GetToTheFront: Where did you all meet and how did the Middle East first come together?
The Middle East: We met in our hometown of Townsville, North Queensland, through school and the music scene. we wanted a summer project and thus the middle east was born
GetToTheFront: How have the reactions been in the UK compared to back home in Australia?
The Middle East: We’ve never been to the UK so it’s hard to say. Australians have been really supportive. We’ve done some interviews from some blogs and magazines from the UK and some of them seem pretty nice. There’s a lot more of you in the UK than Australia so it’s hard to gauge.
GetToTheFront: Who are your main influences musically?
The Middle East: That’s a hard one to nail down. At the moment i really like Waits, Debussey, Dylan, Patty Mann, and the Silver
GetToTheFront: Can you give us 5 words to sum up your new EP The recordings of The Middle East?
The Middle East: Nope!
GetToTheFront: The first single to come from your EP is ‘Blood’ can you tell us what the inspiration behind this track was?
The Middle East: It concerns the events of 2005 in my family, when my grandpa was living alone after the death of his first love, and my father was living alone on a mountain out of town after the breakdown of his marriage.
GetToTheFront: Now every band/ artist is at some point compared to another what comparisons have you had and is there any that you really didn’t like/understand?
The Middle East: We sound like a lot of things so i don’t take it too hard when people compare us to others. We don’t particularly have our own sound and don’t really do anything very groundbreaking so it’s not a headache to hear things like that. I suppose it can be a bit disheartening to hear people say you sound like a band or certain sound that you’re currently trying to steer away from, but that’s the ebb and flow of things these days.
GetToTheFront: you could choose to collaborate with any other artist/band past or present who would you choose and why?
The Middle East: Aaah so many options…. maybe i’d make a sound track for the black paintings of Francisco de Goya. or maybe i’d make music for Othello or Romeo and Juliette.
GetToTheFront: If we were to go through your iPod what songs would be on your recently played playlist?
The Middle East: I’ve been commemorating Mark Lincous…. Sparklehorse - Saint Mary, Piano Fire. and ‘The Dumb Earth - Walk The Earth’ album.
GetToTheFront: You have a big following though social networking sites, what is the weirdest/funniest thing that you have been tweeted or sent?
The Middle East: I can’t keep up with them. I usually stay away
GetToTheFront: So what’s in store for you in 2010?
The Middle East: We’re recording and hopefully releasing our album in June/July. We’re playing some shows in the States of the United and in Europe, Japan and Australia and writing more music along the way. And i’m going to get a motorbike.
Listen to more of The Middle East at myspace
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