Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: So, I’m a 23-year-old muso living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in rural Victoria and my first exposure to music was classic rock and hair-metal. I remember being a kid and writing out sheet music to Iron Maiden songs, even though I had no idea how sheet music worked, I just kinda came up with my own language. When I started forming my own musical taste high-school, I listened to alot of pop punk and metalcorey type stuff, but as I graduated I became more interested in indie rock and punk and that’s kinda where I’m at today.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “mumdeathcake”?
A: To be honest, mumdeathcake was never about growing a fan base, these songs I’m releasing came from demos that sat on my hard drive for years and writing them helped me through some of the toughest periods in my life. I really wanted this project to be a vessel for introspection and a catalyst for personal growth/healing. Putting these out kinda feels like letting go of some of the hardest chapters in my life y’know? For anyone about to discover mumdeathcake, I guess I’d say that these songs are my innermost personal ramblings that I’ve used to make my way through the most difficult times in my life. So if you relate, I guess we’re kinda friends hey?
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Oh man, I’m all over the place here, I’ve been listening to alot of Car Seat Headrest and just lofi indie stuff in general, but I find most of my inspiration comes from digging through the depths of Spotify and exposing myself to new artists and soundscapes. I feel most inspired when I’m hearing something new for the first time, I’m very drawn to specific ideas and sounds and when I hear something I think is cool, I kinda latch on and go “okay, how can I apply this in my own creative works”.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “What Killed the Sun”?
A: Funnily enough, ‘What Killed the Sun’ is easily the darkest song off of my upcoming EP ‘The Big Slow’, which kinda feels contrary to the message of mumdeathcake as a whole. But I feel like you need that counterbalance to let the message of the project shine through you know? The song is about hopeless ruminations over the uncontrollable and the unhealthy coping mechanisms people use to deal with them. It’s about a complete disregard for oneself and a feeling of hopelessness that doesn’t feel like it’ll ever lift. Kinda emo, I know but this was one of those songs that kinda just flowed out in a single writing session, which almost never happens for me.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Stoner, garage indie punk played through a washing machine type stuff.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “What Killed the Sun”?
A: ‘What Killed the Sun’ was written when I was at my lowest during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was in a really hard spot both physically and mentally, being in the height of a flare-up of my ulcerative colitis and in a state of what I guess you could call grief for the loss of normalcy the entire world was experiencing. In a way, I’m still processing that period of my life and I know alot of people are aswell. Putting this song out for me feels a little like stepping out into the street naked in broad daylight, but it also brings a sense of closure to that period of my life, which is what has pushed me to make this one a single.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: I guess if there was any message behind mumdeathcake, it’s that you’re not alone in your struggles, whether that be in terms of physical health or mental health. Things get better even if it seems like they won’t, it’s about finding healthy ways of coping and expressing yourself. Looking at goals, I just wanna release music without pressure, I want this project to be the purest form of self expression unhindered by any external expectations or forces. I wanna put out music that feels honest, when it feels right.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Oh man, this is a tough one, not that it’d ever happen, but I’d love to do something with Julia Jacklin. She’s been a massive influence for me for such a long time now and it would be sick to bring something to life together.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: It’s easy to get caught up in numbers, and I still find myself doing that from time to time, but what really matters is that you’re being honest with yourself and putting out music that you love. Don’t try and pander to anyone, just do it for the sake of doing it.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Don’t smoke, you’re not cool. But also you’re always going to be your harshest critic, but don’t let that dissuade you from putting yourself out there. People don’t expect of you what you expect of yourself and if you’re doing what you can, you’re doing great.
