Getting to Know… Lost Dogs of Ultimo | Interview 🎤

In the 345^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Lost Dogs of Ultimo.

“Lost Dogs Of Ultimo is my project as a collaboration of friends from bands I played in and new friends I’ve connected with along the way, so the music is quite transient depending on who is having input at the time of creative input” Good stuff, 🎙 Lost Dogs of Ultimo.  Lost Dogs expounds in response to our first question, “Generally using the driving experimental guitar sounds and deep bass lines usually combine really well with the loops and drums. Can’t help but  shake your body.” Like our many other Getting to Know Q&As, we get the inside scoop on the project’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and of course, current, and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… Lost Dogs of Ultimo: Interview No. 345!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Lost Dogs of Ultimo distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Hi thanks for the opportunity to chat. Lost Dogs Of Ultimo is my project as a collaboration of friends from bands I played in and new friends I’ve connected with along the way, so the music is quite transient depending on who is having input at the time of creative input. If the music rocks our socks off we hope it rocks the audience as well. Generally using the driving experimental guitar sounds and deep bass lines usually combine really well with the loops and drums. Can’t help but  shake your body.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Lost Dogs of Ultimo form and what were some of the goals or visions you had early on?

Early on as the project started, I wandered the back streets of Melbourne, Australia at night collecting photos of street art during lockdowns… Then, [I was] scampering home to my studio to edit them, then [I] add music and soundtracks starting with experimental instrumentals. Then, using dark lyrics about death, mental health, and serial killer themes.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

I seem to be evolving musically as I tap into my early inspirations when I was a busker playing punk and reggae tunes. Now I’m writing tracks in themes and using the studio technology to bring in the samples and loops with layers of heavy guitar and multiple bass lines. The goal for 2023 is to revamp, record, and release some of my old busking songs with an experimental studio edge.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Growing up in the UK, I was exposed to al lot of great independent radio that played Punk and Reggae from all around the world. I’ve recently released The MC5s, 🎵 “Looking At You”. On March 14, 2023, I release the great reggae track by Junior Murvin and Lee Scratch Perry and The Clash, 🎵 “Police and Thieves”, to pay respects to some great bands and artist that paved the way for others. The MC5 were influential in the sense that they opened the door for bands like The Stooges and The New York Dolls in the USA and The Clash were legends in bringing together Punk and Reggae with artists like Mikey Dread with Sandanista to me that album was their Sergeant Peppers moment

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Having an album release event in one of my other bands, Bits of Kid, that was produced by Rob Younger from Radio Birdman and The New Christs. The New Christ played also that night and ramped up the volume. We had to match the noise level my left ear was in a 15 inch celestion speaker powered by 300 watts We blew the roof off the Iconic Max’s Band room in Sydney but that event left me with permanent  hearing deficiency  in my left ear.  Wackiest thing that’s happened or sad you be the judge. That’s rock n roll.

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

My favorite current song is 🎵 “Driving the Rhythm Of My Mind” it explores mental health and anxiety in the community. Since COVID and lockdowns, the next generation will have to navigate a lot of  missed out socializing and isolation issues in their life and this may haunt them.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

My secret talent is I have worked as a cremator and grave digger and death is a unique life experience that makes me value music and art as something tangible that we can leave behind. Sorry… Fuck that’s dark…

Closing out, what is Lost Dogs of Ultimo currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

Following from 🎵 “Police and Thieves” release, we are booked to go back in the studio to record a unique experimental version of X Ray Specs’ 🎵 “Identity” collaborating with Phaedra Gunn aka Madame Nightingale, a Melbourne performance artist and incredible vocalist. This track is to celebrate Polystyrene one of the most original female punk icons and some on who I miss as an artist

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

Thank You. It’s been great to chat and thanks for supporting Music and emerging artists.

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Getting to Know… Lost Dogs of Ultimo: Interview No. 345 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Lost Dogs of Ultimo; Tumisu via Pixabay]