A QUICK CHAT WITH MAMMAL

Can you tell me a bit about your inspiration for your single ‘Keanu Reeves’?

I was just fed up with “alternative facts” and the division caused by social media. In the end, if we can’t accept certain things as true (“Trees are real”) then we are doomed as a species. Some things are real.

What are your influences and how do they affect your songwriting?

Musically, we’re 90s kids. Rage, Alice In Chains, Sepultura, Pantera, RHCP. Lyrically, I draw inspiration from protest movements, whispers on the streets, but also the grayness of life and seeking revolution. On a macro level, we want our music to be killer live, with huge guitar solos, pounding rhythms and energised ideas.

What’s the creative process like for you?

Hard. We’ve always fought a lot as a band, I mean, we broke up for 7 years, that’s how bad it got. This process was pretty good, we still butted heads, but Zane (our drummer) took over the songwriting duties with Pete just pumping riff ideas at us, and that gave the whole process a sense of progression and “newness”. Lyrically, Zeke freestyles most of his stuff, the vocals for this album were written in 2 days.

If you could change something about the Australian music industry what would it be?

Venues taking a cut of merchandise. It really is a low act. If they wish to discuss taking a cut of what we designed, ordered and transported, then we should get a cut of the bar for the night. Somehow I don’t think they’d be that interested in doing that though. 

What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet? 

We’d be a farmer (Pete), a sparky (Zane), a rigger (Kade) and a lawyer/footy umpire (Ezekiel) if we didn’t have music. We are still those things now and love them. Music offers us travel, mystery and so much love.

Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with?  Why?

We’ve always wanted to get Ecca Vandal to collaborate with us. Ecca? What do you say legend!

What’s your advice to young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry? 

Practice with your mates. Suck. Suck so hard that you hate it and want to get better. Celebrate the wins fully, and reflect of the defeats and hard times appropriately. But most of all, always remember that you stand on the shoulders of giants, being in a band is a privileged position, always give everything you have to your audience. Authenticity and hard work beats talent and marketing in the long run.

Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/met?

Duff from Gunners. I was recording an album in LA in 2003, and Velvet Revolver were in the other studio. I pluck up enough courage to ask them in to listen to our tunes. Duff dug it, and then proceeded to give us all these tips for touring the states, places to stay, cheap ways to move gear. So humble and generous, interesting from as superstar.

Any plans for a tour on the cards?

Massive Xmas show coming up on December 22 at the Evelyn in Narrm/Melbourne. Then we’ll be touring far and wide (UK dates on the cards) next year in support of our new album which drops in March 2024. Few tickets still left for the Eveyln.