C.O.F.F.I.N. Are On For Froth & Fury
‘It’s just the connection through music and being able to connect through music, be it in such a remote place and remote part of the world, for everyone to still be receptive and to draw emotion from people, crowds and stuff. It’s a strange thing that music can bring people together regardless of cultural background, nationality or anything like that. Language barriers can be overcome through music.’
Abijah Rado of Sydney’s recently announced ARIA nominated C.O.F.F.I.N. (Children Of Finland Fighting In Norway) explains the power of music and performing having recently toured extremely contrasting areas such as remote Western Australia and northern Europe.
‘It’s a pretty strange contrast going from playing to ten thousand people at a European festival in France then to going to remote community up in WA with only a population of six hundred people. The fulfilment you get out of it is different, it’s both super rewarding. It’s always been a thing for us as a band to try and involve regional communities and play as many regional shows as we can, to broaden the places rather than just play it on the beaten track. We can bring our music to and the experiences that you get to have in these places and the friendships that you form out of it and stuff.’
Froth & Fury Fest will have a brand-new current ARIA nominated artist in C.O.F.F.I.N. which came as a surprise to Rado.
‘It was pretty funny. The way we found out, we were up in Bidyadanga, up in WA, this remote community. We played a show up there the night before and bass player just happened to be watching the ARIA nominations – I think I was in the shower – and he was like, ‘what the hell? We’ve got an ARIA nomination!’ None of us expected it, so it was a pretty big surprise. It’s pretty strange for all of us to have that.’
From ARIA nominations in regional Western Australia to playing in Norway with a band name that would surely raise a few eyebrows.
‘We did get a few questions about it, and it’s always been on the cards for us to try and get to Norway one day, and we finally managed to get there. A lot of the locals were very curious about the name as are a lot of people. Long story short, it’s a complete nonsense name that we made up when we were 15 years old, but there were some people in Norway explaining to us that there was a war between Finland and Norway and they were like, oh, ‘Finland would kick our ass!’ Once we explained the history of the name to them, they’re like, ‘oh, this is hilarious that it actually is complete nonsense!’ They just found it pretty funny in the end.’
As a band though, musically they are punk n’ roll. Think old school Backyard Babies but garnished with that ballsy Aussie attitude.
‘I think we’re very high energy, like rock and roll soaked in punk rock down at the core, but there’s a mix of everything in there. A bit of metal thrown in. But yeah, just high energy and chaotic. We all kind of grew up skating together and just causing mischief, grew up in that jackass era, I guess. Viva La Bam, CKY, all that stuff. So there’s a bit of that thrown in there always.’
New music is in the works, as will touring in 2025, however for now focus is on destination Adelaide.
‘Really excited to come down to Adelaide again. It’s always an amazing time. We were down there for the Port Noarlunga festival. Then the time before that was actually on the back of our US tour. We flew and landed in Sydney that morning, dropped our bags off at home. I think Ben didn’t even go home, stayed at the airport, and then we flew down and played at the Cranker that night and that was a breath of fresh air. We were all so buggered by the time we got there, but after that show it just was reinvigorating. So Adelaide’s always been a fun one for us. So yeah, just really looking forward to getting back down there.’
Interview By Iain McCallum
Catch C.O.F.F.I.N. at Froth & Fury Festival at Harts Mill, Port Adelaide on Saturday November 9. Tickets from MoshTix…
