Amyl and The Sniffers: Exploring 'Cartoon Darkness' and Their Move to Los Angeles

Amyl & The Sniffers have emerged as one of the most notable success stories in modern Australian music.

This energetic garage rock band, originally from Melbourne, has gained worldwide recognition. Now based in Los Angeles, they are embraced by influential rock artists and occasionally sport designer labels like Gucci.

As with many bands transitioning from a local scene to broader fame, Amyl & The Sniffers have faced criticism from those who feel abandoned by their success. Frontwoman Amy Taylor's lyrics often reflect this tension. In their latest single 'U Should Not Be Doing That', she addresses the backlash they experience.

"I was in LA shaking my shit / While you were down in Melbourne saying, 'F**k that bitch,'" Taylor asserts in the chorus. She continues, "I was in London being the queen / And you were in my head saying, 'You should not be doing that.'" In a conversation with Double J's Karen Leng, Taylor states that the song targets various groups who struggle to accept others’ successes.

She shares, "Conservative people who can't understand other people or accept them as they are, people who aren't happy about other people's success, the list could go on and on really." The band’s straightforward lyrics resonate strongly with fans, providing Taylor a platform to explore frustrations and retaliate against detractors.

"They're a way to make fun of situations that might be tricky," she says, adding, "A lot of the times when people are cruel and you bite back, it’s super empowering. It's also fun to poke fun at them because, at the end of the day, they're the people who are being insane."

Experimenting with Sound

In their new album, Cartoon Darkness, the band showcases a somewhat different sound. Songs like 'Big Dreams' feature gloomy post-punk elements, beginning without drums and bass as Taylor sings about her talented friends struggling with life's costs. The track 'Bailing On Me' merges the classic Australian rock vibe with more contemporary indie influences.

Guitarist Declan Mehrtens expresses a desire to explore cleaner sounds. "I wanted to try and get a cleaner sound, less aggressive than what we've done in the past," he says. He indicates that he wrote most of this album, drawing inspiration from bands like The Smiths, while Taylor notes the different influences each member brings to their music.

"Declan wrote most of this album," she explains. “For me, whatever they present, I'll just try and be influenced by. I was just happy to roll along with that and see how that spoke to me and what would come out with that music."

Considering the vigorous nature of their live shows, the band recognizes the need for variation in pacing. Mehrtens highlights this, saying, "With the high intensity of our show, I thought maybe if I get cleaner, we won't have to be so intense on stage. Just thinking about the longevity of it and how my body’s holding up."

However, there remains some apprehension about introducing softer material to their performances. "I'm still in fear of people hearing the softer songs. They're the same vulnerable topics, but they're a lot more vulnerable, stylistically, I guess," Mehrtens admits.

Maintaining Their Australian Essence in LA

As the band embarks on this new phase, sustaining their Australian identity has been crucial. "We love that our sound sounds like it came from this continent, rather than like trying to mimic anything else," Taylor asserts.

To achieve this, they collaborated with British producer Nick Launay, known for his work with a variety of legendary Australian artists. "Having worked with so many Australian artists, he kind of understands our context," Mehrtens adds. "It’s really important that that Australian aspect of us is still there."

Although moving to Los Angeles may seem surprising for a band deeply rooted in Australian culture, there are strong practical and personal reasons for this choice. "We needed to cut down a lot of the travel time that we were doing," explains Mehrtens. He points out that they spent an excessive amount of time flying last year.

Living in LA also gives a sense of legitimacy to their work. "It helps fight the impostor syndrome," Merrhtens elaborates. "It’s like a blue tick for living. It’s like, 'I live in LA so I should be at Bernie Grundman’s mastering studio.'"

For Taylor, the move has been liberating. She shares, "I'm 28 but I felt really old in Melbourne. Like, I would just f***ing put on comfy clothes and watch TV at night, and I just wasn't living. I just really wanted to get out there and live."

She craved new experiences, wanting to make the most of her youth without becoming complacent. "I really value change and new experiences over comfort. I don’t want to go to the same cafe every day. It f***ing drives me crazy," she adds.

Los Angeles has also offered Taylor an environment where her dynamic personality is embraced. "I'm a pretty loud person. I love dressing up and I love doing my hair and doing makeup. That's a big part of how I want to express myself," she explains.

In LA, she feels welcomed and can be herself without shame or judgment, contrasting her experiences in Melbourne.

Despite the intensity of their live shows, Taylor finds a balance between energy and meaning. "I don’t feel in control or not in control," she states about engaging the audience during performances. She reflects, "At the start, it was a lot about power and domination and taking up space, whereas now, it’s more about the actual whole essence of the music and the show."

After extensive touring, her bandmates have confidence in Taylor's ability to handle crowd dynamics. "I think Amy can back herself," Mehrtens remarks. "I've never really worried too much about Amy."

Cartoon Darkness is now available.

Amyl & The Sniffers will tour Australia this January, starting in Adelaide on January 16, followed by stops in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Sunshine Coast, and Brisbane.

music, album, Australia, LosAngeles