Prince Daddy & The Hyena: Cosmic Thrill Seeking Forever

Following Prince Daddy & The Hyena’s self-titled album – a dark, brooding exploration of existential dread, mortality, and the fear of impermanence – this new project takes a sharp right-turn into the light.

“It wasn’t deliberately more light-hearted,” ponders Kory, “It was just a no-strings-attached approach this time around. I wanted to write a ‘singles record’,” he continues with air quotations. “I just wanted to write a whole bunch of pop songs, pick nine to 15 of them and have that be the album.”

Despite this being the blueprint that a great deal of modern artists follow, this was one big step for the Albany locals.

“With that comes a little less heavy-handedness. It kind of came automatically that I’m not going to be writing about fear of death or some big giant social construct when I’ve only given myself two-and-a-half minutes.”

Exactly 10 years on since their debut, I Thought You Didn’t Even Like Leaving, Prince Daddy & The Hyena feel closer than ever to their mission statement.

“It’s not quite a return to form; it’s an acknowledgment of form,” muses Kory. “I think this is the first time we’re very aware and excited about what Prince Daddy is. We’re really willing to embrace what we are this time around, without the need to prove to someone that we’re willing to expand upon that. We started this band to do ‘that’, so let’s do ‘that’.”

Much like the majority of my Gen Z companions, I love a good reference. They make art feel addressed directly to the listener; like you’re a part of the world’s coolest inside joke. It’s part of what drew me to Prince Daddy & The Hyena in the first place.

Lyrics like “Whenever I'm freaking out, I keep the thought of the cast of Friends real close to my head / It's not absurd to say that 10 goddamn seasons would be the longest friendship I'd ever have” felt as if they’d been ripped out of my Year 10 journal, and with every record the band released, the allusions kept coming.

“It’s part of the band’s identity at this point,” smiles Kory. “Whatever me and the band are trying to build with Prince Daddy, world-building exists within it. Referencing past records and cross-breeding ideas is something I’ve always done, but with this record and our first, we wanted to pull from the right now. Whether the right now be an amalgamation of the past five minutes, week, month or year, I’m pulling from my life, and I think it would be being dishonest with myself if I didn’t bring that to the table.”

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He says all of this with an action figure of Donatello (who I wrongly identified as Mikey) from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (a franchise Prince Daddy have mentioned on multiple occasions) behind him. Every artist’s personality is infused in their music, but it was truly inspiring and surprisingly emotional to see such an honest reflection of his works sitting in his house. Perched just atop the pizza-loving vigilante was an early Green Day poster.

“Green Day are pretty much why all four of us in the band started writing and performing music,” Kory tells, his admiration on his sleeve. “I feel like, for this record, the inspiration was Green Day, Prince Daddy, and pop music. I’m listening to so much pop right now, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo; it all leaks into whatever I’m creating. I just had to mow my lawn before I’m not home for weeks and I was just bumping Olivia the whole time.”

Those weeks away will be spent in Australia, touring every major city we have and stopping at some regional locations too.

“Every time I ask a friend of mine what their time was like in Australia, they say the same thing. ‘You’re gonna love it.’ Y’all seem like you’re really in the now, a chill and generally happy bunch, which is something I’m really looking forward to experiencing. That being said, I essentially know nothing about the place, and I’m really excited to go in blind.

“We’ve wanted to come to Australia since like album two,” Kory states with an audible excitement. “For some reason, it’s taken us a decade to get over, and I guess at this point, if there’s even one person (outside of the touring crew) who is inside the venue and enjoying themselves, I will be absolutely stoked.

“The messier the better,” Kory ends with a finality.

For punters looking for a show outside of the usual Saturday night at Jive, this is the gig for you. Evident in the way Kory speaks, Prince Daddy & The Hyena have an unwavering passion for what they do. It’s a testament to the DIY ethos bands of their ilk have possessed for decades, and it’s rejuvenating to hear an artist who’s been doing this for over a decade speak about what they do with such awe.

Prince Daddy & The Hyena are a knife through the permanent content slop we wade through every day. They’re an urgent, exciting reminder that whimsy isn’t a trend, it’s a fire that will never go out.

Cover your walls in posters, pull out your old toys, scream as loud as you possibly can, paint your nails, hug your friends, listen to Hotwire Trip Switch and open up the fucking pit.

Catch Prince Daddy & The Hyena performing with special guests Macseal, Suzi and TOWNHOUSE. at Jive on Friday 24 July. Tickets on sale now via moshtix.com.au.