Posted by Clint Choi on July 14 2016

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Sex On Toast is a ten-piece band from Melbourne, Australia that incorporates funk, soul, swing, R&B, and various other influences into a melting pot of musical talent. Their live show, complete with choreography and impressive theatrics, have been winning over fans across Australia for the last few years now. We recently spoke with them for an interview, check it out!

Q: Where did you first meet, and how did Sex On Toast come to be?

Sex On Toast is made up of a bunch of fairly likeminded musicians that miraculously fell together into a ten man skirmish. Help!

Q: Whom do you consider a major influence in your life?

Hrmmmm there have been a few. I must say I don't think I would think about music in the same way that I do now if I hadn't started listening to Mr. Bungle when I was 15 years old. That had a pretty huge impact on me realizing just how many different types of music can be drawn from, and just how anarchic and sick music can really become.

Q: Briefly take us into your recording process - How do you go about making a song?

Interesting you should ask, as we were just doing this today when we made a start on our newest EP 'Rough' from our "Rough and Ready" series. The process is always different depending on the nature of the song.

More organic songs like "Oh Loretta!" are recorded with the rhythm section completely live, overdubbed onto and then edited later with some drum replacements. A song like the one we were working on today or songs like "Takin' Over" or "A Product You Designed" are usually looped drum parts doubled with drum machine sounds and overdubs done one at a time, which I suppose is kind of the opposite to the 'live' approach. The idea with these two EP's is to have very contrasting approaches.

Q: Are there any artists that you’d like to collaborate with?

Sure! Some we already have! A lot of the artists I personally have wanted to collaborate with in and around Australia I have had the good fortune of so doing already!

I guess whilst I'm kind of in the head space of recording the 'Rough' EP, I gotta say if I could get someone like Aaron Hall on there wigging out vocally, and layer the shit outta him then that would be amazing. He might make me look bad though? If he was singing a song I'd written though I wouldn't complain. Or Mariah Carey on uncredited backing vocals. Kinda like MJ's uncredited background vocals on Stevie Wonder's 'Hotter Than July'.

Q: For your live show, I've noticed Sex On Toast is a group that revels in being theatrical and over-the-top. What fuels the flamboyant flair of Sex On Toast?

I guess our influences, and kind of how we are as people too. I think especially Zak and I as co-frontmen are generally kind of loud and theatrical individuals anyway. Well, he's actually a real actor. Our keyboard player James Bowers is also rather fancy and enjoys playing PBL (post bop language) in an elga cane*lia™ fashion. Hope that answers your question!

Q: If you had a favorite show to date, what would it be and why?

I still have an unbelievably huge soft spot for the show that we did in 2012 supporting Hiatus Kaiyote at the Hi-Fi Bar. Was a real coming together of a community that was going on in Melbourne at the time and all the bands that played that night really gave it their all and had an amazing time. I think it was Hiatus' first show in a venue at that size on their own terms and it was awesome of them to bring all their mates along for the ride! I had just bought a new suit that day too. I've since lost the jacket.... DAMMIT!

Q: What do you do to unwind?

I'm relatively wound up most of the time. I don't know? A hot bath? A few drinks? Coitus?

Q: Any hobbies outside of music?

Jesus... not really? Maybe I should get some hobbies! Does picking your nose count?

Q: Any favorite memories or horror stories from the road / a show?

I think maybe our most show horrific of all time was one at a private party a couple of years ago. To call it a "show" would be a stretch because were not able to play. We arrived at the venue and quickly realised that the sound guy was probably high on methamphetamines, had absolutely no idea what he was doing and kind of resembled a pile of old sausages. He proceeded to attempt to set us up whilst grumbling incoherently and after an hour he had set up one SM-57 on one guitar amp. After another half an hour to 40 minutes after that of nothing really getting done it was decided we call it a day and leave without playing. Our trumpet player Bovril, danced for this entire time in a carefree manner at the centre of the dance floor as if nothing was happening. He had just polished off most of the rider and seemed entirely unfazed by the whole debacle.

Q: What are your favorite movies or TV shows?

Films: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Spontaneous Combustion, City of the Lost Children, anything by Christopher Guest.

TV: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, The Eric Andre Show, The League of Gentlemen, Soul Train.

Q: Anything else you'd like to plug / promote? What's next?

Yes! We've just released the first installment of our Rough/Ready EP series. It's called 'Ready' and it was released in April. Check that out on Bandcamp or iTunes! Next we're having a little bit of a break from live shows and we're gonna start cooking up this next record! Expect new jack swing, nasty funk and maybe another wild video!

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