Photo credit: Charlie Hardy
Small Fry reflects a lot of your experiences growing up in Western Australia. How did your time at Blackbird Studios in Perth influence the album’s sound and vibe compared to your previous recordings?
Blackbird was 10 minutes down the road, so we were in WA the whole time we recorded the album. Previous albums were done in one large block on the East coast, but this one we got to go home in between sessions. Also, it was the middle of Summer, so we got to spend time at the beach too, which made it a much more relaxed process.
Your single “You Shall Not Pass” showcases a unique, raw vocal style.
How did leaning into the Aussie accent and Paul Kelly-inspired rambles shape the overall narrative of the song?
Paul Kelly has always been a massive inspiration for me, and like any song we write – we follow our gut, and if it feels right, it feels right. That’s the way I decided to sing it on the day, and I’m proud to have a bit of a twang.
In “You Shall Not Pass,” you mention the lyrics flowed naturally while playing chords.
Do you often find this spontaneous writing process works best for you, or do you usually prefer more structured lyric development?
I always keep the songwriting process spontaneous, especially the lyrics. If I get asked what lyrics mean, sometimes I can be really specific, and sometimes I don’t have a clue.
You’ve described the album as a blend of nostalgia and sentimentality.
What specific memories or emotions from growing up in WA influenced tracks like ‘Best Friend’ and ‘Hometown’?
With age, I’m definitely becoming more nostalgic. Working that into songwriting means that I can romanticize what kind of upbringing I had in the South West of WA. Best Friend is a love song, but it feels like anyone can relate to it. Hometown feels like an ode to anyone that has grown up in a small town.
Your upcoming album release shows and 2025 Australian headline tour will see you performing in iconic venues like Oxford Art Factory and Rosemount Hotel. How do you adapt your performances to different spaces, from intimate venues to larger festival stages?
The goal we always strive to achieve is to have fun, and adapting is just a part of gigging around. We love playing both intimate and larger shows.
Following your 2023 EP Read the Room and your extensive touring in the UK and Europe, how has the international exposure influenced your approach to songwriting and performing for your new album?
Touring comes with its challenges, but at the moment, the band sounds as good as we have for a while because of the amount of shows we’ve been playing. We’re grateful that people are coming to the gigs in other countries, and it’s epic to see the world in such a cool way – which is great for inspiration.
You’ve drawn inspiration from a variety of artists like Jack Johnson and Bon Iver. How have those early influences evolved over time as you’ve developed your unique sound on albums like On The Wall In The Morning Light and now Small Fry?
All of the artists that we’ve listed as inspirations over the years will always be there, and there are still moments on Small Fry that remind me of Bon Iver and Jack Johnson.
The singles from Small Fry, such as ‘Think Again Motherf*cker’ and ‘Fine Wine,’ demonstrate a range of emotions. How do you balance creating music for both introspective moments and more energetic, rowdy occasions?
“Think Again Motherfcker” is a song that I wrote, and “Fine Wine” is a song that Matt (our guitarist) wrote. Two different people with two different sets of emotions.*
You’ve had the chance to work with Dave Parkin on this album, who’s also worked with bands like Spacey Jane. What was his biggest contribution to maintaining the “original vibes” of your demos while elevating the final recordings?
Dave was keen on keeping some takes that I’d recorded on the demos in the final tracks, and he had a good understanding of what sound we were after. The idea was to keep things simple, and sound like 4 people in a room playing a song.
As a band that’s gone from university jams to sold-out headline tours, what advice would you give to emerging indie-rock artists looking to establish themselves both locally and internationally?
Stay optimistic, write lots, gig hard, and have fun!
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SMALL FRY ALBUM RELEASE WEEK SHOWS
Friday 11 October – La La La’s, Wollongong *
Sunday 13 October – Stag & Hunter, Newcastle *
Tuesday 15 October – Leadbeater, Melbourne *
Wednesday 16 October – Mary’s Underground, Sydney *
Saturday 19 October – Stone Fest at UC Hub, Canberra ^
* Album launch show
^ Festival show
GREAT GABLE 2025 HEADLINE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Friday 7 March – The Brightside – Brisbane QLD
Saturday 8 March – Solbar – Sunshine Coast QLD
Friday 14 March – Oxford Art Factory – Sydney NSW
Saturday 15 March – The Corner Hotel – Melbourne VIC
Friday 21 March – Rosemount Hotel – Perth WA
Full ticketing details HERE
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