Sure we’ve heard about you before, but we think it’s time for Tone Deaf to get to know you a little better. Slip in to something comfortable while we put on some music, pour us a couple of drinks and turn the lights down low. So, tell us about yourselves…
Who are you and what do you do in your act?
Hi I’m Zadia lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter with Spearmint Fur. The other members in my band are Tim Poyser on guitar, Tero Rajala on Drums and John Talarico on the bass
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
I was brought up by my mum who pretty much only has classical records in her collection mainly vinyl which I now have. My favourite is Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major. There are moments in that piece of music that seriously bring tears to my eyes.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
Well our guitarist Tim who lived over in Germany for a number of years turned me on to a band called Archive who are a British band that no one in Britain really gives a hoot about but they’re absolutely massive in Europe and are incredible, so I am addicted to them for sure! Radiohead of course, The Feeling, Ladyhawke, Kings of Convenience and suddenly belatedly for some reason, absolutely loving the Stereophonics, who I really didn’t like before and now are mad crazy for them … a very late conversion …plus have been listening to our new songs we’ve just recorded, over and over and over again before final mastering.
‘Home taping is killing the music business was the catch-cry of the record industry in the 1970s, but it managed to survive until now. What do you think is the difference between mates taping copies of friend’s records back in the 80s and 90s and file sharing now?
Back then making a tape for a friend was a labour of love and took time and effort, whereas now, people can share music with anyone over the internet superfast which is great to an extent but I do think in the long run it will have a detrimental impact on new artists’ ability to make any sort of living out of music. Music has become such a disposable commodity with no thought to the time or, actual creative struggle it takes to release music in the first place, and most of the good stuff never sees the light of day as major labels crowd the airwaves.
Sure go ahead, share away, inane manufactured music clogging up the airwaves as often the artists don’t make a cent anyway, but please give a thought to the struggling artists and bands out there who essentially pay to play, spend so much money on instruments, renting rehearsal spaces, transporting gear to gigs, paying for sound techs at venues out of their door earnings, promotion, paying for studio time to record etc. the costs are endless.. Considering all that, 99 cents isn’t so bad to pay for a track you like and every little bit helps the indie creators continue to create. Go on, create good karma for yourself.
You must answer this question honestly or we steal your rider. What was the first gig you went to.? Where was it and what was the venue?
Cheap Trick, Bruce Stadium, Canberra ( yeah I know..)
What’s your favourite site to download music from and do you ever pay for it? Can we find any of your releases there?
No particular favourite site, but ALWAYS pay. Our releases are on the usual suspects iTunes, e Music Amazon and our own website where you can buy direct from us, cutting out the middle men at www.spearmintfur.com
What artist made you want to pick up an instrument and/or sing?
I played classical violin since the age of 7 but The Knack’s My Sharona got me started playing air guitar, then I got a real nylon string guitar and started working out Cheap Trick, Police, Cure & Simple Minds songs and so it went from there and have been writing songs and playing in bands ever since.
Have you ever been arrested?
It depends on your definition of arrested.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
I don’t have a particular ritual besides making sure I’ve got on clean undies, but one thing I will definitely not do again before going on stage is have a pint of beer on an empty stomach, which I did after driving to a gig in Echuca without having really eaten anything all day except a few Minties in the car. I stood up quickly and realised I was feeling super dizzy but worst of all, for some reason, I had absolutely no saliva in my mouth, making it hard to swallow food (which I desperately needed at that point) never mind sing. My band mates still think it’s hilarious!
What’s been your most outrageous rider request?
Rider, what’s that?? We get what we’re given.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
There is a cover of Under the Milky Way on the Immune album which of course is one of The Church’s many amazing songs. I am really not keen on covers but that song just hit me the first time I ever heard it back in Canada so I think to collaborate with Steve Kilbey would be awesome, or even to sing our version with him and the band would be WOW!
Right, let’s get really intimate. Tell us what releases you have that we can listen to with the lights down low, or even better, where we can see you play in person next.
Thanks for asking. Well we currently have a full length album titled Immune and have just finished recording the first two songs for an e.p. tentatively titled Juno.
We are excited to be playing at The Prague in Thornbury on Sunday May 1st where we will test out some of our new songs and will be sharing the stage with some great local bands Lane Chaser, Black Tea House and Circus Therapy. Show starts at 6pm so not a late night with good musical sounds to be heard! Tickets $10 at the door.
