This week at Friday Nights at Jean Paul Gaultier, Nun will take to the stage. Ahead of their performance, we asked them a few questions about art, fashion and music. Book tickets now.
Describe your sound in 5 words or less?
Synthesised, improvised, pop tinged clutter.
If your music was an artwork what would it look like?
I was looking at John Cage’s Fontana Mix works the other day and thought they have a fairly conspicuous likeness to what I think Nun might look like. Fluxus works would definitely be a strong representative. Also strong bold sculpture and brutalist architecture works might depict Nun’s dynamics in how we shape a song.
Who’s your favourite artist/artwork?
I’ve always loved Max Earnst early 1920’s works. Within that same movement my favourite piece would be Duchamp’s Fresh Window. I’ve also been really into local artist Sean Bailey‘s works.
What’s your favourite gig you have played to date?
We played twice in the Melbourne University underground car park. It was an interesting environment to play in. The reverb in the space was amazing while being surrounded by a forest of foreboding columns. The whole place was illuminated with lights through smoke machines and giant orbs we projected upon-an incredible space for a music festival.
What inspires/influences your music the most?
We have strong cinematic influences from the soundtracks of Goblin and John Carpenter. Obviously older electronic music from Britain and Europe. We take aspects from all forms of music. I’ve been listening to a lot of ABBA and taking a lot from their incredible production. The amount of detail they put into supporting their melodies and hooks was fantastic.
What song do you wish you wrote?
Fad Gadget – ‘Back to Nature’
What part of making music excites you the most?
I think for Nun it’s just good to be around people who love exploring sounds and textures using analogue synths and drum machines while wanting to maintain a pop aesthetic to keep songs interesting, catchy and fun to play. We might come across as a serious band but we’re really not at all.
What can a punter expect from your live show?
A mixture of punchy dark synth pop songs with repetitive melodies, throbbing drum machines and slower brooding soundscapes of improvised explorations.
Tell us about the last song you wrote?
We were all really into the idea of writing an immediate simple pop song and wrote the latest one with sequence influences from Depeche Mode and Linear Movement. I think it ended up sounding more like a long lost Devo song but it’s fun to play all the same.
What is the most unique/memorable item of clothing you own?
I don’t own anything particularly unique. I tend to keep things pretty simple. My nicest items of clothing would be Comme and YSL shirts. That’s as extravagant as I get.
What was your worst fashion crime?
Any shorts I wore as a teenage skater. Very long with strange materials. Although I think it has all come around somehow.
What would your dream stage outfit be and who would design it?
A collaboration between Issey Miyake and local Australian punk icon James Vinciguerra who does great print design.