WHAT ARE SOME PIVOTAL MOMENTS VERTICOLI HAS EXPERIENCED BETWEEN YOUR ALBUM ‘PUNCHING BAG’ (2015) TO NOW, AND HAVE THEY FACILITATED GROWTH OR CHANGE IN WHO YOU ARE AS ARTISTS AND THE MUSIC THAT YOU’VE WRITTEN IN THE UPCOMING ALBUM ‘THE ECHO’?

We’ve had a few lineup changes over the years. I think Colvin rejoining the band and Jez coming on board really solidified the band and our shared idea of what the band should be. One of the first singles we released as a new lineup was ‘So Far’. It was pop-punkish, absolutely radio-friendly (without intending for it to be so), and it didn’t do much for the band. This kinda made us think, “well, if that song’s not gonna get us overnight success, nothing will”, and since then, we’ve just been blazing our own trial and picking up a few fans along the way and having a great time.

WHAT TRACKS HAVE YOU RELEASED FROM THE UPCOMING ALBUM HAVE YOU FOUND TO BEST REFLECT IT AS A WHOLE?

I don’t think any single song has captured the vibe of the album, and that’s probably the point. There’s no over-arching vibe or concept that unites it all, rather than lyrically maybe the feeling you get as you tick off another decade of your life. The album is just a continuation of our best efforts to combine grooves, riffs and melody into our own little thing.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A COLOUR CODING ACROSS YOUR LATEST SINGLES’ COVER ART. IS THERE AN UNDERLYING MESSAGE/THEME/SECRET MESSAGE TO THIS?

Well… Yes! We were toying with the idea of all the singles coming together like Power Rangers to form a big powerful album cover. But that didn’t work out, we went a different way. We’re happy with where we’ve ended up with it!

YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN ABOUT THE INFLUENCE LED ZEPPELIN, NIRVANA, AND YOU AM I HAVE HAD ON YOUR WORK, BUT IS THERE A PROJECT, MUSICIAN, DESIGNER, OR PAINTER WHO IS DOING THINGS CURRENTLY THAT YOU FIND INSPIRING OR INFORMS ON YOUR WORK?

A deceased Tasmanian artist Tom Samek has always impressed me, and the vibe of his work is awesome. To bring people together like Stranger Things has… man, that’s inspiring. It’s like The Beatles of today. We’d love to do that. Those Duffer brothers are amazing.

WHAT’S ON FOR THE REST OF 20222, AND WHAT WILL VERTICOLI GET UP TO IN 2023?

Another album next year would be the plan. If things go according to plan… we’ll have to see! Touring November and December, get along to a show!

A Quick Chat with Verticoli