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InterviewsElectric Mary - interview - Video for “It’s Alright” - Tour

Posted on Friday, September 20 2019 @ 19:41:11 CDT by Steven Reid
General Following the recent announcement of the upcoming European segment of their ‘Gimme Love’ worldwide tour, Melbourne’s most explosive classic rock quintet ELECTRIC MARY have released a brand new music video for their latest single, ‘It’s Alright’! Taken from their fourth studio album ‘Mother’, which was released in February of this year via Listenable Records, ELECTRIC MARY’s latest single release is a gospel laden chant for the future with a heavy rock groove from the past. Simultaneously, ‘It’s Alright’ carries an important message of hope for the downtrodden…

ELECTRIC MARY’s ‘Gimme Love’ tour will bring the band back to Europe for the first time in three years, celebrating their latest studio release ‘Mother’ - an album that received high praise upon release from the likes of Classic Rock, Planet Rock and Fireworks Magazine. The Tour also sees the band sharing stages with rock legends Y&T and Skid Row.

And singer Rusty Brown spoke to Sea of Tranquility’s Steven Reid to tell us more…

Although Electric Mary have, quite incredibly, been around since 2003, for some they might still be a reasonably new name on the scene. There’s no doubt that the band have stayed true and recognisable to their roots throughout that time, but how does their singer and founder member Rusty Brown view the band’s evolution across the 16 years they’ve been together?



The original album [Four Hands High] was made by myself and Pete [Robinson, EM guitarist] with former drummer Venom and a sprinkling of people that formed the live band in 2004. The idea was to have the perfect band that we would have had when we were 16. Nothing was left out, long guitar solo’s, 8 minutes songs, drum solo’s, basically whatever we wanted without ever thinking of conforming to anybody’s format or idea of music.



It was our DNA that stepped on stage and we would just enjoy what we did and see if anyone else thought the same way.



Pete and I are predominantly the writers with the only rule… I get the final say [haha] and there [the singer says smiling] is your answer!

Most bands when they start out are only concerned with the here and now - getting on a stage for the first time, releasing an album, making a bit of a stir. There has though, always been something of a permanency about Electric Mary - a determination. Have you always viewed this band as a long time thing and something that would maybe define who you are?

You are correct there. This was and will be my last band - it should have been my first - everything I have ever wanted to do has been afforded to me with this band.

We’ve supported and met all our heroes - except for Sir Blackmore.

We’ve toured so many countries and we’ve stood on stages at festivals and seen ten rows back singing along with us.

There’s a real honesty in what Electric Mary do. A lot of bands are hiding behind an image, or worrying about how they fit into ‘the scene’. How important has it been for Electric Mary to stand behind the band’s initial intentions and musical reasons for coming together?

Totally. We don’t move far from what we’ve always done. I’ve heard them all - you need a single, you need a ballad, how come there’s only 8 songs on the record, you guys are too loud.



We are a V8, you turn the key, the car starts, it’s loud, it’s powerful, you drive us around for an hour and half and you go home sweating.

However, the band have undergone quite a lot of comings and goings from within the ranks in recent times. How much has that changed the dynamics within the band and has it altered the sound or attitude of Electric Mary?



We have had a few members yes, some have left because they were leaders of their own bands, and some got tired of the grind.



It’s not an easy band to be in and that’s why I said earlier this is my last band.



I think the new drummer Spyda has brought a definite energy and slightly different anchor to the rhythm section, which makes for exciting times ahead.

Certainly from the outside the band feels and sounds as strong as ever now. Do you think this is a line-up that’ll stick around for years and maybe take you up to the next level in terms of the recognition you receive?

I hope so, there is so much joy in what we have achieved with the new album - touch wood!

Earlier this year you released your 4th studio album, Mother. Critical feedback has been and remains really positive but what really matters is what the faithful fans of the band think and feel about the album. What feedback have you had from them and what has the response been to the five or six new songs you’ve been playing in your live set?



The response has been amazing to be honest. It’s always a heavy pit of the stomach feeling when you first release a new record. No matter how much you love it, you want your audience to feel what you felt when recording.



This is the first album we have done a real-deal pre-production on and ‘best idea wins’ was our mantra.

The song “Gimme Love” is a hell of a way to start an album - a real statement of intent. However, to me, Mother is maybe the most diverse and, dare I say, mature album from the band to date. Was there a conscious decision to broaden the Electric Mary’s style and approach, or has it simply been natural evolution?



We always write what we believe are the best songs we can and then the recording process is where any problems that are going to arise will show their ugly head.



We believe this is our best and most diverse record and again I go back to the pre-production process as the reason for the great response to the tracks.

You’ll be bringing your live show to Europe soon, spending all of November playing shows everywhere from France and Spain to Italy and Germany, as well as playing six dates in the UK. What can people who maybe haven’t seen the band live before expect from an evening with Electric Mary?

A show full of intent from song 1 to song 20. There are a lot of k’s between Australia and the UK & Europe and there’s only 2 hours from a 24 hour day where we get to do our thing.



We don't mess about and we take no prisoners.

It must be quite gratifying to know that even though you guys are not playing enormodomes, there is still a strong hardcore support halfway across the globe eagerly awaiting you to come and play some shows for them?

Yeah, best feeling in the world. We always hang around at the end of shows to meet whoever wants to talk, it’s as important a part of the night as the songs are.



I like to pick out the ones that maybe didn’t get it and make them talk to me until they like me!! [haha]



Although, on the other hand, that in itself must create some challenges? How difficult is it in terms of time, money and organisation to come all that distance for a month or so to play some shows?

Being self managed and self financed is not the easiest thing to do, but we love the band, we love the music and we believe we have an audience outside of Australia and it’s growing all the time.



Although Australia is home, at some stages playing there is harder than getting on a plane and taking to the other side of the world.

We love what we do and we do what we love.

And mentioning Australia you are also set to be part of an incredible tour package featuring, including yourselves, five fantastic bands. You must be really looking forward to hitting stages alongside the likes of Live, Stone Temple Pilots, Bush and the legendary Rose Tattoo?



These shows are causing quite a stir in Australia and to be part of it is incredible. I believe these are going to be musical carnivals that will travel all over our great brown land.

Fingers crossed radio picks up the new single and the weather is kind to us.

In the lead up to the live activity you are releasing a new single/video for the Mother song, “It’s Alright”. The video itself is a cool animated lyric video, which is really eye catching and engaging. Who came up with the visual concept for the video and who have you been working with to make it turn out as well as it has?



Thats all down to Alex [Raunjak], our bass player, he is in control of all of our artwork from t-shirts to posters and right through to film clips.



I believe he spent over 100 hours getting it to where he wanted it. All I asked for was a lyrics video [haha]!! The total concept and building of the scenes was in his control from beginning to end.

The song itself discusses anxiety and depression but it does so from a positive stand point. Why was this something that you wanted to highlight and discuss as a band?



It is really important to me as I have suffered from depression and anxiety. When my doctor first told me I honestly almost laughed at him, I said are you joking i’m fine, but I wasn’t fine.



I took his advice and I spoke to a lot of people, which really helped me.

When it came to writing lyrics for the song I had the chorus first and I asked myself what is it I’m trying to say, and away I went; on a train ride up to the studio they came flooding out.



The words are totally positive, totally understanding. I want people to understand that if you open up about your problems you will find you have a lot of people that will support you.

And the video is dedicated to Bruno Lorenzi, who you describe as ‘A man who went above and beyond for Electric Mary’. Could you share with us something about Bruno and what he means to the band please?

When we first went to France we were asked if we would do a show in Corsica. Truly I had no idea what, where, when, how. What is Corsica? I asked, and I soon found out.



We were greeted by Bruno and with his arms wrapped around me we became immediate friends.



He showed us his town, he showed us his country, he treated us like family. Corsica was an experience Electric Mary has afforded me again, and for that we are truly thankful.

Sadly he passed away last year before we were able to get back to see him.

Once the tour is complete I believe that you’ll be fully turning your attention towards album number five. How far down that road have you gone with that so far? Have you started writing yet?

Pete and I both have bits and pieces we are throwing around. We are a band that writes when it takes our fancy, we are not one for doing it daily.

And I believe that for the first time you will be bringing in an outside producer to collaborate on the album. Can you tell us who that will be and why you’ve decided to make that change?

Hmmm… you have done your homework Sir! We have spoken to a couple of producers but nothing is set in stone, I think it’s time we gave somebody else a shot at the title.



The music dictates who we do it with and I will be more than happy to hand over the reigns.

My Personal favourites would be - in no order - Kevin Shirley, Machine, Dave Cobb, Ritchie Blackmore… with Ritchie Blackmore there wouldn’t be much work just a lot of chit chat!

And with that Sea of Tranquility’s time with Electric Mary is done, but Rusty has one last message for the fans who will be heading out to see them on tour.


Thanks for having me and I hope to see our fans bringing a guest to our shows and showing them some rock ’n’ roll the way it used to taste. 



ELECTRIC MARY’s latest album ‘Mother’ is available to stream on Spotify, and you can check out the upcoming ‘Gimme Love’ tour dates and ticket links from the list below. See more from Listenable Records artists on their website, and follow them on Facebook for regular news and updates.


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