SPR (VIMH): Hi guys, congrats on your new EP 1996! What is the significance of naming an EP after 1996?
Poison Oak: It was one of the title of the songs on the EP, (which is to be released in March by the way). It actually was supposed to be 2006, however syllable wise it didn’t fit, so it was changed to 1996.
SPR (VIMH): What do the lyrics talk about? Which are your major lyrics’ influences?
Poison Oak: Just about everyday life really, relationships, work and the ups and downs of life basically painting a picture of a moment in time or life. Basically it’s a expression of emotions of my experiences and hopefully people can relate to that.
SPR (VIMH): Which are those elements that separate your new album from your previous albums?
Poison Oak: I guess collectively, everyone from the band contributed a lot more on, 1996, in comparison to previous releases. So, I think collectively and style wise we covered more ground, and it sounds more cohesive as a group.
SPR (VIMH): How would you characterize “1996” and what are your expectations from the new album?
Poison Oak: I would characterise it as, an Aussie Rock EP basically. I guess, I can’t really explain it any more than that. I guess our expectations is that it gets into more ears than our previous releases. But really, we don’t have that many expectations. I guess the main expectation is that we continue to enjoy what we’re doing.
SPR (VIMH): How did the cooperation with A&R Records occur? How’s working with, “The A&R Department”, and how much have they helped you on the whole?
Poison Oak: We were contacted by Alex, their A&R manager after listening to one of our tracks. In Australia we have a large national radio station called triple j. They also have a website called triple j unearthed, which is an online website for new underground artists, where they can upload their music. We uploaded our first track, and they contacted us from there.
SPR (VIMH): How’s the fans’ reactions been to the new songs on your live shows so far?
Poison Oak: The thing is we haven’t played them at a live show yet.
SPR (VIMH): Do you prefer to be on the road or on the studio writing and recording?
Poison Oak: In the studio writing and recording. Don’t get me wrong playing shows are really fun, however, for myself personally I get a lot of enjoyment out of putting together songs and getting stuck into the nitty gritty of the dynamics and the texture of writing and producing a song.
SPR (VIMH): How did you come up with the name Poison Oak initially?
Poison Oak: It’s the title of a Bright Eyes song, from their “I’m Wide Awake it’s Morning”, album.
SPR (VIMH): How would you describe your music style to someone that hasn’t heard of you before?
Poison Oak: Aussie Indie Rock, with melancholic ballads.
SPR (VIMH): Which do you consider to be the best male & female vocalist in metal history?
Poison Oak: Probably Robert Pant for male and I’ve be listening to a lot of HAIM lately, so I’m going so Danielle Haim. Because in their early days HAIM was quite metal
SPR (VIMH): Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
Poison Oak: Led Zeppelin IV, you really can’t get much better than that.
SPR (VIMH): Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
Poison Oak: The Wiggles by The Wiggles. Pretty much summed up there.
SPR (VIMH): If you had the chance to travel in time… where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
Poison Oak: I’d Probably go back 12 years, to when I was finishing high school. Try and do things a little differently haha.
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