My Disco

Fri 15th Apr, 2011 in Features

This band is the answer to the eternal debate of whether noise is the same as sound. My Disco is a trio of experimental musicians, whose sound constantly evolves through muted tones of rock and pop. The light and shade which layers their musicality is unique, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise from a group who enthuses a distinctive style through every aspect of their approach and performance. Ben Andrews explains how My Disco is a serious band that tends push the limits and constantly strives for more.

Their third album Little Joy was released last year, with is lush and dynamic production seeing the band praised once again for their individuality and abstract angle. After supporting highly acclaimed international acts such as Holy Fuck and Crystal Castles, My Disco are back in Australia to celebrate the launch of the deluxe vinyl edition of Little Joy and play a series of headline shows around the country.

Despite only having just returned from a two week trip to Japan, Andrews affirms that as exhausting as touring can be, it is also a very rewarding experience, “We tour a lot, so there are definitely times where we get tired and grumpy and can’t wait to get home. It is always nice to come home, but at the same time once we are back we just can’t wait to tour again.”

Although they travel for their music, Andrews tells how in their recent trip to Japan the band was able to make some time for sightseeing, “We spent a few days in Kyoto which was great. It is nice to be able to do that. In Europe it is always pretty hectic, and we are usually playing shows most days.” My Disco began from a little show at a café in Collingwood, and little did they know they would soon be playing across the globe. Andrews mentions that abstract venues are still something the band believe in, “It’s good to keep things interesting. We try to mix it up when we can.”

Little Joy isn’t such a little album, in fact, in speaks loudly. The album was mixed by Scott Horscroft, and although he is predominantly known for his work with pop musicians (The Presets and Silverchair), Andrews explains that combined with Steve Albini’s input, the record resulted in a perfect blend of sounds, “We had met Scott before in Sydney, and he said he was a fan of the band and offered to record the 12” Young EP. We really wanted to work with him again because he understands what we want out of our music and lets us work within that. It was great and we had the best of both worlds. They really complimented each other and balanced out well.”

Little Joy has an essence of pop behind the conceptual sounds, which is perhaps why it has been recognised by a broader audience, although for Andrews, it is hard to differentiate between their releases and their response, “Each is different, so it is hard to gage what people may or may not respond to. It is always different overseas as well. We just try to act instinctively with our music, that’s our goal. We try not to repeat ourselves when we write a bunch of new material. There is no formula for when we make music.” Spontaneous jam sessions result in albums for My Disco, and albums that are continually commended for their constant evolution and growth.

In preparation for their own shows, Andrews recalls supporting Crystal Castles, “I wasn’t a massive fan of theirs, but their live show was very intense. It kind of blew us all away with the strobe lights and the volume of the distorted bass. It was heavy, but it was very different. I think the line up worked and we correlated nicely.”

Right now, My Disco is getting new songs together, and will hopefully be able to showcase some of those during their tour in April. Not a band to sit still for long, after their Australian shows, the band will head over to launch Little Joy in the US.

Catch My Disco live:
Saturday 16th April – The Bakery, Perth
Thursday 21st April – Peking Spring Festival – ANU Bar, Canberra
Saturday 23rd April – Toff in Town, Melbourne
Sunday 24th April – Toff in Town, Melbourne