A project that began during COVID last year, Sunshine Coast indie rockers Swimsuit Issue last month released their debut album titled 'Burn Of The Buzz'.
With influences that range from Deftones and Faith No More to The National and Pink Floyd, Swimsuit Issue self-produced half the record with the other half of the eclectic-sounding album tracked live at Yama Nui on the Sunshine Coast with Steve Summers and Paulie B (george, Ziggy Alberts, Bobby Alu).The trio of Danny Mann (guitar, vocals), Rhys Fox (bass) and Tom Murphy (drums) also recorded with guest musicians Dorah Jacson and Jye Perry Banks.
'Burn Of The Buzz' is the first official release for newly established local indie music label Bueno Bueno Sounds.
Who is Swimsuit Issue... My name is Danny and I am the guitarist, singer and main songwriter. I previously played in a band that had commercial success, label contract, supported Avril, Hilary Duff, Gyroscope, 28 Days and more. Also played in the UK-based band Invaders and we played with AWOLNATION for our first gig ever then Placebo.
Swimsuit Issue formed this time last year during COVID. We first jammed, Tom and Danny, in Tom's garage.
We sound like... Leonard Cohen having a whiskey in a bar with Brian Eno, The Highwaymen, Pink Floyd and Everclear.
Our first gig was... Greaser in Fortitude Valley (Brisbane) with Action Slacks and Fingerless.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous? It was already in my head (Danny). I love Sonic Youth and the song 'Swimsuit Issue'. It was a done deal before we were a band, haha.
In the studio we usually... Lock into a groove, focus and drink beer.
If we could tour with anyone... Danny: Khurungbin, Cigarettes After Sex, Nada Surf and Willie Nelson; Rhys: Incubus, Deftones; TOM: Led Zeppelin, Tool.
Social media is... Unfortunately essential but has taken away the magic of discovering art and having to own it to get immersed in it. It has created a 'quick listen, quick throw away' culture.
My favourite app at the moment is... Danny: WillyWeather for the wind and tide reports and Splice for making video content.
To date, our most embarrassing moment was the time... The last gig – not being able to hear myself onstage mixed with tech difficulties in front of all the crew from my town. I still cringe. Oh, and the time I flooded the foyer of the Intercontinental Hotel Brisbane while on tour with Avril – whoops!
Life on the road can be... Smelly and a blur.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Water, beer, wine, whiskey and fresh food! Greens! You get over servo food and look forward to a rider of greenery.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... Danny: On tour – playing my first festival in Germany on the main stage in the lunchtime slot at a goth festival. Not on tour – getting stuck in Mexico at a checkpoint with no money to pay the federales. Had to give our passports to them then be allowed to head into town to find an ATM. Doesn't sound scary but we were sh.tting it haha!
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Nick Cave or Johnny Cash – everything would be so poetic and abstract. Just plain cooler than any of us.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Brooklyn. It's exciting. It is the most exciting city and it has easy access to the surf beaches, city catskills and then you can jump on the subway to check out music in the Bronx, Manhattan, in Brooklyn or hop on a plane and be in Mexico or anywhere in a hour or two.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Mike Tyson, Jed York, Rick Rubin. All highly driven, work with the top top of the game and are all more talented than I can dream of. The stories they have inside and the experiences in life they have lived would be fascinating.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Mmmm... A seafood paella.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? LOVER. I had a Great Dane called Reef RIP buddy!
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Negara Modelo.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... 2018.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Expense report at work.
Do you have any phobias? Speaking in public. I was once the VP of our board riders club. I couldn't even do a public talk after any club round. I froze and would walk away. And that was in front of friends and locals.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? YES! Being a buddy for kids who are bullied or have low self-esteem or no father figure and helping them gain confidence. Anything that is real and has a purpose. F... 'The Bachelor' and 'The Voice', and all off the sh.tty scandalous click-bait shows. F... them off. The world needs real not trash.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? I'd take it back to school days with my best mate Gerbil. I'd prank call him and say he has a bomb in his fridge and if he opens it again it will blow and he can't do anything to stop it. Worked at Maccas to get us out of a shift lol!
Best local takeaway joint for a 2am feed that will leave you with a food coma? Mmmm, ahhh, TBH it's always at home, a tub of hummus, a packet of corn thins and a jar of Mavers crunchy tasty peanut butter mixed with marshmallows.
Last show you binge-watched? It was either 'Shameless' or 'Vikings', I think. Lots of suspense, sex, violence and thrills from complex and deep characters.
Swimsuit Issue 2021 Tour Dates
Sun 22 Aug - Bed By Nine Festival @ The Zoo (Brisbane)Fri 24 Sep - Greaser (Brisbane)
Sat 16 Oct - Eleven Dive Bar (Sunshine Coast)
Sat 30 Oct - Halloween Festival @ Lefty's Music Hall (Brisbane)
Sat 6 Nov - Rock Beats Depression @ Mansfield Tavern (Brisbane)
Sun 28 Nov - Solbar (Sunshine Coast)
