A Quick Chat with Deep Sea Arcade

Outlands is being re-released on vinyl through Impressed Recordings—what makes this edition special for longtime fans and new listeners alike?

Outlands has always been an important record for me, and releasing it on vinyl feels like giving it a new life. This edition is special because it brings a tactile, intimate connection.

I’m a massive vinyl enthusiast myself, always at the markets with my head in a crate of records. I skip through tracks on the streamers but with a record I actually hear that middle 8 and wonder what the chords are and then it becomes part of the writing process for me. Plus, hearing these remixes and reimagined versions of the key tracks, like Lord Fascinator - Girls (Re-Fascinated). It’s inspiring especially for me to discover our music through a different lens.

 The Girls remix by Johnny Mackay (Lord Fascinator, Children Collide), titled Girls (Re-Fascinated), is an exciting reinterpretation. How do you think Johnny’s remix captures the spirit of the song while bringing something new to the table?

Johnny’s remix is great because it taps into the original energy of Girls while giving it this fresh, psychedelic spin. The core melody and mood are still there, but he’s added layers of texture and a more hypnotic feel. The song has been transported to that Fascinator universe that I’ve always been a huge fan of. It’s exciting for me because it’s still familiar, but it offers a completely new listening experience. I’m stoked with it

Johnny Took of DMA's recently shared his nostalgic connection to Outlands, mentioning how it soundtracked his youth. How does it feel to know that your music has had such a lasting impact on artists like Johnny?

Honestly, it's incredibly humbling to hear that from someone like Johnny. DMA’s are such an influential band, so to know Outlands resonated with him in that way is really special. When we were making the album, we were just focused on creating something we loved and felt proud of. The idea that it’s stuck with people all these years later, especially artists we admire, is surreal. I wouldn’t say we set out to influence anyone, but if Outlands has played a small part in the wider Australian indie scene, that's something we’re deeply grateful for.

Deep Sea Arcade’s debut made waves both in Australia and internationally. What do you think gave Outlands its broad appeal, and why do you think it resonates so strongly with audiences even today?

I think Outlands resonates because it captures a certain balance between dreamy escapism and raw emotion. When we were making the album, we weren’t consciously trying to fit into any particular genre, and I think that gave the music a timeless quality. The melodies, the slightly off-kilter production, essentially having the home demos professionally mixed by legends like Dan Grech Marguerat  (Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey)—there’s a lot of nostalgia and warmth in it that people have told me they connect with. 

The re-release of Outlands is a chance to celebrate the band’s legacy, but it also comes during a time of personal reflection for you. How has working on this project inspired your upcoming musical ventures?

 Revisiting Outlands definitely made me reflect on the journey Nick Weaver and I had, and how much this album meant to us. That reflection has been bittersweet, but it’s also inspired me to work on new music with a deeper sense of purpose. There’s a rawness in the material I’m writing now, probably influenced by that reflection on life and loss. So, while we’re celebrating Outlands, it’s also propelling me forward creatively.

Touring with acts like Noel Gallagher and performing at festivals like Primavera Sound must have been pivotal moments for Deep Sea Arcade. How do you look back on those experiences now, and do they continue to influence your music?

Those tours were absolutely transformative for us. Sharing the stage with bands like Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and playing huge festivals like Primavera Sound was a surreal experience. It gave us confidence and a sense of belonging in the global music scene. Those experiences still shape the music today—they pushed us to think big things were possible, to experiment, and to stay true to our sound. The energy we felt during those performances is something I still draw on when writing new material.

With the re-release marking a new chapter, are there any other tracks from Outlands that you’re keen to revisit or reinterpret? Could we expect more remixes or even re-imaginings of these songs?

Absolutely. Releasing Girls (Re-Fascinated) has opened the door to reinterpreting other tracks. There’s definitely potential to revisit songs like Lonely In Your Arms,  Steam or Granite City, and give them a fresh twist. I’ve been talking with a few other artists about possible remixes, so who knows, there could be more surprises in store. It’s exciting to see these songs evolve and take on new forms after all these years.

With the re-release of Outlands and the excitement around Girls (Re-Fascinated), can fans look forward to any upcoming live shows or special events to celebrate this milestone?

Yes, we're really excited to be playing at Outwest Fest in the Victorian town of Ararat on November 9th. It's going to be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the Outlands re-release with everyone, and it’ll be an emotional one for me. The line up is absolutely phenomenal so stay tuned for the official announcement and hope to see you there