Psychedelic rock band Our Mountain are the latest musical talents to come out of Australia. Conceived by Matthew Hutchinson (words, vocals, guitar) and Michael Noonan (drums) originally from Melbourne, they relocated to New York in winter 2009.
Psychedelic rock band Our Mountain are the latest musical talents to come out of Australia. Conceived by Matthew Hutchinson (words, vocals, guitar) and Michael Noonan (drums) originally from Melbourne, they relocated to New York in winter 2009. Since then, they have partnered with model Abbey Lee (tambourine, keys and vocals) and Daniel Silvester Taylor-Lind (bass). 2010 brought the band into the limelight as they firmly established themselves in the music scene, touring the UK with The Slits, playing The Great Escape and gigging across UK and North America. With their debut album soon to be released and debut single Wooden Hearts out today, 2011 is set to be Our Mountain’s breakthrough year. Labelled as “Grime/ Religious”, their music is raw and emotionally provocative. Driven by the heartbeat of one string Wooden Hearts sounds almost ritualistic – as Hutchinson’s vocals bellow out against the heaviness of Noonan’s drums, repetitive pattern of Lee’s keyboard and electrifying chords of Hallpike’s bass.
How and when did you first get together?
We all came together in New York in 2010, three of us relocated from Melbourne, Australia to NY and somehow crossed paths, we had some messy ideas in music and began to play around.
Explain the reason behind the name Our Mountain?
If I remember correctly, we were four margaritas down in an outdoor Mexican beer garden somewhere between the Mexican border and Venice Beach, CA in search of a name, and then we stumbled on a thought… Mountains. The name loosely stuck but it wasn't until later when I spoke with old friend Jim BBQ that he suggested we named the band Our Mountain. We took it.
What are you inspired and influenced by?
Good films… I watched "Chinese Coffee" a while back, definitely worth it! The Holy Mountain – Alejandro Jodorowsky.
How would you describe your debut album and was it everything you had wanted it to be?
It's a personal record that unravels accordingly, noise vs words, it captures the heart of Our Mountain.
Is there an underlying narrative throughout or any themes running through?
The records got a lot of personal stories throughout, mostly truths, mostly tales.
What do you hope listeners get from it?
A glimpse into the direction we're headed, an introduction.
What makes Our Mountain different to the next band?
Your guess is as good as mine?
Are you fans of any other current musicians around at the moment?
Can/Damo Suzuki.
Abbey - how would you describe the change from fashion to music and catwalk to stage, and which do you prefer?
As a model I feel like the canvas, as a musician I feel like the paint.
What are you most looking forward to about your UK tour?
I'm looking forward to the festival shows.
And what are your plans for after?
We'll head back to New York, hibernate.
Where do you see yourselves in five year's time?
Hopefully still playing music that we like, traveling to cities we haven't seen?
And finally what's your mantra?
Break the fish tank as instructed.
Text by Lucia Davies
Our Mountain are touring the UK this month starting with Enterprise, London tomorrow 10 May. Please see their myspace for more details.
