We interviewed Models band member Mark Ferrie, who will be headlining NGV Friday Nights at NGV International on Friday 16 December 2016.
The description of your sound has fallen into post punk and new wave categories over the years. How would you describe the 2016 sound of Models?
The current Models sound is basically what you get when Sean Kelly, Andrew Duffield, Ash Davies and myself play music together. We each bring a different set of influences to the table and the point where they intersect is the sound of the band. Essentially it’s a mixture of pop, rock and electronica with a rocking rhythm section.
What was your creative motivation to record a new album after twenty years?
We are all active musicians and writing songs is a part of what we do. You naturally want to record these songs and we are lucky that Andrew has the facility for us to do this.
How have your gigs changed in the last twenty years?
The equipment and support services have definitely improved over the years. Aside from that playing music that communicates to people and excites them remains the same as ever.
If your music was an artwork what would it look like?
An action painting? There’s always an element of making it up on the spot when we’re performing.
Do you have a favourite artist/artwork?
Picasso is an artist who never ceases to amaze me
What’s your favourite gig you have played to date?
I aim to enjoy myself at every gig I play. If I’m not having a good time I’m not doing my job properly!
What inspires/influences your music the most?
The other people I’m playing with.
What song do you wish you wrote?
I Wanna Be Your Dog
What part of making music excites you the most?
Being totally in the moment.
What is your favourite part of being involved in Friday Nights at NGV?
Getting to play in a classy joint
What can someone expect from your live show?
Sound, lights and action
Tell us about the last song you created?
It’s called Genie’s Out the Bottle. It’s got a bit of an EthioJazz influence because I’ve been exposed to a lot of that music recently. I’m lucky to have a couple of bars in my neighbourhood where some stunning Ethiopian musicians perform regularly.
What are you working on now?
I’ve got an iPad that enables me to record musical ideas as they come to me. I’m always amassing fragments of music that occasionally morph into a song.
Viktor&Rolf once said “At the start of our career, the art world showed a lot more interest in our work than the fashion world did…. in museums we were simply making what we imagined in our minds and the response came from the art world”. What is the most surprising response you’ve had to your work?
Our music is essentially the same as it was when we first stated playing together in the late 70s. Back then it was considered to be pretty challenging arty inner city stuff and definitely not mainstream. I remember when we reformed some years back and played at the Queenscliff Music Festival. Plenty of our original fans from back in the day were there and lots of them had their kids with them too. Everybody got into the music. We were suddenly a family friendly band!