Back in April Sydney’s DMA’S returned with sublime new record ‘For Now’, the follow-up to 2016’s hugely successful debut album ‘Hills End’. Charting at an impressive#13 in the official UK album chart and #2 in the independent album chart,
We recently caught up with singer Tommy O’Dell, as the band prepared to embark on their current UK run of shows to discuss the incredible year they’ve had so far, new material and their love for British fans.
Now that your second album is out, does it make it harder but more enjoyable when picking the set lists and which songs to perform?
Yeah, it does. We can’t play everything because we are not one of those groups that like to play for ages …
How was the summer show at Finsbury Park with Liam Gallagher, and did you get a chance to meet Liam?
It was a brilliant gig. Great weather and good sound but, no, we never met him.
Have the new songs evolved differently at all for their live incarnations?
Yeah, for sure. We try to make the tunes a little different for the live performances. We think it’s a bit boring if they sound exactly the same.
Which is your favourite track to play live from the new record?
In the Air at the moment.
You followed up your debut album quicker than most bands usually do; do you write new songs constantly and on the road too?
We try to. Sometimes we write heaps of songs in a few days and then we go months without anything. We don’t have rules or anything, we just make music when it feels right.
Which are your favourite songs from the new album to play live and which ones seem to get the best reaction so far?
In the Air always goes down well, and Time & Money too.
You have such a loyal UK fan base; are you excited to return in December with so many venues selling out in minutes?
We are super pumped to come back and play. We love our UK fans and really want to put on a good tour for them.
What does 2019 have in store for DMA’s?
To record album three.
What’s the one big difference between UK and Australian crowds?
They’re similar these days. Maybe the UK crowds are a bit rowdier.
And, finally, are there any more mystery pop covers in the pipeline after your excellent Cher and Madonna renditions in the past?
Haha, probably. We always have to do covers for radio and stuff. It’s not my favourite thing in the world to learn covers, so that’s why we
DMA’s second album ‘For Now’ is out now and you can catch them on their current full UK headline tour:
Wed 05 Bristol Anson Rooms
Thu 06 Portsmouth Pyramid Centre
Sat 08 Glasgow Barrowland
sun 09 Glasgow Barrowland
Mon 10 Leeds O2 Academy
Wed 12 Leicester O2 Academy
Thu 13 Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse
Sat 15 Hull Asylum
Sun 16 Sheffield O2 Academy
Mon 17 London O2 Forum
Words by Ed Budds