Interview: Matt & Kim
Our lovely Leah Holdsworth was lucky enough to catch up briefly with Matt from Brooklyn duo, Matt & Kim to discuss their not-too-distant-future Australian tour, and their first experience with bathroom gigs in Brisbane.
Leah: Matt, how are you going?
Matt: I’m doing good! I’m doing good. I just finished a two month US tour last night. So I’m kind of like, coming off that high, and also just laying in the bed right now, chilling hard.
Leah: Sounds good to me. So you’re heading to Australia soon, as well.
Matt: Yes, in January. So for us, who live in the North West of the United States, we’ll be going on a tropical vacation in January. It is so cold already.
Leah: So that’s good then, you’re bailing to Australia when it’s most cold. And you’re doing Laneway festival, is that right?
Matt: I actually think we’re doing Big Day Out.
Leah: Oh! I’m sorry about that. My mistake.
Matt: Well, I don’t know so don’t take my word on that.
(Both laugh awkwardly)
Matt: Some kind of ‘travelling festival’. We’ve gone to Australia twice but we’ve never done a festival there.
Leah: What do you think of Australian audiences?
Matt: They want to get wild and dance and have fun, so I can see the great potential there in Australia.
Leah: Any future plans for a new album?
Matt: Well, we have a new album that just came out this week in the United States, so I’m sure it’s either coming out there soon, or… I don’t know, I don’t know the schedule exactly.
(Both laugh)
Matt: Maybe I need to do some checking up on my facts, that or my brain is still fried after my last tour.
Leah: So, regardless of the release date, what kind of album is it? How would you describe it?
Matt: You know, we’ve always struggled a bit with genre, but for a while we fitted into a dance punk category. But this album is a little more ‘boppy’. Kim and I are just inspired by whatever we think is fun.
Leah: And how do you think this new fun album will translate to a festival audience?
Matt: We definitely do well at the festivals that we’ve done. In the States we did Lollapalooza, Coachella, also Austin City Limits. Festivals where there is, you know, 30 000 plus people full in front of you. Not to not sound humble, but you know, we’re doing quite well in the States, and so many people know our songs and sing along. But also the people who don’t know Matt&Kim, we play simple enough music that…. Well, not simple music in a derogatory sort of way, but in the sense that, here’s the beat, and here’s the melody, and people who are hearing us for the first time can enjoy us.
Leah: Well, I definitely hope the same thing happens in Australia. Do you remember any stories about Brisbane?
Matt: Yes, we’ve played there twice. The first time we played in Brisbane, we were very into at the time playing all ages shows, so we did one club night, and then one night we played at a pool. But it was pouring rain, so we moved in the show into the women’s locker room.
And that was my first show in a bathroom.
Leah: Did the audience appreciate that?
Matt: I think so, it was very warm though. It was one of the few shows in my life I took my shirt off performing.
Leah: So, you seem to appreciate Australian audiences.
Matt: Like I said before, we’re coming back to Australia because we see the potential there. The shows feel like they did earlier on in the States, people want to go out and have fun and dance. So we’ll come back and play in women’s bathrooms and proper clubs. And we’re excited to keep growing things there.
Matt & Kim’s new album Sidewalks is out now, and rumour has it they will be touring Australia in January… at some kind of “travelling festival”! Keep your ears and eyes peeled for more information.
Leah: Matt, how are you going?
Matt: I’m doing good! I’m doing good. I just finished a two month US tour last night. So I’m kind of like, coming off that high, and also just laying in the bed right now, chilling hard.
Leah: Sounds good to me. So you’re heading to Australia soon, as well.
Matt: Yes, in January. So for us, who live in the North West of the United States, we’ll be going on a tropical vacation in January. It is so cold already.
Leah: So that’s good then, you’re bailing to Australia when it’s most cold. And you’re doing Laneway festival, is that right?
Matt: I actually think we’re doing Big Day Out.
Leah: Oh! I’m sorry about that.
Matt: Well, I don’t know so don’t take my word on that.
(Both laugh awkwardly)
Matt: Some kind of ‘travelling festival’. We’ve gone to Australia twice but we’ve never done a festival there.
Leah: What do you think of Australian audiences?
Matt: They want to get wild and dance and have fun, so I can see the great potential there in Australia.
Leah: Any future plans for a new album?
Matt: Well, we have a new album that just came out this week in the United States, so I’m sure it’s either coming out there soon, or… I don’t know, I don’t know the schedule exactly.
(Both laugh)
Matt: Maybe I need to do some checking up on my facts, that or my brain is still fried after my last tour.
Leah: So, regardless of the release date, what kind of album is it? How would you describe it?
Matt: You know, we’ve always struggled a bit with genre, but for a while we fitted into a dance punk category. But this album is a little more ‘boppy’. Kim and I are just inspired by whatever we think is fun.
Leah: And how do you think this new fun album will translate to a festival audience?
Matt: We definitely do well at the festivals that we’ve done. In the States we did Lollapalooza, Coachella, also Austin City Limits. Festivals where there is, you know, 30 000 plus people full in front of you. Not to not sound humble, but you know, we’re doing quite well in the States, and so many people know our songs and sing along. But also the people who don’t know Matt&Kim, we play simple enough music that…. Well, not simple music in a derogatory sort of way, but in the sense that, here’s the beat, and here’s the melody, and people who are hearing us for the first time can enjoy us.
Leah: Well, I definitely hope the same thing happens in Australia. Do you remember any stories about Brisbane?
Matt: Yes, we’ve played there twice. The first time we played in Brisbane, we were very into at the time playing all ages shows, so we did one club night, and then one night we played at a pool. But it was pouring rain, so we moved in the show into the women’s locker room.
And that was my first show in a bathroom.
Leah: Did the audience appreciate that?
Matt: I think so, it was very warm though. It was one of the few shows in my life I took my shirt off performing.
Leah: So, you seem to appreciate Australian audienc
Leah: Matt, how are you going?
Matt: I’m doing good! I’m doing good. I just finished a two month US tour last night. So I’m kind of like, coming off that high, and also just laying in the bed right now, chilling hard.
Leah: Sounds good to me. So you’re heading to Australia soon, as well.
Matt: Yes, in January. So for us, who live in the North West of the United States, we’ll be going on a tropical vacation in January. It is so cold already.
Leah: So that’s good then, you’re bailing to Australia when it’s most cold. And you’re doing Laneway festival, is that right?
Matt: I actually think we’re doing Big Day Out.
Leah: Oh! I’m sorry about that.
Matt: Well, I don’t know so don’t take my word on that.
(Both laugh awkwardly)
Matt: Some kind of ‘travelling festival’. We’ve gone to Australia twice but we’ve never done a festival there.
Leah: What do you think of Australian audiences?
Matt: They want to get wild and dance and have fun, so I can see the great potential there in Australia.
Leah: Any future plans for a new album?
Matt: Well, we have a new album that just came out this week in the United States, so I’m sure it’s either coming out there soon, or… I don’t know, I don’t know the schedule exactly.
(Both laugh)
Matt: Maybe I need to do some checking up on my facts, that or my brain is still fried after my last tour.
Leah: So, regardless of the release date, what kind of album is it? How would you describe it?
Matt: You know, we’ve always struggled a bit with genre, but for a while we fitted into a dance punk category. But this album is a little more ‘boppy’. Kim and I are just inspired by whatever we think is fun.
Leah: And how do you think this new fun album will translate to a festival audience?
Matt: We definitely do well at the festivals that we’ve done. In the States we did Lollapalooza, Coachella, also Austin City Limits. Festivals where there is, you know, 30 000 plus people full in front of you. Not to not sound humble, but you know, we’re doing quite well in the States, and so many people know our songs and sing along. But also the people who don’t know Matt&Kim, we play simple enough music that…. Well, not simple music in a derogatory sort of way, but in the sense that, here’s the beat, and here’s the melody, and people who are hearing us for the first time can enjoy us.
Leah: Well, I definitely hope the same thing happens in Australia. Do you remember any stories about Brisbane?
Matt: Yes, we’ve played there twice. The first time we played in Brisbane, we were very into at the time playing all ages shows, so we did one club night, and then one night we played at a pool. But it was pouring rain, so we moved in the show into the women’s locker room.
And that was my first show in a bathroom.
Leah: Did the audience appreciate that?
Matt: I think so, it was very warm though. It was one of the few shows in my life I took my shirt off performing.
Leah: So, you seem to appreciate Australian audiences.
Matt: Like I said before, we’re coming back to Australia because we see the potential there. The shows feel like they did earlier on in the States, people want to go out and have fun and dance. So we’ll come back and play in women’s bathrooms and proper clubs. And we’re excited to keep growing things there.
Matt & Kim’s new album Sidewalks is out now.
They tour Australia in January.
Leah: Matt, how are you going?
Matt: I’m doing good! I’m doing good. I just finished a two month US tour last night. So I’m kind of like, coming off that high, and also just laying in the bed right now, chilling hard.
Leah: Sounds good to me. So you’re heading to Australia soon, as well.
Matt: Yes, in January. So for us, who live in the North West of the United States, we’ll be going on a tropical vacation in January. It is so cold already.
Leah: So that’s good then, you’re bailing to Australia when it’s most cold. And you’re doing Laneway festival, is that right?
Matt: I actually think we’re doing Big Day Out.
Leah: Oh! I’m sorry about that.
Matt: Well, I don’t know so don’t take my word on that.
(Both laugh awkwardly)
Matt: Some kind of ‘travelling festival’. We’ve gone to Australia twice but we’ve never done a festival there.
Leah: What do you think of Australian audiences?
Matt: They want to get wild and dance and have fun, so I can see the great potential there in Australia.
Leah: Any future plans for a new album?
Matt: Well, we have a new album that just came out this week in the United States, so I’m sure it’s either coming out there soon, or… I don’t know, I don’t know the schedule exactly.
(Both laugh)
Matt: Maybe I need to do some checking up on my facts, that or my brain is still fried after my last tour.
Leah: So, regardless of the release date, what kind of album is it? How would you describe it?
Matt: You know, we’ve always struggled a bit with genre, but for a while we fitted into a dance punk category. But this album is a little more ‘boppy’. Kim and I are just inspired by whatever we think is fun.
Leah: And how do you think this new fun album will translate to a festival audience?
Matt: We definitely do well at the festivals that we’ve done. In the States we did Lollapalooza, Coachella, also Austin City Limits. Festivals where there is, you know, 30 000 plus people full in front of you. Not to not sound humble, but you know, we’re doing quite well in the States, and so many people know our songs and sing along. But also the people who don’t know Matt&Kim, we play simple enough music that…. Well, not simple music in a derogatory sort of way, but in the sense that, here’s the beat, and here’s the melody, and people who are hearing us for the first time can enjoy us.
Leah: Well, I definitely hope the same thing happens in Australia. Do you remember any stories about Brisbane?
Matt: Yes, we’ve played there twice. The first time we played in Brisbane, we were very into at the time playing all ages shows, so we did one club night, and then one night we played at a pool. But it was pouring rain, so we moved in the show into the women’s locker room.
And that was my first show in a bathroom.
Leah: Did the audience appreciate that?
Matt: I think so, it was very warm though. It was one of the few shows in my life I took my shirt off performing.
Leah: So, you seem to appreciate Australian audiences.
Matt: Like I said before, we’re coming back to Australia because we see the potential there. The shows feel like they did earlier on in the States, people want to go out and have fun and dance. So we’ll come back and play in women’s bathrooms and proper clubs. And we’re excited to keep growing things there.
Matt & Kim’s new album Sidewalks is out now.
They tour Australia in January.
es.
Matt: Like I said before, we’re coming back to Australia because we see the potential there. The shows feel like they did earlier on in the States, people want to go out and have fun and dance. So we’ll come back and play in women’s bathrooms and proper clubs. And we’re excited to keep growing things there.
Matt & Kim’s new album Sidewalks is out now.
They tour Australia in January.