Interview: Midnight Juggernauts

Midnight Juggernauts @ Witloof Bar

With the release of their debut album "Dystopia" in 2008 the three Australians from Melbourne established themselves in the Indie-Dance scene and beyond. Their spacy sound is as original as hard to describe: a mixture of Indie-Pop, Dance, Electro and Psychedelia. The band toured with Justice and played at renowned festivals as Glastonbury or Coachella. In 2010 Midnight Juggernauts released their second album "The Crystal Axis" which gives up the catchy dancefloor anthems for a more complex, adventurous sound. It failed to repeat the commercial success of "Dystopia" and is definitely one of the most underrated albums of 2010. Before their gig in Brussels I had the chance to speak to them.

Midnight Juggernauts on...

... their way to success:

"We owe everything to the internet. We had no money and so the internet was the only way, especially when it comes to getting known in Europe or the States: Australia is so far away from everything. Actually we all are big internet nerds and constantly twitter."  

...the making of "The Crystal Axis":

"We didn't want a second Dystopia. We wanted to do something new. For several weeks we isolated ourselves in a beach house on the Australian coast, trying a new way of writing in a different environment. We filled the living room with loads of instruments and pedals and gadgets and just jammed and experimented. We had a hammock and saw dolphins swim by, it was great!"

...having their own record label (Siberia Records):

"From the beginning we put out our records on our own label. All of a sudden we were CEOs! We just felt comfortable with it and continued that way. We did have offers by major labels but didn't like the conditions. You lose a lot of independence."

...Belgium:

"We've played with Goose and Das Pop and we like Soulwax or The Subs. And of course we love Tintin and Belgian beers!"

...playing in the Witloof Bar:

"We were a bit surprised that there was no support act and that we weren't scheduled for the Orangerie. It's nice to play in small venues though, we feel like the Beatles in Liverpool! We are just scared of being punched in the face or someone unplugging our instruments."

...the pants of drummer Daniel Stricker:

"What do you think of those pants? They were 400 Euros and look like pyjama pants. He is wearing pyjama pants for 400 Euros!"

...advice for upcoming bands:

"Smile on stage! Invest everything you have in your band. Reinvest everything you earn with the band. Don't expect to make much money with it and don't concentrate on that. We actually financed our first tour ourselves."

...playing gigs: 

"We like to add little covers for fun. Sometimes it’s a disaster, like with Blur’s „Girls and Boys“ which we hadn’t practised at all. Or we played a Michael Jackson cover when he died. Tonight our manager is going to chip in with his saxophone." (And he did: With Gerry Rafferty's old classic 'Baker Street').

...being interviewed:

"Are you really writing all this down?! 

Into the Galaxy, Dystopia (2008)

Laura vs The Savage Pack, The Crystal Axis (2010)