An Interview With the Australian Group, STICKY FINGERS!

Following the success of their critically acclaimed sophomore album Land of Pleasure, Australian 5-piece Sticky Fingers recently released their third album, Westway (The Glitter & The Slums), via Warner/Sureshaker.

The album will be followed by a North American tour with stops in Los Angeles, Chicago and more – see full tour routing below.

“Westway is lyrically darker than both previous albums,” keyboardist Freddy Crabs explained. “It deals with rehab, break ups and loneliness, mixed with the transient nature of constantly being on the road and what that does to our bodies and our heads. Expect stronger musicianship, bigger and better solos, synths and high falsettos. Expect a collab from one of Australia’s most important new artists. Expect to laugh, cry and gets the tingle like you’ve never felt before.”

Westway (The Glitter & The Slums) was recorded in Thailand at Karma Sounds Studios and produced by Dann Hume (Troye Sivan, Courtney Barnett, Matt Corby). “It was magic,” bassist Paddy Cornwall said of the recording experience. “A studio built into a villa on the beach… It felt like we’d checked into rehab, except we actually wanted to be there because we were creating something beautiful together.”

Following the 2014 release of Land of Pleasure, Sticky Fingers performed to a record-breaking early attendance crowd of 20,000 people at Splendour In The Grass, played Falls Festival, Woodford Festival, Southbound Festival and BW Festival (NZ) and sold out a March Australian tour without even announcing it. Land of Pleasure debuted at #3 on the ARIA charts, stormed the AIR Independent Album Chart at #1, was Triple J feature album with three tracks making it into the 2015 Hottest 100 and “Gold Snafu” making it to the Top 20.

The band reached a milestone three million views on their video for “Australia Street” as well as close to a million views on all their other videos and released a cover and clip of The Specials’ “Ghost Town” protesting the Sydney Lock outs.

Sticky Fingers North American tour dates:

10/6       Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

10/7       Vancouver, BC @ Vogue

10/8       Victoria, BC @ Distrikt

10/10     Banff, AB @ Wild Bills

10/12     Calgary, AB @ SAIT

10/13     Edmonton, AB @ The Needle

10/15     Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid

10/16     Minneapolis, MN @ 7^th Street Entry

10/18     Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

10/20     Toronto, ON @ Opera House

10/21     Montreal, QC @ Club Soda

Learn more about Sticky Fingers in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Now that we are entering the fall of 2016, what are some words you would use to describe this year? What have been some of the highlights for the band?

This year’s been mental. We recorded the album in Thailand. Came back to do a run of shows in Oz, headed to the states then recently just came back from Europe and the UK so we haven’t really stopped.

I’d say our full house show at the Troubadour in LA was a highlight for me. That joint is legendary and to sell it out having only been there once before was huge for all us boys. Can’t wait to smash the Teragram in a few weeks.

Seeing Ron Jeremy munching on a pie at a bus stop at 5 in the morning was also a real highlight.

Growing up, did you all always want to be musicians? Can you recall your earliest musical memories?

Yeah we still wanna be musicians. Can barely hit beat 1 at the best of times! (Laughter) Nah, look we kinda just enjoyed the idea of us all touring up and down Oz and all the parties that came with it. Until we actually got a lil bit good, the music was somewhat secondary. We used to bring a handy-cam and record all the times on and off the road. My short term memory is fried these days and it’s all a by of a blur, but if ya wanna laugh then ava geeze up on YouTube. There’s some real gold there..

How did Sticky Fingers first come together? How did you come up with your band name?

Back when we were lil high school stoners we called ourselves Greenleaf. We played some real average white boy reggae. We got our first gig at a joint called the Bat and Ball in inner Sydney and thought, fuck we need a new name. We just so happened to spot the Rolling Stones album lying around in Paddy’s folks’ place and thought, that’ll work.

How would you describe your sound to someone who had never heard it before?

A mixed bag of psychedelic flavors. None of them shitty liquorice or musk ones either. All good stuff!

You will be releasing your newest and third album, “Westway (The Glitter & The Slums).” How do you think this collection is different then anything else you’ve put out? Specifically, how is it different then your sophomore collection, “Land Of Pleasure”? What about this album makes you proudest?

This album is our strongest work – at least we think so. We’ve always progressed as musicians and I think Westway highlights a more mature and stronger level of musicianship. Unlike our previous album Land of Pleasure which had a lot of layers and a real produced sound, Westway ain’t as textural and relies on each instrumental layer to sing through without being enhanced by too many effects.

At times it’s a bit darker lyrically and a bit harder hitting with some heavier beats and distorted riffs. Although we’ve expanded the sound we still hold on to the sticky flavors that keep it all together. I think cats are gonna dig.

I’m curious to know more about recording this new album in Thailand? How and why did that happen? What was that like for you guys?

We saw the studio on a website from a mate of ours in Oz and thought fuck why don’t we just do this? It’s a place called Karma Studios located just outside of the old sleazy western male sex capital of Thailand, Pattaya.

The studio was attached to this enclosed villa which felt at times like a big brother house. We had a pool, pool table, huge backyard and maids cooking us three course meals everyday. It was pretty surreal. Surprised we got anything done really, but our producer Dann Hume kept us in line.

You are about to embark on a busy fall tour? Where are you most excited to play at? What do you think makes for an amazing tour?

Yeah, we are hittin’ the states and making our way up through the Rockies in Canada and finishing up east side.

I’m keen to get back to the west coast again. I think ozzies have a real affiliation with that side of the world cos it feels like home but sometimes in a far better way. San Fran and Santa Cruz will be tight but I also reckon Portland is gonna be a vibe. Hopefully we don’t cause as much of a stir as last time. Apparently my lack of attire on stage was too offensive for the venue manager. What can I say? I gotta hairy rug and it gets hot up there!

It’s always good to hang with ya fans after shows. We usually have the best time on the road when we get a bit back from the cats we play to. Canada was wild for that last time and these shows are gonna pop. Keen to hit up Banff again. Shouts to Aardvark Pizza. My favorite pizza joint in the world.

Who are some of your favorite artists and what bands continue to inspire you and your music? Who would you still love to work with in the future?

Lotta dope acts coming outta Oz. DMAs are our long time friends making major moves at the moment. Sober or sloshed they’ll leave ya lost for words.

One of the most important rappers coming out of Oz at the moment is a dude named Remi and he features on our new album – track called Something Strange.

Def worth checking out our close pals Boo Seeka who are an electro/soul duo from Oz. They’re doing a massive tour round the states at the moment so I implore you to suss em out.

When you aren’t performing, working in the studio, what do you like to do for fun? How do you unwind from it all?

It’s always a bit of a struggle cos we’re never really home for too long cos we’re always on the road. So coming home always feels a lil empty and we come back always wanting to get back on the road. Never ending cycle but i couldn’t love it more

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

No real message. If ya dig it, ya dig it. Simple as that.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Nah nuffin really. Just get the album. Out September 30 – Worldwide

Follow Sticky Fingers On Social Media Here:

http://www.stickyfingerstheband.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stickyfingersmusic

https://twitter.com/sti_fi

https://www.instagram.com/stickyfingersband

https://www.youtube.com/stickyfingerstheband