With his debut album ‘Guns, Babes, Lemonade’ released today on Modular Records, Clash caught up with Muscles to quiz him about his youth in Australia, his ‘shouting’ centred live set and touring with Daft Punk.
How did growing up in Australia affect your music?
It’s cool because we get a good cross section of what’s happening in UK and America and the crap filters out. Rock music and dance music equally are huge and popular in commercial and underground scenes ever since i can remember.
The title needed to be epic!
How is Australia’s dance music scene?
Amazing! Any style you’re into you can bet there’s something cool happening every week.
Do you think your music sounds particularly Australian?
My voice and song writing is very Australian. I wanted to create music that you’d know who the artist is within the first 5 seconds. it sounds like Muscles, who lives in Australia!
Are there any influences core to your sound?
I can create crazy production and go into any genre and my vocals will bring the song together, my voice is definitely the core.
‘Guns Babes Lemonade’…what’s the title all about?
The title needed to be epic! It started off as a joke, or not really a joke but just saying it out aloud without thinking. Then realising the best ideas come naturally without too much thought. The album is a story – each song individually, and apart of an overall narrative.
What’s the plan once the album is released? Will you be over here touring?
I really loved London when I was over last year in June but I don’t feel like its my time yet. I’d rather focus on writing new material in Melbourne and making a really exciting new album.
What can we expect from a Muscles live show?
A load of shouting, my set-up is basic I have two keyboards and a microphone, laptop and that’s it. If you’re not familiar with the music you probably won’t enjoy it, so if anybody is reading this, it is important you own and have listened the album if you ever come see me live.
How was it taking your music to the live arena?
At the start it felt like my music didn’t really fit in anywhere, as a result I ended up playing everywhere. with indie rock bands, hip hop nights, dance nightclubs and arts festivals then started getting asked to play big festivals and be the support act overseas artists on their Australian tours.
You recently supported Daft Punk, did their rabid fans give you a fair listen?
I just finished my own first Australian tour a week before was mostly sold out and huge. playing to 1200 under-age kids in Sydney singing back every lyric on my album is insane. there was loads of crowd chanting at every show, when I sing live I don’t have all the harmonies like I do on my record, it’s just one voice but lately the crowds have been so loud I can’t even hear myself sing. Playing the Daft Punk Never Ever Land festival tour was awesome. It wasn’t a real muscles show though cause they purposely make the support acts sound really low volume so when the main act comes on it blasts.
Your aim from childhood to be a songwriter/producer, how’s it working out for you?
Brilliant, I can make a living making the craziest music I want and I get to work with the most awesome record label in the world, modular records.
Glamorous enough for you?
I never felt more like a rockstar
