Interview with Roxy Lavish and the Suicide Cult

Roxy Lavish and the Suicide Cult will play on Saturday 16 June 2018 at Cascina Bellaria, an all-Australian mix of psychedelia, garage and rock that would get even the grumpiest person you know up and dancing. While we wait for the gig, we asked them a few questions.

1. Your sound drives me wild, it's a powerful blues rock with 70's touches that I'm sure would win the applause of the younger, angrier Dylan. What is your philosophy of life, and how much does it influence your music?
Thank you! I don't know that I have a life motto as such. Things that happen in life, experiences, relationships, the things I see and feel, the ups and downs, the struggle, the frustration, people and society in general. Some of the absurdities of this world influence my music lyrically. What inspires me is trying to express and bring colour to those feelings and shape them into a song I'm proud of. Things happen in life every day; some of them don't touch me much, while others affect me deeply and I need to write them down in the form of a song. I never know what kind of song I'll write next, and that's the exciting thing!

2. I've never been to Australia, but I have quite a few friends who come from there and I really like your direct approach. What was it like growing up on that Continent, and what do you miss most when you're away from it?
We definitely have a no-frills style, and all our new songs are getting to the point even faster!
Growing up in Australia was fantastic, I can't complain. The beaches, the countryside, the weather, the city, these are things I'm grateful for. I know we're privileged to have been raised here. Especially in Melbourne, the music capital of Australia, where if you're mad about music, there's a thriving live music scene seven days a week. There are plenty of venues and community radio stations like PBS and RRR that play and support local artists in every style and genre of music.
Honestly, I won't miss Australia much while I'm touring Europe. This is all I've ever wanted to do, and if it were up to me, I'd be on tour every day of my life. I've never been outside Australia, so I won't be in a hurry to come back!

3. Which 3 records made you want to start playing?
I'll give you 5!
Highway 61 - Bob Dylan
Exile On Main Street - The Rolling Stones
Give It Back - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Easter Everywhere - The 13th Floor Elevators
Loaded - The Velvet Underground

4. This is your first European tour, so why should people come and hear you play at Cascina Bellaria?
It really is our first European tour! Coming to Europe, travelling around and playing, is a dream come true. I never thought it would be possible for us, but here we'll be playing in amazing places like Cascina Bellaria on 16 June. I still can hardly believe it!!!
People should absolutely come and see us; we've come from so far away and we've waited a year and a half for this. We'll put on a high-energy show full of psych, garage, blues rock & roll. We have 20 songs on this tour, so we can play a long set as long as people like it! It's very danceable music and fun is guaranteed. Join us and support your favourite cult!