Funk-drenched rock dripping in sexy basslines and the occasional blast of saxophone that harken back to the likes of Datarock and Har Mar Superstar, welcome to the world of Melbourne trio VINNY.
Inspired by the hedonistic images of a Studio 54 mythology, seedy dance floors and Spaghetti Western soundtracks, the group have recently released their second single titled 'Fire', the follow-up to their debut song 'Chaos' released in May."We had this groove and feeling in our bones," Vinny says. "We were lying poolside sipping pina coladas, watching the sun go down when out of nowhere, a topless, coconut-oiled man walked past us down to the beach playing his saxophone, shooting fire out of the bell (thus the name, 'Fire').
"We befriended him and asked if he would come into the studio that night to help us finish off the track. We worked throughout the night and finished the song by sunrise."
The trio of Josh Aubry (vocalist/ percussionist), Jim Stirton (guitarist/ synths player) and Tony Clay (guitarist) remained poolside for the following interview.
Who is Vinny... We were deep in a session at an underground disco church. When out of nowhere a seven-foot gorgeous man laced in a tailor disco ball suit approached us and offered us the job.
We then spent four years at a secret island in VIN-CAMP learning all the ways of VINNY. Once graduating from VIN-CAMP we were placed back at the same underground disco church, which is now a Chinese take-away restaurant and we've been following the way of VINNY ever since.
We sound like... Everything you want us to.
We sound like fireworks on NYE. We sound like your first kiss. That moment the sun comes up in a horror movie. We sound like you just downed three 10mg vals and are about to lay poolside with the sun on your face and a cocktail in your hand. We sound like VINNY.
Our first gig was... Time travel hasn't been invented yet, but in 30 years it will have been. And when it has, I'll come back and re-answer this question.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... We didn't choose VINNY, VINNY chose us.
In the studio we usually... Write nothing but pure straight down the line bangerrrrssssss yassssss!
If we could tour with anyone... Paris and Nicole.
Social media is... People seem to be getting dumber and dumber.
You know, I mean we have all this amazing technology and yet computers have turned into basically four-figure wank machines. The internet was supposed to set us free, democratise us, but all it's really given us is Howard Dean's aborted candidacy and 24 hour a day access to porn.
People... they don't write anymore, they blog. Instead of talking, they text, no punctuation, no grammar: LOL this and LMFAO that. You know, it just seems to me it's a bunch of stupid people pseudo-communicating with a bunch of other stupid people at a proto-language that resembles more what cavemen used to speak than the kings English.
My favourite app at the moment is... Poolside FM – disco all day long babyyyyy!
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I tried to do a backflip in Sydney and landed on my face. I know it wasn't that bad, but f... me that hurt my heart.
Life on the road can be? Anything you want it to be. You are the master of your own domain, you can do anything you want to do.
If you'll have us your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Whatever the venue, event can be generous enough to give us. Anything past that, we are grown adults, we can go and get it for ourselves.
The most scary scenario we've found ourselves in, was... Setting up for our first headline show at The Corner [in Melbourne] and there was six people in the crowd. Turned out that everyone was upstairs, so when we came on stage it was packed and we had the best night ever.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band? Morgan Freeman, 'cause it's Morgan Freeman.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Vegas. I like pretty lights and gambling.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party? Paris, Nicole and Lionel; ummmm, can you imagine the goss and sesh we would have. Myyy f...ing worddddddd lessss goooo baby!
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? We'd be having seafood for days honeys! I'm talking lobsters, prawns, oysters! Fresh sashimi, crabs, scallops, octopus, mussels and maybe even a little bit of champagne on the side. How's that sound? Alright?
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Gurkha Royal Courtesan Cigars. Please and thank you!
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... This morning. Gotta sweat out the weekend demons.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? When you walk past someone you kinda know on the street and they stop to have smalltalk.
Can we all just agree to smile, wave, say g'day and keep walking! "Big dog, what's going on?! Yeah man! Have a good one! Yewwww!"
Do you have any phobias? Snakes. I don't know why they just scare the sh.t out of me. Legit will cry if I see one. I don't hate them, I wish them the best life they could live. But they just put the fear of life into me.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? My sister applies for me every year for 'The Bachelor'. She thinks I could bring their ratings back up. Sort it out. Make it happen. Cheers!
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? Alex Markwell is usually the butt of our pranks. He is just so fun to rattle up 'cause he is so hard to piss off. Probably the nicest human to walk the earth.
Unfortunately we can't give away our plan of attack, 'cause he will read this, 'cause as we said he is the nicest human ever. Love you, Alex! Thanks for reading this. Thanks for making us sound so good.
You are f...ing going down but. You won't know when. You won't know where. But let me tell you this. D-day is coming and you are going down.
"Adios, thanks for coming. VINNY bless you all! Have a nice day."
