Q&A Scene: Darren Skewes ~ JUNIOR DANGER

Tell us about your new single/ album/ tour? Well we have our debut album coming out on Jan 19 and are playing a launch show on Feb 3 at The New Globe Theatre in Brisbane followed by the Last Chance Rock and Roll Bar in Melbourne on Feb 16 and Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice in Sydney on Feb 18. The album has been in the making for a bit over 2 years now and was recorded at Airlock Studios in Brisbane. It’s down and dirty rock and roll and we are super proud to be sending these sound waves out into the stratosphere.

What’s your favourite work at this point in time?

Well that changes on a weekly basis. Currently it’s Chasing The Red Sun. Set to the sounds of the bayou the basic moral of this twisted tale is you’ve got 2 options. You can allow yourself the misfortune of the mundane or you can raise that middle finger and chase the red sun.

Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.

That’s classified. What happens on the road stays on the road! I can tell you we did almost have the tour bus towed in Port Macquarie due to being too eager to get cold ale into our gobs after a long drive from Brisbane. Tom thought a bus stop was a perfectly acceptable place to park. As if Port Mac has buses he says…

How would you describe your sound in food form and why?

A lamb kebab. The drunker you are and the later in the night you get into it the better! Extra sauce is a must.

What, or who, inspires you?

Just having fun, that’s really what all this comes down too. Tom and I give Damo the shits big time. He’s always running around trying to organise some sort of sanity into our approach while we go out of our way to make it difficult for him. It’s always a good laugh watching him slowly but surely lose his shit.

Which song do you wish you wrote?

Feel Good Hit of the Summer. It really says everything that needs to be said! I mean its just genius isn’t it. Who would have thought?

What’s next for you?

Firstly we are hitting the road. Then we are going to try and hit a PB by getting the next album out in less than 3 years. We have taken a slightly different approach with the song writing later in that I wrote the majority of the first album on the back of a bunch of riffs I had in the bag. This time around Tom and I are co writing the songs and we are trying to just write good solid songs with great choruses and add the riffs later. We are 8 tracks in so another 12 or so to go before we start to think about culling the stinkers and booking in studio time.

What’s your scene?

Haha, I wish I knew. Maybe you can tell us, you’re the experts! We seriously have no clue. We just play good hard rock and roll and hold on for the ride.

2017 saw Brisbane swamp rock kings Junior Danger unleash their blues brothers esc thumper ‘Dirt and Grime’ upon the world to rave reviews; “The perfect partnership of blues and stoner rock that countless fans of heavy tunes have been hanging out for” Tonedeaf, “The stompy march of the bass kick and murky, fuzz-laden hooks are tied together by deep, enchanting vocal work” The Music, “I’ll be forever damned if this three-piece doesn’t nail it each and every time” AAA Backstage. Launching into 2018 with their signature stoner rock swag and 11 catchy AF tracks, the three piece deliver their self-titled debut album JUNIOR DANGER.

Recorded at Brisbane’s Airlock Studios, engineered and produced by none other than Konstantin Kersting (The Belligerents) the album is laden with dirty ass riffs, grimey fuzz and bass lines fatter than yo mamma. “We went into the studio to challenge ourselves to produce a full album of music we can be proud of rather than just a Single or EP, now we can’t wait to do the next one” JuniorDanger

‘JUNIOR DANGER’ kicks off with instrumental track ‘Borderline’. A reflective, refreshing way to start the album, which subtly warms the listener up for those juicy guitar licks and chunky bass lines which are prevalent throughout the record. Followed swiftly by 2017 release ‘Dirt and Grime’ before jumping into the groove with toe tapping, head nodding ‘Chasing The Red Sun’. Even in the early stages the album the listener is transported to a time of smokey underground speakeasy’s, slick suits and rampant good times. ‘Black River Automatic’ lyrics set this scene perfectly “Black river woman makin’ love to a ghost, burning desert highways coast to coast”. The good times keep rolling with ‘Aberdeen’, ‘Love Pty Ltd’, ‘Toll Rd’ and ‘No Comfort’ showcasing the bands signature sound. ‘Dig’ ‘slows things down with soft bass kicks, melodic hooks and lead singer Darren Skewes one of a kind baritone sound. ‘In The Meantime’ brings psychedelic twang to the record whilst ‘Marianna’ explores a solitary pop edge. From start to finish ‘Junior Danger’ continues to deliver on the well-loved sound the Brisbane band is known for.

Listen Here

JUNIOR DANGER ALBUM TOUR

Saturday February 3rd New Globe Theatre Brisbane *Album Launch*
w/ Elko Fields, The Desert Sea, Wakan Phoenix
Free Entry

Friday February 16th Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar Melbourne
w/ Two Headed Dog, The Desert Sea, A Basket Of Mammoths
$10 Door Entry

Sunday February 18th Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice Sydney
w/ Two Headed Dog, The Desert Sea, A Basket Of Mammoths Free Entry