to create multi-layered arrangements, with three-part vocal harmonies and obscure yet groove-laden time signatures.
“(The Good Minus) have succeeded in creating a perfect indie song.” – We Love That Sound
“A gorgeous piece with faultless production and a great sonic mix of musicians… a stunning piece of work.” – Ultraviolet
“Lush harmonies…. Johnny Greenwood/Radiohead-esque lead guitar parts.” – Divide and Conquer Music
Track List
01. Mechanical Shark
02. Blood Brothers
03. Shadow Love
04. Catch Us Up
05. I’ll Decide For You
06. Wonderful
07. Lover’s Disguise
08. Laughing Full Steam
09. Roleplay
Official Website | Facebook | Bandcamp
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Canadian country recording artist and current Nashville starlet Amanda Jordan is thrilled to announce the release of her new music video for her Music City-inspired single, “Driving in the Dark”, which is new this week on YouTube. The single will hit Canadian radio on September 30th.
Jordan says of the single, “The very first time I drove to Nashville to write, my twin brother was accompanying me and telling me about how he loved to drive at night and into the sunrise. From there, the song grew. I wanted to create a happy musical energy that captures the euphoria one feels when you first fall in love and begin experiencing the world together. It’s something you can listen to as you drive along on a warm summer evening.”
The framework of “Driving of the Dark” was crafted by Jordan and esteemed Nashville writers Phil Barton (Meghan Patrick, The Washboard Union) and Jason Matthews (Billy Currington, Luke Bryan). After heading back to the illustrious Canadian confines of Barrytone Studios, award-winning producer Jason Barry (Dean Brody, Jason Blaine) molded the song into what it is today.
The release of “Driving in the Dark” follows a wave of highlights for the radiant young talent.
After making the final ten in both the 2016 and 2017 ole Red Dot on the Spot Songwriting Competitions, she later made the finals of the 2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition for her song “Silverado Run”. That same year, she opened for Canadian superstar Brett Kissel as part of his Kick it with Kissel contest and was one of eight wild cards to compete for the last spot in the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase.
The culmination of these events prompted Jordan to move to Nashville in 2018. Besides writing with the likes of Daniel Ross (Florida Georgia Line) and Abram Dean (Madeline Merlo), she has further embraced Music City by performing as a featured songwriter on the acclaimed Nashville Songbird Tour Bus alongside notables like Trey Bruce (Carrie Underwood) and Paul Jefferson (Keith Urban).
With her status as a bright light on the country music horizon all but certain, “Driving in the Dark” is the first step towards international recognition for Jordan and it’s sure to draw equal applause in Canada, Nashville, and beyond.
“Amanda Jordan will kick off her support of “Driving in the Dark” at the Perth Fair on September 1st, followed by a Diamonds in the Rough Showcase on September 7th in Calgary during Canadian Country Music Week, and an Ontario media tour and single release show in Ottawa on October 19th to coincide with the Canadian radio release.”
“Driving in the Dark” is now available on all digital platforms.
For more information, please visit AmandaJordanMusic.com or find her on social media:
Instagram: @AmandaJordanMusic
Facebook: @AmandaJordanMusic
Twitter: @Amanda_T_Jordan
YouTube: youtube.com/c/AmandaJordanMusic
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/5UzX8YYER6nwjEoJjt6QCv
What is your name and role within DZ Deathrays?
Simon Ridley – Percussion / Hospitality Rider Enthusiast.
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I live in Brisbane, Australia. The music scene here isn’t the biggest but it’s a very supportive, eclectic one and I think it’s because of that there are a lot of amazing artists constantly coming out of this town and onto the national/international touring circuits.
How did DZ Deathrays form?
Shane and myself were initially in a 3 piece band however once our drummer left we then decided to start a new project just as a two piece and that was it.
What’s been happening recently?
This year started with us recording our new record: Positive Rising: Part 1 in Los Angeles. Then we came back to Australia, did a 3 month regional tour before hitting up a few shows and festivals over in Central Europe. Now we’re just about to go into the studio again to finish part 2 this month.
Your new album Positive Rising: Part 1 will be out August 30 via I OH YOU, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
A major influence of both parts has been the introduction of our session guitarist Lachlan Ewbank joining the writing process. He’s been quite the driving force behind the record and we’re all really happy about the overall outcome of the tracks because of it.
How did you go about writing the music and how long did the album take to write?
We began writing mid 2017 and tried to get ahead on demoing it before the release of our last record Bloody Lovely. Then we continued writing in between tours for that album.
Where and when did you record/produce and master and who with?
We recorded the album in L.A. with Miro Mackie in his studio in North Hollywood. We wanted to get out and try something different to the last few records we had done at the Grove Studios which are like an hour out of Sydney.
How did you approach the recording/production process?
Miro has a pretty set format for recording so we stuck fairly close to that. Basically working 10am to 10pm for about two weeks straight. A bit of recording everything each day, burritos for lunch and ending with a nice whiskey night at the end of each session.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding whilst creating this album?
I think just getting the US visas to record it in America was the hardest part. Everything else was actually pretty great! I think having Lach on board and us all working together as team was the most rewarding part. We also had a bunch of friends come into the studio and add extra parts. Kirsty Tickle was able to come in and put down some backing vocals and Sax. Matt Caugthtran also came in and put down some vocals which was something really special for Shane and myself as we’re massive The Bronx fans.
What programs/instruments did you use?
It was a fairly standard Pro Tools setup. We kinda just used whatever gear they had at the studio as we were limited to bringing our own due to the flights. I think the main plugin we got behind was Sound Toys’ Valhalla Reverb. That’s in there a fair bit.
What did you learn through the creation of this album?
I think each time we just push ourselves to see what we can pull off without taking the band too far from what it is that we and the fans enjoy from it. So for this record adding things like saxophone and having friends around brought the vibe up.
You’re touring Australia in October/November, how do you prepare for live shows?
Drink the rider and crack dumb jokes along with a couple of stretches. We’ve got a great team with us now so there’s not a lot of stress backstage and we’ll do a few days pre production to make sure everything is going to work for everyone involved.
Any shows in particular that you’re looking forward to playing?
I love playing at the Forum in Melbourne and this is the second time we’ve been fortunate enough to be able headline so I’m very excited to get back in there. We’ve never played at the Astor before so I’m also looking forward to how that goes too.
What do you like to do away from music?
I don’t really do much else to be honest. Pizza and movies with the Mrs.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Press Club, Alkaline Trio, Electric Zebra… I guess I’m going through a bit of punk rock thing again according to my Spotify history.
What’s planned for the late 2019 going into 2020?
We record Positive Rising: Part 2 this week.
Release Positive Rising: Part 1 at the end of the month.
Album launch/signing parties start of Sept.
Eu/UK headline tour in Sept/Oct.
Aus headline tour Oct/Nov.
US/Canada tour in Nov/Dec.
European tour with The Darkness in Jan/Feb.
Then a few more tours that aren’t announced yet along with the release date for Positive Rising: Part 2.
Any secrets that you care to share?
My Wifi password is: 6E36FBD890. (Go easy on the torrenting please!)
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Thin base pepperoni pizza, Mountain Dew, my couch.
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I’m currently based in the Northern Rivers region, near Byron Bay. The Music scene is good here and there are a of professional muso’s and established musicians have been moving here a lot over the last decade. We were actually overseas in Bali for the last three years but we’ve come back now to embark on this next phase of my career and launch my book and my album.
How did you first start playing music, singing/guitar?
I grew up in Melbourne and I got a guitar at the age of 10, I used to play a lot with my Grandad.
I would listen to a lot of Triple RRR and PBS then in my early 20’s and moved into inner city Melbourne and that’s when my music career really started.
What’s been happening recently?
Last week I released a new single called ‘Ain’t My Problem’ which features The Teskey Brothers so that’s pretty exciting. The last single was ‘Whispering Voice’ which featured Kasey Chambers. I’ve got a Podcast called ‘Soulful Conversations’ which my first interview was with John Butler then I had Ziggy Alberts and Kim Churchill, Harry James Angus and Josh Teskey and a handful of other amazing people
My debut book ‘Surf by Day, Jam by Night’ was released this week where I interview Kelly Slater, Steph Gilmore, Jack Johnson and many others. I interviews 15 surfers and musicians and it’s everyday wisdom and habits that get people in flow states and live their best possible lives.
I have a company I co-own with my wife, called Earth Bottles and we’ve been going around the country doing beach clean ups and shows. Earth Bottles is a single use plastics company that is trying to eliminate plastics. We make water bottles, coffee cups and all sorts of reusable stuff so we don’t have so much plastic clogging up our oceans.
Your new album MOJO; drops on August 30, what influenced your sound and songwriting for
MOJO?
Most of Mojo was recorded in American and it’s my guitar blues album and to introduce me to American and the rest of the world. I’ve got some amazing guests on all of the tracks and it’s my ninth studio album.
To me it represents getting my Mojo back and coming out of a little bit of a mid life slump. I believe their are seasons in life and I feel like i’ve just come in to a new one.
Where and when did you write the music for the new album?
Much of the album was recorded in LA about 5 years ago which a lot of old school blues legends from America. I got it back 4 years later when I started trying to turn things around. I got a new manager who was able to track it down and we got the album finally and I ended up adding in Byron Bay some new tracks and some overdubbing and some amazing Australian special guests. So it was recorded between LA and Byron over the span of 5 years.
Who did you work with during the creation on Mojo?
We’ve got some amazing special guests on Mojo given that it was a guitar blues album, it was a huge honour to have Joe Bonamssa on a track. We got Harry Angus from The Cat Empire on two tracks who’s a really good friends, Kasey Chambers appears on one track, The Teskey Brothers who are on ‘Ain’t my Problem’ and ‘Waiting Around To Die’ which is amazing, we got Kim WIlson who is one of the best and more respected harmonica players in the world he’s on a couple of tracks then my good buddy Ian Collard from melbourne who is such an amazing harp player. Then I have Mahalia Barnes who kills it on three tracks on the album she bought some really special moments to the record. I’ve also got Terry Evans who is no longer with us and one of my all times idols and Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater they are two old African American blues guys who are just lords. It was a huge honour to have all of these guests.
What programs/instruments were used to record?
It’s a very live sounding album and was doing with the traditional methods of going through really good old school analogue gear and done in a pretty standard classic way really with an emphasis on the playing.
How did you approach the recording process?
There was a lot of layering as I say some of those sessions were recorded five years ago in LA then added to in Byron later by me. Adding guitar oberdbus and solos, I really took the time to craft the guitar solos and give them a lot of meaning. It’s the first time i’ve done that giving as much detail as my singing voice on the album.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Mojo?
I guess the most challenging part of the album was A – it was lost for so long and I didn’t even know if was ever going to get my hands on it. Which was tough because I had talked about it some much since returning. After that it was spending the time and the money doing it justice and we really put a lot of time and effort into it and I’m really happy iwth these results.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’m looking around thinking about my next album and what I want to achieve, I’m going to be doing a lot of co-writing in America for the next record, I’m listening to a lot of Bluesy stuff like The Black Keys new album, Rag N Bone, Gary Clark Jr – really combining that modern blues pop sound. That’s something I’ve been into for a long time but I’ve left it behind on the last few albums. It’s really cool to see what’s been happening in that world, it’s not really a genre being Blues Pop but it seems there’s a few great artists in that area.
What do you like to do away from music?
I love surfing obviously and I love reading and listening to podcasts when I get the time. Along with Meditation, Yoga and Whimhoff breathing.
I’m fascinated with trying to maximise the happiness in my life and the life of my family, it’s not quite a simple as it seems. THere’s a lot of head work that can go into being content and cruisey which is how I like to keep it.
You have a massive Aus/NZ tour kicking off in early October, what do you most enjoying about
touring and playing live?
I think one of life’s unalterable equations is that you get out what you put in. I’ve never probably put in so much to my music in terms of the musicianship side, practicing my instrument and singing. So now when I get to the gig, it’s something I’m keenly anticpating. I’ve been having such a ball in the lead up to the shows and I cannot wait to get the album out and get on the road and tour it. They are far from empty words I’m absolutely frothing the idea of getting out there and playing these shows. I’m very suited to touring, I’m happy to travel and cruise and in my own world – I’m always learning and you can do that anywhere. I don’t like being away from my family but it’s all part of it.
What do you have in store for these shows?
We’re really crafting a show an actual show, rather than just off the cuff. A lot of my shows in my career have been off the cuff whereas now I’m excited about crafting this show and going in with a really solid battle plan.
What’s planned for late 2019 going into 2020?
The rest of the year with me is touring for music and the book. I’ll be doing a lot of in stores to promote the book.
We’ll also be going over to America to do some showcases in LA and New York and tackle that behemoth.
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