So are you all big Sonic Youth fans? Or do you simply just love Lou Diamond Phillips and Neil Diamond?

All three of the aforementioned are worth their weight in precious rocks, though we aren’t really influenced musically by any of them! The name was just something we thought may suit the music we were playing, and it’s also my favourite Sonic Youth track.

Who are your influences, musical or otherwise, and what artists would you compare yourselves with?

I guess influences would be different for everyone in the band – for me it’s a mixture of stuff like Television, Wire, The Wipers, The Cure and Joy Division combined with more recent groups influenced by the aforementioned, like Sleater-Kinney or The Organ.

With regard to what we actually sound like, describing your own music is always hard! My friend calls us ‘indie maiden’ – after busting us for all the cheese-metal harmonies we (perhaps not so) discreetly throw in.

You list your stylist Kevin as a fellow band member on your MySpace page. Does he play a large role?

Kevin lives in Philadelphia, and actually became self-appointed ‘fringe tech’ on a brief tour we were lucky enough to embark upon with his band Off Minor last April. Although he has never actually ‘styled’ anyone’s hair in the band (technically speaking), just by him watching from afar we sleep soundly, confident that everyone’s fringe is in top condition. He is the only one in Off Minor with a fringe, but they are still awesome regardless of this fact.

You’re currently promoting the launch of your new EP at various places around Australia. Tell us about the recording of it...

Mirko [Vogel, of Sekiden fame] recorded most of it live in our drummer Scotty’s lounge room. We wanted it to reflect the live sound and I’m pretty happy with the result. It was basically just three days of us eating spinach triangles, preston pies and being impressed with Mirko’s wealth of recording (and general) knowledge. Then our friend TJ who does Yellow Ghost records offered to release it – so it’s been a pretty relaxing process overall.

What are the plans for The Diamond Sea following the end of the tour?

Probably just more shows and tour! There is some chat about going to New Zealand at the beginning of next year, and we have a split 7-inch release with Love Or Perish (NYC) out on EXO records pretty soon.

THE DIAMOND SEA will be launching their new 10-inch/CD EP on Sunday Aug 3 at Ric’s Bar from 7pm with SECRET BIRDS. To find out more information about the band and other tour dates (including an Aug 2 house party w/ Insurgents and Good God), head to www.myspace.com/slowsignal

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