The Monster Children showcase presented by Sonny’s Porch - a new music program by our best pals at Sun Bum - on Wednesday, March 13th, at Empire Garage is coming up fast.

Just over two weeks, and a slightly short of 188403 hour journey to Austin for the Aus team, where we will be joined by our favourite musicians doing what they do best. Singing, dancing (?) and making everyone wish they were as talented as them. Joining us on the horrific flight leg is our pals, the ever talented, good looking dust. Luckily for us, the dust fellas are legends. The exact people who you would be relieved to sit next to while your knees are crammed into your face, eating cardboard potatoes they call food and nothing like the fuckwit behind you who is constantly kicking your seat. No, no, not these fellas. These guys are all class. They wouldn’t dare put their seat back. Here’s my chat with Gabe ahead of the big show. And flight.

Ready for that flight? How long is it - like four days?

It’s going to be a mental leg. I mean I can complain about it but at the end of the day it’s still going to be so sweet to be there.

Of course. Positivity I like it. See we need more people like you in the world. Now tell me, how did dust form?

2020 I think it was. I don’t want to say that we were a covid band but just out of covid. I started writing some lyrics at home. I was playing in some indie bands, and I was keen to get something together that was a bit more in line with what I was listening to at the time. It just so happened that Justin was also listening to similar music at the time, same with Kai. We bonded over that same post-punk wave that was going on, like IDLES, Shame and Fontaine D.C. Music we hadn’t heard before but were excited about. We got together and started jamming. The songs I was writing weren’t necessarily post-punk songs, but I guess that’s what we were doing.

How would you personally define the genre post punk? And do you think you fit the bill?

Post Punk has coined a bit of a reputation in the past couple of years and I think you can kind of throw that word, or that genre around a lot looser now. It’s anything that’s loud, and a bit weird. Bands are definitely playing into the genre instead of playing and seeing what comes out. Like they come out and define themselves as post-punk. We’re a little punk and electronic but I think we just enjoy different sounds.

It's so interesting to me the scale in which bands and musicians give a shit or don’t give a shit about genres when defining their music.

Definitely.  

Tell me about the Newy music scene? I feel like Newy has a pretty punk thing going on – not just musically but generally.

I think it’s thriving. It didn’t really suffer too much with all the venue shutdowns, unlike what I’ve heard about in Melbourne. Heaps of people are going to gigs. People are passionate up here. I was at an event at Hamilton Station Hotel last night and saw this metal band and there were so many fucking metal enthusiasts in the crowd.  The pockets have been strong for a long time but maybe not as widespread. We grew up in this all-ages music scene that was going on since we were fifteen or sixteen. Two venues in Newcastle were passionate about all age’s gigs. It was a sick space to perform and be able to join a band and meet people. That’s how I met most of the people who I’m really good friends with now.

I was actually going to ask if you think about how being from a regional area affects the music you make or the opportunities you have for exposure but it sounds like Newy really invests in the younger music scene.

Yeah, for sure. There’s an overall passion and love for music. It doesn’t matter what genre, what instrument, who you are, whatever. There are lots of people who are just passionate about giving that a platform. It doesn’t seem to happen a lot elsewhere.

Not regionally at least. I’m from the Goldy and there’s just no venues left there for anyone to play at as an emerging artist. We used to have Shark Bar but that got turned into another fucking beige bar, so south end doesn’t have any smaller, grungy spots left. It’s really sad when you think about the impact that has on musicians and bands coming from the Goldy where there are no venues to play at when they’re coming up.

Yeah, I’ve heard that. Not a long of bands end up coming out of Queensland, I guess.

Is the song writing process something you all do together or is it someone writing a little riff and then someone else writing a song lyric?

I think we all have a pretty valuable role to play in how the song forms. Sometimes I write something at home, getting the bones of a song together. Might start with the chords and the melody or whatever and then that might be half a song that will be taken to the band and we just jam. I wouldn’t write a bass line; Liam would write that. Adam would write the sax, Kye would do the drums. Everyone equally helps structure the song. We try to make it as collaborative as possible. It’s incredibly hard to finish a song and go ‘alright there you go, play that.’ Well, I find that really fucking hard. We just want to run with it and see what it turns into rather than just funnel it into what came up in the first place.

When you’re not playing music, what other things do you do that get you into a creative zone? God creative zone sounds a bit wanky. I don’t really know what else you can say. Flow? That’s even worse.

(Laughs) I’m still trying to figure that one out. Maybe a lot of free time, dawdling.

Being bored?

Yeap, being bored and trying to not be on the phone. Trying to look around and hope that conjures a thought. I don’t really know how to put myself in a position where I feel like I’m being creative. Just chilling out and doing it a lot. Doing it while playing. Getting together and playing – that always encourages creativity. I like swimming. The beach is close by. That feels like a time when you’re not on the phone and present.

I also love swimming. That’s what I do. It’s the only time when my brain isn’t going a hundred miles an hour.

Do you do laps?

Yeah, laps in the ocean pools. It’s so good. The only thing I’m thinking about is breathing.

Follow the black line.

That’s it. Alright so what songs are on your current playlist?

I watched Dry Cleaning’s ‘KEXP’ performance the other night. I also watched Caroline Polachek NPR ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ which was hectic. There’s one song on that. Sunset. Wow. In the Dry Cleaning ‘KEXP’ they mention how the band is influenced by another band called The Wipers and I’ve just recently listened to their record and it’s so sick. Dry Cleaning is always on the playlist. The Bel Air Lip Bombs as well. A hot act.

Oh, you’ll get to hang out with them in Texas. Have you been to Texas before?

Nah never. I’m very keen. America is hectic.

Yeah, that’s the only way I can describe it too. It’s such a cool place to visit. I mean I’ve never been to Texas, but America as a whole. What are you most excited about this SXSW showcase?

Excited to see the gravity of it. It’s one of the biggest music conferences in the world, I think. That is insane so I’m keen to just see how many people are there. I want to get pretty prepared and meet as many people as I can. Just got to go hard socially for a week and then explode after.

Have one big bender at the end.

(Laughs) Exactly.

What are the visions for dust? What would be the ultimate goal?

Write an album.

That’s a great goal.

We’re working on that now so that’s the next phase. Thinking pretty short term. Obviously, I want to take it as far as we can, but I want to start with the album and really put a lot of work and effort into that. To answer your question about the creative zone, it feels like one of the most important times to get into that space. See where we can take it together. Focusing on the music.

And also play Qudos Bank.

Oh, so chill.

Arena tour.

Yeah, just go straight to the top.

Nothing else matters.

Anyone else you want to shout out before your stadium tours?

Shout out would be that we are playing at SXSW on March 12th. Shout out Mauds and Dan the managers. The rest of the band. Shout out Monster Children. I love this magazine. I collected it for a while when I was younger.

Aw. Really? Me too.

Yeah, I did. It’s sick.

dust is heading to Austin to play our Monster Children SXSW showcase on March 13th (presented by Sonny's Porch). Also, keep an eye out for dust in Monster Children's SXSW Travel Diaries - made easy by Up  (coming soon!).

The guys are also playing a SXSW Send Off show in their hometown of Newcastle this Friday at King Street. Valium donations will be accepted for the flight. And $25. For the ticket. Here.