British India Midnight Homie Interview

Forgetting The Future

Less than a year since the release of their latest album, the explosive Forgetting The Future, British India are thrilled to announce they'll be returning to stages around the country in May and June on the Midnight Homie Tour that will kick off in Bendigo on May 11 and continue through regional and metropolitan cities in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, before finishing up at The Gov in Adelaide on July 6.

With raging guitars, seriously provocative lyrics and a palpable energy that confidently struts through the track's entirety, there is little wonder Midnight Homie has quickly become a fan favourite on the album and the live stage. It was twisted alt-rock warlord Lou Reed who once said, "My week beats your year", but British India have upped those stakes on their new single, touting, "My night is better than your whole life."  Armed with the precision rock stylings of the new record, plus a bulging back catalogue of Australian live favourites – think Hottest 100 dominating tracks like Vanilla, I Can Make You Love Me and Suddenly – Australia's most loved indie rockers are here to prove the snarling intention behind that arrogant claim.

 

The song's themes are portrayed through striking animations in the Midnight Homie lyric video, highlighting career-best lyricism from vocalist and lyricist, Declan Melia; it is introspective yet has the relatability to resonate with the masses.

Watch the Midnight Homie lyric video here

Forgetting The Future is British India's sixth studio album and its innovative direction has been met with widespread applause, including leading the band to sign an international licensing deal with NYC indie label, AntiFragile. The LP debuted at #12 on the ARIA Albums Chart and previous singles, My Love and Precious were both added to high rotation on triple j, with My Love also scoring the most played track on Triple M in its first week.

Over the course of their impressive career, British India have earned four Top 10 ARIA albums, eight entries into the Hottest 100 and their classic single I Can Make You Love Me is accredited Gold in Australia.

 

Be sure to catch the legendary Melbourne rockers doing what they do best on a stage near you this May and June.

British India is Declan Melia (vocals and guitar), Nic Wilson (lead guitar), Will Drummond (bass) and Matt O'Gorman (drums).

 

FORGETTING THE FUTURE  IS OUT NOW THROUGH LIBERATION RECORDS

 

Fri 11 May: Tap House, Bendigo, VIC TICKETS
Sat 12 May: Pelly Bar, Frankston, VIC TICKETS
Fri 25 May: Towradgi Beach Hotel, Wollongong, NSW TICKETS
Sat 26 May: Narrabeen RSL, Narrabeen, NSW TICKETS
Fri 1 June: Newport Hotel, Fremantle, WA  TICKETS
Sat 2 June: Badlands, Perth, WA TICKETS
Sun 3 June: Secret Show, Scarborough, WA 
Fri 8 June: Sooki Lounge, Belgrave, VIC TICKETS
Sat 9 June: Karova Lounge, Ballarat, VIC TICKETS
Fri 15 June: 170 Russell, Melbourne, VIC TICKETS
Sat 16 June: Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong, VIC TICKETS
Fri 22 June: Miami Tavern, Gold Coast, QLD  TICKETS
Sat 23 June: The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD TICKETS

Fri 29 June: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, NSW  TICKETS
Sat 30 June: Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW  TICKETS
Fri 6 July: The Gov, Adelaide, SA  TICKETS

 

Review: Whether you're a new or long-standing British India fan, the Midnight Homie tour will deliver; these guys are serious crowd pleasers interlacing Forgetting the Future with their classic sensations.

As soon as the guys opened with Precious, I knew it was good to be a crazy good show – the small venue and close stage made the performance personal and supplied a truly passionate crowd, making for a night I won't forget.

Forgetting the Future is a quality produced album that really delivers on the live circuit - it was easy to become captivated in their performance. As far as live shows go, this is a massive goodie; the vocals, drumming, bass and massive guitar riffs delivered are even better, live. Suffice it to say, my night was better than your whole life….
- Brooke Hunter

 

Interview with William Drummond

Question: What can we expect from the upcoming Midnight Homie tour?

William Drummond: We will be playing a lot of songs from our new album "Forgetting the Future" plus plenty from our back catalogue. So send in your requests!


Question: Where did the inspiration for Forgetting The Future come from?

William Drummond: Whenever you make an album it is ninety percent hard work and ten percent inspiration. The initial burst or idea that comes can be so far from what eventuates that it's hard to remember or find the starting point when you have finished. On this album each song had its own inspiration. Whether that was from hearing a great song and trying to emulate its energy or it be one of us going through difficult or great times and expressing it through making noise.

Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

William Drummond: I always get a kick out of playing Vanilla, I think because it has the "loud quiet loud" structure it makes it very fun to play. Also it's a very well loved song so seeing people's faces light up when they realise we are playing their favourite song, is a very special thing to see.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

William Drummond: I am always just happy if anyone is in front of us when we get on stage. No matter where you are in your career you still never know how a show is going to go. Some of the best times I have had at shows are the smaller country towns where afterwards you get to talk to the locals and they take you under their wing.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

William Drummond: They are different beasts. There is a direct injection euphoria when playing live that is very addictive. And I love expelling all my energy into the show. And then in the studio time moves at a different pace, it warps and slows and sometimes goes very quickly. But at the end of the day when you have been experimenting with new sounds and you come out with something that excites you, there is no greater joy for me.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

William Drummond: I find if I haven't made anything for a while I start to get very irritated. So maybe for me there isn't so much as a motivation as a constant need to make things primarily for my own sanity and then hopefully it has the excitement or makes someone feel something so we can work harder on it and flesh out the ideas.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

William Drummond: My favourite album of the year so far is Jeff Rosenstock - Post. Highly recommend.


Question: What or who was your initial inspiration to go into the music industry?

William Drummond: The only inspiration was to play music with my friends. When we were kids in high school we wanted to learn how to play our instruments and then when we could we wanted to play a gig. After that we wanted to record and after that we wanted to tour. The inspiration has always just to hang out with my friends and have fun whilst making music.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

William Drummond: Bowie would have been something else to see in the studio. I wouldn't have even need to collaborate with him. I would do anything to be able to go back in time to just to sit in in some of those sessions.


Interview by Brooke Hunter