Five Favourites with dust
Newcastle’s dust have emerged as one of the most dynamic creative forces in the Aussie rock scene. Their debut album Sky Is Falling has been praised by critics, with the lads about to embark on a national tour in support of the release. Ahead of their Adelaide show at Jive in December, vocalist and guitarist Justin Teale opened up about Australia’s alt-rock scene, touring with Interpol across Europe and their five favourite Aussie bands everyone needs to hear.
Interview Tobias Handke // Image supplied
The past few years have seen a new wave of experimental rock acts emerge in Australia – bands such as Placement, The Empty Threats and yourself. Why do you think this experimental, raw, unflinchingly Australian sound has found a footing in the local music scene?
I think for a while the Aus music scene has gone in waves in terms of different genres of music and what people gravitate towards. During my formative years, I was around a lot of surf rock and psych bands that seemed to represent surfers and hippies. That seemed to be what was cool. So I suppose, naturally, the whole music landscape just changes over time.
This experimental rock, post-punk influenced type of music seemed to come about post-COVID, with the ability to get dialled into what was happening in the UK and Europe. I think this sound represents a new, more diverse crowd of people, drawing influence from around the world instead of strictly from local scenes. And so I think everything has a place now, and it seems to be having a major effect on how people express themselves, and being able to do it however they want.
Are there any particular bands that influenced dust or had an impact on the music you make during the band’s formative years?
When the band started we definitely bonded over the UK post-punk scene of the time. It was a very fresh sound that none of us had really listened to before. Again, it kind of opened us up a bit to what music we could actually make – we’d been in some pretty shocking bands before this one, so I think we were keen to branch out a bit to make things a bit more experimental
Similar to Adelaide’s Placement, the saxophone is a distinct element that makes up dust. Personally, I think the sax automatically makes a song 25% better. What do you think it is about the instrument that appeals to listeners, and how do you incorporate it so seamlessly into your sound?
I feel like it’s exciting when you hear and see it being played; it has a lot of soul and can really bring a mood to a song. It can be a challenge in how you use it, and Adam is really good at making decisions with it. He never wants to play it for the sake of playing and knows when something’s already busy and when to bring the sax in – he’s a great director.
It’s been two years since the band burst onto the scene with et cetera, etc. You’ve spent a lot of that time on the road. How has this impacted the writing and sound of your new record, Sky Is Falling?
Being on the road and watching other people play has really influenced us [and] makes us excited to write more music. You have a lot of free time in the car pondering, so it’s great to expand [our] music taste. Over time we have gotten more comfortable with each other's writing. We’ve had a lot of practice with songwriting as a band and it gets easier over time.
The album opens with ‘Drawbacks’, a frenetic burst of guitar/sax energy that reminds me of another Aussie band, Faker. What can you tell me about the making of this track, and why did you choose it to open the album?
Shout out Faker – legends. It was one of the first songs we wrote as a band together, starting from nothing and just letting something naturally come out. That process was very refreshing and [we] continued to do [that] throughout writing this album.
It came out pretty quickly, but lyrically it took some time. I wanted it to be fast wording, but I wanted to get it right, so I spent ages pondering over words and phrases. My dad used to say to me, if someone is so horrible to you, rather than giving them the one middle finger, they deserve all ten, which always stuck with me and I wanted to use in a song.
Another album highlight is ‘Restless’. The track features Justin and Gabe trading verses. Talk to us about the song and how they approach the songwriting process. Do they write lyrics together and present them to the others, or is it a collaborative effort amongst the band?
Lyrics are usually a personal task that we both like to take on ourselves, then present to the room, but we definitely did some sessions writing together. Gabe already has some lyrics for that song, and I had that up and down chorus melody and would just sing random stuff and follow his narrative. I was listening to a lot of Sorry at the time and loved their gloomy feelings with their lyrics and melodies together, and was inspired by that with this song.
I’m also a big fan of ‘Day Tight’, a song that shifts tone midway through from quiet vocals and guitar to an onslaught of noise. What can you tell me about this track?
I had that song for a really long time, about three years and couldn’t find lyrics until two weeks before recording and standing in front of the mic about to do a take. I was keen to do a grand song like that and knew we would be able to do it, incorporating lots of sections and not being concerned about a long duration.
This album is covered in a lot of emotional and tender moments, and I feel that song takes it to an ambitious height. I put off showing the guys that song for a long time because I was worried it was corny, but when we tried it, I think we nailed it pretty quickly. Lyrically, it follows a path not being able to figure things out when you really want to, but then you probably won’t ever figure it out, and that’s all good.
READ MORE: Five Favourites with Broken Waves
I read the album’s title was inspired by the phrase “the sky is falling”, along with the post-tour blues. Can you expand on this and how it manifested in the music on the album?
Going on tours and playing shows is amazing, and even though you get excited to come home once you're there, you fall into a pit of dread. When writing lyrics to ‘Just like Ice’, which me and Gabe did collaboratively, we had many conversations about not knowing where you’re at in life and being stuck in a rut. I feel that’s where that feeling comes from, but the title Sky is Falling also reflects on multiple meanings, playing with the idea of impending doom and being a person in this day and age.
As previously mentioned, you’ve spent the past couple of years on the road and played with some incredible bands. I have to ask, what was it like supporting Interpol on their UK and European tour?
Pretty fucking crazy to experience that level of touring of being a band. We always knew it was going to be surreal, but it wasn’t till we were at the first show in Sweden that it all really kicked in quickly. [We] also felt extremely honoured to be touring with such a respectable band like that. It was like a Wayne’s World “we are not worthy” moment. Being on that tour, I was listening to a lot of those New York bands like TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and even Interpol; their debuts are so raw and significant and that influenced our [album] by wanting to capture that raw beginning of something.
You’re also hitting the road with good mates The Belair Lip Bombs next year. How did you meet and how pumped are you to get back to the States and perform with them?
Super excited. Touring the States almost feels impossible for Australian bands, so we feel extremely privileged to be able to do it, especially being able to do it with a big crew of friends. We met Maise a few years ago when she was playing in another band CLAMM, and we heard about the Lip Bombs but didn’t know too much. Once she left that band and ‘Say My Name’ came out, I think we were like most people and were blown away. Afterwards we started sharing the same management and proceeded to share trips together and become quite close with all the members. They are all so unique and so talented; they haven’t got a single dud song. Every song is as strong as the last one you just heard.
Having played to Australian, European and American crowds, is there in difference between the three?
America is something we are yet to properly figure out, as we have only done SXSW, which is a mixed bag of people all around the world, but in terms of Australia and Europe, they are similar but also very different. Europe is quite brutally honest but will give everyone a chance and make the effort; in Australia, everyone will say that it was good but you never really know what people are thinking. They also love going to live music and going to shows but there is something about Europe that can really shock you. You could play to 200 people in your hometown town but then play to 250 people in places you have never been before and people don't really know who you are.
With the album now out in the world, what are the plans for dust between now and your upcoming American jaunt?
Building up our immune systems and going on other tours. We are doing an Australian run in December with some amazing up-and-coming bands called Swampmeet and Blue Diner. We are also doing a run of shows in Europe and the UK in cold January. Hopefully I get to see snow as I never have before. We are also just going to keep up the momentum and keep writing.
Catch dust performing at Jive on Friday 5 December. Tickets on sale now via moshtix.com.au.
dust’ five favourite Aussie Bands
Twine
Amazing. Underrated [band] from Melbourne. The best in the biz.
Shady Nasty
We have loved this band ever since we started dust and they put out their debut this year. They just did a song with FredAgain.. If you know Shady Nasty, it was only a matter of time for something like this to happen.
Swapmeet
They make music that you just want to hear. Amazing songwriting and [they] are all very talented, very creative.
HTRK
This is my favourite Australian band ever. They have been making music for a while, but are constantly reinventing themselves while also keeping their sound.
Blistar
These guys just put out a lovely album (Windows of Island). Lo-fiy country indie rock stuff. Super nice. Most of them are pro surfers as well, which is sick.
