The Frowning Clouds
Zac Olsen Interview
(2012)
by Ethan Kernaghan
What led you to making garage music?
Z: I can't pin point it exactly but when I first heard it I knew it was what I want to listen to for a while. I don't know what it was but it just came along at the right time when I was sixteen or whatever and then.. yeah!
What is your source of inspiration when you write?
Z: I suppose just whatever I'm listening to at the time, I guess I go through phases of what I think I like and what I think I don't like pretty regularly. My friends and I we all jam on a regular basis and I 'spose it's just, my friends make me wanna make more songs I guess. If they make a new song then I want to make a new song we just bounce off each other kinda thing.
How do you feel about analogue recording vs digital?
Z: I think analogue recording definitely has a warmth to it good, makes it familiar or something when you listen to it. Kinda sounds old and nostalgic but I think maybe people make their mind up about recording to tape before they even hear it because it's tape. Digital recordings can turn out just as well but once people have this idea where it's digital they seem to slag it off or something but a lot of the time a crappy digital recording can have as good a result as a big old tape machine, it really just depends.
Do you and the other guys in the band all work day jobs?
2: Some of us do in just factories.. And you know we all just sort of do whatever we can either crappy nine to five jobs or playing gigs with other bands or DJ-ing just anything to get any sort of money you know.
I heard you just finished a European tour, what was that experience like?
Z: It was good, busy if I could just explain it in one word. We've just gotten a new drummer so it was good for him to come out and really smash it out. We did 26 shows in.. a month... or whatever. It was really good to break the new guy in. Also we didn't fight or anything so.. Six weeks without anyone getting angry or anything. It was unusual.
Any wild stories?
2: Ah we played somewhere in Spain actually in a brothel which got actually really out of hand.
So there were a bunch of old wrinkly ladies around and there was a strip pole on stage... Yeah...
It got really out of hand. Besides that though it was standard procedure, just play a gig and then wake up and go play a gig!
Who are your garage punk idols?
Z: I guess it changes all of the time off of the top of my head my head probably The Monks, all five of 'em.
What would you say it is that resonates with you about The Monks?
Z: Probably just how it was made so long ago but is still so valid today, it just doesn't date at all and never will. It's totally original there's nothing like it before or after.
How can someone get their hands on Frowning Clouds records?
Z: Probably I guess through us is the best way we just bring them to shows and sell them or either certain record stores around Melbourne, or.. the Internet I guess... Some people sell them on eBay. If you want them come to a show is the best way to do it I suppose!