Melbourne rockers Pagan have just released their fantastic debut album Black Wash through Hassle Records. We asked the quartet to tell us more about themselves by taking on our A-Z challenge!
A song that made you want to make music?
Nirvana – Come As You Are. It was the first song I learned to play on the bass and really opened the flood gates.
Best rider you’ve had?
Crowbar in Brisbane is the greatest venue in Australia, owned and run by the greatest people in Australia and always spoil us rotten.
Craziest moment you’ve experienced as a musician?
We toured with Rise Against earlier this year and played these enormous, proper concert venues and sports arenas. It was the most amazing and surreal experience!
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
“At first she was his Lynch painting. Everything she did, so endearing. But when the colour started seeping it was nearly dead, already dead”. When Nikki sings this line in the first verse of our song Death Before Disco, it gives me chills every single time without fail.
Easiest song you wrote?
The Greatest Love Songs
Favourite song in your set?
We all have our own favourites, but I think everyone is really into playing Silver at the moment.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
I don’t know if we’ll ever have guests on the records, but it’d be cool to have someone like Johnny Jewel (Chromatics, Glass Candy, etc.) do a hot, weird disco remix of one of our songs or something.
Hardest thing about being a musician?
Balancing your pretend life with your real life, both from a financial and scheduling perspective. That said, there are much harder things I could be doing with my life.
Interesting fact about yourself?
When I am not busy making rock and roll with Pagan, I work in the Life Insurance industry. Its actually not interesting at all, but Franz Kafka worked in the same industry and everyone remembers him.
Jokes you love to tell?
I’m no good at jokes. I’m way funnier off the cuff.
Key to writing a song?
You’ll probably never write a song anywhere near as good as Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” so don’t bother putting too much pressure on yourself.
Longest distance you’ve traveled to play a show?
Maybe Perth from Melbourne which is only about a three hour flight, but there is a few hours time difference so you get hungry at strange times.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Kathleen Hannah
New act you’d recommend?
I really love the band Lost Talk from Melbourne.
Opening for this act would be ideal?
Ghost
Place you’d most like to tour?
Italia please!
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Good friend, how loud do you want life to shout her answers in your ears?
Reason for the title of your forthcoming/recent release?
To receive the Black Wash is to be baptised into the Pagan cult. Once you receive the mark, you’re in forever. Christians baptise their babies in clean water, but in the Church of Black Wash, you are baptised in the dirtiest, blackest water to prove your commitment to becoming one with the earth and a part of our family.
See me live at?
The Black Wash album tour this August in Australia, and hopefully sometime throughout Europe this October/November.
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Absolutely not. People cherish nostalgia much too much! It’s so important to grow as a music fan and constantly seek out new and different bands and artists and for all the bullshit that exists, there is so much good new music.
Unusual merchandise?
Nope. All our merch fucking rules!
Variations you’d like to do for any of your songs?
Matt loves Buddy Rich and a lot of old jazz drummers and I would love him to start doing drum solos in the middle of songs. I’ve also been thinking about working on dance remixes of some of our songs too!
What do your fans mean to you?
The concept of calling people “fans” is still very new and weird to me. But we genuinely are so flattered and humbled by anyone who takes an interest in what we do and is willing to give up their time and money to support our art. It’s hard to sound genuine in an interview, but I literally don’t have the words to explain how much it means to us.
X-rays or any treatments needed for performance related injuries?
I need to see an Osteotherapist because I have a bad neck and sprain it during shows all the time. Matt sees a doctor for an inflammation problem he has with his hand. Xavier dislocated his knee during a show once. We are all falling apart. Nikki is fit as a fiddle though!
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
It never happens. We are the most prompt band you will ever deal with.
Zoo animal that best describes your personality?
The flamingo. Very chill.