A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer, Adelaide's Matt Davis has stepped away from the world of bands to focus on his own solo material.
A style of rock that fans of ZZ Top and Foo Fighters would enjoy, Matt's solo moniker is Mode Shifter and his current single is titled 'Doin' Fine'."You choose the meaning of the song, that's the ultimate point isn't it? Make a choice or just enjoy the driving rock rhythm," Mode Shifter says of 'Doin' Fine'.
Who is Mode Shifter... Is a project by me, Matt Davis. I've been playing in different bands for years around Adelaide but decided to do something myself. I'm a multi-instrumentalist that works out of my studio in the Adelaide Hills.
I'm currently really loving being in charge of everything; from the conception of an idea, all the way through to the final mix – it's very liberating and cathartic. Control freak I hear you say; maybe, but I'm loving the challenge.
I've constantly written music since I was very young, so to have this outlet as a conduit is brilliant. If I have an idea, bang! Into the studio I go to get it down, no waiting just in there. I'm lucky to have the studio to do that.
I sound like... Who I sound like? Hmmm. . . that's tricky. Look, most of my stuff is written on the guitar or drums, so guitar and drum-orientated bands I guess. I was influenced by so many different bands as a kid (too many to mention), but people have said the stuff I'm playing at the moment sounds like the Foo Fighters and ZZ Top, so let's go with that for now.
My first gig was... Not gigging yet, still writing, but I can get a band together if this goes well for sure.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... My son and I came up with the name, yep pretty much a thumbs up straight away.
In the studio I usually... The studio is my happy place. I go in there and any worries or dramas get left at the door and I get into it. Also a place to f... around when mates come over to jam.
If I could tour with anyone... Wow! Probably can't nail that to one band, but I would love to tour with Slash so I can watch that dude play every night. The Foo Fighters coz those guys seem like a bunch of idiots and I'm into that.
Social media is... A necessary evil I suppose. It's just the way the world is geared at the moment, for wrong or right. It has some amazing aspects but also some major drawbacks – but we all know that, right?
My favourite app at the moment is... PvZ. Yep, you heard me. I'm giving it a reprise.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... Musically, a drunk gig where I forgot pretty much every word of all my songs, so I ad-libbed and fooled myself that I got away with it, only to be shown a video latter – it wasn't great.
Life on the road can be... Not travelled that much on the road with a band to comment.
If you'll have me your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... Beer, snacks and puppies.
The most scariest scenario I've found myself in, was… Nothing musically, it’s just music! Personally though, wow, don't have that much time.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... I'd like to be the spokesperson of all the bands I love so I can announce that they will be touring Oz and relocating to Australia if they don't already live here.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Probably LA, but just for a bit though – it's too nuts to live there all the time. I grew up listening to a lot of bands from there, it's my music Mecca; also the snow fields aren't too far away so I can get a good snowboard in on the weekends.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Ok, dead or alive. Let's go with Da Vinci (that guy was a freak, possibly an alien!). An alien (to see if he knows Leo) and a good chef to make the dinner yum; I think Maggie Beer, she seems nice.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? It would be some sort of Asian dish, probably Hainanese Chicken Rice.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? I love 'em! I've got two dogs, a Doberman and a Fox Terrier. As the saying goes: The more I hang out with people, the more I love dogs.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Beer. Seriously, I'm not that refined.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... I actually do go to the gym. I've always kept fit... honestly, no sh.t!
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Crappy chores. Cleaning gutters sucks!
Do you have any phobias... I have no phobias at all. I don't understand phobias.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Reality show, nope. I would get into too much trouble I fear. You can only bite your tongue for so long. Maybe that travelling show 'Race Across The World' – that seems like my thing if any.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? I'd love to prank my good friend Tim who also did the artwork for my single, but he is a clever bastard and would probably figure some way to turn it on me.
Best local takeaway joint for a 2am feed that will leave you with a food coma? Any yiros place is a good start for a 2am feed. Or a Pie Floater, those things are awesome at 2am.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? You would have to ask a non-biased person that question. Hopefully something awesome. That's it, Captain Awesome.
Last show you binge-watched? 'Ozark'. That show is so dark yet funny and violent, and the cast are brilliant. I loved it, come on season 4.
