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Interview with
JOE MUNGOVAN

(10th November 2021)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
I was really into sport when I was younger. I did play the drums from a young age, but wanted to pursue a career on the sporting field.  When I was 13 I had a skateboard accident and broke both my legs. I ended up in a wheelchair for 5 months. I couldn’t play sport and I also couldn’t play drums so I started playing guitar. I fell in love with songwriting and now I get to do that for a living which is amazing.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
Imagine yourself on a yacht cruising on ocean with the sun setting, a glass of wine in your hand and the wind in your hair. That’s how I want my music to sound/feel.

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Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
I’m super inspired by the likes of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Braille Face, Feist, Justin Vernon, Leif Vollebek, Cloud Control, Lord Echo, J.J. Kale, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Kevin Parker.

Your debut album ‘A FLOWER IN THE WEEDS’ is coming out on November 10. Describe its origin and evolution. 
I recorded the majority of the album in Kangaroo Valley.  I moved out to the bush and turned a small house into my studio. I ended up living out there for a year and a half throughout the covid lock downs.  I would go weeks without seeing any other humans. It provided me with the time and space to reflect on the past years of touring and life. My mate Tim Carr helped me put the final touches on the song and we mixed the album in his bedroom closet.
I wrote the album about a girl I met a girl tour in Europe back in 2019.  She cut my hair at 4am after my show in Berlin, and ended up traveling around Europe with me for the remaining shows. I flew back to Australia after the tour ended a few months later.  I didn’t know if I would ever see her again.
She ended up flying out to Australia to see me in March 2020. We went on a road trip down the East Coast and spent the days at the beach and the nights drinking wine around the fire.
Unfortunately our time together was cut short when we found out that the pandemic was getting quite serious – the German borders were closing.  We turned the van around and headed back to Sydney to get her on a flight home. I returned back to the studio and finished off writing the record.
This album is about the time we spent together traveling through Europe and Australia, drinking wine and enjoying life before our plans were turned upside down.

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Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
I initially planned on touring the album with a full band through November and December. The second lock down hit, I quickly realised that I would have to reschedule those shows, but I still wanted to play some gigs and give people live music. The idea of ‘Breakfast With Joe’ was born. On the week the album drops I will hit the road and travel up the east coast playing at a different cafe each morning. I have chosen some beautiful spaces with big outdoor areas so bring your picnic rug, get your almond latte orders in and enjoy a morning of live music and smashed avo.
We will be bringing with full album tour and live show to you in 2022.

How has COVID affected you to date? What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?
Covid really put a halt to my overseas touring plans.  I had a European tour booked in and had to cancel that back in June 2020. I was also planning to move overseas and base myself there so was forced to re-evaluate everything and change my plans.
On the other hand, Covid also had a very positive effect on my life. It forced me to slow down and really gave me time to record this album. It was a big change waking up in the same bed every morning and getting into a more regimented routine.

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If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
I’d love to play congas for Khruangbin for just one gig. What a vibe that would be.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
I’d love to make music for film one day.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
The best thing about playing live is being able to connect with people and seeing the joy in their eyes.  I don’t really have one career highlight, I just feel so lucky to be able to make music with my friends.

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Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – For Emma, Forever Ago
Artist – Fat Freddy’s Drop
Movie – Amelie
Place to visit – Portugal
Venue to play – I love playing at The Vanguard in Newtown.
Food – Vegemite on almost anything.
Drink – Red Wine
Person in History –  My nan
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)  A butterfly tramp stamp.

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Follow JOE MUNGOVAN
Facebook – Instagram – Twitter
Soundcloud – Youtube – Spotify – Apple Music

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A word from Joe today (10th November 2021) below

Debut album
‘A Flower In The Weeds’
Out Now!

Listen Here

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Hey everyone,

I have been dreaming of this day for soooooo long. My debut album ‘A Flower In The Weeds’ is out now! It has taken me years to get to this point. I hope you all enjoy the album – I feel as though there is something in there for everyone.

Listen here

“The result is a collection of songs that elevate the earnest, introspective songwriting that threads Mungovan’s earlier work, with tons of warmth and infectious indie-pop sensibilities throughout. Hazy, blissed out guitar chords and Mungovan’s distinctive croon anchor the songs throughout, with a lush palette of textural flourishes underneath.” – Music Feeds

I initially planned on touring the album with a full band through November and December. The second lock down hit, I quickly realised that I would have to reschedule those shows, but I still wanted to play some gigs and give people live music. The idea of ‘Breakfast With Joe’ was born. On the week the album drops I will hit the road and travel up the east coast playing at a different cafe each morning. I have chosen some beautiful spaces with big outdoor areas so bring your picnic rug, get your almond latte orders in and enjoy a morning of live music and smashed avo.

Check the dates below and more information here

Cheers,
Joe Mungovan

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‘Breakfast With Joe’
Cafe Tour

(Free Entry)

Saturday, November 13 – Little Earth Cafe, Kiama 
Sunday, November 14 – Bulli Beach Cafe, Wollongong 
Tuesday, November 16 – Sandbox, Port Macquarie
Wednesday, November 17 – Beach Bums, Forster
Thursday, November 18 – Surf Cafe, Terrigal
Friday, November 19 – Coquun, Maitland 
Saturday, November 20 – The Kiosk, Newcastle
Sunday, November 21 – Harvest Deli, Newrybar
Thursday, November 25 –  Yum Yum Cafe, New Brighton
Saturday, November 27 – Frankies Coffee Van, Culburra 
Sunday, November 28 – The Hungry Monkey, Berry 
Thursday, December 2 – The Hungry Monkey, Bowral
Saturday, December 4 – Cuckoo Callay, Surry Hills
Sunday, December 5 – Frankly My Dear, Katoomba

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AMNPLIFY – DB