Project Description
Interview with
ANTY
from
THE BENNIES
by Vicky Hebbs
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How did you meet and decide to start making music together? Where did you develop your interest in performing music to an audience? What was your first big break that told you “We are in the right place”?
It’s pretty straight forward meeting similar minded people. We all kinda know each other through the music melbourne punk scene. Familiar faces and familiar smells.
To be honest, there wasn’t really any defining moment of a big break that told us we were on the right path or whatever… we actually just love doing this so much.. so there ain’t any other option.
Psychedelic Reggae Ska Doom Metal Punk Rock From Hell – Can you translate that into English for us please?
just means whatever the fuck you/me/we want.
You are releasing new music early 2019. What can fans expect from your new releases?
I guess we are trying some new things – but you know… always still the bennies. With every new song we make we try and push ourselves a bit harder. This can kinda mean a bunch of different things- but for me personally i’m trying to show more diversity and personality in my vocal delivery.
Are there any “signature” pieces you can inform us of to whet our appetite?
The first single is called ‘waiting on dave’. It’ll be out super soon – its a real fun summer banger. great for dancing.
Can you share the origins or inspiration behind your track, ‘Trip Report’ off the ‘Natural Born Chillers’ album?
we had the bass line kicking around for a while and really love it. We kinda didn’t know where to go with it – then we thought would be cool to just sing a long to bass line like a soccer crowd would. We all love a little story in music in this here band. So we said one day – lets all write a verse each but not tell each other what it is. We had a lose theme – which just was, ‘making observations on the small shit – that can reflect something bigger’.
What inspired you to write your classic ‘Dreamkillers’?
we like to try and remain positive. There is a lot of music that is self deprecating, or criticising other people (which is rad an important), but we like to try and write songs that are up lifting. This song is about people telling you that you can’t chase your dreams and things like that. ITs kinda fuck you to those cunts and just saying have a go and who cares.
Who are the musicians you listened to growing up? How have they influenced your music career?
it’s different for everyone in the band. But as I was growing up I was such a ska kid. Loved third wave ska so much. Less than jake and goldfinger were probably my favourite bands in my teens. They influenced me so much… i was learning the trumpet at school and i loved punk music so much (especially the living end) – i went to see them play and they were playing with area-7… it was the first time id ever seen or heard horns on stage looking tough and as part of the punk scene. IT was that day that i started my first ever band, ’39 pick up lines’.
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What is your favourite thing about performing live?
IT’s just so fucking fun. Its scary and exciting and rewarding and a little dangerous. Its my healthiest way to let out a bunch of the shit that makes me feel crap.
What’s on the agenda for the upcoming Australian Tour? Any highlights you have planned you can share?
Just so excited to be playing some new songs to people. It is also our first australian tour with our new lineup. We will be having horns play at a bunch of the shows as well – and we will also be doing some really cool weird neon light show at the show in perth.
Four trips to Europe in three years must see you developing a fan base over there. Can you share the developing experience of touring Europe, and what you are looking forward to from the next tour?
Europe is an awesome place for us to tour. The people and scene is super friendly and supportive. I think for me the thing that i love so much about it… we travel so far to get there and we are just neck deep in it for the whole time we are there- like no escape. being in that mode and environment just makes us all feel like we are really giving our dreams a fucking go. When we tour australia… it can be shows only on the weekends then home – maybe work a shift then away again next weekend… it can sometimes be a little bit of spreading easel thin or in too many directions. In europe its just dive in and drink some beers and smoke some weird hashish and just embrace the pace.
If you could perform with anyone (Alive or Dead) who would they be?
It would make me super happy to see bob marley play. So i guess it would be robert nests marley – but like.. id be way to scared to play not he same stage or anything.
We all live busy lives and seem time poor. How do you find the balance between your everyday life and your musical one?
yeah its super tough – and i haven’t worked this one out. Heaps of my relationships have suffered because of this
What are your plans for the next year in your music career?
just keep making new tunes and release as much shit as we can. push our sound further… develop and advance. make ourselves proud.
Do you have any longer-term goals?
i just wanna get one of our songs in a video game – then I’m happy as.
Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?
Im obsessed with a game called the binding of isaac. I’ve literally been playing it for over 1000 hours. Its my biggest addiction and time waster, meditation. its a super addictive video game that changes overtime you play it. its really hard to clock it and its way wicked. i have an isaac tattoo… I’m scared of finishing the game cos then i won’t know what to do with myself.
my favourite drink is a vodka cranberry – buy me one and i’ll be so happy.
my favourite place to drink is a bar in the city of melbourne called horse bazaar. its run by this amazing japanese dude and the place is weird but awesome – on wednesday nights they do 10 bucks for a massage and dumplings hahaha.
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POOL HOUSE RECORDS PRESENTS
THE BENNIES
Friday January 11 – The Zoo, Brisbane
Saturday January 12 – Factory Floor, Sydney
Friday January 18 – Geddes Lane, Melbourne
Friday January 25 – Rosemount, Perth
Saturday January 26 – Mojos, Fremantle
Sunday January 27 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
Tickets on sale NOW
thebennies.com.au
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