Dave from Kill Teen Angst has to be one of the most honest musicians I have ever interviewed. As I mention the band’s achievements over the past twelve months (which include their debut EPs release, winning the WAM Rock Song Of The Year and a national tour with Jebediah) he openly admits ‘we are a relatively slack band… we never really strived for success so there was never a rush. It’s a relief to have the EP out because strangely it took us a long time to get it all together. We do prefer playing live which is why it took us so long to get into the studio… After the EP was released we even got an email from Cog saying how much they loved it as well.’
Slack or not the EP is one of the best albums I’ve heard so far this year so it is a surprise to me how the songs came about, ‘Every song we write comes out accidentally through jamming… that way we feel everyone is more passionate about each song… The World Or Nothing (which won WAM Rock Song Of The Year) is a sarcastic song about the lack of attention that comes despite hard work… Even the lyrics came from the jamming session.’
Dave is also honest when I talk to him about the band’s past and influences. ‘We used to be called Ten Speed Racer and to be honest Greg (the bass guitarist) and I joined the band because we were big fans of the lead singer… I sound has changed a fair bit since then… I suppose we are influenced by American Indie 80s rock… the band Archers of Loaf are the band we are most inspired by.’
As Dave stands on a Western Australian beach with a seagull calling in the background we chat about Jebediah, ‘They have been around for so long now… I was into them at primary school!’ he exclaims. ‘But you know what they have a big future ahead of them as well.’
And Jebediah aren’t the only band with a big future ahead them, it only takes one listen of Kill Teen Angst’s self-titled EP to know that they also have a big future ahead, so what are there plans for now? ‘We’re hoping to have a full album out in 6-8 months… we have more than enough material. Now the EP is out the motivation has increased… If we get support there we also want to head over east as often as possible… who knows maybe even move there one day.’
Kill Teen Angst will be touring Victoria shortly… check their website (www.myspace.com/killteenangstmusic) for details.