Gang of Youths had a breakout year in 2015, one of the most prominent of a whole crop of Australian artists to enjoy massive success last year, including commercial attention, critical acclaim, and a total of five ARIA Award nominations.
You could say frontman Dave Le’aupepe has reason to be cocky right now, but according to a confessional new interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the singer and songwriter is actually so self-conscious he can’t listen to other music.
The 23-year-old told Fairfax that he enjoys the solitude of life on the road as it allows for plenty of reading time, which he actually prefers to listening to music, listing James Joyce, David Foster Wallace, and Raymond Carver as favourites.
“Literature influences me more than music. I don’t really listen to a whole lot of music any more because I’m competitive and deeply insecure about my work,” Le’aupepe said. “With The Positions I wanted to be plain-spoken and honest, like a Raymond Carver short story.”
Whilst a musician who doesn’t listen to any other music besides his own is normally a reason to scoff, Le’aupepe’s revelation shows how it’s still possible to be unsure of yourself in the wake of the kind of success most band’s can only dream of.
Le’aupepe also echoed the sentiments of Australian hip-hop duo Spit Syndicate when asked about the recent op-ed he penned for FasterLouder, in which the musician lambasted the controversial lockout laws which have decimated Sydney’s nighttime economy.
Whilst Le’aupepe’s piece was thoughtful, measured, and eloquent, he admits Australia has bigger fish to fry than licensing laws and wishes Australia’s 20-somethings would be more civically active, even turning his critical eye on himself.
“Part of me has a cynicism about youth culture these days because I’m inherently idealistic and romantic about a time when people cared about stuff and didn’t just meander through the streets,” he said.
“I’m a hypocrite in that regard, because I haven’t marched about disability support programs being plucked from NSW government funding, or Indigenous issues.” Gang of Youths are set to kick off on a national headline tour in Brisbane tonight.
Gangs Of Youths National Tour Dates
Friday, 8
th April 2016
The Tivoli, Brisbane
Saturday, 9th April 2016
Enmore Theatre, Sydney (AA)
Friday, 15th April 2016
The Gov, Adelaide (AA)
Saturday, 16th April 2016
Astor Theatre, Perth (AA)
Friday, 22nd April
2016
170 Russell, Melbourne
