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A Minute With Drohtnung

Sunday, December 21st, 2014

Before they join Drowning Horse, Tangled Thoughts of Leaving and a slew of Perth’s best heavy acts for New Year’s Evil at The Bakery, we spend a minute with Old of Drohtnung and find out what’s new…

Describe your music in five words or less.
Anti-social, emotional, erratic, mess.

What’s going on in the world of Drohtnung?
This year we have been quite busy!

We are currently working with Seance Records at the moment who are releasing our 2nd full-length album In Dolorous Sights. Promoting of the album is under way and early 2015 will see the release of the album, which we’re all focused on at the moment.

Between the release of The Suicide Sessions album through Nostalgia Productions (Hong Kong) and writing/rehearsing new and old material, we don’t have much down time. Also everyone has their own bands/projects to concentrate on amidst the madness. There are also plans for shows next year which I guess will be our next concentration point.

What motivates you to make music?
I’m not sure what is the motivation, though, It’s just a part of who I am, it’s my release… Plus I can’t afford a psychiatrist, maybe that’s the motivation?

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
The high points — one would be finding the right people to complete the bands line-up (this took a while!). Also the connections you make with people through touring/shows/releases. Meeting like-minded people, working with them and that have the same moral ground, musical/art ideals. That appreciate what you do… The sense that you’re not the only person who is fucked in the head in this world is always comforting. Over the past 10 years I’ve worked with Woods of Desolation, Drowning the Light, Forest Mysticism, Wardaemonic, Pestilential Shadows, Yhdarl, Broken Spirit… All are high points.

The lows — besides having problems with my equipment being faulty/broken, is the isolation. Being stuck inside my head with myself for long periods of time… That’s hard at times to come back from. And writing tab… I’m hopeless at that too.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
A few things I’ve been listening to lately:
Nirvana — Bleach Sessions
Tom Waits — Bone Machine
The Velvet Underground & Nico

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
I would have no idea.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
A lot pisses me off… all I will say is that the music world is upside down!

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists. Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
2 Stages, 2 Day.
Location: Tasmania
Venue: Outside
Lineup:

Masses
Foetus
The Birthday Party
Kromosom
Warthreat
Lubricated Goat

Denouncement Pyre
Spear of Longinus
Sadistik Exekution
Mortal Sin
Hobb’s Angel of death

Funeral Mourning
Moon
Drowning Horse
Transcendental Warlords
HOST

Baal Gadrial
Broken Spirit
Rift
Grave Worship
Woods of Desolation
Desgranges
Temple Nightside
Nazxul

Drohtnung join Drowning Horse, Tangled Thoughts of Leaving, Scalphunter, The Devil Rides Out and many more in welcoming new year at New Year’s Evil at The Bakery this December 31. Tickets on sale now at lifeisnoise.com.

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A Minute With Puck

Saturday, December 6th, 2014

We spend a couple of minutes with Liam Young of Puck ahead of the band’s support slot for Sleep on December 8 at The Bakery…

Describe your music in five words or less.
Dream Doom Stoner Rock.

What’s going on in the world of Puck?
We just won best Heavy/Metal Act at the WAM awards this year, which was just ridiculous… We’re really excited to finally put out our split EP with FOAM on 12? random coloured vinyl. Mmmmm… Not to mention our last show of the year is supporting SLEEP thanks to you legends!

What motivates you to make music?
It’s the only thing I was good at as a kid, so I suppose that was my motivation to keep playing through school. Now I find motivation in my band mates’ riffs. Something clicks and I have to put my shit all over it. Plus, I just love playing the drums.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
Touring Japan in 2012, that was a true insight. Working with amazing musicians and sound crew so commited to their craft. When I was 18, my other band The Novocaines supported Them Crooked Vultures. After the show we got really drunk and hung out with Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and fucking JPJ for a couple of hours. I shouldn’t complain too much, I have a lot of fun. But most of being a musician on tour kind sucks. Cancelled flights, jetlag, excess baggage fees, sharing air matresses, getting to the gig 5 hours early and noone gives a shit, stuff like that.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Still on the new Code Orange album — I Am King, the new Caribou album is pretty cool and the Crazy Spirit LP from 2012. So good.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
Me. Not worth the effort though, I’m too skinny.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
It pisses me off how difficult it is for WA bands to get a leg up on the east coast when it’s so expensive to get there. I don’t want to live there or anything, but it’d be nice not to come home with a total loss every national run.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists. Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
You Am I, The Church, Tumbleweed & Mark of Cain (with John Stanier) at the Belvoir. Fuck yeah.

Puck join Mt. Mountain in supporting Sleep at The Bakery in Perth on December 8. Tickets on sale now through lifeisnoise.com.

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A Minute With Mt. Mountain

Thursday, November 20th, 2014

We spend a minute with Perth’s Mt. Mountain ahead of their support slot for Sleep on December 8 at The Bakery…

Describe your music in five words or less.
Mid Tempo Psychedelic Rock.

What’s going on in the world of Mt. Mountain?
We recently recorded the first half of a full-length album along with a new single that will be out on the 1st of December that we’ll also be releasing on a 7 Inch with another new track later in that month. We’re currently busy writing and getting the rest of the tracks together to finish off the record early next year and getting ready to support Sleep on the 8th of December at the Bakery.

What motivates you to make music?
I would say most of the time, hearing music from bands that are doing something different and interesting and maybe not doing it the “conventional” way. It’s always instantly inspiring and will make me want to pick up the guitar or what ever is on hand and explore new sounds.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
Opening for OM and Earthless were both big high points for us last year. I don’t think any of us expected to be sharing the stage with those legends. Also the launch of our EP mid this year was a very special one along with the very recent winning of the WAM breakthrough artist award a couple of weeks back was definitely a surprise and the highpoints of our year so far.

Low point was losing when trying to compete with the Freo Dockers for a crowd at Wave Rock last year when we we’re playing during the final quarter of their first finals appearance. It wasn’t all that bad though and they definitely made up for it at this years Wave Rock!

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Sharon Van Etten & Sun Kil Moon.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
Anyone but Brendan — he could keep us all entertained by reciting whole movies and TV episodes from memory all day long.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
People taking their shoes off to play on stage barefoot. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t really get it… Isn’t it easier to leave your shoes on? I think Ozzy played barefoot… when he couldn’t afford shoes.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists. Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
Going to keep it current with a bunch of bands that need to come out west again or for the first time — The Murlocs, The Laurels, The Citradels, The Grand Rapids, Contrast & King Gizzard in between the trees at Somerville Auditorium.

<a href=“http://mtmountain.bandcamp.com/album/ep” mce_href=“http://mtmountain.bandcamp.com/album/ep”>EP by Mt. Mountain</a>

Mt. Mountain join Puck in supporting stoner doom legends Sleep at The Bakery on December 8. Tickets on sale now from lifeisnoise.com.

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A Minute With Lower Spectrum

Monday, November 3rd, 2014

We spend a minute with Lower Spectrum before he kicks off RTRFM’s Courtyard Club series this Friday and find out what’s new…

Describe your music in five words or less.
Raw, honest and deep.

What’s going on in the world of Lower Spectrum?
Remixes, live shows, contracts, hustling and working on a new release.

What motivates you to make music?
Friends, different environments, time, limitations and making something from nothing.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
Highs: Being given the opportunities to play with and support acts I look up to like Andy Stott, Jon Hopkins, Nightmares On Wax, Tim Shiel, Pantha Du Prince, Colin Stetson…

Lows: Having my laptop bounce off stage during my show at BIGSOUND in Brisbane….

What music are you listening to at the moment?
A lot of gospel music– Marion Williams, The Wright Specials and Mo Town

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
It would have to be my manager, because there is only me in the band and that could be his cut.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
The end bits of bananas. That little sneaky stalky bit that is disguised in the bottom of the banana. Gets me every time. What’s with that?

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists. Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
I would make it at the little secret Booyembarra Park auditorium in Fremantle and have a mix of acts like D.D Dumbo, Cosmo Gets, Lewis Cancut, Seekae, Because Of Ghosts, Dizz1, Qua, etc.

Lower Spectrum plays the first of RTRFM’s free 8-week gig series Courtyard Club this Friday November 7 with DJ Craig Hollywood at the State Theatre Courtyard. Head over to the RTRFM website for more details.

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A Minute With Moana

Friday, October 17th, 2014

We spend a couple of minutes with Moana and find out what’s new…

Describe your music in five words or less.
Eerie fierce ritualistic rock weirdness.

What’s going on in the world of Moana?
In celebration of our debut EP and recent video/single ‘The Killer, My Girl’ we’ll be hitting Melbourne and Sydney in a few weeks for our very first tour! We’re also currently in the midst of dying many fake flowers and sewing gothic queen capes for our next film clip, which we’ll release before the end of the year. Heading into Debaser Studios with Andy Lawson soon to record a couple of new singles, which we shall release next year to much excitement and we’ve got some awesome shows to play as summer emerges. Other than that we’re writing some badass new tunes, jamming, experimenting with our sound, forever seeking stage get-ups, enjoying every moment.

What motivates you to make music?
The compulsion to create is a mysterious beast that lives so deep inside it’s hard to imagine existing without it…

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
Highs — live euphoria, In The Pines, EP, ‘The Killer, My Girl’ clip.
Lows — bad leads, bleeding nails, wardrobe malfunctions, ciggie brain.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Heaps of feel-good 60s/70s stuff like Fleetwood Mac, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix. Must be the spring season in the air.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
Maybe Javan… his mischievous pixie ways would probably lead him into trouble first. But then Lochy looks the tastiest and is most likely to believe any crazy scheme Javan and Moana tell him… But really they would probably both team up against Moana because her witchy ways are too intimidating and scary for deserted islands.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
Heaps of stuff!! I like a good fight. But pretty much anything to do with government vs the environment, animal cruelty, war and the mining industry get me going like a mad woman. I know we’re all just lost children in a big scary world, but sometimes us humans are real fucking cunts to all the gifts we have been given.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists. Who would you get to play and where? Feel FREE to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
It’d be a secret gig only spread by word of mouth. People dressed as magical creatures would guide you to a secret cave in the middle of the Bornaup Forest down south and on the line-up would be (and I’m being quite picky here, because I can) Nick Cave — and it would be during the years where he went out with PJ Harvey so she would want to come play a few songs too, obviously. Silverchair — but they have to be between the Frogstomp, Freak Show and Neon Ballroom eras. Sarah Blasko — for Lochy to marry. Wolfmother — first album era. Plus Perth legends The Growl and Abbe May. Bon Scott would also be there, maybe as the MC.

Moana will be touring the east coast of Australia on the following dates:

October 24 — The Espy, Melbourne
October 25 — Public Bar, Melbourne
October 26 — John Curtin, Melbourne
October 28 — The Old Bar, Melbourne
November 1 — Captain Cook Hotel, Sydney
November 2 — Cafe Lounge Bar, Sydney
November 3 — Balcony TV, Sydney

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A Minute With Tangled Star

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

We spend a minute with Tangled Star and find out what’s what…

What’s going on in the world of Tangled Star?
I’m thinking of working my way towards a solo album, one track at a time. I have one new song almost finished — Al Smith is mixing it as I write … I’m juggling musical and lyrical ideas for another new song. It’s always interesting to venture something creatively, to begin something and to feel those mysterious forces in the world coming to your aid … For some reason I’ve been thinking lately about Samuel Beckett’s radio plays, and Glenn Gould’s haunting and evocative radio documentary on cold and remote communities called The Idea Of North. I’d like to somehow let these things influence the development of my new project.

What motivates you to make music??
In his poem There Are Diseases, The Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa wrote: “There are sensations / Felt only by imagining / Which are more ours than our own life is”. A lot of people say similar things. For Federico Fellini, the imagination was more powerfully “real” than everyday life because he felt it more intensely. For the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze, life is fundamentally a question of creation. I’ve pretty much only written pop songs, but I’ve always felt that somehow there’s some kind of life at stake in creative processes, that I have a mysterious ethical duty to preserve and to liberate. So I’m mainly interested in things at this level — once a song is written and recorded, I’m not so motivated to go and play it over and over again to people.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far??
In a certain sense, I lead a relatively autistic existence, so my highs and lows revolve mainly around creative successes or failures, which are often strangely reversible, or even co-existent. An example might be the release of a new album: just the fact that it exists is a kind of success, but for me I’m often painfully aware of how the reality of it falls short
of what I’d imagined for it.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
In relation to listening to music, somehow for me the question conscious will or volition has fallen away, so that I no longer actively engage in it as an activity. But, like most people, I walk around in the world and hear bits and pieces of songs all the time. I’d rather that things come to me this way, like fate … Plus, I have music in my head a lot — I’ve come to prefer imagined or remembered music, and silence.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first??
Tangled Star isn’t really a band as such, but I’ve been involved in numerous projects over many years with Jim Butterworth (Bass player), and he is a fair size — plenty to feed any number of anaemic Rock musicians.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off? ?
I suppose I don’t appreciate anything that disturbs or interrupts my sleep — that could be anything from a barking dog, to the idea of Tony Abbott.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists? Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.?
I don’t know much about Australian bands … I’d like to go back in time and see some of those anonymous amateur cover bands in beer gardens I saw occasionally as a child — hilarious and heartbreaking …

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Two Minutes With Alex Cameron

Friday, May 31st, 2013

We spend two minute with Alex Cameron and find out what’s what…

What’s going on in the world of Alex Cameron?
I’m in my studio ‘The Ken Den’ with Serbian turbo producer Fanny V. We’re mixing my record. He’s a hard task master and he doesn’t speak much English.

But it’s going well. We’re eight tracks in, and we’ve found our sound.

What motivates you to make music?
Fanny V. Man that guy gets in a real sweat if I don’t get the vibe right on a take. One time he destroyed a synthesiser of mine because I patched a delay unit incorrectly. He also likes to yell ‘Tommy Jones’ at me just before he hits record. I think he means the singer not the actor.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
I don’t like to talk about my success. Fanny V says ‘You boast, I roast’. I think he means he doesn’t want me to talk about myself too much. I work weekends at a pizza restaurant rolling dough to make rent. I can’t get any respect at this joint and the owner is a total mess. Good thing is I get to work with my mate Roy Molloy and believe me he could tell you a thing or two. Roy and I used to work the local surf club circuit in a cover band. Playing ‘Reckless’ at the 2007 Aussie’s after party — that was a high point for me.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Plastic Ono Band, Mind Games, Cold Spring Fault Less Youth, Homosapien, Clues, WIXIW, Let’s Dance, Thousand Knives.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
I think Fanny would drown me before we even hit the shore. He’s seen stuff. I once found a set of pictures in his garage from his Serbian days. He’s wearing half a denim suit and swinging a dirty old chain around his head.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
I went in to Chinatown last night to sing my girl a song at this joint where they’ve got Karaoke. When I got on stage there was an error message — like the song wasn’t loading. They asked me to sing another one for the people but I said no way Jose. If they don’t have my song that gets me the wrong way. It took my girl a few hours to calm me down.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists? Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
Billy Field Bad Habits Big Band (original line up) — Diggers at the Entrance. He’d ask me to take the lead on ‘You weren’t in love with me’. Flume on bongos effecting them live with his prism box thing.

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A Minute With Methyl Ethel

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

We spend a minute with Methyl Ethel and find out what’s what…

Describe your music in five words or less?
Poltergeist infomercials between your ‘sleep-isodes’.

What’s going on in the world of Methyl Ethel?
Just released the debut EP Guts. We also premiered a video for the single ‘Poison Peach’ this week. I’m currently putting the finishing touches on the second EP so should hear something from that one soon.

What motivates you to make music??
A mix of insomnia, propulsion and repulsion.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far??
Low point; my Tascam 4-track dying.

High point; Getting the masters back for the first EP. Was really good to hear the finished
product, especially after having mixed it myself. Still a lot to learn though.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Gadgets, Brad Laner, Vas Deferens Organization, Deerhunter, Daniel Johnston, Dianas, Gary Wilson, the Astronauts.?

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first??
Diplomacy would ensure everyone donate a limb for the pot, refusal would result in death.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off? ?
Mainstream news/media and its automaton cultish following. I’ve got the current price of milk vs the
nutritional value of a cheeseburger for you, its engraved on this bullet.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists? Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.?
Hmm, lets go David Helfgott with WASO at the concert hall. Trish and John from playschool can compere and Bon Scott can read excerpts from Patrick White novels.

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A Minute With Daramad

Friday, April 19th, 2013

We spend a minute with Daramad ahead of their gig supporting Om at The Rosemount Hotel on May 11…

What’s going on in the world of Daramad?
At this moment Daramad is having a brief break whilst one of our members is overseas. Having released our CD at the end of 2012, part of our focus is on
marketing and also developing new repertoire toward our next recording. And if you’d like to see Daramad (outside of Fremantle), we’ll be playing a support for OM at the Rosemount Hotel on May 11.

What motivates you to make music?
I think the motivation comes from knowing that you can always do it better and there’s no real end point — just markers along a continuum, where the occasional cul-de-sac or dead are just part of the journey.

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
High points for me have less to do with audiences or venues and more to do with those moments of convergence when the results are neither pre-ordained or anticipated. I suppose I’d rate any low points as being at the extreme other point of that spectrum.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Almost impossible to answer in a couple of sentences. So at this moment: any recording I can get my hands on by the Persian kamancheh (spiked fiddle) virtuoso, Kayhan Kalhor.
Last night I listened to a newly issued ECM live recording by wonderful 1980s trio, Magico (Garbarek’s, Gismonti, Haden) — beautiful!. I’m a fan of Australian saxophonist, Sandy Evans. Her recent Cosmic Waves album is terrific. Another great world jazz listen is US alto saxist, Rudresh Mahanthappa.

Tell us something about your music that we might not know
Well anyone who knows of Daramad is doing pretty well for starters. We are a group of mixed heritage, shared between Australia and Iran. Our music draws Persian and broader Middle Eastern influences as well as the jazz tradition. It’s better for you to see us, than me talking about us…

You’re putting together your perfect local gig? Who would you get to play, why and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.
I’ll leave this one in the world of imagined possibilities.

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A Minute With Flower Drums

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

We spend a minute with Flower Drums ahead of their gig supporting Damon and Naomi at The Rosemount Hotel on Saturday, April 13…

Describe your music in five words or less?
Go easy on the Pepsi

What’s going on in the world of Flower Drums?
The current routine usually consists of Leigh getting up and watering his plants then attempting to contact Aden, but since his phone got cut off you normally need to trace his steps from the night before. They get together around midday and spend the day messing around with ideas and do some recording, Sam and Rhian (Groovehunter) come over after work, we jam, drink, eat, talk and repeat that every few days. It’s somewhat of a sad existence now I think about it. We’ve also been recording our album and plan to head to America for a couple of months later this year.

What motivates you to make music?
Money/Babes.…

What have been the high and low points of your musical experiences so far?
High: Playing shows over east and not stuffing up too much, as well as getting the money to buy more pedals and recording equipment.
Low: Spending so long trying to find good musicians that can also put up with our stupid sense of humour.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
Mainly hip-hop at the moment, like Q-Tip, Gravediggaz and Nas. For a while we were listening to way too much shoegaze, which unfortunately resulted in our own music lacking any kind of groove, but now we’ve mixed them together and created ‘gaze-hop’ which is for us the ultimate mix.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which member of the band would get eaten first?
Rhian; Girls taste better and she’s too nice to eat anyone else.

Here’s an opportunity to bitch about something, whether music related or not. What really pisses you off?
I’d like to briefly talk about those two little wankers from Good Charlotte. It’s enough that we have to deal with advertising during the cricket, but having to sit through those two (ex-vegetarian) talk about fried chicken is too much! Not only that but they are now advertising for a phone company that also sponsors the cricket! If they make it into a VB ad all hell will break loose.

You’re putting together your perfect gig featuring Australian artists? Who would you get to play and where? Feel free to include acts/DJs/bands/venues that no longer exist.

The Birthday Party, Kylie Minogue, The Go-Betweens, Midnight Oil, Normie Rowe, Snowman, Savage Garden, and the comedy stylings of Rolf Harris.
$5 @ the Grosvenor backroom.

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