Very delighted to have you guys featured on the site with this interview. Before we jump into it, would you be so kind as to introduce yourself and what you do in the band?
Thanks for having us. This is Caleb here — I’m on the drums in Nautical Mile.
Would you please provide a little context about the band — where you’re from, your origin story, etc.?
Nautical Mile surfaced in 2016, based in Perth, Western Australia. Our music might be described as an amalgamation of post-hardcore to pop punk, with heavier elements instrumentally and predominantly clean vocals up front. We’ve released various singles, including our debut album The Only Way Is Through in 2019, with several follow-up tracks since. Some memorable acts we’ve supported over the years include Hellions, Senses Fail, Trophy Eyes, Hawthorne Heights and Hands Like Houses. We’re finally back for another round after close to four years’ hiatus and excited to get back to business.
Who would you say are the primary influences that inform the sound of the band?
Across the board, bands including A Day To Remember, Bring Me The Horizon, Good Charlotte, Blink-182, Sum 41, Beartooth and The Story So Far would be a good start, along with several more. These are all bands we grew up listening to and they bring back a lot of memories from those times. Most of them are still active today, which is impressive.
What about yourself personally — one and the same, or are there some others that might be unique to you?
The bands listed resonate on my end as well. The only additions would be some of the big names on the drums like Luke Holland, Thomas Lang and Dan Searle, to name a few.
So you’re coming back from a hiatus with the new single “Daydreamer.” What can listeners who haven’t heard it yet expect? What themes does the track explore?
Daydreamer is a song that we had written right before we took our extended break. When we got back together and started jamming again in 2024, we felt it was the perfect track to bring us back. The song reflects on reminiscing about better days before the stresses and strains of adult life start to take over. During the time away we all had quite a lot happening in our lives, so returning to the band felt like recapturing the spirit of those happier times. There are a few quotes mentioned in the track that are non-fictional, but it’s probably best to leave it at that.
The track will make its live debut March 28th when you return to the stage for the first time in four years — what details can you provide about the show?
We’re definitely excited to be back after quite a few years away from it all. The show is happening March 28th at Amplifier Bar in Perth. Pontianak and Belgravia will be joining us for the night. It’s shaping up to be a pop-punk filled evening with a breakdown here and there to round things out. Tickets are available through Oztix and are on sale now, so if you’re in Perth, do yourself a favour and grab one.
What’s on the docket for the rest of the year?
We’ll be taking things one step at a time this year. Nothing is locked in yet, although we’re keeping the calendar open for the time being. We’ve spent quite a while writing new songs and revisiting older demos that didn’t make the cut previously. It wouldn’t be surprising if we end up back in the studio to record some of these.
This is a new chapter for the band, but looking back, what were the pre-hiatus highlights you remember fondly, and what made you want to return?
There’s a hefty catalogue of memories from the good old days. Some of the touring on the east coast up until COVID cut things short is definitely up there. This included sleeping in five-star hotels, which quickly turned into sleeping on the floors of friends’ apartments after we realised that’s not really how you tour and our finances paid the price. We also climbed Mt Kosciuszko on a day off between Melbourne and Sydney, got caught in a storm and returned covered in bruises from the amount of hail that came down. At the time it didn’t feel great, but looking back it’s actually pretty funny.
The best memories though would have to be playing to new faces every night while touring. That part never gets old. We met some amazing people along the way who we’re still friends with today, people we likely never would have crossed paths with otherwise.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Any last words for the reader?
Thanks again for having us on board. And if you’re in Perth, hopefully we’ll see you on March 28th at Amplifier.
