With there new LP Dare set to drop on Friday, the lads from Northeast Party House have been busy. Mitch Ansell from the band took some time out from their crazy schedule to answer some of our questions. For catch them on on tour, scroll down for dates.
You spent a bit of time overseas, how was it playing your music to your international fans?
We’ve been touring pretty constantly over the past 5 years in Australia so we’ve built a solid fan base in most cities. These shows are always fun which is mainly due to these punters knowing what to expect – always a good chance to have a boogie, always sweaty. The shows we’ve played overseas are to people who (mostly) haven’t seen us before so in a way it’s all about winning them over and taking them from the ‘foot tapping/head nodding appreciation’ to an all out boogie/mosh by the end. For most of our shows throughout the US and Europe we were able to achieve this which was such a satisfying feeling.
What did you miss the most whilst you were gone?
The last tour we went on was to the UK and Europe throughout May/June earlier this year. We left for the tour about halfway through writing and recording our latest album ‘Dare’ so in a way I was pretty stressed to have interrupted that process – it was a pretty lovely interruption though. We still got a lot of writing done overseas and had a few recording sessions in London but I really missed having my bedroom to go back to each night where I get most of my writing done.
Dare is set to come out very soon, what was it like self-producing the album? We're there any challenges with this?
You definitely get a bit of tunnel vision as a band. As important as it is to stick to your guns and be confident in the sound are aiming for, it’s really useful to get an outsider’s opinion and help. I guess finding that someone you respect and look up to can allow you to reach somewhere that you may not have been able to see, which can be pretty special. We were pretty behind schedule on delivering the album, which saw us writing a huge chunk of it as we were recording. Our drummer Malcolm Besley did the engineering and recording, just like our first album. To be honest, us having the band call all the shots was probably the best option looking back. At the end of the day we felt confident in ourselves as producers and we are all pretty stoked with how the record has turned out. I think it would have been more challenging to have someone outside the ~band family~ giving an extra opinion haha.
Your upcoming tour features a few stops, is there one your looking forward to the most?
Adelaide is probably our favourite place ever to play, absolute legends and always super loose. I noticed about a month ago that our show at The Gov is on Grand Final night, which makes me even more excited yet worried at the same time, ha. Adelaide has a chance to make the Grand Final, can you imagine if they made it and then won on the day as our gig? Sheeeet.
What's the best way to sum up your live shows for those who haven't caught you live yet?
I joined the band after they had already played a few shows, a couple of which I actually attended. To be honest, I didn’t really know what to think, it was all a bit much for me, but there was energy and for some reason people were fucking loving it. The energy is still there but now there are some quality fun tunes as well, and ridiculous lights. We also all bought new clothes for the first time in 2 years so expect us to be looking sharp…or at least clean.
Do you have any plans to head back overseas soon?
Indeed, always on the cards.
Written by Amy Smolcic
Thursday, 8th September
The Barwon Club, Geelong
Tickets: Northeast Party House
Friday, 9th September
170 Russell, Melbourne
Tickets: Northeast Party House
The Barwon Club, Geelong
Tickets: Northeast Party House
Friday, 9th September
170 Russell, Melbourne
Tickets: Northeast Party House
Friday, 30th September
Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
Tickets: Northeast Party House
Saturday, 1st October
The Gov, Adelaide
Tickets: Northeast Party House
Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
Tickets: Northeast Party House
Saturday, 1st October
The Gov, Adelaide
Tickets: Northeast Party House
