Beers & Tears

DMA'S is an iconic Australian indie rock band known for their infectious melodies, nostalgic yet contemporary sound, and compelling songwriting, seamlessly blending elements of Britpop and alternative rock. In today's episode, we have Johnny Took of DMA'S joining me for an intimate chat about the band's journey, offering a behind-the-scenes look at DMA'S. We get a sneak peak at the demo of delete and discuss the bands process of what “they like to call Frankensteining. Johnny shares insights into co-writing, being open to new ideas, and the importance of remaining flexible in the creative process. We chat about country music , the definition of successes and some hilarious stories from the many years of being a part of DMA'S 

Support the show

La Femme is France's foremost psych-rock band. With over a decade of groundbreaking music, they've achieved gold records, Victoires de la Musique awards, and a unique fusion of new wave, rock, electro, and punk influences. La Femme's legacy includes global tours, iconic hits, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of psychedelic rock. This episode I chat with La Femme about their decade-long journey leading La Femme and the unique musical movement they've pioneered. We We delved into the artistic process of reworking their iconic tracks for the re-issue of the 2011 EP, "La Femme Ressort and explored the backstory of 'Télégraphe,' a track that, despite not making it onto the first album, has organically evolved into one of their all-time live anthems.

Support the show

English, singer-songwriter Declan McKenna has always been a smart, literate songwriter. On his third studio album, produced by Gianluca Buccellati, Declan McKenna taught & trusted himself to take his time & let the listener soak in the ambience. The result 'What Happened To The Beach?,' is an album that revels in both space & atmosphere. This episode I chat with Declan McKenna about the creation of his 3rd studio album 'What Happened To The Beach? an album that encapsulates all our favourite things about Declan McKenna and with this album in particular, he’s just down for a good time. We revisited the spark of his OG blues influences and discussed coming to Australia for the first time, playing Heaps Good Festival and Aussie audiences can expect from Declan Down Under.  

Support the show

There are few living musicians as influential and wholly original as world-renowned recording artists, producers and DJs, The Avalanches..Their debut album 'Since I Left You', released in 2000, laid the blueprint for the future of sample-based music in the 21st century. The band have performed main stage at some of the biggest festivals in the world. Big believers in the life-changing power of music, wherever they’re playing and whatever they’re spinning, The Avalanches’ sets will always be joyous, raucous and celebratory affairs. This episode I chat with The Avalanches about their 3 incredible records - each album with a  distinct personality - and the evolution of the bands sound. We discussed the bands approach to finding and selecting samples, some of the challenging aspects of their production process and playing the upcoming Heaps Good festival over the new year period of 2024. 

Support the show

Support the show

Sydney Power Pop quartet Gavin Bowles & The Distractions hit the ground running in 2023; after releasing a series of catchy singles (“On The Telephone (I Used to Call You)”, “Break My Heart” and “Here Comes The Heartache”) and blazing through a stellar run of headline shows, the band has now released their debut album “Phoning It In”. This episode I chat with Gavin Bowles about making a name for himself recording and touring Aus in various outfits over the years before enlisting The Distractions. We tapping into his unabashed love of 70’s and 80’s Power Pop and how the band translates it to their live show.

Support the show

Coming from all walks of life, South Summit are proud to present their different cultures and demonstrate how music can unite people no matter where you come from. The quintet, only formed in 2020, yet they are rapidly captivating new audiences & bringing their current fan base along for a ride. This episode South Summit are back on the podcast and we chat about their new EP 'Tales of the Yeti'.  We discussed the bands journey over the last few years and  bonding at bowling during downtime on tour. The band also delved into the community outreach they have been dedicating their time to,
including visits to schools, prisons and youth detention centres.

Support the show

Romanie is the project of Belgian born, Melbourne based singer-songwriter Romanie Assez. In the music of Romanie, the listener is invited to become immersed in a rich palette of sounds and influences, buoying a natural vocal talent. For Belgian-born, Melbourne-based singer and songwriter Romanie Assez, the music has always stemmed from an innate desire to express creativity through personal and engaging storytelling. I chat with Romanie after the release of her debut EP  – Little Big Steps – in 2021, where Romanie introduced herself beautifully with a collection of music that boasted influences as varied as Phoebe Bridgers to Big Thief; Wet Leg and Alvvays, to Middle Kids.  This episode I chat with Romanie about the release of her highly anticipated debut album 'Are We There Yet?' an album about time and the motions of life. We discussed the ups and downs of releasing a debut album as an independent artist, being a rockstar for a day on the set of her the music video for album title track  'Are We There Yet?' and announcing a headline tour.

Support the show

Continuing his impressive run of diverse releases, Melbourne/Naarm artist OX4ORD returns with his latest single, ‘VISIONS’. Building on his unique sound, the Psychedelic Hip-Hop fusion delivers refreshingly candid lyrics and sonics alike. This episode I chat with OX4ORD about his production process. He offered some production tips, gave some insight into his approach on the transition between his project as YAAK. to OX4ORD and the “character approach” that he takes when creating music.

Support the show

Sløtface (first called and still pronounced Slutface) is a Norwegian rock-band-collective led by vocalist and main songwriter Haley Shea. Sløtface began as a four-piece band started by high-school friends Shea, Lasse Lokøy, Tor-Arne Vikingstad and Halvard Skeie Wiencke in 2012. In 2022 Sløtface announced that Shea would go on to lead Sløtface in it's next chapter after the amicable departures og Lokøy and Vikingstad. Sløtface recently came through Australia for the release of their new single with Australia’s beloved The Buoys . This episode I chat with Soltface about the release of their new single with Aussie faves The Buoys “Fight Back Time”. Together, we compared the Australian music scene and the Norwegian music scene and we discussed tapping into the Aus music market post pandemic.

Support the show