Sydney is a long way from Mexico but The Mezcaltones still know a thing or two about sultry nights and dangerous days – not to mention sultry man and dangerous woman.
Inspired by tunes from Tito and Tarantula, Dick Dale, Link Wray, Los Lobos, Santana and other artists with a sizzling Mexican sound.
The Mezcaltones latest Album Second has sounds only described as Tex Mex, 60’s, cowboy rockabilly surf guitar style of twang and incorporating Mimi’s spellbinding dance moves they are hard to pigeonhole.
But one thing everyone does agree upon is The Mezcaltones are highly entertaining! It’s more than a band: it’s a show, a journey… with ATTITUDE!
2018
Tamworth Country Music Festival Recent completion of ‘Here’s to Love’ film clip Humble Pride clip due out April 5
2017
Tamworth Country Music Festival Sydney Winterfest Blues festival Sydney Blues & Roots Festival ‘Painted Lady’ film clip featured on Alt Country Segment of CMC.
2016
Tamworth Country Music Festival
‘Painted Lady’ featured in Amrap Regional Top 10 charts for 3 weeks
Self-titled EP voted #6 in the Top Ten CDs of 2016 by 100%
October Update – With some great live reviews behind her such as
“With acoustic in hand the beautiful singer/songwriter sang her way through well-constructed songs about life, love, ups and downs and everything in between. Coming across as the Australian equivalent of Alanis Morissette, the alternative rock/pop on display is world class.”
“First up, the wistful and edgy, rebellious and arty, relentlessly creative Diana Anaid delivered a set of tracks from her new album My Queen and older favourites relying solely on her acoustic guitar and amazing voice.”
Diana has had a great tour and now starts on her headline shows.
The Cruelty Free Festival in Sydney went off last weekend, not to mention her very revealing chat on 2SER ‘s Dirt Music with the mighty Stuart Coupe, and her next date is Australian Music Week performing with her backing band.
Nov Wed 1st- Fri 3rd Australian Music Week Cronulla Sydney BAND SHOWCASE SET (TRIO)
Friday Nov 3rd at the Brass Monkey Cronulla at 9pm.
Then she heads to Melbourne to finish up headlining for one of her heartfelt causes–
Nov Sun 12th World Vegan Day Melbourne Headline act (SOLO)
Diana will return in the new year with a headline national Tour.
Be sure to catch this dynamic live act while you can as she will no doubt be heading overseas to promote the new album sooner than the local fans will like.
Pic from Adam and The Ants Tour courtesy of Overdrive mag.
Checkout this article/interview with Diana below
Described as “the cover girl for self-made, heart-warming, gut-vomiting indie chicks” (Village Voice USA), alternative singer/songwriter Diana Anaid returns with the highly anticipated catchy 1st single Can’t Apologise from the Forthcoming album My Queen, produced by Steve James (Screaming Jets/Skunkhour/Sex Pistols).
The video clip for Can’t Apologise was directed by Rock N Roll Hall of Fame recipient Nick Egan (Oasis, Duran Duran) and shot on location in Los Angeles at Topanga Canyon.
The Video was premiered by TheMusic in August - here
Diana Recently spoke to Foghorn Media about the new album, her early influences and what inspires her
This album of thoughtfully chosen songs was written during a brief hiatus from the industry, time that I spent reconnecting with family and with my love of writing. The first song Into Your Heart speaks of my never-ending love for my transgender sister and my wish for a more compassionate world for her. This is my first real falsetto attempt since 1999’s Blues Singer.”
First single “’Can’t Apologise’ relates to the dilemma faced by friends tempted to take it to the next level. What happens when he/she gets with someone else, sacrificing both the relationship and the friendship? How DO you have your cake and eat it too??”
Tell us about the moment you decided to become a singer- Having creative older siblings I was encouraged to listen to different styles of music and was always singing and picking up different instruments. What did your family have to say about it? My dad was supa supportive, even buying me my first guitar- although he did hock it a week later.
What inspired you to become an artist and who are your early influences? Inspired by the cathartic nature of music, lyrical songwriting in particular, it was the poets of the 20th century who influenced me the most; Loeonard Cohan, Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan.
Your bio mentions that you took a lot of lyrical inspiration from your sisters transgender journey, can you tell us a little more about that? More than half of the songs on My Queen are dedicated or inspired by her recent inspiring transformation
What current Australian(or Local) acts inspire you and why? What international acts?-Sia is a fantastic inspirational act to me, as are sooo many Australian artists like Courtney Barnett, The Waifs and John Butler. International acts like Lily Allen, Lorde and Patti Smith.
Fave film? I love watching comedy and Australian made movies.
Fave Book? The Thesauraus, followed closely by the dictionary, but I pretty much LOVE the thesaurus.
Fave place? Melbourne; funky cafes with great food, awesome venues, can’t get enough.
Fave animal or pet? I love wild animals, wildlife and even feral city critters. I always have some sort of connection with the animals in the area where I am touring; We saved a possums life that was stuck under our car, hurridly rushing it to the Bondi vet before it closed at 9pm, and just missing the start of our gig down the road. I was also offered a miniature horse in Tasmania, with full intention to bring it back on the plane as my seeing-eye-horse
Diana’s career highlights include US Billboard Top 40 placement, 5 ARIA nominations, 2 inclusions in Triple J’s Hottest 100 and sets at the BDO, Falls, Vans Warped, Woodford and Byron Blues Fest.
Anaid is a stand-out musician who “continues delivering authentic, original music” (Kathy McCabe)”, and is a pioneer of a “Different kind of girl power” (Music Network) “There’s only one Diana Anaid”. (Iain Sheddon)
Tell us about the moment you decided to become a singer/writer? What did your family have to say about it?
I actually got into music from a very early age. I did the obligatory recorder and piano lessons, and my older sister and I used to make up songs and put on shows for our parents. However, the turning point for me was when my sister started taking guitar lessons when I was 8 years old (she was 11 at the time) and because I wanted to be just like her I begged my mom to let me go as well. I did acoustic lessons for 4 years and then went on to learn electric with another teacher, who encouraged me to record my first EP at the age of 12. My parents have both been extremely supportive of me throughout, driving me to gigs when I was a teen and coming along to cheer me on.
What inspired you to become an artist and who are your early influences?
I was very lucky to grow up with parents who loved music. My mother has always been into her rock music like the Stones, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, while my dad loves his soul music. I loved the classics like Etta James and Dusty Springfield but my passion always lay in rock music. I greatly admire Joan Jett, I’m a huge fan of Jefferson Airplane and Fleetwood Mac are an all time favourite of mine.
Tell us a little about your writing process, how does a song come along? What gets you going creatively?
When I’m writing solo stuff I usually start from the vocal melody up. I find a phrase or a line that really speaks to me and then I write around it. While in the band however it’s a lot more collaborative. Either Raff has a really good idea and fleshes it out or he gives it to me to do the vocal lines, as well as some great tunes that were born out of a jam session and a killer riff that we’ve just run with, much like Cheating Heart our current single (LISTEN HERE)
What current Local acts inspire you and why? What international acts?
I love Alpine because they’re quirky and fun. They mirror a lot of the attitude that I loved so much in No Doubt so it’s a throwback to my teens. Internationally I’m heavily influenced by The Donnas and Adele.
What are your future plans for 2017/2018?
At the moment we’re focussing on Aurora and getting some good mileage out of it because to be honest it’s a pretty solid album. We have already started tentatively looking at some new songs for the next album but we’re also bringing some old songs from Ascendancy and Autonomic out for our sets to keep things new and exciting for our fans.
If you haven’t yet, read through a QnA with the boys to kick off their latest EP The Door –
Q & A with Jack and Curtis………
What inspired you to become a singer in a band?
Curtis
The meticulous strain of learning covers and not playing them perfect and or well. If it’s your own song you get to decide what’s perfect and what’s right. It’s a pretty good feeling playing your own music and seeing people in the crowd enjoying themselves as much as you do. Kinda if we get you off then we’ll get off kinda thing.
Jack
My old man played guitar when I was young and I always wanted to play. He got me a nylon string and off I went (he still has that guitar). Dad loved James Taylor, Paul Simon, Dylan, and all of those singer song writers, so I guess that is where it started. My teen years in the 90’s in the UK started the band/rock music for me. It was a great time to be around the music scene in England: Oasis, Blur, The Verve even The Spice Girls – ha ha.
Who are your early influences?
Curtis
As I came to the understanding that I wanted to be a musician I really liked musicians that were unique and matter what they were doing you kinda knew it was them. Early on I was influenced by a lot of bands. I try and steal something from everybody. I am a bit of a guitar pedal addict so if they are using some sort of effect they are an influence. It’s my way of hiding that I actually have no idea what I am doing.
Tell us a little about how you write, how do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?
Curtis
Usually Jack or someone would come in with an idea, then we try to flip it on its head and make it good, ha ha. No, we jam it out in the room with the boys try new and interesting ideas over the old ones. Really the songs only come together with us pushing each other to be different. I work really hard on them on my own, but no matter how hard you plan and think your idea is right everyone else’s is usually better. That’s the great thing about a band its amalgamation of lots of ideas.
What gets us going is being in that room together, when everything clicks and we all get a little smirk knowing this feels right; probably the beers as well.
Jack
Sometimes they just happen. The good ones just flow. It’s usually something I’m angry about. I get some chords going but the melody and lyric is what I find most important. Someone once told me to write what I know and feel don t try to fake it. Which is so true and the best tip I ever heard.
After that I take it to the band. Then they make some noises and change some parts and boom we have a new song. I would say one in every three we write makes it to the live set. One in four get recorded.
Your bio mentions “newsworthy angle/funny story or event’ tell us what went on there.
Jack
The Gibson Guitar endorsement was amazing. We had finished pre-production on our album ‘Burning In The Sun’ and we are hanging out in the studio. Marshall, our Publisher & Label) and all round Legend said ‘You guys need anything else for recording?’ Yeah some good guitars, we said and laughed it off. Next day phone rings, it’s Marshall – ‘Go down to the pro shop, they’ve got some GIBOs for you to use’. I jump in the car, the exhaust pipe falls off on the way over, get to the shop meet the Rep, top bloke, we walk out with a Thunderbird Bass, Nikki Sixx Signiture (took it out of the display case for us) an SG and a Vintage Les Paul.
Put about 15 grands worth of guitars in the back of my 1000 dollar car next to the broken exhaust I recovered from the road. A few months after that I was added to the Gibson Artists list. Now I put my fancy guitar into the back of my 1000 dollar car next to the broken exhaust.
What is the first record you bought and why?
Curtis
It was a Wiggles tape, I was 7.
Jack
The one and only, Chesney Hawks, went halves with my brother it was a vinyl single, I have no idea why.
What current OZ acts inspire you? Ditto for international acts?
Jack
I am inspired by a lot of bands and artist we play with. The hard work they put in and the amazing talent that goes mostly unnoticed. Australia has a massive music community waiting to be heard. Tune into some community radio is my advice. International acts – at the moment I can’t stop listening to Jason Isbell’s last two albums.
Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show?
Curtis
I like to think or music is always evolving, I’m pretty sure we don’t play anything the same twice, we kinda feel each other out and hope that us having a good time shines through. We can get pretty loud but we love it that’s why we do it.
Jack
We really enjoy the live shows and I hope people see that when we play. As for the crowd we will take anyone who shows up, ha ha
Favourite artists of all time?
Curtis
For me, it’s Radiohead , NIN, Queens of The Stone Age, Tool and the two Jimmys’ (Page and Hendrix) with a notable mention to Dave Gilmore. It’s hard though, I’ve been influenced by a heap of bands that I still listen to today. I could be hear all day naming people. Once you find an artist you go and find out who influenced them, it’ a never ending cycle.
Jack
Van Gogh. Can’t pick just one for music
You are backstage with ‘insert artist you adore or hate’, what do you say?
Jack
Kanye West can you please shut the fuck up
Where do you see Aussie music heading?
Curtis
I’m really not sure, I’m hoping away from the computer. Hopefully, more performers and lesson button pushers. Don’t get me wrong there is a lot of talent in some of them and I enjoy it, wish more of them would use it as an instrument and less of a cheat.
Jack
I think we might be on the bottom of a cycle. The music industry is playing catch up with the internet and more home production and electronic music is flying around. We also have the reality music TV shows that are finally loosing their appeal. I believe that one band will come along and start up a big music movement again like Oasis did for the UK in the 90 s. Maybe it’s time for the smaller independent labels to rise as the big ones struggle. It’s music so you just have to wait and let it do its thing.
What are your future plans for 2016/2017
Curtis
We are looking at playing as many shows as possible, doing what we love. Work on new material continue to work on us as band and just do what we do.
Jack
Tour Drink Sleep Repeat. Play shows keep writing and most importantly, enjoy it.
Foghorn Media: What inspired you to become a band? Who were your early influences?
Halfwait: We all grew up in the 90s listening to bands such as Nirvana, Silverchair, Offspring and Blink 182 and always admired them. We looked up towards the thought of playing on the big stage and connecting with people through our music.
FM: Tell us a little about how you write, how do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?
HW: Depending on our moods and what is happening in our lives at the time can determine on the feel and direction of the song. Usually Chris and I have created a good balance of teamwork with structuring songs, but in most cases I write something on guitar along with a melody and bring that into the studio and we build a song around that. With the lyrics, I write about topics that mean something to me or are around me at the time. I’ve been writing poems from a young age so it makes it a lot easier for me to convert it into lyrics for a song.
FM: What is the first record you bought and why?
Jon: ‘Nevermind’by Nirvana. My brother was into it at the time and that’s the only CD we had in the house. I grew to like the sound of the recording and held it highly in sound quality.
Chris: ‘Follow The Leader’ by Korn.I wasn’t a big fan of Nu-Metal but I always admired people with long hair or dreadlocks, which ultimately drew me to the band. I also liked The Offspring which was my favorite band at the time.
Nathan: ‘Frogstomp’by Silverchair. I thought it was really well put together.
FM: What current Australian and international acts are inspiring you?
HW: The Deadlove and Violent Soho as they are bringing the 90s scene back to Australia and we dig and admire that. For international artists, we are inspired by and have respect for Mallory Knox for their journey and growth in the international music scene. But also bands that have been around for a while such as Metallica, Blink 182, Offspring, and Green Day.
FM: Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show.
HW: Because we have the 90s built into our style the crowd should expect hard hitting drums, strong bass lines, and scratchy guitars with clean vocals. There’s a lot of energy in our performance creating a really great atmosphere.
FM: Favorite films?
Jon: ‘Step Brothers’ Chris: ‘Pulp Fiction,’ because no matter how many times I watch it, I always find something new that I haven’t noticed before about the movie. Nathan: ‘Django Unchained,’
FM: Where do you see Australian music heading?
HW: With bands like Violent Soho on the rise, I think we will see the youth growing up listening to music similar to what we did. And with people who grew up in the 90s, like us, wanting the music that they heard in their youths back will revive the grunge scene.
FM: What are your future plans for 2016/2017?
HW: We will be finishing off this EP, which we are currently recording, followed by touring Australia, and in between that time we will re release our first EP and an acoustic EP. Then we are planning to go back into the studio in 2017 to record our debut album whilst playing various shows and promotions for a national tour after the completion of the album.
