Project Description

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How did the band come together all those years ago? Where did it all begin?
It’s hard to completely remember it’s inception, but I do remember trying to get a few friends in year 10 music class to play this piece of music that had a minor 6/9 chord in it and some metal riffs that were inspired by the theme song to the BBC horror/comedy show “the League of Gentlemen.” It was the big improvisational “free” bit in it that got us in trouble.
The “original” Sex on Toast line-up were once thrown out of a small music room at our high school for playing that song and all violently bashing the upright piano whilst our horn players shrieked into oblivion as I skronked on my Levinston blade with careless abandon.
Perhaps some this new album retains some of that spirit?

Briefly describe your journey to date.
I started it in high school… kept the same name, had different musicians have come in and out… but many of the real veteran players have had long stints. Made a bunch of EPs and now two LPs with lots of different stuff in it.
Made a bunch of ridiculous music videos…
Played hundreds of shows. Wore lots of garish costumes… Saw too many petrol stations whilst touring… I can’t stand those places! If I have to go into one on road trips with my girlfriend now I get triggered!

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How would you describe your sound? Why do you think fans resonate with your music?
In this era of the band there’s some real orchestral-pop dreamscape type stuff, interlaced with the comical and some things that might be described as sonically grotesque! But parts of it also remains soulful and funky…There are some Motown beats and R&B licks.. Some hard rock moments?
One thing I think that all of the eras of Sex on Toast have in common Is we’re not afraid to utilise certain weird, comical or outrageous keyboard sounds or patches.
In terms of what resonates with fans, it all depends on which fans and what they’re listening to and why? Some people just wanna bop to the funk stuff because of the Spotify algorithm, some people really dig into the influences, some people have found our weirdest songs or videos and have zeroed in on them.
It’s quite varied!

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
So many! Lately…. The Tubes’ stage show … Major Entertainer’s “Mike” album has been on high rotation. Charlie Wilson of Gap Band… David Thomas of Pere Ubu is a fairly mesmerising frontman (especially the Night Music performance from the late 80’s)
I saw a great band from San Francisco called Gumby’s Junk recently that really ruled… Complex punky stuff and they could REALLY play, it’s always great to stumble upon a band not many people have heard of that are super amazing. Also… sometimes it isn’t really music that inspires me. Whilst making this album I felt quite inspired by some of the weird and magical fantasy/comedy/horror type films that Hollywood was churning out in the late 80’s and early 90’s like ‘The Mask’, ‘Gremlins 2: A New Batch.’ The practical effect magic, puppets, outrageous costumes/sets and cartoonish things onscreen make the creative cogs in my brain turn!
Also the guys in my other band Umlaut are always inspiring to play with!.. Danny Heifetz might be the my favourite drummer to play with ever…

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Your latest Album ‘Pegasus’ has just been released! What’s it all about? Describe its origin and evolution. 
It’s origin I believe was me trying to write a new album for SOT and some very different stuff was coming out and I just let it come out authentically without trying to rehash anything we’d already done on previous releases…Of course I wanted to keep some of the songs in a sort of “pop” vein but exaggerated, cartoonish and at times proggishly epic. It was originally not explicitly about anything but it is definitely a bit of an autobiographical snapshot of my life at the time. It’s also a love letter to creativity itself. Pegasus (the flying horse) is a symbol of creativity!
It’s also worth noting that we made four music videos for the album that are meant to be watched in order. They’re meant to all be one long, weird dream. Maybe a cheese dream?

What are the signature tracks on the album, and which are your favorites to play live?
The signature tracks from Pegasus are maybe Somebody like You, Never Let Go, Layin’ Next To You…Maybe also the weird little interludes like Opening Credits and Oooo Yeah, I think those really weave the record together.

You have an Australian Tour coming up? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
We’re going to try and put the set together as a real stylised kick ass show to see off the Pegasus era of the band ONCE AND FOR ALL! Expect our usual theatrics, AND expect us to play most of these new songs live. We’ll also be playing a few old hits. We will also end the tour off with a gig over New Year’s eve with a MEGA LINE-UP of the band.

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If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
I’ve been reading some articles about Frank Sinatra and his foul temper, so maybe it would be fun for SOT to be his backing band and to bear the brunt of one of his outbursts! I heard a story about him not liking a guy’s shoes in his club. I BET Sinatra would HATE my shoes!

Do you still have long-term aspirations as a music artist? If you do, what are they, and how are you progressing towards them?
Possibly… I’m having a mid-life crisis LITERALLY as we speak (in my kitchen) so maybe a bad time to ask but I would LOVE to hear some of my music played by an orchestra some day…
Or play a stadium. Maybe play some of my music with an orchestra in a stadium. I’m progressing toward this goal by doing as many push-ups a day as I possibly can.

With all that experience now behind you, what piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out? 
Get a real job, you bum!

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
The best thing about performing live is when people play billiards during the gig.
Sharing the stage with Todd Rundgren this year was definitely a career highlight!
We did a Tubes cover and he apparently filmed it for his wife in Sydney. It’s strange to think footage of us exists on Todd’s iPad…

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Here are three personal questions your fans may find interesting about you:

1. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?  Talked my way into singing background vocals with Mr. Bungle at Festival Hall this year.

2. What is the one topic you can talk about for hours?  The history of all my favourite music, probably… It’s all up in the dome!

3. What is the thing you like most about yourself? I’m at heart an optimist, though age has worn this down somewhat…

Finally, just a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – California- Mr. Bungle
Artist – R.Crumb
Movie – Nightbreed (1990)
Place to visit – Los Angeles
Venue to play – The Lansdowne Sydney, Northcote Social Club Melbourne
Food – too hard to choose! I’m a bit of a “foodie”…food is one of the great pleasures of life.
Drink – Weak Soy Latte.
Person in History – Pongo
Tattoo – I will never get one. Out of the question!

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About Sex on Toast:

Sex on Toast are an enigma. A 7 legged beast, a phenomenon, and an auditory and visual feast. Explorers of funk, soul, theatrical rock and beyond, with all manner of line ups, Sex on Toast are lifers, plain and simple.

Sex On Toast stepped into vans and planes and treated many of Australia and New Zealand’s’ major festivals with these shows.

The group are about to release the epic ‘Pegasus’ LP.  After years of directly referencing musical genres, this work is an attempt to move away from this tendency into a sonic universe into of itself, where pop sensibility and orchestral bombast rub shoulders, thematic material weaves in and out of each track and surprise is around every corner.

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Listen HERE

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Follow SEX ON TOAST
Spotify – Apple Music – Bandcamp
Facebook – Instagram – TikTok – YouTube

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‘Pegasus’
Album Tour
Tickets

7 Nov – Crown & Anchor, Adelaide
9 Nov – Out West Festival, Ararat
15 Nov – The Vanguard, Sydney
16 Nov – Smiths Alternative, Canberra
22 Nov – The Evelyn, Melbourne
29 Nov – Felons Barrel Hall, Brisbane
1 Dec – Wallaby Hotel, Gold Coast

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Press Release 16th October 2024 (below) HERE

SEX ON TOAST
draws open the curtains
for new album
‘PEGASUS’

Listen HERE

Album Out Wednesday, October 16

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AMNPLIFY – DB