1.Growing Up

My parents listened to loads of cool music when I was growing up. Stuff like 7 Seconds, Minor Threat, Smashing Pumpkins. The stereo was always playing something gnarly. They weren’t really into making music when I was around but my mum told me she always thought my dad would have made a great punk frontman. They definitely introduced me to loads of good music, which I’m super-thankful for.

2.Inspirations

My favourite band would have to be Sonic Youth. I bought Sister when I was 13 or something and it blew my mind. I hated it. I listened to Dirty a little while after that and was super-encapsulated by it. When I went back and listened to Sister it sounded completely different. It made much more sense to me. They’re just real masterful at creating these noise-covered pop gems.

3.Your Band

I’m in a band called Lunatics On Pogosticks with two of my best buddies in the whole world, Bryce Wilson and James Whitfield. We all went to school together and became solid pals real quickly.

4.The Music You Make

We write noisy garage-pop tunes. Most of our recordings have been done in my little student apartment, which is probably why they’re pretty lo-fi. We dig that sound though so we’re not bothered by the quality too much.

5.Music, Right Here,Right Now

The Australian music scene is top-notch. There are not really any obstacles that bands have to overcome besides the initial step of actually getting shows and being able to play live. Luckily there’s tonnes of venues promoting free music like the Beach Road in Bondi and the Standard Bowl in Surry Hills, which is super-great cause you can just rock up any night and watch something. We played with Hockey Dad a couple weeks ago and they’re sick – definitely check them out now before they’re charging $100 for a sitting ticket at stadiums.

Slug Cat & Snail Dog out now through themusicconnection / MGM. Catch Lunatics On Pogosticks alongsideTim Fitz, The Money Go Round and Birds With Thumbs atCollector Hotel, Parramatta Thursday September 4; Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory Friday September 5; Great Northern, Newcastle Saturday September 6.

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