Kel Mason's Gee Tee - Interview

Australia is truly churning out noteworthy bands in industrial quantities. You are originally from the Gold Coast but now you live in Sydney, was it a decision also due to the greater possibilities to play? What are the cities and hotspots where this garage / punk / psych scene is pushing the most?

 Yeh for sure. About the Gold Coast, there aint much going on. Sydney’s got a lot more opportunities for bands yeh, one of the reasons why I moved for sure. Heaps of really hot current bands going in Australia now. A lot  in Melbourne and Sydney especially within the garage / punk scene. The other major cities got stuff happening too, Perth over the opposite of the country has some great bands. But depends on what ya like of course. Australias got a pre large pysch rock scene aswell but It ain’t for me. 

If we think about your songs the first thing that come in our mind (with rare exceptions) is the synth melodies. When and how do you write them? Are they one of the final things or do you happen to start from those to compose a song?

Synth melodies are usually hours of pissin around on the thing. I got the notes written on the keys, and I’m googling what notes fit in what chords. Sometimes its a fluke and I get something good, but most of the time that ain’t the case. Like for example the track “Kombat Kitchen”, I had all the other instruments done on it first, then had the synth melody fit to the vocals. Occasionally though I can get some outta tune humming vocals over the track worked into a feasible synth line if I’m lucky then make some vocals fit… usually easier to do vocals first most of the time though. The secrets out.

How did you get in touch with Gabriele from Goodbye Boozy Records? What do you think is the reputation of this label in Australia?

I remember after just releasing the Gee Tee demo I hit Gabriele up over facebook with a link to it asking if he wanted to release a 7” haha. Goodbye Boozy has a real good reputation with people in the underground garage / punk music scene I’d say.

What is the secret of your super lofi sound? Often a musician is never fully satisfied with his creations. Is it the same for you ? Because they sound perfect to us. Do you think it will evolve somehow?

4 tracks baby. Past couple of releases I’ve been plugging guitar n bass direct in and not using any amps. I don’t really use many pedals, a boss overdrive on guitars and a fuzz war on bass is what is on most recordings. I use an Ibanez SG copy guitar and a cheap as bronco bass that I’ve had since I was in grade 3. Alotta people get caught up in the gear, searching for the right pedal or sound and spend thousands but if the songs sucks then whats the point ya know. 

I’m pretty happy to continue recording stuff myself at home though, doubt id ever do a  “studio” record. The budget recording adds to the sound. But the price of cassette 4 tracks has gone pretty ape over the last couple of years. So if ya don’t wanna blow a stupid amount of cash, boot whatever recording program ya have on ya computer up, clip the inputs, work the EQ’s and crank a track out. The entirety of the “Atomic” 7” was recorded on computer.