Interview : Trial Kennedy
May 14th 2011 01:54
Trial Kennedy have been down the proverbial road to hell and back. A multitude of changes internally and externally for the band almost became too much to bear and we almost lost one of Australia’s most underrated and gifted rock bands. But thankfully to their ‘fuck it’ attitude, they kept plowing through and are about to release a brand new album “Living Undesigned” through Dew Process is out now. Tim from the band finally got a hold of me after given the wrong number to call.
“I’ve been frantically ringing my manager trying to get your number man. There was a digit missing so I’m sorry I’m so fucking late.”
We spoke about everything that has happened to the band, to himself and talked about weird phases in musical tastes and our mutual love for Kayne West.
Hey Tim how’s your day been?
Yeah mate good, can’t complain. [laughs] It actually wasn’t a bad day in Melbourne today. Now it’s raining but for Melbourne this time of year, it was pretty good.
Actually I only just finished listening to the new album and it’s fucking mad dude!
Awwww thanks mate!
Tell us a little bit about “Living Undesigned”
In terms of story line and things like that, it’s based around the same principles as “New Manic Art”. Where every single song lyrically was based around true experiences. Most of them we’re revolving around Trial Kennedy and us as individuals. It was a collective collaboration of songs, done the same way but a different set of tunes I suppose. [laughs] You know, they have a different feel and a completely different sound sonically I suppose. The whole principle around the record has a very similar vibe. Having said that, hopefully most of our records will be like that. I enjoy writing songs that have some authentic stories behind it. In a nutshell that’s how it went lyrically. Musically, I don’t know where it all came from. Obviously it is a lot different. There’s quite a few up tempo songs but there is quote a few dark songs as well. I guess that was a huge influence from Richie. (their new bass player) Since Aaron left and Richie has been in the mix, the song quality has changed and shifted in different ways.
Listening to it, it sounds like Trial Kennedy but a next step in sound which I think is great for you guys.
Yeah absolutely.
And I guess it has been a few years since “New Manic Art” and you guys have dealt with a fair bit of shit in the meantime, how has that help strengthen the band? Cause it would’ve been easy to go “Fuck it and pull the pin.”
You know what Jase, to be honest, it really did get that way. For quite a while it wasn’t just Aaron leaving, that was nothing, it was just the beginning. That was probably the easiest thing we went through. That was sort of a mutual agreement and something he really wanted to do. He was just tired and burnt out and we were really lucky because we’re all really close friends and pretty tight knit, which we still are. We’re very respectful the way he left the band.
You know we did go through a lot of shit, we tried to keep our heads high and take everything that comes to the TK table as glass half full. Generally speaking we’re really positive guys and tend to rub off on each other. We’re lucky to have experienced a lot being around for twelve odd years and we’ve learnt how to deal with these things over time. And anything negative that comes our way we just push it aside and keep soldiering on. If you don’t, you’re fucked! If you start thinking about all that shit that has happened, you’re gone. i was just saying to someone last night it’s a real shame all the great bands that have finished in the last few years. COG, our good mates Kisschasy, no one knows whats happening to them, there’s some great bands that had to end for political reasons. It’s just internal bullshit that fans don’t want to know about and don’t care anyway. You know I don’t want to hear about peoples problems, it’s the last thing you want to hear about. It’s like anyone in any relationship, your wife, your girlfriend, no one likes listening to problems and we’re not the kind of guys to tell them you know!
It was a lot of things, as you say, that happened internally to us that really affected us being able to write and record and do the things we wanted to. We parted ways with the record label Sony and now working with an independent, which was one of our decisions which is great. We parted ways respectively with them. We really wanted to grow and shift and we wanted to move away from a really big commercial label. We felt it wasn’t for us. we’re not a pop band, we didn’t want to go down that road. We wanted to keep it as real as we could.
I think all of that, subconsciously, came out in the record.
It’s a good point, going from a major label to an independent, now that you can compare both do you feel like you should’ve stuck tot he indie or did you get something out of being with Sony?
To be quite honest with you, yeah, so far it has only been easier for us. In the sense, we haven’t had that stress hung over our heads with the pressure to meet deadlines. We’ve had the beauty of being able to decide everything and take away that pressure and make everything so much easier. I know it sounds lame, but t really has made everything simpler for us.
Well yeah it would make life easy.
Absolutely!
Did you guys have any thoughts or concerns that the album would get leaked online before you had a chance to release it properly?
Big time, absolutely. That’s one of the biggest things that goes through your mind before you do release it. But you can’t really control it and if you try you’ll end up doing your head in. You see bands like Metallica who pay millions of dollars to people to put in encrypted codes on their records and all that sort of crap and it’s still getting leaked! Some smart arse sitting in his bedroom whose a genius will crack it anyway. There’s always that someone whose a step ahead of everyone else. If people want your music they’ll end up getting it anyway.
You know what, in today’s world, music is just a marketing tool. You really don’t make money selling records anymore. It’s been like that for a couple of years now. I guess we’re not really too stressed by that side of things. You don’t worry about the money and making a living out of playing music, which obviously everyone is in it to try and survive in this industry, to make enough money to record and keep your fans happy, keep yourself happy. It’s like any business, if you own a carpentry business, if you don’t make enough money to update your tools and for your materials, you’re stuffed. You can’t move forward and we just want to be at that stage (to move forward).
I totally sidetracked you then! [laughs] To answer your question, I guess not. We didn’t really stress because we figure if people want to pay for it they will and if they don’t they won’t.
I’ve got to admit I’m chuffed to be having this chat, I’ve been following the band for a few years. I first saw you by accident playing at The Annandale and was totally blown away by the gig.
We’re we playing with anyone or our own show?
You were headlining, don’t remember who else was playing that night. But I feel like a fucking groupie I’ve seen you play five times now.
[laughs] thanks mate, thats nice.
The one thing that impresses me about you guys is each show has been great and you give it your all. How important is the live music scene for Trial Kennedy?
Mate to be honest it’s probably been THE most important thing for us. We don’t mean to be conscience about it, we just go out and have fun because we’re all buddies. We grew up together, so it’s just like going to the pub with your mates with the bonus of getting up and playing a few tunes. Thats the vibe we get every single night. We don’t get bored with each other and that sounds ridiculous, even touring living in each others pockets, we put on those clothes, put on those instruments,get up on that stage and it’s “Right boys, lets have some fun!”.
You see a lot of bands that try to force that. We’re grateful for the position we’re given. We really are so lucky. We’ve played with a number of bands who just don’t have that same relationship with each other (as we have) and that comes across on stage. The live thing is important to be able to convey what we get out of music to our audience. I know that sounds lame as well but fuck, we want everyone to experiencing what we feel. We’re fucking having a ball and get so much out of playing music, we want everyone else to feel what we’re feeling. There’s alot of bands where you don’t get that feeling. i go see bands all the time and some nights you go “Fuck, they don’t want to be here” and sometimes you don’t but you got a job to do at the same time.
Well I was going to ask there would be times where you don’t feel like and have had shockers of a gig, what’s been the worst one?
[laughs] There’s been one where I’ve fallen off stage, done some stupid things. Shawn gets really bad tendonitis in his arm and has had a stinker. Or I’ve been so crook I’ve barely been able to talk but had to get out there and belt it out because we can’t cancel a show. Two hours before you get on stage you’re in your hotel room and you just want to shoot yourself, but again, you’ve got a job to do and you have to give it your best and even if you can only give 60% but trying 200%, then it’s the best you can do and the fans will be happy.
Touching on health issues, I’ve got to ask about your recent health dramas. Heart surgery dude, what was that all about?
It’s one of those things. I don’t really fuss about it at all. I’m sort of annoyed Thomas, our manager, put that stuff in our press release! [laughs] Man don’t put that thing in there or where I cracked my head open and had 30 stitches. He was like ‘why not?’ because I don’t want people to fuss about it, I don’t care!
I had a heart condition since I was about 20, it could’ve been life threatening, but it wasn’t at that stage but I did have heart surgery, it’s called abolition surgery. There was times, even up on stage where I would have issues with it but that’s why I always try and keep fit and eat healthy, even on the road but since the surgery my life has improved 100% man! I can’t tell you how good I feel now.
That’s awesome man, now in doing research I came across something that’s on your Wikipedia page.
Not the fucking kangaroo story! [laughs]
Yeah man, I assumed it was a joke, but seeing as it seems like you’re injury prone, I thought maybe it’s true?
Nah look a friend of ours, he actually leads our Street Team and does our merch, he comes into the studio one day and shows us what he put on. He was bored so made up the story about me getting into a fight with a kangaroo. [laughs]
I don’t even remember what it said. What is it?
It’s just one line that says during the Birds Of Tokyo tour, you were attacked by a kangaroo at an ATM in Berry.
[laughing] Sad thing is I was asked about that last night as well so now it’s getting out of hand. But it’s a good story though. Me beating up a kangaroo. Next thing RSPCA will come knocking on my door wanting to know why I’m fighting with wildlife!
Mate I better wrap this up and let you get back to your evening.
Nah you’re right man.
What’s the first song you’d put onto a mixtape?
Gees you’ve thrown me. You know what I’ve really got into lately. You’ve heard of Goyte yeah?
Yeah yeah.
Well, I don’t remember what the songs called but it’s the one Triple J flogged a lot last year. You know the one I’m talking about?
Yeah the one that made the hottest 100.
Yeah that one. I just fucking love that song man. He’s a talented man. But lately I’ve been in a weird musical taste that’s not what I normally listen to. I’m a rock guy but I’ve been digging some weird shit lately.
Look man same here, I’ve become obsessed with Kayne West recently, and I hate that because I hate the guy,but the last album is brilliant.
I know man, how good is that record?! I’m with you, I just want to punch the guy in the face but he writes some great songs. I went through an Eminem stage a while back where for like six months on my way to and from work I’d have him cranked in my car. I used to hate him and have a go at my younger cousins and stuff for liking him but once you actually get into his stuff, especially his later songs, you discover it’s not all about him hitting his missus or hating his mom and shit. He writes really great lyrics. He’s one of those guys whose so good at it lyrics it makes you want to give up you know. But it’s funny, in traffic you see all those wogs in their cars listening to doof doof music and you think, “You’re a fucking wanker mate” and here I was, an old dude cranking Eminem like I’m sixteen!
But I totally get what you’re saying about weird music tastes. However, one thing I can’t stand is Aussie Hip hop.
Oh really?
Yeah man it shits me to tears. (starts rapping) “Yeah I’m on my bike and I’m heading to the shops to buy a can of coke”, no one wants to hear that shit. It’s fucking boring. Hilltop Hoods I didn’t mind but every single one of them since just tries to sound the same. Plus the Aussie accent doesn’t work in hip hop for me. But it got popular so every major label and every radio station from Triple J to Nova had to go out and find a million acts that sound like Hilltop and flog them to death.
I have to admit, that’s one thing I hate about our scene. We all jump on a bandwagon and take something that’s good and original and flog it to death and create all these bad copycat bands that you end up hating the genre.
Yeah man that’s exactly it.
Anyway Tim, I better let you go thanks for having a chat to me tonight.
No worries man, sorry about the mix up and running late. (the interview was a day late and half hour behind schedule)
That’s okay. All the best for the album, as I said it’s a cracker and good luck on the tour too.
Awww thanks mate. Are you coming to one of the shows?
Yeah I think I’ll be at the Annandale gig.
Cool, well if you do give us call and we’ll catch up for a chinwag and a beer.
No worries man, have a good night.
Trial Kennedy are at the Annandale Hotel this Saturday, May 21 with The Ivy's. "Living Undesigned" is out now.
“I’ve been frantically ringing my manager trying to get your number man. There was a digit missing so I’m sorry I’m so fucking late.”
Trial Kennedy Living Life Undesigned
Hey Tim how’s your day been?
Yeah mate good, can’t complain. [laughs] It actually wasn’t a bad day in Melbourne today. Now it’s raining but for Melbourne this time of year, it was pretty good.
Actually I only just finished listening to the new album and it’s fucking mad dude!
Awwww thanks mate!
Tell us a little bit about “Living Undesigned”
In terms of story line and things like that, it’s based around the same principles as “New Manic Art”. Where every single song lyrically was based around true experiences. Most of them we’re revolving around Trial Kennedy and us as individuals. It was a collective collaboration of songs, done the same way but a different set of tunes I suppose. [laughs] You know, they have a different feel and a completely different sound sonically I suppose. The whole principle around the record has a very similar vibe. Having said that, hopefully most of our records will be like that. I enjoy writing songs that have some authentic stories behind it. In a nutshell that’s how it went lyrically. Musically, I don’t know where it all came from. Obviously it is a lot different. There’s quite a few up tempo songs but there is quote a few dark songs as well. I guess that was a huge influence from Richie. (their new bass player) Since Aaron left and Richie has been in the mix, the song quality has changed and shifted in different ways.
Listening to it, it sounds like Trial Kennedy but a next step in sound which I think is great for you guys.
Yeah absolutely.
And I guess it has been a few years since “New Manic Art” and you guys have dealt with a fair bit of shit in the meantime, how has that help strengthen the band? Cause it would’ve been easy to go “Fuck it and pull the pin.”
You know what Jase, to be honest, it really did get that way. For quite a while it wasn’t just Aaron leaving, that was nothing, it was just the beginning. That was probably the easiest thing we went through. That was sort of a mutual agreement and something he really wanted to do. He was just tired and burnt out and we were really lucky because we’re all really close friends and pretty tight knit, which we still are. We’re very respectful the way he left the band.
You know we did go through a lot of shit, we tried to keep our heads high and take everything that comes to the TK table as glass half full. Generally speaking we’re really positive guys and tend to rub off on each other. We’re lucky to have experienced a lot being around for twelve odd years and we’ve learnt how to deal with these things over time. And anything negative that comes our way we just push it aside and keep soldiering on. If you don’t, you’re fucked! If you start thinking about all that shit that has happened, you’re gone. i was just saying to someone last night it’s a real shame all the great bands that have finished in the last few years. COG, our good mates Kisschasy, no one knows whats happening to them, there’s some great bands that had to end for political reasons. It’s just internal bullshit that fans don’t want to know about and don’t care anyway. You know I don’t want to hear about peoples problems, it’s the last thing you want to hear about. It’s like anyone in any relationship, your wife, your girlfriend, no one likes listening to problems and we’re not the kind of guys to tell them you know!
It was a lot of things, as you say, that happened internally to us that really affected us being able to write and record and do the things we wanted to. We parted ways with the record label Sony and now working with an independent, which was one of our decisions which is great. We parted ways respectively with them. We really wanted to grow and shift and we wanted to move away from a really big commercial label. We felt it wasn’t for us. we’re not a pop band, we didn’t want to go down that road. We wanted to keep it as real as we could.
I think all of that, subconsciously, came out in the record.
It’s a good point, going from a major label to an independent, now that you can compare both do you feel like you should’ve stuck tot he indie or did you get something out of being with Sony?
To be quite honest with you, yeah, so far it has only been easier for us. In the sense, we haven’t had that stress hung over our heads with the pressure to meet deadlines. We’ve had the beauty of being able to decide everything and take away that pressure and make everything so much easier. I know it sounds lame, but t really has made everything simpler for us.
Well yeah it would make life easy.
Absolutely!
Did you guys have any thoughts or concerns that the album would get leaked online before you had a chance to release it properly?
Big time, absolutely. That’s one of the biggest things that goes through your mind before you do release it. But you can’t really control it and if you try you’ll end up doing your head in. You see bands like Metallica who pay millions of dollars to people to put in encrypted codes on their records and all that sort of crap and it’s still getting leaked! Some smart arse sitting in his bedroom whose a genius will crack it anyway. There’s always that someone whose a step ahead of everyone else. If people want your music they’ll end up getting it anyway.
You know what, in today’s world, music is just a marketing tool. You really don’t make money selling records anymore. It’s been like that for a couple of years now. I guess we’re not really too stressed by that side of things. You don’t worry about the money and making a living out of playing music, which obviously everyone is in it to try and survive in this industry, to make enough money to record and keep your fans happy, keep yourself happy. It’s like any business, if you own a carpentry business, if you don’t make enough money to update your tools and for your materials, you’re stuffed. You can’t move forward and we just want to be at that stage (to move forward).
I totally sidetracked you then! [laughs] To answer your question, I guess not. We didn’t really stress because we figure if people want to pay for it they will and if they don’t they won’t.
I’ve got to admit I’m chuffed to be having this chat, I’ve been following the band for a few years. I first saw you by accident playing at The Annandale and was totally blown away by the gig.
We’re we playing with anyone or our own show?
You were headlining, don’t remember who else was playing that night. But I feel like a fucking groupie I’ve seen you play five times now.
[laughs] thanks mate, thats nice.
The one thing that impresses me about you guys is each show has been great and you give it your all. How important is the live music scene for Trial Kennedy?
Mate to be honest it’s probably been THE most important thing for us. We don’t mean to be conscience about it, we just go out and have fun because we’re all buddies. We grew up together, so it’s just like going to the pub with your mates with the bonus of getting up and playing a few tunes. Thats the vibe we get every single night. We don’t get bored with each other and that sounds ridiculous, even touring living in each others pockets, we put on those clothes, put on those instruments,get up on that stage and it’s “Right boys, lets have some fun!”.
You see a lot of bands that try to force that. We’re grateful for the position we’re given. We really are so lucky. We’ve played with a number of bands who just don’t have that same relationship with each other (as we have) and that comes across on stage. The live thing is important to be able to convey what we get out of music to our audience. I know that sounds lame as well but fuck, we want everyone to experiencing what we feel. We’re fucking having a ball and get so much out of playing music, we want everyone else to feel what we’re feeling. There’s alot of bands where you don’t get that feeling. i go see bands all the time and some nights you go “Fuck, they don’t want to be here” and sometimes you don’t but you got a job to do at the same time.
Well I was going to ask there would be times where you don’t feel like and have had shockers of a gig, what’s been the worst one?
[laughs] There’s been one where I’ve fallen off stage, done some stupid things. Shawn gets really bad tendonitis in his arm and has had a stinker. Or I’ve been so crook I’ve barely been able to talk but had to get out there and belt it out because we can’t cancel a show. Two hours before you get on stage you’re in your hotel room and you just want to shoot yourself, but again, you’ve got a job to do and you have to give it your best and even if you can only give 60% but trying 200%, then it’s the best you can do and the fans will be happy.
Touching on health issues, I’ve got to ask about your recent health dramas. Heart surgery dude, what was that all about?
It’s one of those things. I don’t really fuss about it at all. I’m sort of annoyed Thomas, our manager, put that stuff in our press release! [laughs] Man don’t put that thing in there or where I cracked my head open and had 30 stitches. He was like ‘why not?’ because I don’t want people to fuss about it, I don’t care!
I had a heart condition since I was about 20, it could’ve been life threatening, but it wasn’t at that stage but I did have heart surgery, it’s called abolition surgery. There was times, even up on stage where I would have issues with it but that’s why I always try and keep fit and eat healthy, even on the road but since the surgery my life has improved 100% man! I can’t tell you how good I feel now.
That’s awesome man, now in doing research I came across something that’s on your Wikipedia page.
Not the fucking kangaroo story! [laughs]
Yeah man, I assumed it was a joke, but seeing as it seems like you’re injury prone, I thought maybe it’s true?
Nah look a friend of ours, he actually leads our Street Team and does our merch, he comes into the studio one day and shows us what he put on. He was bored so made up the story about me getting into a fight with a kangaroo. [laughs]
I don’t even remember what it said. What is it?
It’s just one line that says during the Birds Of Tokyo tour, you were attacked by a kangaroo at an ATM in Berry.
[laughing] Sad thing is I was asked about that last night as well so now it’s getting out of hand. But it’s a good story though. Me beating up a kangaroo. Next thing RSPCA will come knocking on my door wanting to know why I’m fighting with wildlife!
Mate I better wrap this up and let you get back to your evening.
Nah you’re right man.
What’s the first song you’d put onto a mixtape?
Gees you’ve thrown me. You know what I’ve really got into lately. You’ve heard of Goyte yeah?
Yeah yeah.
Well, I don’t remember what the songs called but it’s the one Triple J flogged a lot last year. You know the one I’m talking about?
Yeah the one that made the hottest 100.
Yeah that one. I just fucking love that song man. He’s a talented man. But lately I’ve been in a weird musical taste that’s not what I normally listen to. I’m a rock guy but I’ve been digging some weird shit lately.
Look man same here, I’ve become obsessed with Kayne West recently, and I hate that because I hate the guy,but the last album is brilliant.
I know man, how good is that record?! I’m with you, I just want to punch the guy in the face but he writes some great songs. I went through an Eminem stage a while back where for like six months on my way to and from work I’d have him cranked in my car. I used to hate him and have a go at my younger cousins and stuff for liking him but once you actually get into his stuff, especially his later songs, you discover it’s not all about him hitting his missus or hating his mom and shit. He writes really great lyrics. He’s one of those guys whose so good at it lyrics it makes you want to give up you know. But it’s funny, in traffic you see all those wogs in their cars listening to doof doof music and you think, “You’re a fucking wanker mate” and here I was, an old dude cranking Eminem like I’m sixteen!
But I totally get what you’re saying about weird music tastes. However, one thing I can’t stand is Aussie Hip hop.
Oh really?
Yeah man it shits me to tears. (starts rapping) “Yeah I’m on my bike and I’m heading to the shops to buy a can of coke”, no one wants to hear that shit. It’s fucking boring. Hilltop Hoods I didn’t mind but every single one of them since just tries to sound the same. Plus the Aussie accent doesn’t work in hip hop for me. But it got popular so every major label and every radio station from Triple J to Nova had to go out and find a million acts that sound like Hilltop and flog them to death.
I have to admit, that’s one thing I hate about our scene. We all jump on a bandwagon and take something that’s good and original and flog it to death and create all these bad copycat bands that you end up hating the genre.
Yeah man that’s exactly it.
Anyway Tim, I better let you go thanks for having a chat to me tonight.
No worries man, sorry about the mix up and running late. (the interview was a day late and half hour behind schedule)
That’s okay. All the best for the album, as I said it’s a cracker and good luck on the tour too.
Awww thanks mate. Are you coming to one of the shows?
Yeah I think I’ll be at the Annandale gig.
Cool, well if you do give us call and we’ll catch up for a chinwag and a beer.
No worries man, have a good night.
Trial Kennedy are at the Annandale Hotel this Saturday, May 21 with The Ivy's. "Living Undesigned" is out now.
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