A Quick Chat with Full Tone Generator

What are the origins of Full Tone Generator? Where did it start?

I started the band as a side project for my main band at the time – DON FERNANDO, we were touring with Brant Bjork and I mentioned that I would love to jam with him and he said lets do it! Long story short, I grabbed my mate Brad Young and we headed over to California to go to the Stoned and Dusted festival and also Jam with Brant and see what came of it, we jammed in the desert for 4 days in a mansion from the 70’s and came out with our debut album “Valley of the Universe”. Full Tone Generator was born!

You’ve worked with some of the most iconic names in the Desert and Stoner rock scenes, how did these connections come about?

In some ways it was pure luck and others by design, I’ve always been influenced by those guys and circumstance (and a lot of hard work) eventually put us in the same rooms, playing shows together etc, with Brant I felt a bit of a spiritual connection to his music and once we got to actually hang out together on the road we developed a friendship connection, he is a wise dude and happy to give some advice to guys like me (as well as share stories), he is also a very funny dude and we connected over beers, bands and just having a few laughs. Once we got in a room together playing music it just kind of flowed really easy, which makes sense considering I’ve listened to so much of his music as well as the music that influenced that desert scene. 

Tell us a bit about the new album. What does it mean to you?

The new album is really special to me as well because it’s the first album that we have done as a proper band, a band that has written the songs together, toured together and just bonded. The first album was a bit of a fluke, just get Brant on drums and write some tunes and see what happens, we spent more time on this new album but we also let ourselves just get in the studio and write a few things on the spot (which is kind of our vibe). Also, recording at the famous Rancho De La Luna was INSANE, so many rad bands and musicians have recorded there, it has a crazy vibe and Dave Catching is such a rad dude to work with, to the point where he just picks up instruments and starts laying down tracks, we were all vibing (and pretty high haha) and recording at that place just lends itself to creativity. 

Are there any inspirations you look to beyond music when writing or performing?

I take a fair bit of inspiration from films and books, most of my album titles actually come from novels I have read (I won’t give away which one’s!) and generally just life experience. I love those moments where you’re just listening to a song, or reading a book or watching a movie and you just have to stop what you are doing because the art has taken you to another place emotionally that you didn’t expect, that’s my inspiration. 

You’ve already partnered with some incredible artists and played alongside some greats. Who else would Full Tone Generator love to share a stage with?

There are so many!! But number one, I would love to Jam with PJ Harvey!! I would love to write some songs and see what she would do with them lyrically and melodically.