A song that made you want to make music?
It was the entire Blues Brothers soundtrack. I was obsessed with that film as a kid, and consequentially, it made me obsess over the power of music. “Orange whip? Orange whip? 3 orange whips.”
Best rider you’ve had?
9 black towels. And they were the softest goddamn towels you’d ever felt.
Craziest moment you’ve experienced in the band?
Having our set pulled because the stageplay for Romeo & Juliet in the adjacent theatre was running overtime and they didn’t want us playing loud music over them. When I asked the venue manager how long we had to wait, his words were, “well, Juliet hasn’t died yet.”
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
“We’ll fall into that imperfect black.”
Easiest song you wrote?
Elegance Over Confidence. 3 hours! It all just made sense.
Favourite song in your set?
Translucence. It’s tender. Loud. Delicate. Aggressive. And it’s physically very fun to play.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Angus Andrew from Liars. I absolutely love his effortless, magnetic, intentionally underwhelming vocals. So much character.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Lugging an 8×10 bass cab up a staircase. This is now why I have a 4×10.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Our guitarist Sam walks his cat on a leash.
Jokes you have in the band?
We have four jokes in the band.
Key to writing a song?
Focus. Force yourself to finish it, otherwise you end up with another loose end that you’ll never tie.
Longest distance travelled to play a show?
Sydney to Tokyo! Hopefully in 2022 we’ll top that with a 26 hour flight to London…
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Seeing Bela Fleck & The Flecktones being awarded the Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2018. Being a bassist, Victor Wooten was one of my idols early on in my career – not just for his technique and skill, but for his personality and work ethic. I’d seen them a few times over the years, but this set was particularly phenomenal.
New band you’d recommend?
Adam Znaidi – the bassist from The Physics House Band has gone solo and put out a blisteringly tasty EP which is the perfect lovechild of Thundercat and Jaga Jazzist.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
A gig is a gig! I’m not picky.
Place you’d most like to tour?
Japan. We’ve toured there a few times and I still can’t get enough of it!
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“A great musician knows when to shutup.” – Mr. Nigel King, 2002. (my high school music teacher)
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
It’s our fourth album, so it felt pretty apt to call it FOUR.
See us live at?
ArcTanGent 2022!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
All music is timeless and the greatest music you’ll ever experience lives outside time – therefore the question is moot.
Unusual merchandise?
I’ve always wanted to do a run of tea towels…
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
I’d love to hear my music redone as Klezmer or Polka. I feel like it lends itself to those genres…
What do your fans mean to you?
They’re the life source. This band only exists in the state that it does because of the fans, and I’m genuinely so thankful that I have the opportunity to write the craziest, complex music I want because of our fans love for something challenging and left-of-field. Sincerely, thank you to everyone. <3
X-rays or any treatments needed for band-related injuries?
7 MRIs (1x brain, 2x neck, 3x spine, 1x brachial plexis) and 2 ultrasounds. I’ve previously had tenosynovitis in my left forearm, and now have focal dystonia down my entire left arm.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
I’m never late for my own show. I’m the bassist. I’m ALWAYS on time 😉
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
Star-nosed mole. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tWTBorPYHUc/UH79Ipwf–I/AAAAAAAAAVE/7hvexkig1-U/s640/Condylura_cristata.jpg