INTERVIEW: Wax Witches

Alex Wall seems to be doing everything right. Apart from being one half of Gold Coast's Bleeding Knees Club, he's also the founding member of his clothing label 100 Percent Zero and has just launched his latest project Teenage Values. But the thing that we're really loving about Alex Wall at the moment is the sounds and progress of his side project WAX WITCHES.

Wall has released a bunch of music online under Wax Witches, such as his EPs Melted Green and Moon Dilemmas, a series of singles ('Friend Zone', 'Help Me Out'), his Christmas jangle 'Santa Forgot Me' and his covers for Pixies' 'Wave Of Mutilation' and Black Flag's 'Nervous Breakdown'.

He's very first show was supporting Blood Orange in Sydney and has since played gigs, accompanied by his buddy Brett Jansch.

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After releasing casettes through Burger Records and selling his tunes via his Bandcamp, Wall will finally be releasing his debut Wax Witches record - Celebrity Beatings - on 8th February!

Amongst all the excitement, we caught up with Alex for a very quick interview.

Considering Wax Witches' success in contrast to your past projects (No Hope, Yellow Mustard EP), would you say you treated it with a higher level of importance?

Those two things I never posted to anyone or tried to make popular, people just found them somehow, I hate both those things. Wax Witches was the first time I recorded anything and liked it. I usually hate my recordings. I never intended Wax Witches to become known or anything, I just really liked the music I was making as this alter ego. I'd still record the songs even if no one wanted to listen to it. It's just a bonus that some kids seem to like it.

Wax Witches' live show consists of both you and Brett Jansch. Does Jordan feel left out at all?

Umm noo not really, I don't think so. Me and Brett are both into punk music. Jordan's into different kind of music to us which is cool. He has started a new band too! And his songs are really cool and chill! You'll have to check it out when he starts doing shows.

What's the weirdest thing you've seen happen whilst being on stage?

Umm, maybe when I used to drum for BKC, this gurl stole my drumstick and put it up her dress. That was kinda cool but weird.

You've launched your clothing label 100 Percent ZERO. Is this something you've always wanted to do?

I guess so, I studied design at uni and follow art and style closely. So it's a good way for me to kill down time when I'm not touring.

Considering your time devoted to Wax Witches, Bleeding Knees Club and 100 Percent ZERO, do you still find time for your photography?

Yeah! I usually take my camera on tour, and I take photos for all the 100 Percent ZERO stuff. I have no money for film but, so that's the only thing that stops me.

How did you become affiliated with Burger Records?

I've been a big fan of them for years, then they started Weiner Records and I emailed them my first two Wax Witches EPs and they released them and they sold out really quick! Then I guess the guys at Burger must have liked them because the guy emailed me later asking if I would like to do a Burger cassette, which is like a dream come true for me. All my favourite bands have released stuff through Burger. The guys there are soo nice and helpful. I'm super happy to be a part of it.

You've just launched Teenage Values. Tell us about that.

Well, it's kind of a mini record label that will release limited edition cassettes in runs of 50 from bands that my friends play in, as well as my own music, and whatever bands I think are cool and are down to release a cassette haha.

Wax Witches' debut, physical album is set to be released in February. What was the whole recording process like for that?

I pretty much just sat in my room at home with my laptop, guitar and microphone and recorded it all myself. The songs were recorded over the last maybe 5 months when ever I got a chance to be home. It's pretty weird recording at home because my housemates would just hear me screaming and yelling in my room while I did vocals and be like, "WTF is this guy doing".