So it’s summer… The time to get hit by heat and melt! It’s also so a time when I have the opportunity to do 6 weeks of shows on PBS here in Melbourne. The show Burning Bitumen was the one I was filling in for. One I have many times before over the years. But a big stint was great as I was able to compile a ton of interviews over this time.
Late night radio has been a staple of my life for 10 years now. I get that Metal shows can’t always happen during the day (maybe one day they can and will) I also think they should. But until then late night radio is where it all lies. But I don’t mind being up at this time as long as I’ve got a decent radio show put together ready to present.
This includes collecting interviews. One of my favourite things to do on radio. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy putting together a playlist to… But truly love to meet new and upcoming artists. Also established ones and just have a chat. It’s the best part of radio meeting artists who you listen to over and over again and get to know a bit more about them and hang out for a bit.
The first band member which I interviewed over the Summer was Ezekiel Ox of Mammal and currently Superheist. It was great to meet an artist who is so political and also can have a bit of fun. I thought I’d be late to this interview. Which in my mind means if I’m not half an hour early there’s something wrong! But managed to make it right on time and get a couple cheeky photos of us holding Christmas presents at the PBS studio. As it was just before Christmas and just before Mammals Christmas shows.
Interview one down now a few more to go! I was in the process of booking other artists to interview and brainstorming with ideas when I remembered Joe played in the heavy band All of the dirt all at Once. So I got in contact with the chap.
We organized to meet at a questionable location. While there we realised the majority of the place is under construction. Which to joes amusement thought would add an “industrial feel to his industrial band” I was more worried about sound issues. But we found somewhere quiet to have a chat and I got the interview sorted for my summer fill on Burning bitumen.
Now I had a decent week of booking artist’s for the next few shows I was in the process of trying to track down a Thy art is murder interview while also contacting a few artists who were playing at UNIFY the gathering in a few weeks time. I managed to get a hold of both Dregg and Polaris.
First up as they are locals to the city of Melbourne were Dregg. Since it was easy to meet them in the CBD I did just that. To my surprise, they had also been interviewed for Triple J Unearthed. So it was cool to be catching up with a band so fresh and with a bit of a traction. They were Chris and Jordan. Two cool dudes who had a lot to say about their music and the current heavy music scene.
It is great to meet a band who knows what they were doing and where they want to go. Also very sure about what they wanted people to know about them. They are sure of themselves. Also, have a great message that they want to get out. Which was that we all need to meet and talk about all the issues at the moment instead of sitting divided. In such a political climate of being polarised which seems to be sitting not just in Australia but a world issue. A truly inspiring interview with a fresh band at the beginning of their journey.
Polaris was next up for an interview. Who mind you were gearing up for shows with the all mighty Parkway Drive. So getting them in the studio was great. We meet in the morning at the PBS studios.
This time being relaxed and on time gave me time to get prepared for this interview. Members Jamie and Ryan were great to talk to. We also got to talk about their upcoming shows at UNIFY the gathering and their recent and first European tour.
Then last but not least. I finally was able to get an interview with Andy from Thy art is murder a band who I’ve always been into and are getting ready to play shows in Australia at the biggest venues they’ve ever played in the country.
The only issue was the time difference as Andy has been all around the world and wasn’t sure of the time of the interview as he was in Brisbane at the time. Still, this wasn’t much of an issue and I was able to grab a hold of him to chat for a bit about being in a now global metal band.
We also talked about playing shows and going around the world, their prefered lifestyle. So it was cool to see how a band can change from being just a band from Australia to being recognised around the world. A feat that all bands want to achieve. Which they are in fact achieving.
So all in all. That was the summer of interviews for the show Burning Bitumen on PBS. I had a blast doing these interviews. So I hope more to come in the future.
Summer heats up Melbourne and brings the city to life. Also brings all these bands to the city to play shows. This is one of my favourite things about Melbourne. It’s insanely diverse music scene. Metal is a genre that will never quit and I can’t wait to see what I do or who I chat to next.
Looking forward to it all.
Check out the shows in full below.
Life That 