Perth’s Mezzanine have commenced the launch tour for their recently released new EP ‘Vile Horizons‘. This week they’ll stop into Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. To find out more about the EP, the band have answered our On The Record questions. Expand this post to check out the answers, their upcoming tour dates and to take a listen to the EP.
Tell us about the release title.
The title Vile Horizons came about one night deep in heavy conversation about what this EP meant. It is a running theme through both the lyrics and the music, a kind of uneasiness simmering under the surface ready to take you down. It’s a kind of mantra for me personally.
Tell us about the artwork.
Nature is the greatest example of how harshness and beauty interact, and in my little theme park brain the harsh things often trump the beautiful. Who would you put your money on in a battle between a rock and a kangaroo paw? That’s essentially what the artwork represents.
Who will it be released through, and when?
It was released on the 6th of July through Gun Fever Records via Firestarter Distribution.
Tell us about the studio and why you chose to record there?
We recorded at Debaser Studio’s here in Perth. We love the studio, It’s like a boozed up, loud, expensive school, except that in the studio I don’t dress up as Posh Spice and sing ‘Wannabe’. I really love studio time for the curve balls that get thrown up. From me accidentally tuning in ABC local radio through my amp during a noise part, to Andy playing a Sesame Street toy piano as if he were the cookie monster on smack, we love it.
Tell us about the producer / engineer and why you chose to record with them?
We got Andy Lawson to record the thing, he has some great bands under his belt and we really respect him as a musician, it was really a breeze working with him, especially his willingness to go til 3am on some evenings.
Did you go into the writing process with a clear direction in mind?
I think naivety in making music is a beautiful thing but I can’t operate that way, I’m a bit of a control freak so every second of the record was essentially put through a fine tooth comb and then molded back together again then baked into a big grungy cake. The vision and the end goal with making Vile Horizons never changed, it just took some detours, working with three other guys and a producer will push and pull what you thought the track would sound like and sometimes it changes a fair bit, but always for the better.
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Were you listening to anything in particular during the writing / recording process that influenced the songs at all?
Personally the biggest influence was just living my life and really enjoying playing music. A small but pivotal influence for me was discovering the infinite ear shredding possibilities of a great fuzz pedal. Also the pure maniacal genius of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, I cannot express how much that man means to me. Having the opportunity to sing about my fucked up existence is certainly a privilege but don’t expect that to be comforting, if I’ve had a shit sexual experience or a bad week/month/year your going to hear about it, warts and all.
Were there any albums you were referencing to aim for a certain type of sound production wise?
Not really, we were thinking of doing that whole ‘I want this drum track to sound like Dave Grohl on Songs For The Deaf’ shit but we didn’t end up needing too, Lawson was pretty on the money with what we were after so it was a very easy process.
How long did it take to record?
One Week, last two days were 13-14 hour days, that was exhausting, but I shouldn’t complain, thee are worst places to be, like at work, or doing something that you don’t actually love.
Tell us a little about the recording process the band used?
We made a conscious effort to properly demo all the tracks before we went in to the studio proper this time, that whole process really did help the songs mature and settle in their right place before we committed it to wax. On the last EP it was a slight revelation to me because I could finally hear my voice and what I was singing, there were no such surprises this time, which is certainly a good thing.
Any particular equipment outside your usual live gear used in the process?
Andy shredded a Sesame Street toy piano during the noise ending of Vile Horizons the song, epic.
Any memorable studio moments?
We watched every episode of faulty towers twice, shit, there are only 6!
What track/s are you most looking forward to playing live?
We have been playing all the songs live lately and they are certainly a different beast once onstage, ‘Someone To Abuse’ has been really great, its been fun to play and has been getting some great responses at shows.
How would you compare the final product to previous releases?
This one is certainly a step forward, I still love ‘Novella’ like a bastard child but I think the new one is far more raw and loud, something we set out to achieve.
Anything else you want to say or tell us about the release?
Buy it!
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MEZZANINE
JULY
26th – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney [18+]
27th – The Forbes, Sydney [18+]
28th – Side Bar, Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle [18+]
29th – Ric’s, Brisbane [18+]
AUGUST
1st – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne [18+]
2nd – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne [18+]
4th – Ed Castle, Adelaide [18+]
10th – Velvet Lounge, Perth [18+]
—> For more detailed information, visit [Here].
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