Image by Imogen Thomas //

These New South Whales are headlining West Best Bloc Fest in Newcastle this weekend, so we pinned down frontman Jamie Timony for a chat.

For the past decade or so, These New South Whales have existed in three tonally different forms under the TNSW Corp banner. On one hand they’re the punch-packing, thinking person’s punk band; on the other hand they’re sharing their entertainingly meandering musings on the What A Great Punk podcast; and on the other… ahhh third hand… they’re the clowns behind the funniest mockumentary and mock-late-night-show-thingy Australia has produced — maybe ever.

From what we’ve heard from their forthcoming fourth album GODSPEED, it’s true to TNSW form: a blend of social commentary and deep inward reflection, blasted out under the veil of raw heaviness and heartstrung post-punk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYHD-V3BtN4

This weekend, they’re headed to Newcastle – their spiritual home – to perform at West Best Bloc Fest (TICKETS HERE), which was all the excuse we needed to have a chat with the entertainment machine that is TNSW. Answers from frontman Jamie Timony below:

You don the nipple tape in the ‘Godspeed’ clip. Any chance it’s coming back? And also, now that it’s been a few years since you’ve been taping up, how do you reflect on that staunch wardrobe decision?

I DID don the nipple tape in the ‘Godspeed’ clip and it really took me back. Especially when I was ripping it off. Look, who knows if it’ll make a return?! Maybe one day. We all definitely miss it sometimes! It was such a fun era and wearing that tape and it really put us in the right headspace to perform somehow. There’s a couple of backstage rooms around Australia with our nipple tape still stuck to the walls from after shows – always makes me smile to see it still there – like a time capsule. I remember the final show we ever wore was at the Shacklewell Arms in London playing to about 20 people. We thought: “That’ll probably just about do it with the nipple tape for now, I think” .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plD5b4HSJT0

In the TNSW show, you claimed to be cocky underdogs from Newy. What was your actual experience with the town before then?

When we started the band we were new friends who had come from different cities, so we decided to anoint Newcastle as our spiritual home and the birth place of TNSW, and since then have never looked back. I don’t think any of us had had particularly much to do with Newcastle up to that point. I do remember in high school I was staying at my friend’s Grandma’s house in Newy and had one of the most haunted nightmares I’ve ever had though…

Have people since embraced your Newiness?

Absolutely! We’ve had articles written about us in the Newcastle Herald and everything!

You had Daniel Johns on an ep of the show – if you had to cover a Silverchair song, which would you choose and why?

Oh the answer to this is so easy, any day of the week we’d choose FrogShow. Or, of course, FreakStomp. Either of those two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkSfu-6rIT0

Who’s top of your wishlist to be a guest on What A Great Punk?

Yung Lean & Bladee. I would love to have those two on.

What are you most looking forward to about playing WBBF on the weekend? Who are you keen to see?

It feels like we haven’t played a show in months!! And that’s because we haven’t. So we’re probably going to feel a bit nervous and very excited. We just still have so much travelling and playing shows together, so honestly, the whole day will be fun. Waking up early, showering, getting to the airport, putting the pancakes in, chatting on the plane, getting to Newy, soaking up some SUN, few beers! Gonna be great.

Looking forward to seeing the Hard Ons for sure and 198archie, shoutouts!

’GODSPEED’ is out in a couple of months. I reckon ‘Instinct’ and ‘Godspeed’ are two of your best releases ever. They’re very different sonically. Where does the rest of the album sit? Any surprises there?

Thanks very much! And yes, they are quite different sonically, although there is definitely a through line thematically. There’s a couple more flavours on the album too! It’s full of surprises. We were quite explorative during the writing process, and allowed ourselves to take it in any direction that felt natural! The result is quite eclectic. Fans of our heavier stuff will be happy – definitely some of the heaviest and most aggressive sounding music we’ve ever made on this album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-wWeucDpp8&list=PLfkxnDedjE6GYeRQa1E7–7qpS-fpEKyC&index=6

Why is “Godspeed” the right title for the album?

There are some lyrics at the end of Godspeed that say: “Don’t let anyone in your life tell you what you can or can’t do. The choice is yours. The choice is yours. Godspeed!” This lyric appears in the INTRO track too and it’s a theme that runs right through the album. It’s about self-empowerment, and refusing to bend blindly to the will of others. Finding your own voice and vision – coming to trust yourself. We’re saying: You’re the expert in your own life and choices, go and see for yourself, Godspeed!

What else are you excited about for the rest of the year? What are you dreading?

Well our AUS tour kicks off this month. It’s been a couple of years since we’ve done a headline tour so we’re all very excited for that. Rehearsals have been going really well and we’re really changing up the setlist. We’re also about to announce a What a Great Punk live podcast tour as well (Shhh) and of course, the album release November 28!

We’re also pretty excited for some US / EU / UK touring next year :) That’s always a lot of fun.

Dreading? I guess I’m just dreading wherever this never-ending, live streamed genocide is headed, dreading a future where Australian politicians still don’t care about us or the environment and are quite happy to supply war criminals with weapons, dreading iPhones and AI making us stupid and widening the gap between the haves and have-nots, and dreading the day those creepy robot dogs finally hit the streets! Other than that, not much!