LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Mink official website) - Australian-American rock band MINK have completed the recording of their self-titled debut CD with producer Sylvia Massy (Red Hot
Chili Peppers, Tool). The first single "
Talk To Me" is set to hit radio March 19 (via Spitfire Music/National Recorder/Fontana/Universal), while the album will be in stores July 10. MINK will head out for select live dates kicking off this Saturday (March 3) at Los Angeles' Viper Room.
The group-NEAL CARSLON (vocals), STELLA MOZGAWA (drums), NICK MAYBURY (lead guitar), DAVID LOWY (rhythm guitar) and GRANT FITZPATRICK (bass)-will also perform at shows in Los Angeles, at the SXSW festival in Austin and in New York City, including a few Australian Music Collective gigs.
Recently in Los Angeles, Christian Lamb (Madonna, Coldplay) directed the video for MINK's infectious "Talk To Me." Playing off the song's title, the band appear on a bizarre Japanese variety talk show. They're interviewed by the show's wacky host, wind up in a mock cooking segment and then perform live (watch out for the Japanese Elvis impersonator).
The group was formed in New York City after the late-night jam sessions by Carlson and his musician friends morphed into a regular gig. Booking as many shows as they could, MINK established themselves as a live act and toured Australia with groups including Angels & Airwaves and Jimmy Barnes. American audiences were introduced to the group via their track "Pressure Pressure" (produced by two-time Grammy winner Chris Shaw), which was heard on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" throughout the 2006 playoffs and World Series.
The group's music, both loose-limbed and tight at the same time, is powered by Neal Carlson's high-energy vocals and 21-year-old Stella Mozgawa's propulsive drumming. "There's a spark when we all get in the same room," says Carlson. "Everyone in this band is so full of life and when we play, that contagious energy just morphs into something else." Other tracks on the album like "Crazy," "Dematerialize" and "Untouchable" display the group's hard-charging rock ethos. "Imagine what it would sound like if a rock club from New York and one from Sydney had a baby," says Stella. "That's us."
Of their songs, Carlson says, "We try to keep the songs real and simple and as open-ended as possible," but admits that "Talk To Me" is about being a shy and isolated teenager. "That song's really for all the girls who wouldn't talk to me in high school." He forced himself to overcome his shyness by writing songs and forging out to open-mic nights at home in New York.
Sat 3/3 Los Angeles, CA Viper Room
*Sun 3/11 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
*Thu 3/15 Austin, TX Maggie Mays
Fri 3/16 Austin, TX National Recorder showcase @ The Parish Room
Fri 3/16 Austin, TX SXSW—Aussie BBQ @ Brush Square Park
*Tue 3/20 New York, NY Fontanas
*Wed 3/21 New York, NY Crash Mansion
"*" denotes Australian Music Collective shows
