In this week’s 10 Questions we get to know Kathleen Turner Overdrive, a punk band from Toowoomba, Australia.
Their song ‘Sticks and Stones’ is currently featured on the NAS Spotify playlists
You can follow Kathleen Turner Overdrive on Facebook and Instagram
1. Tell us a little about where you are from.
KTO is comprised of 4 cryptid-loving humans. Three reside in the mysterious high country of Toowoomba, whist the fourth hides in plain sight in the Queensland state capital of Brisbane, Australia.
We are currently taking a breath after finishing our first album, ‘A Safe Space for Cryptids’ (it’s been 12 months in the making) before jumping into launch parties in September. Then it’s off to Iowa, Davenport to play at ‘Punk in the Corn’.
2. What inspired Kathleen Turner Overdrive to start playing and making music?
The artists played on the radio, performers on music video shows, vinyl played on the record player, The Young Talent Time, The Partridge Family, family members in bands and Sunday afternoon movies featuring Doris Day all contributed to our desire to create and play music.
Giving birth to a sound that didn’t exist before is magic!
3. Who are Kathleen Turner Overdrive’s biggest musical influences?
We describe KTO as melodic punk…a tapestry of all the influences on members as individuals…think the creature from The Thing.
Our upcoming album has tunes ranging from Ska to Doom Metal, all clearly KTO and all fitting snugly together. This beautiful blend comes courtesy of The Clash, Led Zepplin, Celibate Rifles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rammstein, Blondie, X-Ray Spex, The Slits, & Motorhead to name a few of our Gods.
Giving birth to a sound that didn’t exist before is magic!
4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?
KTO makes music for dancing to. Our goal is to get people moving and singing. We’re one band in a sea of millions, so our goals are realistic. Release quality music that others want to listen to and see live, sell some merch to pay for the fuel, rinse and repeat.
5. Tell us about your creative process.
This is the funnest! Lizzie is our primary songwriter. She presents the skeleton of a song to Mark our Guitarist…that’s the lyrics, melody, and basic arrangement. He magically translates that to guitar lines.
This vox and guitar seed then get presented to the rest of the band for their consideration.
Then the magic really begins. This collaborative creative process is exhilarating. Often times the song at the end is quite different to how it was originally imagined. How good is that!
Then the magic really begins. This collaborative creative process is exhilarating
6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?
Train in Vain by The Clash. The emotion in this sing is palpable and who hasnt been there? The melody is intricate and intelligent, just like the band. You cant go past this quiet achieving song for cool and musical excellence.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
We were umming and ahhhing about accepting an indie overseas tour opportunity. There was no money in it, just the opportunity to travel and perform. We were recording an EP at the time. Our producer had worked with greats like Shirley Bassey, The Sex Pistols etc. His advice was ‘Fortune favours the brave’. And just like that we realised that life us short. Grab opportunity with both hands.
8. What is your proudest accomplishment?
The first single (I Want to Believe) from our upcoming album was voted 9th on the annual Top 100 for 2024 on our local indie radio station 4ZZZ. We have never been more excited or proud. 4ZZZ was started by uni students in 1975 and has championed the marginalised and supported the underground since its inception.
9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?
During a show, Lizzie laughed so hard at something on stage that water sprayed out her nose and onto Adzilla’s neck. He was immediately reactive which made her laugh more and move towards him like an Alien spraying acid. The result was more nose water coming his way. Sucker.
During a show, Lizzie laughed so hard at something on stage that water sprayed out her nose
10. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
High points have been many. Audience members singing along with the band (they know our songsπ―), selling merch, people dancing, 4zzz Hot 100 placements 3 years in a row, making new friends, travelling away to play. The lows, alcohol being prioritised by some over putting on a good show and negatively impacting our performance, to the point of having to stop a set early. Thankfully, that’s behind us and it’s full (water fuelled) steam ahead!
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