Hot Mulligan - 'Keeping Up With These Talented Ass Kids’
It was only a matter of time before Michigan emo favourites Hot Mulligan dropped a delightfully self-deprecating new record. The Sound A Body Makes When It’s Still is drenched in their familiar pop-punk, emo sound, yet takes on new challenges in the record’s cohesion, which tie each track together with transitions and lo-fi interludes.
Last week Wall Of Sound had the pleasure of speaking with vocalist Nathan 'Tades' Sanville, guitarist Ryan 'Spicy' Malicsi and bassist Jonah Kramer - diving into the new album, music videos, and perhaps even an upcoming tour (which became closer with each minute of the interview).
I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did.
You guys are set to release a new album very soon, The Sound A Body Makes When It's Still, which I have listened to, and I love it. Was there a story behind this record?
Tades: I wouldn't say the story was intentional. The cohesion kind of was though. Lyrically the whole thing is in one theme.
And what is that theme?
Tades: I quit drinking and I'm scared of everything and I'm a misanthrope.
Spicy: Yeah, Tades writes all the lyrics, except for, there's one song that Chris or two that Chris wrote. So we don't really like contribute on that and but as far as the cohesion I think we definitely spent a lot of time in the studio like trying different track orders and then figuring out where to place the interludes and stuff like that.
Who would you say your influences were with this record?
Tades: I'd say Carly Cosgrove. But I don’t know, I feel like we just want to make Hot Mulligan songs. So, it's hard to like draw influences that aren't the same ones that we've had the whole time. I’m trying to keep up with lyricists I really like, like Alan from Arm’s Length. I’m just trying to write like me while keeping up with these talented ass kids.
Now of course, it wouldn't be a Hot Mulligan interview without talking about the titles of these songs, where did they come from?
Spicy: All of them are deeply personal to each of us.
Right, specifically the ‘Monica Lewinskibidi’ one?
Spicy: Yeah, I actually cried the first time I heard the name.
Tades: Yeah, that was my grandmother's name, so put some respect on that.
Speaking of the grandmother, I really want to touch on the closing track of the album (‘My Dad Told Me To Write a Nice One for Nana So This is It’), what was the story behind that?
Tades: My grandma died, and my dad told me I should write a nice one for her, so I did. He's mad supportive and he’s stoked that I'm in a band, but he doesn't like listening to Hot Mulligan songs. So I'm making this happy, nice little “I love Nana” song that he can listen to.
I also want to touch on your track with Corey Castro (‘Island in the Sun’). Did you write the track with Corey?
Tades: He added some stuff like harmonies and screams in the back. But I remember when we organised the feature, our manager asked me if Corey wrote any lyrics. So, I asked him (if I said that he did) would that get Corey more money somehow? I never got a clear answer to that question. So, until I know if it would make him more money, I will abstain from answering who wrote the lyrics to the song.
You have actually toured Australia with Free Throw before; how did you find touring Australia?
Spicy: It was awesome. I think we all had a blast on that one.
Jonah: It’s one of my favourite places ever.
How do you think the Australian scene differs from the American scene?
Spice: It didn't feel all too different. it was fun, good energy, good crowds. I feel like if anything, it’s just kind of reminiscent of what we've done in The States before.
So do you have any plans to come back soon?
Tades: Yes! In two months!
Spice: You can’t just lie!
Tades: Why not? I want to go back to Australia. Australia is cool as hell.
Spicy: We all agree that we very much would like to and probably will pretty soon, but we don't have a flight booked or anything.
But you have the intention of coming back?
Spicy: Absolutely.
Tades: In five weeks we will be in Australia again.
I also really want to talk about the music video for ‘And A Big Load’, was filming it as fun as it looked?
Spice: Oh, yeah. It was pretty much exactly as fun as it looked. I remember going to use the bathroom in a porta potty and I came out and Tades was just walking a cow on a leash.
Did you guys have a favourite part of filming it?
Spicy: I'll tell you what my favourite part wasn’t, getting my ass cheeks lit on fire.
Jonah: That was my favourite.
Tades: That was also my favourite, and we will be doing it when we're in Australia in three weeks.
Spicy: Yeah what was it, six days from now?
Was there anything you had to learn or become used to for the video?
Jonah: Most of it is new for us. Like the hair, the makeup, we looked ridiculous.
I haven't previously worked with live animals on a music video before. There was a dominatrix there. It was like a fever dream the whole day.
Every 30 minutes, something new would show up.
Tades: You saw all of our junk which was cool.
Jonah: Yeah that was like the first shot we took, they were just like “take off your clothes!”.
Good to get it out of the way right? Well that’s all of my questions, was there anything else you guys wanted to add today?
Tades: See you in Australia in 17 hours.
17 hours? It keeps getting closer.
Tades: I'm at your house right now.
Interview by Grace Cameron @gracicxo
Steam The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still on all platforms right here
Hot Mulligan - The Sound A Body Makes When It's Still tracklisting
1. Moving to Bed Bug Island
2. And a Big Load
3. It Smells Like Fudge Axe in Here
4. Island in the Sun (feat. Corey Castro of Free Throw)
5. Bon Jonah
6. This Makes Me Yummy
7. Monica Lewinskibidi
8. Milam Minute
9. Cream of Wheat of Feet New Cream of (feat)
10. Mix Master Wade On The Beat
11. Carbon Monoxide Hotel
12. This Makes Me Yucky
13. Let Me See Your Mounts
14. Monster Burger and a $5 Beer
15. Slumdog Scungillionaire
16. My Dad Told Me To Write a Nice One For Nana So This Is It
