Q&A
Tell us a little bit about your previous musical projects, why you began this one, and how you chose the name.
As well as doing Brat Farrar, I’m still playing in Digger and The Pussycats. The Pussycats are always on again, off again, depending on where we are both living. At the moment we are off. Before Brat Farrar, I played in the Kamikaze Trio and the Russian Roulettes. Both bands had really exciting, short-lived lives. Successful overseas tours and records out with cool labels here and abroad.
The name Brat Farrar is taken from a book, where the character Brat Farrar assumes the identity of someone else to steal his inheritance. I didn’t want to play under my own name so I thought this was a cool moniker and just rolled with it.
What are you working on at them moment – is there a new single/ album/ tour?
I’ve just put out my second album (through Off the Hip and Every Night Is A Saturday Night) and I’m about to put a new single on Canadian label Yeah Right! Records. I’ve started working on record #3 and I have another single coming out with a German label in second half of the year. Besides that just getting around the traps in Melbourne and playing some shows.
How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
Good question. I’ve never been asked that before. It’s more of a meal of corn chips and milkshakes. Some salty unexplainable flavours and some loose sugar stuff made of milk.
Which song resonates most strongly and why?
The track Punk Records basically just sums up all the Brat Farrar influences. I thought it would be cool to have a song where you just name check all your favourite bands so I did it.
Any on the road anecdotes?
Thousands. Most of them aren’t print friendly unfortunately. I’ve been followed by drug lords, psychopaths and record geeks on tour. The law in Idaho State wants me. I’ve stood on Hendrix’s grave and played guitar. But most of the time I’ve just spent hours waiting for someone to show up and run sound check.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Like most musicians from other records and bands I like, but also from working with lots of cool people. I reckon one of the biggest influences on Brat Farrar has been my friend Robbie Adams. Robbie’s recorded heaps of records for bigger international artists as well as local rock stuff. He’s a great guy and his approach to recording and mixing music is really inspiring.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a few things at the moment. Record #3 is a top priority for me. Plus more 7inches. I love 45s, they are my favourite format for music. But also I am really busy mastering stuff for other artists. I do a lot of mastering for 7inches and LPs and I’ve mastered some really cool records in the last few weeks including new ones for Ross De Chene Hurricanes and The Stoneage Hearts. I have a heap more mastering stuff coming up too.
What’s your scene?
Melbourne. Nowhere else is as great as Melbourne.
About Brat Farrar
From the ashes of a zillion bands, Melbourne garage punk mainstay Sam Agostino hides behind the moniker BRAT FARRAR. Breaking out of a Brunswick bedroom with an uncompromising DIY approach Brat Farrar has smashed out a long player and fistfuls of singles since starting in 2011. 2015 sees the official release of a second long player, thoughtfully untitled.
Between records (I) and (II) Brat Farrar played shows in his native Australia as well as spending a long period touring in Europe, augmented live by various crackpot musicians from near and far. Between tours Brat Farrar spent his time hiding out in the as unyet uber-hip Croatian fishing village Stinjan, where grabs of II were recorded.
Brat Farrar (II) moves into uncharted territory like the Plastic Ono Band grind of opener “I’m Dead Now”, Giorgio Moroder inspired “Wouldn’t Give You Up” and the Charles Manson esque “No Redemption”. Don’t stress if you liked the new-wave punk esque sounds of the first record there is plenty of that here as well.
For the unitiated, Brat Farrar sounds reminiscent of early Wipers, Chrome, Suicide and Wire.
Brat Farrar has even more singles up his sleeve for later in the year. There will probably be more shows and international tours too, there always are.
“Brat Farrar” (II) out thru EVERY NIGHT IS A SATURDAY NIGHT (Aussie LP) OFF THE HIP RECORDS AND TAPES everynightisasaturdaynight.com 381 Flinders Lane, Melbourne (Compact Disc)
Also out through P Trash Records Germany (Europe LP), Retard Records France (Tape) and digital at bratfarrar.bandcamp.com
▪ Website: www.bratfarrar.bandcamp.com
▪ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bratfarrarmusic
▪ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bratfarrarmusic
▪ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvBS_7Hn0EZWwGzCSCpO_WQ
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