Project Description
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Interview with
TOMI GRAY
(16th August 2025)
Interview by Dave Bruce
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Have you always wanted to be an artist? When did you get the song writing bug?
No, I wanted to be the world heavyweight champion of the WWE but I’ve always been svelte and clunky like a drunken peacock. This is fine, as far as careers go.
You’ve been described as an Australian musician, writer, and performer whose solo show blends cabaret, live-looped music, absurdist comedy, and surreal theatre. Briefly describe your journey to date through those elements.
I’ve been described as far worse so things are looking up. I spent a solid stretch as a ditch digger in the sydney rock n roll scene before moving into a van and travelling australia, teaching myself how to navigate the ‘play some cold chisel’ demographic of this great land. Toured the world as a part of some great bands, landed on the Gold Coast and got a gig as the drummer in a cabaret show (handy part about playing most instruments ok, none great). I slowly, methodically set traps around the venue, picking off my fellow cast members one by one until I was in the leading role. Left on top of the mountain when I got the tap from Infamous Circus. Ran off with them and been doing that most of this year + loving it. They’re giving me a freedom I’ve never really known in this biz, where I can be as kooky as I want. I’ll be premiering my solo side-show in the big top at next years Adelaide Fringe fest on our circus days off, unless I get waylaid by mutants or the flu.
How would you describe your sound? They say it’s “genre fluid”, whatever that means.
People love to ask this question and i find the best way to answer it is to kind of ramble on for a bit and entirely deviate from the original intention then maybe sneakily find a way to circle back and make it about them by asking if they’ve been antiquing recently, or to maybe jingle my keys or just say ‘excuse me but i must be off to collect more badgers for her majesty.
Why do you think fans resonate with your music?
Typically I lose them around “badger collection” – Those who stick it out are rewarded.
Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
I listen to Tiny Tim.
People say I sound like Beck.
I wish they’d say I sound like King Gizz… but I’ll take what I can get.
Your latest single ‘Universe Exploded’ has just been released! What’s it all about? Describe its origin and evolution.
As with most of my songs, Universe Exploded started as a lyric. This one’s special, though as it’s the first in what’s become an ongoing collaboration with producer MattyMadeIt, whose ability I admire greatly. At the start of this year, I was sitting on over a hundred finished songs, perched atop them like a leathery mother hen far longer than I care to admit. Now, with a new track dropping every month, that backlog is finally shifting — the gap between songs written years ago and songs written weeks ago is closing.
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Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
The gaping maw of the internet is always hungry. Forever licking its charred, blackened lips with its gross serpentine tongue – I dont believe it has the appetite for Albums at the moment, it’s simpler to pelt it with track after track, beating it slowly down. Then when it’s well nourished and seeing to its evening constitutional, that’s when I’ll attack! Leaping into the outhouse waving my masterpiece at it, shrieking like rabid Enya while it paws uselessly for the toilet paper.
Having toured Australia and Europe in the past, what tours and events are coming up?
Currently i can be found wherever the Infamous Circus is bound.
What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
I hear Nowra has a mean fish and chip shop. So thats exciting.
If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Tom Waits, because he is a genius and i wonder what his breath smells like.
With that in mind, what piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out?
Don’t bother learning guitar, it’s finished. DJing is the future. Auto tune is both fun and affordable. Integrity is overrated. Tik Tok is free. Don’t ever sleep. Live in activewear. If all else fails, explore mushrooms and disregard prior advice.
What is the best thing about performing to a live audience?
The fact that it terrifies me every time. We live, Carol.
What’s been the career highlight so far?
It was pretty cool when I hosted the Gold Coast music awards and introduced a guest of honour by the wrong name.
Now for some quickfire questions to get a little personal:
1. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done? This interview.
2. What is the one topic you can talk about for hours? Birds of the Himalayan rivulettes
3. What is the thing you like most about yourself? My extensive knowledge of Himalayan birds who live primarily in mountain rivulettes.
Finally, let’s find out what your current (or all time) favorites are –
Album – Morrison Hotel
Artist – Tom Waits
Movie – Willy Wonka (the original)
Place to visit – Switzerland
Venue to play – Tivoli
Food – Sultanas
Drink – Mums Chai Potion
Person in History – Joey Tribiani
Tattoo – I like how artfully i’ve covered two ex’s names and remain unconvinced it might not happen again
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Follow TOMI GRAY
Website – Instagram – Facebook – YouTube
Music: Spotify – Apple Music
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Press Release 9th August 2025 (below) HERE
TOMI GRAY
releases new single
“UNIVERSE EXPLODED”
today
8th Full Moon
Release of 2025
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