Hello everybody, we’re here today with Steven and Bon from the band Avalanche. It’s nice to meet you guys. How is the day going so far?
Steven - Very, very well. First of all, thank you for taking the time to have us today. We really appreciate any support - it means the world to us.

That means a lot to us too. You're currently on a European and UK tour with Airbourne, your first album is out… A lot of things seem to be going really well for you. How do you feel about that?
Steven - I feel like it's not real. I kind of feel like I'm dreaming.
Bon - It's pretty insane.
Steven - I feel like I'm going to pinch myself and wake up back in Sydney and have to go to work or something. It really doesn't feel real. I've had a lot of family members messaging me, saying how proud they are, which is just insane.
Bon - Yeah, it's been unreal. It really has. Like Steven said, this is a dream come true for any musician - touring internationally, playing bigger stages, bigger crowds. You don’t really get that back home. We don’t even have many venues like this.
Steven - Not really, no.
Bon - So being able to come here, meet different people, experience different cultures and food - it's awesome.
Steven - I've never even stepped foot in Europe before.
Both - This is our first time in Europe.

That’s incredible. And how do you feel about Europe?
Steven - Like I said, it feels like a dream come true. Last night we played the biggest show we’ve ever done, and tonight we’re playing an even bigger one. It’s just magical. There are moments I’ll remember for the rest of my life. We played Armed to the Teeth in Cologne and everyone started clapping along… it was the purest joy I’ve ever felt.
Bon - It was pretty insane.
Steven - I honestly can’t put it into words.

It’s been one week since your album came out — how do you feel about the feedback so far?
Steven - It’s been insane. We’ve released singles and EPs before, but nothing like this. We’ve had so many great reviews, so many people telling us they love the album… even people I haven’t spoken to since I was a kid reaching out. Some have bought it in stores - which we’ve never had before.
Bon - Yeah, we’ve never had albums in shops before. It’s crazy.
Steven - It’s an insane feeling. Even as a lyricist, I can’t really put it into words.

The album is called Armed To The Teeth. I read that Joel O’Keeffe had something to do with that?
Steven - Yeah. About two years ago, we played a really dingy dive bar in Melbourne - maybe 20 people there - and Joel was one of them. That’s how we met. We kept in touch, and when we finished the album, I sent it to him. The first thing he said was: “Armed To The Teeth is one of the greatest rock and roll songs I’ve heard in a long time - you have to name the album after that.” We were going to self-title it, but… if Joel O’Keeffe tells you to do something, you listen.

Always listen to the legends!
And what about the album cover?
Steven - We work with a very talented artist based in Indonesia. He’s done all our artwork and merch - he really understands our style.
Bon - We also tried to include elements from each song in the artwork: the boxer from Down For The Count, the witchy lady from Blondie, the dad from Dad, I Joined a Rock’n’Roll Band… And at the bottom, the avalanche, it’s us coming out of it. It just worked.
Steven - That’s art.

You recorded the album with Steve James - how did he influence it?
Steven - This was the first time we worked with a proper producer. We did pre-production with him, played him the songs before recording, and he just added small things. It was like we had a puzzle missing one piece - and he had that final piece.
Bon - Yeah, the partnership worked really well.
Steven - I’m really proud of this album. It’s the best work we’ve ever done.

Your lyrics hit as hard as your riffs. What’s your creative process behind that ?
Steven - We usually start with an idea - a structure or even just a title - and build from the feeling. I like to keep my lyrics genuine. I don’t write about things I don’t know. So a lot of the songs come from personal experiences - blue-collar life, teenage rebellion… Veronica even wrote some songs when she was 16.

And that rebellion stays with you as a musician.
Steven - Absolutely. And I’m glad she didn’t give it up - otherwise we wouldn’t be here touring Europe.
Bon - And you got married too!
Steven - Yes - we’ve been married for five years now.

Congratulations !
You have that old-school Aussie rock vibe. How do you keep it fresh?
Steven - Honestly, we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. Aussie pub rock is its own thing - we just put our own spin on it. My dad was a singer in the ’70s in a band called Avalanche - that’s where the name comes from. He taught me how to sing, so continuing that legacy felt natural.

What do you think about rock nowadays?
Steven - I absolutely love it.
Bon - It’s great to see new bands bringing their own spin. Rock is definitely alive.
Steven - When we started, it was hard to find straight rock bands. Now there are so many - we’re spoiled for choice.

What do you want listeners to feel when they hear the album?
Steven - I just want them to have a good time. Rock and roll is about letting go, forgetting your worries, having fun. No politics - just music, drinks, dancing, and a great time.

If the album were a movie soundtrack, what kind of movie would it be?
Bon - Maybe something like an Edgar Wright film.
Steven - Yeah - Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver… something fun but action-packed. Or even a western - that could work too.

If you didn’t make music, what would you do?
Steven - I used to be really into martial arts - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I was a two-time worldwide Australian champion. But I had to choose between that and music… and I chose music.
Bon - I used to work with animals. I’d probably be working with reptiles - crocs, snakes… Australia is perfect for that.

How have the crowds been on the tour so far?
Steven - Amazing. The first show in Hamburg was tough, but we won the crowd over quickly. Since then, it’s been better every night. We give everything on stage, and it comes back tenfold.

What’s one thing Airbourne taught you?
Steven - If you want to be a rock star - be a rock star on stage. Nowhere else.
Bon - Focus on the music, be efficient. Get set up, get on stage, get off. No messing around.

A moment you’ll never forget?
Both - Clapping.
Steven - Playing in Cologne - 4,000 to 5,000 people clapping along. The purest joy I’ve ever felt.

You’re about to play in Paris - any message for tonight?
Steven - Get ready… wait until you get a load of us Aussies.
Bon - Rock on !