Rainbow Skull Clownface Interview

How would you describe your music?
We love all genres, but mostly we usually describe ourselves as a combination of alt rock and psychedelic progressive music. We all have pretty diverse tastes in music and this is reflected in our set list. We tend to write songs that kind of combine a lot of different musical genres, and as a result, people find it hard to pigeonhole us into any one genre. All our favourite artists (like Jimi Hendrix, The Smashing Pumpkins, or David Bowie) kind of defy generic convention and we find it exciting to explore different styles without adhering to any one specific thing.

Can you tell us about your new song, what was the inspiration?
The song began organically from a jam. Lawrie found a setting on his flanger guitar pedal which made a kind of creepy carnival sound. Coupled with the powerful beat and rhythm, the song came together very quickly. The "scary circus" musical theme led to incorporating a clown element to the lyrics.
It's really a song about unsettling interactions with a seemingly creepy clown (who may or may not actually be as scary as he seems). I don't know if you've ever been in Fortitude Valley after 2 am, but those who have can probably relate.

What are your musical influences?
We all grew up in very musical households. We recently learned that the Father of our drummer Dave, saw Joy Division live - which blows our minds.  As kids we heard everything from Merle Haggard to Van Halen. As we got older we definitely fell in love with grunge bands like Nirvana or Soundgarden and metal bands like Tool or Slipknot.  

Do you prefer performing live or recording?
I think we enjoy both. Paul, our singer/bass player records, mixes and masters all of our music. He's very modest but even if we had the budget to afford an industry legend, we'd still choose him over anyone else. He understands better than anyone what we're striving for. It's really unique to have a band member that can wear so many different hats.
Live shows are so much fun, and we love the adrenaline rush of performing. We like to include some improvisation in all our shows, and it helps to develop new material while building on our musical chemistry. We've also made a lot of friends through playing with other bands. Most of our social network is made up of people we met through playing live shows. The music community in Brisbane is very active and is for the most part very supportive.

What should we expect from your upcoming shows?
The next few shows will feature a lot of previously unheard material, which is exciting for us. We mostly try not to take ourselves too seriously, we tell a few jokes on stage and try to get everyone having a good time. We also like to play one cover at every show. More often than not, it's a cover of Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) by Jimi Hendrix. It's always fun to cut loose and it gets a great reaction wherever we play it. Young or old, everyone loves Hendrix.

What motivates you most when writing music?
I think all three of us are driven in similar ways. We love to explore different musical territories together, and expressing ourselves creatively is an amazing form of therapy. It's such a joy playing together that the songwriting flows really easily when we get together. I think our best songs are the ones which are most personal to us. One of our favourite songs to play lately is a song we wrote called "Re-animators". It's mostly about love, will power, and the people in our lives that lift us back up when we feel defeated or down. All of these things are really at the heart of what motivates us. Oh, and also clowns. 

Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

There's a storm brewing in the antipodes, and it goes by the name of Rainbow Skull Party.  This three-piece psychedelic grunge outfit hailing from Australia has been steadily shaking the rafters of the indie music scene since their debut in 2023. Comprised of the irrepressible Cuthbert brothers, Lawrie and Paul, and their partner in crime, David James, Rainbow Skull Party has made a name for themselves by blending the raw energy of punk rock with the
kaleidoscopic swirls of psychedelic soundscapes. Their journey began with the explosive single Keep It Going, Going, Going, Go!, a debut that pounded through the speakers with a furious mix of driving rhythms, fierce vocals, and a maelstrom of guitar madness that left listeners gasping for air.

February 2024 saw the release of their sophomore single Masquerade, a track that further solidified their status as one of Australia's most promising indie bands"a title officially bestowed upon them by Independent Music Reviews. But if Masquerade hinted at the chaos lurking beneath the surface, their forthcoming single Clownface, set for release in September, promises to tear the lid off the box entirely.

Clownface is a sonic blitzkrieg that begins with an explosive intro, crashing into a menacing interlude and setting the tone for the chaos that follows. The verse opens with the bold line, 'I need my night fix, you'll love my magic tricks,' leading into a powerful chorus where heavy rock, indie, and psychedelic styles collide. Rainbow Skull Party showcases their knack for fusing diverse elements into a captivating whole. Clownface is crafted for the stage, with fiery
interludes and commanding performances that make it a full-blown spectacle, perfectly capturing the band's chaotic brilliance and raw energy.

As they prepare for the release of their debut EP in late 2024 and a double album in 2025, Rainbow Skull Party stands poised to explode out of the underground and onto a much larger stage. With Clownface, they've thrown down the gauntlet"a challenge to all who dare to follow in their wake. This is a band that thrives on the edge of mayhem, where the only rule is that there are no rules, and the only certainty is that the party's just getting started.

Clownface is at radio today and available to stream and download now