TheAussieWord caught up with new Aussie talent Divine Knights for this lighthearted fun interview!
What can you tell us Aussies about you. How and where did it all begin?
We have been best friends for 10 years. When we first met Beef was in an electro-punk outfit and Gerard Anthony was an actor newly out of Drama School. We have always shared a passion for music, visual art, fashion and pop-culture. We used to throw outrageous parties, put on shows for our friends, then one day we decided to write some songs together and it just worked. We moved to London and we started taking things much more seriously under the guise of ‘DIVINE KNIGHTS’. We have been writing, recording and performing together ever since, and are now back in Sydney. We love what we do and have been really excited to release our debut album ‘MIDNIGHT’ available now on iTunes!
What first got you interested in music?
Countdown, Rage, Video hits and Young Talent Time… we’re 80’s kids!!!
Who inspires or influences your quest to make great music?
We have many influences – too many to mention but there are some big ones like David Bowie, Queen, Scissor Sisters, Icehouse, Grace Jones, Depeche Mode… the list goes on. We are also inspired by visual art and history ( note tracks like The Great Ascent & Minoan Queen), as well as fashion and costuming.
Are there any tours or gigs planned for the future?
Yeah we are doing Electric Zoo at the Oxford on Taylor square this Friday the 24th Feb for Mardi Gras, we have several Sydney dates over the next few months and we are currently planning a tour to Europe and the US to promote ‘MIDNIGHT’ The Album!
What are some of the biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist?
To make great work. To unleash our creativity on the world, to change it and make it better. Our shows are like big art-installations, they’re not just gigs, they are experiences. At least that’s how we view them and hope that comes across to our audiences. The biggest goal you can have as an artist is to create good work and make a living from it… hopefully this is not too far off for us know! 😉
What can fans expect from you in the coming months?
Huge shows (check our website for details), A brand new film clip, and new MIDNIGHT remixes to die for!!!
Success, what is the secret to success and what has been your biggest career highlight so far?
We just love what we do. This is how we want to spend our lives and we have no intention of stopping. So, loving what you do and having perseverance and guts is the key. Every time we are in front of an audience it’s the new highlight. Our most recent show was headlining the Midsumma T-Dance in Melbourne last month to a crowd 5000 strong! It was amazing.
Which current stars in the industry do you highly rate?
Mostly Euro stuff…Robyn , Kleerup, Groove Armada, Hurts, Dan Black, Delphic, Florence, Bjork is always interesting. Nicki Minaj is really fun. But truly, most of our faves are either dead or retired.
How would people best describe you and your music?
We like to call it ‘euphoric melancholia’. Although we are in the realm of pop music, we write about real things. We write about love, lust, broken hearts and obsession, about living life to the fullest and being brave. We get compared to Patric Wolf, Empire of the Sun, Pet Shop Boys and Ice House.
Tell us a bit about your first EP or album?
MIDNIGHT was released to iTunes in January. It’s an album with pace like a churning, thumping heart. It contains ‘Storm’, an epic romantic song with an epic video to match (see You Tube), and Triple J Unearthed hit ‘Clouds’, a new wave/synth pop love song. We dropped in one cover to the mix, a trance-like hypnotic version of Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy, pop classics like ‘The Great Ascent & Minoan Queen’, and wild electro journeys ‘The Garden’ & ‘Zoo’.
The industry is huge, where do you see yourself a few years from now?
Just doing what we’re doing, but on a bigger scale, reaching more people and collaborating with even more incredible freaks & artists.
Name a few of your favourite Aussie artists.
I think dance music has really taken off again here recently, so obviously acts like Presets, Cut Copy, Pnau are all inspiring. Sia is an amazing vocalist & Bertie Blackman is doing really unique pop. Grafton Primary have a fantastic sound. Kylie’s shows are always fun…the last tour blew our minds! Laughed so much that we cried.
The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what it means to you in getting your records out into the public eye?
Well it’s easier to get music out there on all the social media networks, but getting people to listen and BUY it is a different story. You’re still competing with all the big wigs, it just means you don’t NEED them to get a foot in the door. It’s an exciting time for music, and how people interact with it.
Thanks for the interview! What can you leave fans with here on TheAussieWord blog today?
We’re just really excited to finally get this record out there! We want as many people to hear it as possible, so we’ll give away a free song to the first 10 readers who add us on Twitter & Facebook! Just contact us via our website and mention this blog, and we’ll respond with the goods!
Website www.divineknights.com.au
Facebook – www.facebook.com/divineknights
Twitter – www.twitter.com/DKnightsMusic
YouTube – www.youtube.com/divineknightsmusic
Myspace – www.myspace.com/divineknightsmusic
Twitter – www.twitter.com/DKnightsMusic
YouTube – www.youtube.com/divineknightsmusic
Myspace – www.myspace.com/divineknightsmusic