The Mission In Motion

Wed 25th Jun, 2008 in Features

The latest band to come out of Sydney is the rock-pop infused group The Mission In Motion. With their rock – œn roll hooks and lyrics that are sure to get stuck in your head, this quintet are certainly going to find their place in the Aussie music market. Their sophomore EP A Curse, A Calling is due to be released on the 28th of June through Taperjean Records, with whom the boys have only recently been signed. I took this opportunity to converse with lead singer Brett Islaub about his pride and passion for the band, before he and his fellow band members take to the road to showcase their latest musical offering.

Islaub details the pressure the band put themselves under to make their new EP. “We concentrated on the recording a lot more than we did last time, like making sure that we were happy with guitar sounds and drum sounds. The songwriting process was also a lot longer and more focused.”

Sleep deprivation and non-existent social lives were but two of the sacrifices the band had to make to complete the five-track EP. Things were made even more complicated, considering all five guys also worked other jobs on the side to help sustain themselves and their band. “We basically spent two and a half weeks in the studio 24 hours a day, at some points I was going from work to the studio, recording all night, falling asleep on the couch at the studio, waking up and going back to work. It was pretty full on.”

As challenging as having day jobs and recording into the night may have been, the end result is something the boys should be satisfied with. Islaub gives a brief overview of each track, explaining what they represent to him and the band.

Track number one The News is a very potent song that talks of the band’s resolve to be noticed and appreciated. It’s also filled with rhythmic guitar tunes and drum beats that make this track one of the stand outs. Last Crusade (my personal favourite) is energetic and commanding and is going to go off when preformed live. It is also a very personal song detailing a bad situation the boys were in with someone who previously to work with the group. “If you’ve known our band long enough you’ll be able to figure out who we are talking about,” states Islaub.

The guitar heavy We Take This To The Night is along the same lines lyrically as track one, as it too discusses the importance of music and the determination of the band to make it big. Title track A Curse, A Calling is dedicated to the The Mission In Motion’s families and friends, explaining why they are often absent. The song pulls you in as it begins soft and melodic but soon builds into a rock song. The ideal EP closer Esmeralda’s Prophecy was based on a dream guitarist Chris Maguire (better known as ‘Far’) had, giving the song a particular mystical and flawless air to it.

Overall the entire EP is a testament to all the trials and tribulations the five guys have had to endure all for the sake of this one release. When asked how he will know The Mission In Motion has “made it”, instead of saying the predictable “when I win an Aria” or “when I get noticed just walking down the street”, Islaub rather humbly states that he just wants to be able to make a living creating and performing music. “When we don’t have to work shitty jobs to support our band, that will be enough for us.” Hopefully that will be very soon.

The Mission In Motion’s new EP A Curse, A Calling is out 28 June. They are hitting the road in July to promote the release. Catch them at the following shows:

4 July – Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney (AA)

5 July – Annandale Hotel

12 July – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (AA)

18 July- Oxford Tavern, Wollongong

19 July – Hype Central, Castle Hill, Sydney (AA)

23 July – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle

1 August – Barwon Club, Geelong (AA)

2 August – Bang Nightclub, Melbourne

3 August – Knox Community Centre, Bayswater (AA)