Horror My Friend
Following the release of breakout single Turned Loose, Horror My Friend continue this path with Dopamine Waster out now. The release comes after the announcement of a co-headline tour with Melbourne’s RAT!hammock and their joint single release through James Tidswell’s (Violent Soho) Domestic LaLa (Dear Seattle, West Thebarton, etc.) imprint.
December will see the band join Aussie heavyweights DZ Deathrays and Hockey Dad on a Canadian tour, marking Horror My Friend’s second overseas stint this year after their recent appearances at The Great Escape and Groezrock festivals. Sam Kolesnik answers some questions for Hi Fi Way.
How has the response been to your new single Dopamine Waster?
My mum likes it and said that even the “screamy bits” had grown on her. If that’s not a solid response, I don’t know what is. Also, before we put it out, without even knowing the song, crowds were reacting super kindly to it, which was pretty incredible.
Was the process of making Dopamine Waster as challenging as you thought?
The process was actually really lovely. We didn’t have any time pressure and the songs evolved really naturally. We recorded it alongside Turned Loose with major guru Richard Bowers, and had the best time experimenting with sounds alongside him. Only having two songs to record meant it was super chill. I’m not sure if I mentioned it but Richard is a GURU.
Sonically, how would describe your music?
Three people trying to be louder than each other, with lyrics.
Who would you consider to be the biggest influence on your music and why?
Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine have probably been the biggest influences in terms of the overall sound and songwriting. Particularly for Tom and Josh, they were the bands that they obsessed over when they were teens. That’s what they want me to write though. The actual biggest influence is that guitar part in the U2 song Elevation that goes wah wah wah
wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah. True story.
Best piece of advice you have been given?
Drink more water and don’t let a drummer give you advice.
How did the band get together?
The band started after Tom and Josh left high school and started playing around Adelaide. I joined years later after having played alongside HMF with other bands I was playing with at the time. They ended up becoming two of my best friends and now we play shows because we love hanging with each other, but we’re terrible at organising catch ups so we get out manager to do it for us and call it touring.
Tell us about your upcoming tour in Canada.
We’re touring with best bois Hockey Dad and DZ Deathrays so it’s gonna be crazy. It’s Winter over there right now so it’s going to be a bit of a shock coming from the sunny weather we’re having here. I think we’re all just incredibly appreciative of how lucky we are to be able to perform in another country, let alone with two bands that we respect so highly.
We can’t wait to meet some new people over there.
Interview By Rob Lyon
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