TEETH: Only the Sea Slugs

TEETH talked to Sasha from Only the Sea Slugs, who are currently recording their debut EP, to find out a little more about this Sydney band that is yet to get the sort of exposure their wonderful sound and beautiful lyrics deserve.

Tell us – who are you and where are you from?

We are SASHA, ZORAN, DEAN, LUKE & SCOTT. Five humans. Sydneysiders stretching from the deep south to the far north.

When and how did Only the Sea Slugs become a band?

Three years ago, Zoran & I started writing music together, just keyboards and guitars. We played really shitty venues in our local areas, but they felt so good. Last year, we met Dean & Luke and started the band. Now, Scotty just rolled up, clean. Its just seems to keep growing, but we definitely don't want an orchestra.

You have quite possibly the most interesting band name ever. What does it mean and how did it come about?

This story is strange and funny. We came up with SEA SLUGS amongst 30 other ‘tough’ names, so we thought, yeah, its unassuming...and we love the ocean, but the "ONLY THE" part was soon after an addition, when one night we were eating pizza and someone offered me the last slice and I took it, and Zoran yelled out in hysterics..."ONLY THE FAT CUNTS EAT THE LAST SLICE!" So that’s....

What is your song writing influenced by/what inspires you?

It’s impossible to sum it up, but the major ingredient is emotion. Listening to other bands is really an influence for me particularly. I believe every band copied off other bands either consciously or sub-consciously...they just don’t admit it. LOVE INFLUENCES ALL MUSIC. It’s the LOVE for anything....

What can we expect from the EP? Will it be very different to what we’ve heard so far?

We are planning for it to set another level of intensity. The songs are all very powerful in their own element, we have hardly written any slim, watered-down tracks, they are all quite layered and melodic, but beefy.

You’ve played at some pretty awesome venues around Sydney. (Including the Oxford Art Factory, the Annandale Hotel and Spectrum.) Where would you really love to play in the future? And with which bands?

We are very happy with the exposure and opportunity we have been granted in the last year. As for the near future, we would love to play all respected underground venues around Australia, New York, London...We think our sound would fit in those settings well. And bands??? TV on the Radio! And local bands we love from Sydney, there is a swell little underground scene going on.

How would you describe your sound?

Melodic. Layered. Driving. Interesting. Oceanic.

Do you believe in the tooth fairy?

That’s how we made enough cash (as kids) to buy guitars!