Off the back of 2018’s EP Tastes Just Like The Real Thing, the newest single from Melbourne trash-pop duo Sophisticated Dingo will pick you up right where they left you last time - in the middle of a whirlwind of chaotic energy, big garage-rock choruses (chori?) and effortless personality. While you’re thrown about by thundering drums and truckloads of surf rock vigour, ‘Vultures’ doesn’t loose sight of the infectious charm that Sophisticated Dingo’s previous output has been drenched in, which you could probably attribute to a subject matter that Lewis describes as “a little bit about being misunderstood, a little bit about being frustrated, and a little bit about finding your voice in a crowded place.”

Having waited a little while in between drinks, ‘Vultures’ will well and truly get Sophisticated Dingo choruses (again, chori?) back on repeat in your head. With their new single out in the world and racking up streams, we got Soft Dingaz to swing by Trouble Juice and take us through what what going through their heads as they crafted their newest garage gem.

The Pretty Littles

We’ve loved The Pretty Littles since long before we were a band. I think their songs put you smack bang in the middle of a world you can see so vividly just by listening. We listen to them a lot, so look, I think that even though I wouldn’t say we sound a lot like them, I hope that a similar energy and passion for what we do is heard in our songs. In every song I write, I will strive to provide the listener with some context they can grasp onto and relate to from their perspective. ‘Vultures’ definitely stems from somewhere like that - a feeling of being misunderstood and not ready to conquer all the louder voices in the room.


Wavves

I started listening to Wavves when people continually commented that our music shared similarities with theirs. As soon as I started listening to their songs I was hooked. I adore the pairing of lo-fi chaotic noise-scapes with hooks that stick around in your head for days. On ‘Vultures’ (especially the second half of the second verse) I think we captured a sudden burst of energy supported by a strong hook. I think Wavves songs like ‘Gimme a Knife’ and ‘No Shade’ are good examples of this too.

Before COVID-19 dropped its damning RKO on the live music scene I was looking forward to my first time seeing Wavves play live. Hopefully that opportunity comes around again.


Daria

I am no diehard fan by any stretch. I have not put in enough hours watching the show to be worthy of claiming such a title. I remember my Mum not letting me watch it back in the day when it would get a run on ABC Kids in the late arvo before dinner (that’s seriously a great get, given it was originally a hit on MTV).

Anyway, I think the show’s ability to display the insanity of the world circling the main characters Daria and Jane, and their dejected, calm acceptance of what surrounds them was liberating. I’d like to think the character at the centre of the ‘Vultures’ story is calm and ready to articulate themself when questioned or pushed around for not following the status quo of the majority.


Leather-bound books & fidget spinners

It was mid 2017 and my girlfriend Lucy had just returned from overseas. She very kindly gifted me two presents: a beautiful leather-bound notebook and a fidget spinner. The notebook quickly became my favourite item I owned and was inspiration enough to write lyrics. It was early days for Lucy and I so I was keen to impress her any way that I could. I very clearly remember finishing the lyrics to ‘Vultures’ at her place and proudly sharing them with her as if to prove what an accomplished artist I was... The fidget spinner really didn’t play a role but it was 2017 and all the kids at the school I taught guitar at had them so I was stoked I could bond with them on their level. Mine was green and black.