The Superjesus Sumo Interview


The Superjesus Sumo Interview

The Superjesus Are Back

Twenty years on from their platinum selling album Sumo hitting number two on the ARIA Chart (and with a few ARIA Awards in the trophy cabinet), The Superjesus are back with an anniversary edition of their celebrated 1998 debut, set for release on August 17.  As well as seeing the original album reissued on vinyl, the CD edition of Sumo – 20th Anniversary features bonus material sourced from triple j's Live At The Wireless archive, as well as a never before heard studio recording: a Superjesus cover of Kylie Minogue's Confide In Me.  Supported by Triple M and New World Artists, The Superjesus will be hitting the road with an epic stack of gig dates in the second half of 2018 – fans had better get ready to get Down Again to the sounds of Adelaide's finest '90s alternative rock band!

 

Initially known as Hell's Kitchen, The Superjesus received national radio play with their debut 1996 EP Eight Step Rail and became a festival favourite at Big Day Out throughout the '90s.  Inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame in 2017, The Superjesus have much to celebrate – and celebrate they will with this extra-special edition of Sumo.  Reflecting on the life-changing record, frontwoman Sarah McLeod says, "(When Sumo came out)…everything went big time.  It was terrifying and exciting all at once.  We worked so hard on that album… To be sitting here talking about it 20 years later, knowing that it was an important part of Australian music history and affected so many people along the way…it  feels like an incredible achievement.  We had no blueprint of how we wanted to sound - of course we had our influences, but it was the combination of those influences that made us become The Superjesus." 

 

Included in this massive Sumo re-release is the never-before-heard version of Kylie Minogue's Confide In Me by The Superjesus.  The track holds particular pertinence for frontwoman Sarah McLeod, since it was the number one single on the ARIA Singles Chart the month in which The Superjesus first formed in 1994.  This interpretation is heavy as hell, and it's got that undeniable Superjesus taste. "I have always been a Kylie fan," says Sarah. "Back in 96 we recorded a really heavy version of Confide In Me, just for our own amusement. No one ever heard it, I can't even find it to hear it now... I went to the guys and reminded them of the recording, and went straight home to work up a demo of it.  Within a week we were playing it live on the festival stage and it seemed like the perfect addition to the Sumo – 20th Anniversary edition."

 

The Superjesus are set to hit the road later this year to celebrate all things Sumo – and the experienced rockers are more than ready to give fans what they've been waiting for.  With a couple of massive festival slots under their belt for this year already The Superjesus are back in a big way.  Stoked to be back in touring mode, Sarah says, "Touring is all about stamina and momentum.  In the 90's we used to tour non-stop, we would play 5 to 6 nights a week for months to years at a time.  This kind of momentum makes the band so incredibly tight - nothing else on earth can make a band better than by playing every night in front of a crowd. Since the 90's we have not toured like this… We want to embark on this tour with no fear like we did then!" Bassist Stu Rudd gives fans a taste of what to expect from the massive shows, "We have not played some of the tunes we'll be playing on this tour for years, seriously - YEARS!  It's going to be one hell of a show, playing Sumo in full, then following up with some faves as well!  We are so pumped for this tour!"

 

Sumo – 20th Anniversary Edition CD and a limited red vinyl pressing of the original album will be out August 17.

 

The Superjesus 20th Anniversary Of Sumo National Tour

Presented by Triple M* and New World Artists

SAT 29 SEP | THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA | 18+ *

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

FRI 05 OCT | BARWON CLUB, GEELONG VIC | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 06 OCT | MAX WATTS, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ *
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

WED 10 OCT | TAPHOUSE, BENDIGO VIC | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

THU 11 OCT | BEER DELUXE, ALBURY NSW | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

FRI 12 OCT | ANU BAR, CANBERRA ACT | 18+

Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets

SAT 13 OCT | NARRABEEN RSL, NARRABEEN NSW | 18+ *

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

FRI 19 OCT | MANNING BAR, SYDNEY NSW | 18+ *

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 20 OCT | TATTERSALL'S, PENRITH NSW | 18+ *

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SUN 21 OCT | CAMBRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+ 

Tickets available from www.thecambridgehotel.com.au and www.oztix.com.au

FRI 26 OCT| RACEHORSE HOTEL, IPSWICH QLD | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 27 OCT | THE ZOO, BRISBANE QLD | 18+ *

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

THU 01 NOV | PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY WA | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

FRI 02 NOV | NEWPORT HOTEL, FREMANTLE WA | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 03 NOV | CAPITOL, PERTH WA | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

FRI 9 NOV | YORK ON LILYDALE, MOUNT EVELYN VIC | 18+ *

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

FRI 16 NOV | DALRYMPLE HOTEL, TOWNSVILLE QLD | 18+

Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 17 NOV | TANKS ART CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD | 18+ 

Tickets available from www.ticketlink.com.au | 1300 855 835

 

Pre-order: SUMO (20th Anniversary Edition)        
Stream: Confide In Me

 

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Interview with The Superjesus

Question: How has The Superjesus changed since Sumo hit number two on the ARIA Chart?

Sarah McLeod: A lot! We've had a few lineup changes, we've been around the world a few times and we have changed our sound with every album. Not to mention we are all a bit older now.


Question: What can you tell us about the anniversary edition of Sumo?

Sarah McLeod: The album has been remastered and also contains a fusion of the US version and the Aust version (as there were different tracks on each). There's also a few live tracks been lifted from the vault, live at the wireless in 97 which was a spin out to listen to. And then the Kylie Minogue cover...


Question: Can you tell us about Kylie Minogue's Confide In Me feature?

Sarah McLeod: I've always loved this song; it was super fun working on it. I wanted it to sound filthy so I tuned the guitar down to a low C to play the riff. It ends up making the entire song a semi tone higher but it's the only way to get the dirty low sound in the guitars.


Question: What should we expect from the upcoming tour?

Sarah McLeod: It's gonna be epic, were playing all of Sumo in its entirety and then a greatest hits set. Basically we plan to rock everybody senseless, one show at a time.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Sarah McLeod: Ashes is my favourite because the riff is so fun to play. I can go to autopilot for about eight bars and go nuts on the groove. The crowd always jumps up and down to this one too.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend the tour, who would it be?

Sarah McLeod: Barry Humphries, he's my hero.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Sarah McLeod: They are both so different, it's like books against movies. Playing live is fun because it's loud and energetic and you basically just showing off. The studio is a craft and must be undertaken with a very different head space. I love being in the studio. I'm always in the studio. I'm in the studio right now!


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Sarah McLeod: I love Thelma Plum, I've been listening to her on repeat.


Interview by Brooke Hunter

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