Interview: Twisted Fix on Melbourne's best venue, Britpop influences and their debut album

Q: I would describe your sound as very Britpop-inspired; would you agree with this, and if so, why did you take inspiration from this era of music?

Bass: Definitely, yes. I think for me, it's very much the 90s and that British invasion scene: Cool Britannia. The 90s stuff was bringing back to the forefront that 60s sound, which we also loved. We’re big on the Beach Boys, The Beatles, and the Kinks. The power of that 90s Britpop scene [has] got the drive and the kick of that 70s sound to it and then this energy and aliveness you feel as an audience member, that is just so intoxicating when you listen to it.

Q: So would you describe yourself as a mix between the two: 60s and 90s?

Bass: I think so. I don't like the idea of repeating what's already been done. I wouldn't like to say “yeah, we're a Britpop band”, because we’re from Australia (half of us anyway), but we take a bit from every generation.

Q: Leaning on from that, are there any more recent artists that you have taken inspiration from?

Bass: Yeah, I mean, definitely the Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Libertines, Kasabian. You know, when I was 14, 15, the DMA’s and Sticky Fingers, from an Australian perspective, [made me realise] “oh, Australian bands can do that”. It's not just surf rock, chill, by-the-coast, vibe. I was like, oh, we can do those sort of anthemic tunes. So the DMA’s, for me, started everything. Mickey and Lucas have recently joined the band, Lucas is a bass player, Mickey's on drums. When we first all four played together, Aaron and I were like, oh, it's the band we finally thought we could be, this is it (It helps that they're from the north of England.) Mickey: Yeah, I used to live in Manchester. I moved [there] because I love that kind of music. I'd seen these guys a few times at open mics and stuff like that and I thought it would be sick to get involved.

Q: When you're going through that writing process, do you create the lyrics first and then the instrumentation after, or is it the other way round?

Aaron: Generally, it’s the music that comes first, and I kind of sing gibberish. I [start with] a phrase and then the phrase can be the guide. Bass: The album is primarily songs we've written individually, but there's a couple that we've written together. I know Mickey also is quite a talented songwriter, but a very different kind of style of music, but that's something we genuinely want to bring into the band as well. We've got these unique voices and perspectives to share. That, for me, is super important that everyone gets a go, because you can't just be two songwriters [with] the band following every time. We want to try to make something that's greater than the sum of its parts.

Q: What are each of your favourite tracks on the record?

Bass: “Take a breath with me.” That is my favourite. Aaron wrote that and I had to learn it [on guitar]. When he first played it, I was like, how am I going to learn that? And eventually, [when I did], I was like, oh, wow, he's taught me this whole new thing. And then “Madhouse”, our latest single, I wrote that in like two, half an hour sessions. I’m really happy with how it came out. Aaron: I think “Madhouse”, actually. The first time Bass played it was in the studio. We'd recorded eight tracks for the album, we were out of budget (not that we had any budget to begin with). And Danny was like, really, really, it's enough. But, he came in one day, and I had this little acoustic ditty. We just laid it down, and it took all of three hours, I reckon.

Q: What would be a venue in Melbourne, specifically, that would be a goal for you guys to play within the next year?

Everyone: Forum. Bass: I mean, the Forum is Melbourne's, in my opinion, best. We've seen some incredible bands [there] that were a huge inspiration to us: Primal Scream, Happy Mondays. The room sounds amazing and it looks amazing. You just don't expect it to look like that. Another one would be Sidney Myer Music Bowl, in summer, it’s iconic. But these are big, big venues. I think a lot of Melbourne artists go, well, you know, [that’s] too far away. [Yet], for us, we go, no, we can get that in the next year. We really believe we can play that opening for someone. Aaron: If you can play it for 10 people, you can play it for 100. I mean, we would argue, it's harder playing for 10 people, you see the looks on their faces, everyone’s locked in, really paying attention.

Q: Who would be a dream band or artist to open for?

Bass: The DMAs, that to me, as well, doesn’t seem out of reach. They’re very our style, sonically. I don't believe that they've passed their peak whatsoever, but that kind of ‘passing or sharing the torch’, if you like, with that next generation being us. I think I first saw them in 2015, so the idea of us being there in the next year [would] just seem like a natural fit. Lucas: Oasis 2027.

Q: What about an artist to collaborate with? Would your answer still be the DMA’s if you really align with them sonically or someone else?

Aaron: I’m gonna pull a rogue one: Nile Rodgers. In terms of muso’s, he's top shelf. I mean, he’s cool as [and] he’d bring a different angle to us. You wouldn't necessarily pair him with us, but I think, in a room…it would all work together well. Bass: For me, Johnny Marr would be a dream. His musical sort of input and knowledge, obviously, but like what he could impart on our sound would just take us to the next level. India: Lucas, how about you? Lucas: Has to be Niall Rogers. My biggest musical hero. He is incredible. Oh, I'm not the only one who said that? Aaron: Yeah, you fuck. You stole my answer. Mickey: Have you guys been listening to the Belair Lip Bombs? They're from Frankston. [And also] the Gnomes. They're very 60s pop sounding. Those are the two bands that I've noticed recently in the Melbourne scene that are just doing the most. You know, they're really rising up.

Q: What would be the best piece of musical advice you've ever been given?

Bass: One gig is worth five rehearsals. You can practice and practice, [but], you’ve got to do a gig, because you’ve got to deal with the PA messing up, not being able to hear yourself, a crowd coming back to you, wanting more and shouting at you. Aaron: I think it would be: if you're not digging it, the audience, they're not gonna dig it. I mean, you can't expect an audience to give that level of enthusiasm if you're not. Mickey: Uh… always...go to the toilet right before?

Q: What are your upcoming plans for touring or anything else exciting in the near future?

Bass: We're planning on recording our next batch of singles. We've got about eight songs ready to go, a few singles in an EP, [which will] hopefully release around summer. And then just playing more in Melbourne. There's one thing to record the songs, put them out there, but you gotta be part of the scene; us building that audience is crucial, because Melbourne's one of the best music cities in the world. We're already part of the scene, but we want to get to the forefront.

India Machin
1 day ago
7 min read

India Machin | July 2026

I recently sat down with Bass, Aaron, Mickey and Lucas: the four members of Twisted Fix: one of Melbourne’s newest up-and-coming alternative indie bands.

Having released their debut album, “Authentic Ignorance”, just a few months ago, we spoke about all things Britpop, musical inspirations and creative processes. Let’s get into it!

Q: I would describe your sound as very Britpop-inspired; would you agree with this, and if so, why did you take inspiration from this era of music?

Bass: Definitely, yes. I think for me, it's very much the 90s and that British invasion scene: Cool Britannia. The 90s stuff was bringing back to the forefront that 60s sound, which we also loved. We’re big on the Beach Boys, The Beatles, and the Kinks. The power of that 90s Britpop scene [has] got the drive and the kick of that 70s sound to it and then this energy and aliveness you feel as an audience member, that is just so intoxicating when you listen to it.

Q: So would you describe yourself as a mix between the two: 60s and 90s?

Bass: I think so. I don't like the idea of repeating what's already been done. I wouldn't like to say “yeah, we're a Britpop band”, because we’re from Australia (half of us anyway), but we take a bit from every generation.

Q: Leaning on from that, are there any more recent artists that you have taken inspiration from?

Bass: Yeah, I mean, definitely the Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Libertines, Kasabian. You know, when I was 14, 15, the DMA’s and Sticky Fingers, from an Australian perspective, [made me realise] “oh, Australian bands can do that”. It's not just surf rock, chill, by-the-coast, vibe. I was like, oh, we can do those sort of anthemic tunes. So the DMA’s, for me, started everything.

Mickey and Lucas have recently joined the band, Lucas is a bass player, Mickey's on drums. When we first all four played together, Aaron and I were like, oh, it's the band we finally thought we could be, this is it (It helps that they're from the north of England.)

Mickey: Yeah, I used to live in Manchester. I moved [there] because I love that kind of music. I'd seen these guys a few times at open mics and stuff like that and I thought it would be sick to get involved.

*Twisted Fix on stage, captured by Kelly Walker*

Q: So, what would you say was the specific inspiration behind your debut album, "Authentic Ignorance"?

Aaron: Well, it kind of came about because Bass and I, many moons ago, were in our respective bedrooms (and each other’s), just writing songs. We eventually got together and decided to try some songs together. Bass got a creative grant from his old employer. They were offering this creative grant to anyone who worked there: 5 grand, if you can pitch a creative idea, we'll help you put something together. Anyway, he called me up one day and said “why don't we use this money and record these songs that we've been writing and make vinyl?”

Bass: [We thought] let’s do the unorthodox thing. Why don't we start by making a record and see if we can actually put something down and pull a band together, just to kickstart us to see if we can do it? Because there's no better drive than having a project to work on directly. It was a good impetus to get our arse into gear.

So we did it in reverse order. For us, it was like, if nothing else happens musically we can say that we made an album and it's on wax and we can pull it off the shelf one day.

India: Yeah, it's a piece of physical media, to have forever.

Bass: And then creatively, I think, a real mix of that. We wanted it to be a sort of indie record, but sit in that real Britpop space, keeping those influences. There's a bit of everything on there: the Eagles, David Bowie, Beatles, Oasis. There's all of that merged together. I think those sources are the best at defining an era in a generation. [However], we wanted to have something to say, we didn't want to just put a mishmash of songs together.

We wanted there to be some kind of experience that people could relate to through the album. And that includes ending with a very acoustic soft song, because we imagined that the album was a night out: [this was] the hangover and going to bed, you know, really early in the morning, and suddenly, you're becoming sober with the final track.

And I think we've been remiss without mentioning Danny Simsick. The whole reason the album exists is because we met Danny, because he believed in us and went, “no, you know what? I want to invest in you guys because I believe what you're doing and I love your attitude and you've brought me out of a bit of a funk.” It was the ultimate collaboration, he’s been very important to us.

Q: When you're going through that writing process, do you create the lyrics first and then the instrumentation after, or is it the other way round?

Aaron: Generally, it’s the music that comes first, and I kind of sing gibberish. I [start with] a phrase and then the phrase can be the guide.

Bass: The album is primarily songs we've written individually, but there's a couple that we've written together. I know Mickey also is quite a talented songwriter, but a very different kind of style of music, but that's something we genuinely want to bring into the band as well. We've got these unique voices and perspectives to share. That, for me, is super important that everyone gets a go, because you can't just be two songwriters [with] the band following every time. We want to try to make something that's greater than the sum of its parts.

Q: What are each of your favourite tracks on the record?

Bass: “Take a breath with me.” That is my favourite. Aaron wrote that and I had to learn it [on guitar]. When he first played it, I was like, how am I going to learn that? And eventually, [when I did], I was like, oh, wow, he's taught me this whole new thing. And then “Madhouse”, our latest single, I wrote that in like two, half an hour sessions. I’m really happy with how it came out.

Aaron: I think “Madhouse”, actually. The first time Bass played it was in the studio. We'd recorded eight tracks for the album, we were out of budget (not that we had any budget to begin with). And Danny was like, really, really, it's enough. But, he came in one day, and I had this little acoustic ditty. We just laid it down, and it took all of three hours, I reckon.

Q: What would be a venue in Melbourne, specifically, that would be a goal for you guys to play within the next year?

Everyone: Forum.

Bass: I mean, the Forum is Melbourne's, in my opinion, best. We've seen some incredible bands [there] that were a huge inspiration to us: Primal Scream, Happy Mondays. The room sounds amazing and it looks amazing. You just don't expect it to look like that. Another one would be Sidney Myer Music Bowl, in summer, it’s iconic.

But these are big, big venues. I think a lot of Melbourne artists go, well, you know, [that’s] too far away. [Yet], for us, we go, no, we can get that in the next year. We really believe we can play that opening for someone.

Aaron: If you can play it for 10 people, you can play it for 100. I mean, we would argue, it's harder playing for 10 people, you see the looks on their faces, everyone’s locked in, really paying attention.

Q: Who would be a dream band or artist to open for?

Bass: The DMAs, that to me, as well, doesn’t seem out of reach. They’re very our style, sonically. I don't believe that they've passed their peak whatsoever, but that kind of ‘passing or sharing the torch’, if you like, with that next generation being us. I think I first saw them in 2015, so the idea of us being there in the next year [would] just seem like a natural fit.

Lucas: Oasis 2027.

Q: What about an artist to collaborate with? Would your answer still be the DMA’s if you really align with them sonically or someone else?

Aaron: I’m gonna pull a rogue one: Nile Rodgers. In terms of muso’s, he's top shelf. I mean, he’s cool as [and] he’d bring a different angle to us. You wouldn't necessarily pair him with us, but I think, in a room…it would all work together well.

Bass: For me, Johnny Marr would be a dream. His musical sort of input and knowledge, obviously, but like what he could impart on our sound would just take us to the next level.

India: Lucas, how about you?

Lucas: Has to be Niall Rogers. My biggest musical hero. He is incredible. Oh, I'm not the only one who said that?

Aaron: Yeah, you fuck. You stole my answer.

Mickey: Have you guys been listening to the Belair Lip Bombs? They're from Frankston. [And also] the Gnomes. They're very 60s pop sounding. Those are the two bands that I've noticed recently in the Melbourne scene that are just doing the most. You know, they're really rising up.

Q: What would be the best piece of musical advice you've ever been given?

Bass: One gig is worth five rehearsals. You can practice and practice, [but], you’ve got to do a gig, because you’ve got to deal with the PA messing up, not being able to hear yourself, a crowd coming back to you, wanting more and shouting at you.

Aaron: I think it would be: if you're not digging it, the audience, they're not gonna dig it. I mean, you can't expect an audience to give that level of enthusiasm if you're not.

Mickey: Uh… always...go to the toilet right before?

Q: What are your upcoming plans for touring or anything else exciting in the near future?

Bass: We're planning on recording our next batch of singles. We've got about eight songs ready to go, a few singles in an EP, [which will] hopefully release around summer. And then just playing more in Melbourne. There's one thing to record the songs, put them out there, but you gotta be part of the scene; us building that audience is crucial, because Melbourne's one of the best music cities in the world. We're already part of the scene, but we want to get to the forefront.

Listen to the band’s latest single, “MadHouse”, here!

Follow Twisted Fix on Instagram here!