Music Interviews

Where are you currently based?

I am based in Singapore.

How has your COVID19 experience been?

I have been very fortunate to have found myself in a safe place and not experiencing a lot of negative news. All tours have been cancelled but that has allowed me to stay more time in the studio. I have also spent more time with family which has been great.

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing music in my room at 12 years old, I would close the door and put on the headphones, and stand up, dreaming of what it could be transmiting emotions and good vibes through music to big crowds.

Your new release “Voyage, Voyage” is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this single? How did you go about writing “Voyage, Voyage”?

It is a cover version of the 80’s classic by Desireless. We wanted to maintain the celebration feeling and talk about travelling at a difficult time like this.

Where and when did you record/produce?

The song was produced between my studio in Singapore, and Imanbek’s studio in Kazakhstan.

What programs/equipment did you use?

I am working with Logic Pro and an Apple computer.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding about creating “Voyage, Voyage”?

I always say that when creating a cover version, it should honor the original as much as possible, either maintaining the same level of quality and feeling, or bringing a new meaning to the song. The original is a truly masterpiece and it was hard to maintain a similar level of emotion.

What do you like to do away from music?

When I am not in the studio I am normally practicing some sports and spending time with my wife and kids.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I love to discover nice Spotify playlists. It is a great way to know new music and artists.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?

A lot of patience and hard work, hoping the crisis will be over soon and travel restrictions lifted.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love mediterranean food and I am now really missing places like KM5 in Ibiza.

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

We’re from Sydney. The scene feels like it’s in suspended animation while everyone works out what the new world is going to look like, when venues will reopen, and how long the government will be able to get away with playing at culture wars and try to starve the arts.

How did you first start playing music?

Year 3 guitar lessons (if you don’t count recorder lessons which you shouldn’t) 

How did Key Out form?

We’d crossed paths over the years playing in bands like Ides of Space and Sounds Like Sunset, and had free time and demos a few years ago.  

Your new album ‘Anthropomorphia’ will be released on the 26th of June 2020, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The sound fell into place while we were recording. The experience of making our last record with Greg Walker, and talking to him about micing techniques and his different approaches to catching interesting sounds was a big influence. We did a lot of de- and reconstructing of songs and playing around with different elements. The songwriting is influenced by an interest in animals and life in the suburbs. They are the two recurring themes throughout the album.

How did you go about writing ‘Anthropomorphia’?

We worked on sketches over a few months – some words here, a line of guitar or synth there – until we had versions of the final tracks. We then spent a weekend recording some live takes which we planned to overdub a few parts on, but we ended up spending the summer pulling them apart and putting them back together. A good part of the writing happened while recording and messing with structures and arrangements. 

Where and when did you record and who with?

We recorded ourselves at home. The self-recording process gave us time and space to experiment a bit more than we have in the past. We had no real expectations and just followed what seemed right in the moment. The song Dog for example was tracked as an angular dirty guitar number, but just fell into place when we muted drums, switched out some loud guitars for an acoustic and let the extra space be part of it. 

Once we had tracked everything we handed it all over to Wayne Connolly to mix and master it, which really helped to organise the songs and straighten out some of the messes we had made. We couldn’t be happier with the job he did.

What programs/instruments did you use?

The main pieces of the puzzle were a homemade Jazzmaster style guitar, a Yamaha FG180 acoustic (Elliott Smith’s early guitar of choice), an old FM synth called a Yamaha DX7 (with 64 classic 80s sounds used on Twin Peaks, by Van Halen, Aha, Tina Turner and more) a MPC sampler and a Rogers drumkit. 

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the album?

Learning technical elements on the job was probably the most challenging and rewarding. Things like programming the old synths, sequencing drums, and the tracking itself. Doing that gave us a different perspective about the songs we were putting together and shaped where we ended up. 

How did you come to release with Half A Cow Records?

We’ve been big fans for a long time, and probably caught Nic in a moment of weakness when we sent him our previous record and asked if he’d help us put it out!

What do you like to do away from music?

We variously enjoy writing about performance and politics, watching rugby league, eating vegan food, and getting involved in other minor creative endeavours. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

As I type, Don’t Look Back by Kotomi & Ryan Elder, which was Rick and Morty’s wistful season 4 closer is on. But spinning this week has been Built to Spill Plays the Songs of  Daniel Johnson, Joyce Manor – Songs From Northern Torrence, Kate NV – Room For The Moon, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Sideways to New Italy and 070 Shake – Modus Vivendi.

What’s planned for 2020?

Hopefully playing songs off our new record to people in some public places, and improving our shaky grasp of the new instruments we’ve discovered while making this record so we can use them properly to make another.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Gigi’s Pizza Newtown and Petersham Bowlo.

Where are you currently based?

Currently residing in Melbourne, Australia

How did you first start playing music?

My mum signed me up for piano lessons when I was 8 and I took to it pretty quickly. Throughout school I picked up the violin and saxophone for a bit, but ultimately stuck with the keys. I didn’t start singing until I was about 16, in church.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve just released the film clip for my first single ‘I Should Know Better’ and planning on the release for my second single. I have a heap of new music ready to go, so I am really excited to share that with the world. I also play keys in a couple of my good pal’s bands (Libby Steele & Big Creature, go check them out!) and studying my Bachelor in Psychological Science, so even though we’re in lockdown at the moment, things are still nice and busy!

Your new single ‘I Should Know Better’ is out, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I’m a big fan of pop music and rnb, so I guess I wanted to combine the two worlds. I really love the sound that SB90 has (he produces most of my stuff at the moment) and I love working with my cowrite, Evangeline. She writes these amazing melodies that force me way out of my comfort zone (I’m talking range and agility!) I think I’ve really found my voice and my vibe after working with this dream team.

How did you go about writing I Should Know Better?

I met this guy at a birthday party who was a friend of a friend and we were all getting along really well. He was a bit cocky and said some things that were a bit across the line, but I kind of just laughed them off. Further into the night I offered to drop him and a friend off into the city as I was headed home and they took me up on my offer. In the car he made a brag remark about being an A-grade asshole and I, thinking nothing of it, made a witty remark about that being the reason why his ex girlfriend left him. Although I had intended it to be a witty remark (probably a little bit in retaliation to all of the shit he had dealt me throughout the night) he lost his shit and launched a tirade of horrible comments towards me and my “lack of tact”, so I kicked him out of my car. It was that moment I made a conscious decision from now on, assholes won’t ever get the better of me. Hence “I should know better, better than to care”.

Where and when did you record/produce and who with?

I started working with Evangeline and SB90 last April and I Should Know Better was the second song we’ve written. All up I think we’re at about 9 or 10 tunes now. We roll into a session with nothing before hand and kind of just let the creative process flow. Pretty much every session has ended in a fully finished song. It’s such an easy way to work and I find that we get a lot done in a short time.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the creative process?

I find my own self doubt and insecurities get the better of me quite often during the creative process so it’s really nice to work with people I’m close with and that I trust. The most rewarding thing is getting to sing the song back with just a piano or guitar. The live show (with a full band) is really fun, but if the song stands on its own two feet with just an acoustic accompaniment, I know it’s a winner.

How did the concept for the music video come about?

Gary Robertson is the videographer that I worked with. I’ve known Gary for years and have worked with him on another solo project. He’s so great because he always has a heap of ideas for things to try. Originally, I wanted to put together a video with choreography and dancers, but then decided I wanted to tell the story of the song and Gary suggested we do the one shot take. It was so crazy how easy it all came together on the day. I had a great team – my friend Sara De La Cruz styled the whole thing and my friend Nerida Beardsell did hair and makeup. My long-term pal Zach Bres, a very talented writer, played the bad boy wrapped in denim. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing talent and wonderful supportive friends!

Where and when did you film and who with?

We filmed at my house earlier this year. The team consisted of Gary Robertson (videographer) Sara De La Cruz (stylist) Nerida Beardsell (hair and makeup) Zach Bres (legend bad boy actor who is actually the nicest and kindest man in the world)

Please tell us about how the music video came together:

I was really fortunate to get to work with the team I did. I’d been wanting to work with Sara for ages but I wanted to wait until I had the opportunity to work on a really cool project. She actually got in before me and reached out via insta and we met like 5 days before we filmed and cha<ed about the vision over an Aperol Spritz and a charcuterie board (she won my heart and I knew we were destined to be friends forever by ordering that for the both of us, ps). Zach and I had been talking about working together for years (he’s a talented writer and rapper) and so he was all about getting involved in this. Nerida was an angel and jumped on board the day of and Gary took care of the filming. These are my go-to people for everything in future and I can’t wait to get started on the next single with them!

You have some new music on the way, what can we expect?

I’m really happy with the new stuff that has come about. There are two new ones that I’m set to release: “All I Ever Wanted” and “Say You’ll Be There”. “All I Ever Wanted” was written about a boy who ended up being nothing like he claimed to be and taught me a thing or two about resilience and self-esteem. I’m really glad that situation happened but it also sucked big time. The timing of finishing this song was reflective of my personal state. I’d been working on it for a little while with the boys from Entente Music (Michael Best and Ezekiel Fenn) and as we’d kind of finished up with it, I realised how much I’d worked through and how at peace I was with everything that had gone down. It taught me that I need to work on not taking things so personally. People do things and say things that are entirely out of your control and most of the time, it is not a reflection on who you are. It’s important to be kind and considerate of other’s feelings but we are the ones that teach other people how we want to be treated. “Say You’ll Be There” is a friendship pop anthem written about a good friend of mine, Sally Van Der Zwart who is an absolute angel and has taught me a lot about myself and sums up every angle of what it means to be a friend. She is an incredible singer, songwriter, keys player who has new music landing very soon and you guys need to check her out.

What do you like to do away from music?

I really enjoy being outdoors in good weather with friends. I used to play a lot of sport and go horse riding, two things that I rarely do now, but I’ve found a place that’s about 40 mins away from my house where I can go riding, so I try and do that as much as I can. I love animals and growing up, horses were my way of connecting with something when life got really hard to navigate. I’ve recently taken up drawing again too. At the beginning of lockdown, I kind of realised I don’t do much that   makes me happy apart from music, so I’m trying to make a conscious effort to make time for these things.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of different stuff lately. Straight up, I’m obsessed with pop music. Tove Lo and Halsey are two of my go to’s at the moment. I’ve also been sifting through a heap of early 2000’s RnB. I’m doing my best to learn some old jazz numbers from the likes of Nina Simone and Etta James (on keys and vocally) and I love listening to instrumental classical music when I’m studying. Locally, Melbourne has so much to offer and I’m constantly in awe of the local artists that are writing with other artists and / or putting their own new music out; Jess Fairlie, JANEVA, Blush’ko, Tanya George, Libby Steele, Belove, Stellar Perry, Big Creature…eek, I know I’ve probably forgotten a heap! There is so much hard-working talent around this city and I adore all of it!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?

Unfortunately, with the current climate that we are facing with COVID-19, gigs have been cancelled indefinitely in Australia. I was hoping to be out and playing more with the band this year, now that I have a full live set. But I’ll continue to keep writing new tunes and hopefully 2021 will be the year for the live show to hit the stages.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I don’t really have a favourite food, because the food I enjoy or get a craving for is so dependent on how I’m feeling. If I had to pick one because the survival of the human race depended on it, I would probably say Vietnamese. There’s an amazing place North side not far from where I used to live that I would frequent quite often. As far as hangouts, I don’t mind a bar with a super relaxed vibe for a drink. Otherwise I really enjoy spending time with friends and family for dinners at home.

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Delivered, Live presents a special one-off show this weekend, shining a light on some of Victoria’s best up and coming talent. Five acts will take to the stage, once again with the now all too rare ability to perform on a fully amplified (and lit) stage.

Tickets for the show start at as little as $10 are available HERE and profits from these tickets go directly to the bands, their teams and the crew creating the show – all of whom would otherwise be out of work at this time.

First to hit the stage will be Melbourne queer chaotic pop singer and multi- instrumentalist Max Lawrence. Max will bring his dynamic stage show to Delivered Live and will win hearts with his all singing, all dancing brand of alt-pop. Hailing from the Bellarine Peninsula, Chitra will follow, bringing her 3-piece band and wooing all with the gorgeous tunes from her debut self-titled EP.

Also from the Peninsula is Fenn Wilson, who along with his band will captivate with his incredible voice and song craft – evoking the timbre of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Rounding out this amazing collection of new talent we have Cry Club – a two piece who have been warming up stages for some big names for a while now leaving big impressions on everyone who sees them.

Closing this night of incredible music are sublime sisters of song, Vika & Linda. Not up and comers, but having just released their anthology which shot to number 1 on the ARIA charts, they are a fitting bookend to the evening.

Alongside all of this stellar music will be interviews and discussions hosted by Henry Wagons plus comedy from Sami Shah and musical comedian on the rise, Jude Perl.

July 4^th is the perfect night to discover something new, be entertained, and of course support Australia’s incredible live entertainment industry.

Producers The Handshake Agency thanks its sponsors for getting on board this event – Victorian Government, The Music, Oztix, Small Time Group, Young Henry’s, Harry The Hirer.

Tix can be purchased here:
Delivered Live can be viewed here
More info here

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Who is StoKed?

Stoked means “purveyor of Infectious Energy”. Basically, it reflects my state of being, and that hopefully reflects in my productions along with how I am behind the DJ console.

Where are you currently based?

I am currently at home in the Bombay city of India.

How has your COVID-19 experience been so far?

It has been ok. I’ve been catching up on family time, as I was touring from October to February 2020, so being locked down at my family home meant I got to spent time with the people I had not seen for months.

After being stuck indoors for so long, I’m now a now house-trained expert in the art of doing dishes, laundry and mopping lol. I got myself my techno puppy Mr Tizzy a week before lockdown and he has been a life saver of sorts. Lockdown gave me lots of time to spend in the studio, and I’ve managed to sign 2 EP’s with IAMT & Codex that are scheduled for release this year. COVID-19 has definitely changed my perspective on life by making me appreciate what I have even more than before.

Your new release Deeper Passion is out now, what influenced the sound & songwriting?

“Deeper Passion” as the name suggests, is to do with the only passion that makes me wakeup pumped everyday which is of course, music. I have tried to encapsulate that energy into a track for the listeners to also feel.

“The People” is all about how people are and experience life, as it has different moments in its ups and downs. With dark melancholic chords coming in on the main drop, I have tried to show the different phases in life, however best I could in a track.

Where & when did you record and who with?

I produced the EP at home, sometime in September last year, and it was finished just before going on tour. 

What programs/instruments did you use?

I used Ableton as my main sequencer that recorded all the parts and let me mix everything together. For my monitor speakers I have a pair of Kali Audio LP 6, Midi Keyboard Arturia Key Lab 49, and for VST instruments I mainly used “Serum” and “Sylenth”.

How did you approach the recording & production?

I had already imagined the tracks in my head. It was just a matter of transferring what I was thinking and feeling into Ableton via my midi keyboard. Once I played the parts, it was then a case of fine tuning the sounds in the VST synths until everything was how I imagined.

What did you find most challenging & rewarding about this release?

This EP wasn’t really that challenging, as I knew what I wanted from each of the tracks. Making my return on my good friend Zeid’s label Deep Therapy Records was an honour made even more special by having the legends Loco & Jam remix the title track. I really loved having those guys remix my music, and that was the most rewarding aspect of this release.

Please tell us about the techno scene in India?

The techno / underground scene in India is definitely burgeoning. It still has a long way to go before it rivals the scenes in places like Germany, but people in India are more aware of electronic music now. People being new to genres like techno, means they have little preconceptions, so are really openminded to experimentation. All in all, it looks very promising from my point of view.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Oh… there is so much music out there. I am really digging lots of tech house right now, as its medium tempo is often perfect while out for a run or going to the gym. Deeper music like that is also cool from having a relaxing drive in the car.

What do you like to do away from music?  

I love playing golf and aim to get a game at least a couple of times a month as it helps me relax and focus. I am majorly into fitness, so you will often find me at the gym three times a week. Reading a book or watching Netflix are also preferred tools to help relax and unwind.

What is planned for the remainder of 2020?

“Rave de School” is a collab track I did with bro Samwise that’s coming out on a “Minitech Recordings” various artists compilation in July. Then I’ve got the “Girl with the Red Hair” EP featuring my buddy Fire coming out on I Am Techno in August.

After those, in September I am back on Minitech Recordings with my release “Hiigaran” that includes a remix from by good friend Steve Mulder.

In October it’s my release on IAMT Red called “Effervescence” EP, then in November it’s my release on Codex titled “Bitonal Creatures” that’s featuring vocals by my friend Fire.

I am really looking forward to the end of this current virus pandemic so clubs can open again as I’ve really missed playing gigs, but have been keeping busy in the studio, and really looking forward to all my forthcoming releases.

Thanks for taking the times to chat with me, and hope everyone out there is keeping safe.

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Where are you currently based?

Australia, Melbourne

How did you first start playing music?

Mum said I would not shut up singing around the house.

Your new EP Normality will be released in September, what has influenced the sound and songwriting?

Busking on the streets. I didn’t want to take all my gear out, so I just decided to use my voice for everything instead, this project was created in Bourke St, Melbourne. I wanted to share the message that voices are powerful when they come together. And in these difficult times, I feel that our collective voices will be what sees us through. I named the EP Normality because it’s everything opposite to normal and I was also questioning my life a lot at the time such as:

What is a normal life?

Why are certain things normalised and other things aren’t?

What’s the normal way of going through depression or how do I act normal, what does that look like to society?

How did you go about writing the music?

I wrote this EP in 3 days using just my voice. This process was based on trust. Trust in myself to express whatever needed to come out through my voice. The songs are exactly how I first wrote them, I never changed anything. By producing an EP created only by vocals, I wanted to challenge the pre-conceived notion of what makes ‘normal’ music. I tried to make my voice do all the parts instruments would.

Where and when did you record?

I recorded this EP with Jimmy Alexander (Death Youth Records, Awaken I am) in his Gisborne studio. He is honestly the greatest human I have ever met. I’ve never felt so comfortable with someone in a studio before. He knew what my voice was capable of, so he would always push me to get the best takes. So young but one of the kindest, talented professionals I have ever worked with. I can’t thank him enough for everything he did for me and understanding my weird ideas for this EP.

I actually wrote this back in January 2018 but I didn’t have the confidence or funds to complete/ release it. I was also in fear, I thought it would be too weird and different but that was the whole point of the EP; what is normal? I was in a bit of fear and I was having the worst year I’ve ever had with my mental health, so I waited. Then all the film clip ideas came to me and the City of Melbourne COVID 19 Grant got me over the line and gave me the encouragement I needed to finish, release and believe that my concept was good.

How did you approach the recording process?

Ha! Jimmy was a legend and a great listener. It’s pretty weird for someone to walk into a session and go, “okay so here’s the bass, I’m gonna sing it.” We broke down all the sections and started one bit at a time. Usually it was me beatboxing drums first and singing bass sounds, then I’d start layering the harmonies which would make up the chords like a guitar or piano followed by extra parts, lead vocals and harmonies. The hardest song was My Hymn; it’s got a triplet feel so the melody’s rhythm isn’t so easy to sing over it.

What programs did you use to record/produce?

We swapped programmes; bit of logic, bit of pro tools, bit of reaper. I use a Roland RC 505, Voice Live 3 and a SE electronics mic when I’m live but we used a whole bunch of other instruments in the studio.

What do you have planned for the Normality EP?

4 film clips supported by the City of Melbourne COVID 19 Arts Grant, Behind the Scenes and a live Isolation gig online July 25th, maybe some mini 20 ppl gigs depending on Covid.

June 29th Vocal introduction + film clip

July 14th My Hymn single + film clip

Interlude

August 5th Normality single + film clip

Full EP will be available online with a bonus track in September.

‘Normality’ is the lead single coming out in August along with a film clip, how did the concept for that video happen?

I put a post out to my followers on Instagram and said, “Hey if you want to be in a film clip, rock up at this cafe called Onyx at this time in the most unusual outfit you can but still be yourself!” I was so anxious no one was going to come. I left it up to the universe. All my friends slowly kept bailing, so I literally had no idea who was coming. Then BAM all these amazing people who have been following my music arrived to hang out and be part of an amazing night. I was so grateful I just wanted to include everyone as an open invite, make it community based. We had kids, adults, teenagers and even twins from all walks of life come. Basically, the music video starts with me bored in a normal cafe job and then I jump over the counter into the ideal world which is much more fun, much different and what we considered normal. I can’t wait for this one to come out!

What was the most challenging part?

I wanted to pour milk all over myself because one of my lyrics is “Off milk you drunk it twice”, that was my first idea, a dream became a reality that day! We only had one chance to get it right, so I didn’t have room for error and the milk was HEAVY to hold!

Your new music video ‘Writing Machine’ is out now, how did the concept for the video come about?

I wanted the clip to emulate how humanity is becoming so addicted to technology. It is so hard to get someone’s attention in real life and it is crazy how much we judge someone we don’t know or believe whatever’s written on a screen. We forget there is a living human being with feelings and a beating heart on the other side of what we are looking at.

Where did you film and who with?

I worked with Good Gravy Media (Dylan and Liam) for all the Normality EP film clips, locations included in Coburg, Brunswick, Melbourne and Cheltenham.

I had Tim Knowles, Ellen Burbidge, Yash Fernando, Tayla Muir and Zandria play the characters in Writing Machine. They all come from an acting or singing background and they absolutely smashed it. Let’s not forget Clarissa Williams (Clarissa Williams Make Up) who did my make up for all clips, plus she was beautifully pregnant on set. Then Dimitri Cherkassski and Tara also jumped on board to help! They were the BEST crew and I was so honoured that they even wanted to work with me! Couldn’t have done it without them, I was very lucky!

What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the process?

The funniest part of filming Writing Machine was taking their technology away, I directed; “I want you to remember that feeling you get when you think you’ve either lost your phone or someone stole it and that manic chaos or anxiety that takes over.” They were SO good, I had to refrain myself from laughing because it was so real. Tay and Alex were attacking each other, Tim ripped the couch apart, Yash was tearing off his jacket and Ellen was throwing items around until they eventually had permission to turn on me! It was bloody amazing, if you ask me. I still start laugh thinking about it!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I listen to everything. Erykah Badu, one of my favs. Drake, Beyonce, Ariana Grande (love). From our Melbourne scene I love Mojo Juju (Mo’Ju), P Unique who are legend humans too, my girl Sully just bought out some music and G Flip, she and I played in a band together for years in high school. I am proud of her.

What do you like to do away from music?

A lot of music away from music haha like busking and studio time. I love 20 minute runs, exercise! I make my own clothes from recycled materials which you see me wearing at festivals and photoshoots. I love Op-shops. I am also a teacher, a food lover and I hang a lot with my 83 year old best friend who is my Grandmother.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?

Normality for the rest of the year and I’ve written AN ALBUM for my band! I’m recording it with my best friend in the entire world Michael Cooper so I’ve already started planning that. It will be ready in 2021 and I’ve never been so excited. Brace yourself for it people!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I go to Onyx Cafe on Reserve Rd, Cheltenham A LOT to eat which is actually where the Normality film clip was filmed! Best food and service! But, Japanese cuisine is my favourite food with a glass of Pinot Noir! You will also find me at Shujinku eating Ramen in the city!

www.tanyageorgemusic.com.au

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I am based in a tiny apartment in Brunswick in Melbourne at the moment. The music scene is usually very lively, Sydney Road is the main hub for music in Brunswick which is very close to where I live. There are heaps of bars that are very supportive of local bands and artists and they are always looking for people to play. No matter if you’re a solo artist or in a full swing band- there will be a venue accommodating and an audience ready!!

How did you first start playing music?

I started when I was quite young, like 5 or 6, as my Dad bought me a guitar and took me to lessons and made me learn Bob Dylan songs! I always had a guitar around and would play covers to friends and write my own songs. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago where I actually performed in public on a stage though. I did my first open mic in 2018 in New York and I just kept on performing since then.

What’s been happening recently?

I have recently released my second single this month so that’s been exciting. Aside from that, I have just been using this down time to keep writing and to fill up a book of songs I am really proud of- as I plan to record a second EP soon. I have also been rehearsing with my band so that when life goes back to normal, we are stage ready!

Your new single ‘Walk My Way’ received instant Triple J airplay and was added to Unearthed playlists in the the first week of release, Kingsmill even giving you a rare five-star review – how have things been for you since?

I have been really humbled by the response to be honest. I guess when you’ve been sitting on a song for a while you forget how good it felt when you first wrote it. I wrote it in Feb or March last year. I do remember when I first wrote the chorus, I had butterflies in my stomach – so that must be your body saying ooo this is exciting haha.

Things have been really exciting since its release and the support from Triple J. I have had a lot of lovely people messaging me and emailing me saying they’ve heard the song on triple J and that they really like it which is awesome. It seems to make people feel happy and care free so I am glad it has that effect on people.

What influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

To be honest, I am not entirely sure what influenced the sound. I just started playing this chord progression and then fiddling around with the fingerstyle pattern and it just sounded fun and upbeat. Then I started strumming and the chorus just came out of my mouth fully formed. At the time, I was reading a bit of poetry about social class in 1950s America and I think that influenced the storyline of the verses. I liked the idea of chasing someone that you feel is superior to you or unattainable, whether that be due to wealth, looks or gender. You feel like they don’t see you, but really they have felt just as strongly about you the whole time. I think it’s a nice idea!!

Where and when did you record?

I recorded the single with Benjamin McCarthy in his Carlton home studio. We recorded it in June/July last year. So, I had it tucked away for almost a year before it was eventually released!

You have a forthcoming EP on the way ‘Faith, Sex and Skin’ what can we expect?

Yes, it is coming out next month which is really exciting! The majority of the EP is quite uplifting and upbeat, there is one slower song which is quite stripped back. It has some really nice strings in it to accompany the guitar. All the other songs are built up with percussion and subtle synth around a raw acoustic sound. Each song has its own story and message in it.

What is the predominant theme of the EP?

I would say the EP is all about self-acceptance and kindness. It’s also about acknowledging we are not perfect but there are little acts of selflessness that we can do each day to live happier and healthier lives as a whole human race. I also think all the songs touch on the beauty of being vulnerable and that taking risks holds many rewards.

What influenced the EP?

My own life experiences have definitely influenced the songs on the EP. I also think my writing has been influenced by travelling and watching different cultures and the way that different people interact. Also, my writing has been influenced by books and movies that have resonated with me, such as The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind and Jack Kerouac novels. My sound has been influenced by contemporary artists such as Thelma Plum, Gordi and Vance Joy as well as iconic artists such as Bob Dylan and The Beatles and Neil Diamond.

What equipment did you use to record?

I used my old Ibanez guitar for all the recordings. It’s a bit beaten and worn but it still has a nice earthy tone.

What do you have planned for this EP?

I would love to do a little launch tour around Victoria and New South Wales, but we are just going to have to wait and see what the restrictions allow. There will at least be a launch show at The Old Bar with my full band after the release, but I will have to keep my fingers crossed that it will be sooner rather than later!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Oooo there so many great tracks coming out at the moment. I have been listening too Spacey Jane – they just put out a debut album which is really upbeat and fun. I have also been enjoying Ball Park Music – Day and Age and Noah Dillon – Mathew McConaughey. Lots of great new Aussie music!

What do you like to do away from music?

I use to be a very beachy person and spent most of my time surfing or ocean swimming. However, since moving to Melbourne, I have become a bit more of an indoor person – really enjoying just sitting at the library and reading or finding quirky little cafes and bars with my partner. Maybe I have just become lazier haha!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?

I am just going to be rehearsing a lot with my band to get our live show as tight as possible. I will be performing as much as I possibly can in this current climate! I will also be recording a few acoustic sessions with the Shoelace Creative team which I will post up on YouTube and socials. Then I will be recording my second EP in August and begin planning its release. So, I should be keeping quite busy!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Great question! I really love Black Cat on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. It’s a really nice bar with a relaxing vibe and comfy couches. Favourite food, I’d have to go for Kway Teow from Asian Kitchen Guy on Sydney Road- very yummmm and very cheap.

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Where are you currently based?

I have been living in Montreal for the past 8 years. 

How did you first start playing music?

Basically, I was the singer in a band with some friends. I decided to start writing music to sing over and eventually I stopped singing and focused on producing. 

Your new single ‘Never Really Get There’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

There were no preconceived ideas, we just improvised in the studio one summer afternoon. We first started with the chords and then Jesse wrote some lyrics to it. There’s something both melancholic and festive in this song, we just captured that moment. 

How did you go about writing Never Really Get There?

You’d have to ask Jesse, I had nothing to do with the lyrics. On the other hand, I can say that for me “Never Really Get There” represents a feeling of inability to listen to oneself, sometimes life diverts us from our essence. 

The single Features Jesse Mac Cormack, how and why did Jesse come to be involved?

Jesse is a long time friend and collaborator. We like to make music together so it was natural for us to do this song together, nothing was planned. We’ve been collaborating for 4 years already on several different projects. 

How was it working with Jesse?

It’s very intuitive and natural when we work together; we don’t really need to talk to each other, the music speaks for itself. I think our sensibilities complement each other very well, we have a lot of fun doing that. 

The music video is directed by your sister Alex-Jeanna Dube, how was this experience?

It was the first time I collaborated with my sister on such an artistic project. It was really cool and easy. We’re only a year and a half apart in age, we’re like twins. We understand each other easily.

How did the concept for the music video come about?

For a long time, I had this idea of filming people through their windows dancing in their intimacy, in their world. I called my sister and she liked it right away, and she was able to tell a story using this concept. 

Where and when did you film and what did you find most rewarding and challenging during the creation of the video?

The music video was shot entirely in Montreal and in confinement. Everything was filmed in just under a week in April. This video is a tour de force, to have managed to shoot it while everything was playing against us due to the lockdown is the greatest achievement for me. I also think that the casting is very much in the image of our city, I like its diversity. The most difficult thing was to respect the health regulations during the filming. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I listen to a lot of Caribou, Amtrac and Khruangbin. 

What do you like to do away from music?

I love to garden and take care of my dogs. But what I like most of all is playing hockey! 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?

Lots of new music 😉 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I really like any kind of food, I really like food hahah. I love spending time at Jarry Park, I think it’s the most beautiful park in Montreal! 

What is your name and role within The Mean Times?

My name is Tom Morgan and I’m on vocals and guitar. I also do all the shit that no one else in the band will do – like badly manage our finances or lack thereof.

Where are you currently based?

In Melbourne. Rock City.

What’s been happening recently?

You know, mostly just staying at home, ordering beer off the internet and cancelling gigs. Oh, we also released another EP the other day, which is exciting. Spewing we haven’t been able to play it live to anyone yet!

Your new EP ‘Stunned Mullet’ is out now, what influenced the sound and song writing?

We recorded ‘Stunned Mullet’ at the same time we recorded our last EP, ‘Raw Prawn’, which we released last year. We’d originally intended to do an album, but the more we got into the recording process and building on ideas, we realised we had two distinct sets of songs that needed to be split into different releases. We knew that each EP would retain a definite similarity, but that they were very different in style. While ‘Raw Prawn’ is a catchy, punk rock EP showing our lighter side, ‘Stunned Mullet’ is an angsty, dystopian rejection of traditional pop and indie norms, but also catchy, dancey and familiar. So we’ve kind of gone from influences like 70s and 90s oz punk rock, writing about life in general and self-deprecation, to a mixed bag of sludgy, grungy, stoner rock, indie pomp and acoustic ballads that all deal with death, depression, bad influences and dead bats.

How did you go about writing the music?

For this EP, it was mostly me writing the core song and bringing it to the band to make it good and point out what I was doing wrong. I actually wrote the first track, ‘She Lives on Oxygen’ when I lived in Amsterdam about 12 years ago. Most likely stoned. It was performed in a couple of bands I played in over there (Hand Bites Dog and Yakuza Smile), but it never felt finished. It only recently got a rewrite and a new chorus and became one of our favourite songs. ‘Miss Damascus 2008’ was written around a bass line that was looping around in my head for ages and layered from there by the rest of the band. Taxidermist came to me on a bike ride home from work one night when musing over the amount of songs that had the lyrics, ‘If you had wings you could fly’. And Faking Death is a dark one that just instantly came out on guitar when I was really tired and struggling with life. But we’ve moved away from that approach lately and are now really focussing on writing together as a band. It’s much more satisfying and enjoyable.

Where and when did you record/produce and who with?

‘Stunned Mullet’ and ‘Raw Prawn’ were mostly recorded and mixed at Rolling Stock Studios in Collingwood by Nao Anzai, who’s done a bunch of awesome stuff like Cash Savage and the Last Drinks. We actually started it way back in 2017 when we first laid down bass, drums and some guitars at Rolling Stock, but over the following year or two, we added a heap of guitars ourselves – mostly at Eoin’s house. We then sourced horns, strings and more guitar from musicians scattered across the internet, then came back to the studio to do vocals and mix it together with Nao. The whole lot was then mastered by Mikey Young from Eddy Current Suppression Ring.

What programs/instruments did you use?

Heaps of goddam guitars and effect pedals. At one point, when recording ‘She Lives on Oxygen’, we’d already recorded about 5 or 6 guitar layers, but we still wanted more! We asked our mate Cosmic from Brisbane band Death By Carrot to do a mad wah solo, then our former band mate Ant did another solo, then we went full bogan and roped in the craziest guitar soloist we could find in South America. We then changed tack and decided we wanted strings and horns for the second track, ‘Miss Damascus 2008’. We tracked down musicians offering these services on websites and worked with them collaboratively. We’d figure out the melodies or textures we wanted on the keyboard and send them a recording of what we were looking for and they’d make it sound good and send us their recordings to add to the mix. We also added our own keys to pretty much every song.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the writing/recording process?

Having no time was our biggest challenge. Having busy day jobs, families and other outside commitments is always what makes it hard for us, especially when recording. If we had more time, we would’ve busted out about 10 albums by now. We’re actually quite efficient when we get down to business. Also, at the time of recording, we didn’t actually have a full-time drummer, so we shipped in our mate Jonesy who’d been filling in for us occasionally to help out. That was a challenge in itself as he also had limited time and heaps of other bands.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Right now I’m listening to Failure! I’m also liking Rolling Blackout Coastal Fever’s new album at the moment, but the one band I’m addicted to listening to this year is Viagra Boys from Sweden. They sound insane. Expect us to start ripping them off very soon.

What do you like to do away from music?

Outside of music, work and family, I don’t have a lot of time for much else. If I do, then I like to go camping, bike riding and put things in a slow cooker. During lockdown, I’ve also managed to step up an already worrying drinking habit and am becoming even more of a craft beer wanker.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?

Hopefully we can go back to the pub! First and foremost, I just want to go to the pub and get on the beers. But then, I want to play some goddamn gigs in the goddamn pub!

We had to cancel our single and EP launches during lockdown, so we’re hoping to put on a massive Melbourne show as soon as things go back to normal. Keep an eye out for that. Then we’ll play as many gigs as we can. We’ve actually been relatively productive with songwriting over the past few months at home, so it’d be great if we could get back to the studio and record it all. Hopefully it doesn’t take 3 years this time.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Pub feeds and the pub. I don’t discriminate as to which.

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