Interview with Devon Sandwich

Brett singer and bassists and Avi singer and guitarist for Devon Sandwich sat down to answer questions for Volatile Weekly

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

• B: I think it was The Offspring ‘Smash’ album, I know that was the first album I bought. If I never got into music, I’ll probably be deep into some other hobby like playing a sport or painting.

• A: MTV, when I was little I used to be glued to the television watching all the bands play with my siblings. It felt amazing and great to watch their music videos and some of their live videos and also how they influenced the audience and gave them the time of their life. f I had not gotten into music I would probably be a 6 figure man or someone in the STEM fields, I was a nerd before I picked up a guitar.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• B: I watch EPL religiously, play video games and hangout with my family and friends. Mainly talking to people influence me lyrically, for instance my work colleague said about someone that they are as useful as “tits on a bull”. I wrote that line down for later.

• A: Basic stuff, cook , clean, do day job, spend hours on the internet. Internet has a huge influence in my creativity as I listen to loads of bands from around the world try to assemble their technique in my composition.

How long has your band been around?

• B: Five fast and slow years.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

• B: Sydney, Australia. Not sure how it has influenced us.

• A: Like I said born and raised in Nepal, MTV was the only exposure to foreign music or the only channel that showcased Rock music and other world chart topping music. There was no doubt a 5 year old would love to be that guy on the TV, a rockstar and have fans screaming his/her name and loving him/her. However, throughout my life I’ve experimented from metal to rock genre and as of now fell in love with punk rock/pop, I would probably say the early 2000’s pop punk era shaped my taste, it might be arguable but I would say those were the best days musically for me.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• B: It’s a food here in Australia. Devon kind of tastes like shit and bliss on bread, if you don’t put tomato sauce on it I don’t want to talk to you.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• B: Probably our friend Lockie he had a show for his birthday in his backyard. Everyone was drunk and high, his Mrs stopped the gig to serve BBQ sausages, the band playing after us had a bunch of girls who they brought with them, it was a bit culty, their bass player said we reminded him of Frenzal Rhomb. As we were leaving a big fight broke out on the street. Good times.

• A: Melbourne gig we did.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• B; The Moshpit in Newtown, Sydney in a good spot because it’s intimate. I’ll like to play in New Orleans one day, but Woy Woy is more likely.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• B: Michal Jackson and Bill Cosby they seem good with crowds and kids.

• A: Blink 182, Sum 41, Green Day

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• B: Play faster and careless. Unless you want to go somewhere with it then maybe get a producer who can make you sound better. Maybe learn some scales too.

• A: Be a tiktoker instead.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

• B: Try and bang Margot Robbie that one time I met her in San Sebastian when she was still only Neighbors famous, she would of had to be super drunk and desperate, but stranger things have happened.

• A: If I had to meet my younger self, probably would advise him to do IT, computer engineering, networking, software development like Logic Pro, TikTok, Facebook etc.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

• B: Hate Me Now, Love Me Later – Because it sums me up well.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

• B: Duck Face on the Train - Because its fun and our live intro for it always gets a solid laugh.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• B: Most of the time I write a song on my acoustic guitar and bring it to the guys when I’ve got the structure down and we all come together over the song. It’s sticky work.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• B: That the glass is half empty but have fun with it.

• A: No message just whatever happens in our lives. We are not a PC band.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

• A: All the time, we suss them out by playing Fifa and talk it through.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• B: Nothing big planned at the moment, I think Avi is selling dick pics on OnlyFans I’m not 100% sure though. But we do have a new album out. Go check it out!!! We spent a lot of time on it during the pandemic. Also, we have more new music on its way next year.