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Recently we got the opportunity to do an interview with the exciting electro rock band MM9. Their debut album ‘The Air Between’ (which I will review soon) is really amazing and well worth getting your hands on, as well as any EP’s you can find. My interview is below, for more information check out the band’s website, myspace page and start following them on twitter.
You have previously released 2 EPs, your debut self-titled EP followed by Prosthetic Boulevard. How different is the experience of recording a full length album compared with doing an EP?
MM9 – Each recording process for us has been a completely different journey, each time we have approached it differently, with The Air Between we had a much bigger budget to be able to stretch out a little and really get into sounds and try out some cool things. Dan has always been at the helm of a lot of the production side, we also had Evan McHugh recording and co producing and finally the awesome Mike Barbiero (Metallica, Anthrax, Guns’n Roses, Thrice, Cypress Hill) Mixing and really putting so much love into it. We learn’t so much in making this album, So many lessons learnt for the next album to come.
Any plans for a second album yet?
MM9 – We have already started throwing up ideas, we have the ability on the road to write and record so as soon as we hit the hotel its Laptops out and straight into it. I actually really enjoying coming back straight after a show and getting stuck into new ideas, it’s not the most rock’n roll thing to do after a show but it’s when i feel most creative. Hopefully we will start demoing ideas towards the end of the year, with the hope to have a new album out early to mid next year.
How do you all get involved with music? Any other musicians in your families? Who were your early music influences?
MM9 – I think it was watching my brother rehearse with his band when i was like 9 or 10 years old and noticing that the drums were nice and loud and looked the most fun, so i got right into drums around that time, and have lived and breathed it ever since. It was also a great way of surviving not being a surfer or a sport guy in high school. I think it may have been the fact that i could play tonnes of Slayer and Sepultura songs that stopped me from being seen as the quiet weird kid in school, all the surfers were like “nah dont throw your sandwich at that dude he can play Angel of Death” its a great survival tip for young kids who don’t wanna surf or play sports at school.
Where does the name of the band come from?
MM9 – Its from the sci-fi book and David Lynch film Dune, We have just folded space from Ix…Many machines on Ix. New machines.” i was a fan of the book and film, however one night in a pub after many drinks, i saw it written on the bathroom wall and read it as Many machines on ix the roman numeral for 9, and it just went around in my head for a while, brought it up with the guys when discussing many other names and it just stuck.
Dan, you used to make music under the name Switchkicker. How does the experience of working with MM9 compare to that?
Dan from MM9 – It’s a totally different experience. In Switchkicker, everything from the songs to the artwork was on my shoulders. In MM9 I can write a track, or part of and hand it over to the other guys to then turn it around into a MM9 track. It’s cool not to have the pressure of a solo project at the moment and throw all my musical energy into MM9.
Do you do anything specific to warm up for a live show?
Dan from MM9 – Ahhhh….I should! I just try not to talk. I should know better, but I’ve found the best thing to do is relax. Ben – for me its heaps of stretching out, eating a good meal, love heaps of rice before a show, and just get hydrated.
What are your goals for the band for the future?
MM9 – The same thing we have been doing for the last 8 years, work really hard to create and to bring people a memorable live show. So its lots more rigorous touring and plans to take it O.S.
Ideally, what other bands would you love to work with in the future?
MM9 – I think it would be more about Producers, but there are definitely artists within those bands that are fantastic songwriters and producers, A dream of mine would be to co-lab on a track with Richard D James (Aphex Twin) Liam Howlett from the Prodigy, Bjork, Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland (Crystal Method), Chris Vrenna. There is also just so much great Australian talent and we are lucky enough to share stages with them, but the songwriters and young producers and engineers like Evan McHugh and Forrester Savell are completely world class. I’m really getting into some new acts like Metals, Sailmaker, Lo, and faves K-oscillate, DLC, Pivot, Electric Horse. Way too many to list.
Any secret plans to dominate the music world?
MM9 – I don’t think any band would make it a secret that they want to dominate the world! We’ll just keep touring and writing and then we’ll see what comes of it.
Awesome! Great questions
Thank you for your help with them
Well Well Well, I think you have done a great job with this one. Great questions.
Thank you
Great interview, Chazz!