Still trying to figure out what’s the best time to absorb Taming Nature…

The third album from Newcastle artist Will Coleman AKA AMOK weaves through genres in a sexy serpentine fashion – within the space of a few bars it goes from doobie-friendly chilled electronica to hypnotic club-ready dance beats, or from dreamy space-pop to glitchy techno. So when does it fit best? Maybe listen after smoking a joint, on a run, at a club, before a meditation session… IDK.

One thing is for certain: the album has a real cinematic feel. Coleman’s experience doing sound design for films really shines through, with each track evoking a visceral reaction. That’s helped by the occasional sample and ever-present synths, kinda inviting you to build your own world in your mind’s eye – trippy stuff.

But enough trying to explain this record. Chuck it on below and feast on some words straight from the horse’s mouth:

This album has been a long time coming. What’s taken so long?

First of all, fuck you, Harry. I do not care for your tone. Second of all—good things take time, my friend. Nah, just kidding. But in all seriousness, I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to finishing projects. Songs never seem to feel finished to me, and I ultimately end up loathing them by the time they’re near completion. I also had two children since conceptualising this record and worked on the score for a documentary back in 2023, so that’s kept me pretty busy innit.

It’s called ‘Taming Nature’ – tell us why. How has the natural world shaped your process?

It’s a loosely conceptual album about how we, as humans, are constantly trying to outdo nature with our technological, throbbing ‘egos’. Of course, we all inherently know and feel that these tech overlords have a pretty fucked-up vision for our future. The natural world has been a source of creativity for millennia, and it’s no different for me. I love incorporating field recordings from the natural—and sometimes unnatural—world around me into my work. It really sets a scene for the listener and helps reinforce the narrative I’m trying to tell.

Tell us about the song ‘Taming Nature’. Why does it feel right as the closer?

The album is quite dynamic and takes you on a journey, if I’ve done my job right. It only feels fitting to close it with a somewhat epic ballad that also happens to be the title track.

The samples on ‘How I Became Invisible’ sound like they’re from some Ausploitation bank robber movie. What’s that about? What was your intention there?

You’ve honestly hit the nail on the head—that’s exactly what I was going for. I’m a very visual person when I write music, and I’m glad that’s translated. I wanted to open the record with something intense that would grab people’s attention straight away. The sounds in the intro are quintessential Australiana to me as a kid growing up in the ’90s: the butcherbird, someone shovelling something, an open car door alarm, and an FM radio. They immediately put you in the scene. I have my own version of what’s happening in the song, but there’s definitely a robbery and a high-speed chase.

The album feels kinda expansive, with big synths and lots of space, but also really refined and dancey at the same time. What would you call this genre?

No idea. I pull from a lot of different artists and styles and try to listen to as much as I can. I always find it difficult when people ask what genre it is. Hopefully it doesn’t matter.

What artists do you think AMOK would be the perfect opener for, and why?

I’m not sure. Maybe Bon Iver or Nine Inch Nails? Two very different artists, but both have consistently pushed the envelope when it comes to exciting and experimental production.

You’ve been posting a bit on social media recently. As an artist, what do you think about the relationship between social media and music?

I don’t want to be that bitter old man yelling at the sun for being too bright, but I really do hate it. I don’t have any hot takes that haven’t already been said far more eloquently, so I’ll keep it brief. Anything that takes away from the creative process or strips away the mystique of an artist kind of blows.

I know you do a little bit of soundtracking for film too. What genre would ‘Taming Nature’ the movie be? What happens in the plot?

I think you already nailed it with the “Ausploitation bank robbery movie” comparison. One of my favourite films is Two Hands, and it was honestly a huge influence on this record in terms of the imagery I wanted to evoke. So maybe something along those lines. As for what they’re stealing? I’d probably leave that to the audience, à la the Pulp Fiction briefcase. It might be something physical, or it might be something more metaphorical. I prefer the listener to come to those conclusions themselves.

Got any plans to perform this live?

Not at the moment. I’ve taken a break from performing to focus my time on being a dad.

What’s the last great album you’ve heard?

I’ve been really enjoying Reality Awaits by The Strokes and Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter.