Interview with SAFIA, SOUTHBOUND 2016, WA

You guys have been touring and you have done so many gigs, is there something special about Southbound, being down here in South West Australia?

Harry - Well, when we played 2 years ago it was about 1pm on the tent stage and now were playing main stage at 8pm which is pretty cool!

Ben - We were so surprised at the turnout at 1 that year, it was a super hot day and it was a really good gig! Coming back to play a bit later is really awesome.

You have done so much touring lately as well, what has been the highlight?

Ben - As a whole the most recent tour we just finished up has been pretty special, we had the whole album of music that people knew and we got to play this extended out set where we could really give a deeper level of connection to the fans. The whole tour, was incredible.

Have they all been different, all the shows?

Michael -  You notice that different sections of the set go off in different states.

Harry -  Yeah I don't know what it is about Hobart but they were the loosest crowd, they must not get a lot of artists. Even for our support acts there were people on shoulders going nuts. All shows are awesome.

Ben - We're pretty lucky with our fans, everyone seems to be there dancing and singing and encouraging everyone else to join in, and its just a really positive vibe.

Michael - Do you guys want some of this beautiful fruit? its delicious!

(Laughs) Since you bring it up, we were interviewing punters on the way here and grabbing any questions they might have for you guys, one that came up was -  If you could be any kind of fruit what would you be? Its a hard hitting question.

Harry - Well for 2 reasons I would be an avocado: 

1. Soft on the outside
2. Solid on the inside

(Laughs)

Michael - Ill be a tomato, because they go really well together, we make a very amicable couple. (laughs)

Ben - I'd be a pear.

(laughs)

Michael - Check out our fruit bowl it sucks.

Ben - Pear is an underrated fruit, and then when you boil it and cook it in different ways you can blend it into salads or I reckon you could put that pear on top of the avocado and tomato, and it would be a good flavour.

Harry - Yeah chuck it on some turkey.

Haha what about as a band ? What fruit would you be?

Michael - Watermelon, because the seeds in there, are all our little (laughs) yeah..yeah its just so much…seeed you know

Great answer (laughs)

You have so many new fans this year, what are the plans for the new year? You guys looking that far ahead?

Ben - Get through these shows, then I think we have a bit of time off actually so, enjoy summer and have a rest and explore  a little bit.

We had a chat to heaps of fans, and the other thing they wanted to know is, you guys have a really unique sound, what are your favourite artists, your key influences? Probably something you get asked a lot but fans are really interested in where you get your sound from.

Ben - So much different music, were very open minded.

Michael - It's frankenstein music, you know we grab a bit of, Childish Gambino and put it with a bit of Frank Sinatra, bit of Beethoven, even though were not that good.

Ben - Then it just comes alive.

Michael - I didn't want to be, YOU MADE ME!

Harry - I'm not human!

(laughs)

A few people want to know are you gonna get on stage later with Peking Duck?

Michael - Yeah I'm going to play the fiddle in 'Say My Name', theres a big fiddle solo in there, what are you gonna do?

Harry - Uhh get the glockenspiel out, its pretty heavy..

Ben - Actually thats tomorrow, well see how good the beaches are tomorrow, I don't know if they know if were around tomorrow or not. If they find that out then they'll try.

(laughs)

Finally what can everyone expect tonight?

Harry - I dont know, its been a while since we played but we have a heap of songs to get through, expect a shit boring show.

Ben - Yeah its going to be terrible.

Harry - Yeah as long as the lights are good.

Ben - Yeah I'm actually excited its going to be good energy up there.

Any little strategies, crowd interaction to get through the set?

Michael - If you guys could just (claps) do this after every song, that would be cool. Oh! bens working on a monologue at the moment

Can we hear some of it?

Michael - Yes.

Ben - Rock it, rock it. I like… rocket.
          On my avocado, with tomato.
          And i make it with a bit of care.
          Because I'm a pear.

(applause)

Perfect way to finish guys, thank you very very much.