ITN Magazine: Tell us about the history of the band. More specifically, when was the band formed, how did you meet, and have there been any particular highlights or low points in your career, any crucial events that have taken you where you are today?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We're all from Melbourne, Australia and initially met back there, Michael (Drums) and I (Matthew) have had a few projects together in the past but it wasn't until we both relocated to New York in 2009 that Our Mountain was created. Moving to NY was a big step for us, it opened up the gateway to EU and other important markets that we've been playing heavily in since.
ITN Magazine: Do you remember how the idea of forming the band first came up?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We all come from a similar page in life, we've all been in similar bands etc. etc., so naturally our musical tastes were on par with each other, moving to NY gave us clear definition as to what we wanted to try musically.
ITN Magazine: How long after you formed was it until you played your first live show?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Immediately, we moved to NY with that intention.
ITN Magazine: What are your memories of the performance?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Similar to trying to dance on an Olympic ice-skating ring without ice skates,
ITN Magazine: Tell us about the band's name?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We we're stuck on the name "Mountain" for a while and then an old friend suggested "Our Mountain" so we took it! I think it speaks volume and that’s something we all fell in love with.
ITN Magazine: What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We're heading upstate, NY next week record the album, so I'll know more once I hear it but I suppose the reason you buy anything is because ITN Magazine says you should!
ITN Magazine: How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one you are playing now?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Grime, Dirt, Psych, Swagger. We constantly play other styles of music but we also make a conscious effort to stay true to the sound that is Our Mountain without attempting to cover too much ground. Finding your sound is tough, once you begin to discover it I feel it’s important to focus within those perimeters
ITN Magazine: Can you share with us one or two of your favorite moments with the band?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We did an enormous sold-out European tour in 2011, 18,000 capacity venues etc. etc., the following week we played to 20 people in New York, the contrasting shows are what makes you grow, being able to float in whatever pond or ocean that your blown into.
ITN Magazine: Does the entire band contribute to the writing process?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Yes, mostly all of our work is done in a live setting, we'll generally jam a few hours and then listen back to the tapes and start to piece together ideas, those ideas sometimes turn into songs and other times end up in the trash.
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: A lot of our stuff is lyrically driven, so I rate it highly. I get a kick out of lacing concepts and words.
ITN Magazine: What are your current tour plans, if any?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We're putting our emphasis on tracking the album and getting it out. We do have a show at Bowery Electric, New York May 31. More tour dates to follow.
ITN Magazine: Describe your live performance?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: A birthday party on the holy mountain.
ITN Magazine: Tell us about your thought on your local music scene
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: There's a lot going on, plenty of great venues and good people looking for good music.
ITN Magazine: Why do you think people are into your music?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Perhaps its coming full circle and people are now looking for confrontation in live music once again.
ITN Magazine: What are your current obsessions?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Tracking the new record, it’s hard to think about anything else right now.
ITN Magazine: Is there a song you wish you wrote?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Frankie Teardrop
ITN Magazine: What is the most played track on your iTunes?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Mick Turner - Rosa I
ITN Magazine: What is your most cherished musical object?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: I have a few guitars that I consider very cherish able, more the history and length of time that I've owned them.
ITN Magazine: Do you have go-to album on a rainy day?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Dirty Three - Horse Stories
ITN Magazine: Proudest moment of your career thus far?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Moving from Melbourne to New York took it out of us, it's a tough city to remain afloat, but 3 years later we're still here, that's definitely the proudest thing we've done. We all work real jobs and hustle to keep the shit moving but were here. It’s easy to pop in for a month or two but to relocate a 4-piece band without label support is like pushing an overweight cow up the steepest hill.
ITN Magazine: Are you most influenced by your surroundings or your inner monologue?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Both,
ITN Magazine: Favorite venue to play in and why?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: The usual suspects, Pianos, Mercury Lounge, Glasslands.
ITN Magazine: Dream venue to play in and why?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: I'd like to do the top end of Bowery Presents, T5, Williamsburg Music Hall etc. etc..Bowery Presents run great venues and look after the artist.
ITN Magazine: First band t-shirt you ever purchased from a merch table?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Truth be told, I’ve never bought one.
ITN Magazine: Album you wish your parents exposed you to in the womb?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Stooges - Fun House
ITN Magazine: Last record you purchased?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Mick Turner - Moth
ITN Magazine: Where can our readers find your band on the internet?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: ourmountain.com
ITN Magazine: How has Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) impacted your band?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Their all great tools for connecting the dots and staying close to fans, it’s definitely made it easier communicate directly to the people that listen to the music.
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We're all from Melbourne, Australia and initially met back there, Michael (Drums) and I (Matthew) have had a few projects together in the past but it wasn't until we both relocated to New York in 2009 that Our Mountain was created. Moving to NY was a big step for us, it opened up the gateway to EU and other important markets that we've been playing heavily in since.
ITN Magazine: Do you remember how the idea of forming the band first came up?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We all come from a similar page in life, we've all been in similar bands etc. etc., so naturally our musical tastes were on par with each other, moving to NY gave us clear definition as to what we wanted to try musically.
ITN Magazine: How long after you formed was it until you played your first live show?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Immediately, we moved to NY with that intention.
ITN Magazine: What are your memories of the performance?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Similar to trying to dance on an Olympic ice-skating ring without ice skates,
ITN Magazine: Tell us about the band's name?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We we're stuck on the name "Mountain" for a while and then an old friend suggested "Our Mountain" so we took it! I think it speaks volume and that’s something we all fell in love with.
ITN Magazine: What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We're heading upstate, NY next week record the album, so I'll know more once I hear it but I suppose the reason you buy anything is because ITN Magazine says you should!
ITN Magazine: How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one you are playing now?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Grime, Dirt, Psych, Swagger. We constantly play other styles of music but we also make a conscious effort to stay true to the sound that is Our Mountain without attempting to cover too much ground. Finding your sound is tough, once you begin to discover it I feel it’s important to focus within those perimeters
ITN Magazine: Can you share with us one or two of your favorite moments with the band?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We did an enormous sold-out European tour in 2011, 18,000 capacity venues etc. etc., the following week we played to 20 people in New York, the contrasting shows are what makes you grow, being able to float in whatever pond or ocean that your blown into.
ITN Magazine: Does the entire band contribute to the writing process?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Yes, mostly all of our work is done in a live setting, we'll generally jam a few hours and then listen back to the tapes and start to piece together ideas, those ideas sometimes turn into songs and other times end up in the trash.
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: A lot of our stuff is lyrically driven, so I rate it highly. I get a kick out of lacing concepts and words.
ITN Magazine: What are your current tour plans, if any?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: We're putting our emphasis on tracking the album and getting it out. We do have a show at Bowery Electric, New York May 31. More tour dates to follow.
ITN Magazine: Describe your live performance?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: A birthday party on the holy mountain.
ITN Magazine: Tell us about your thought on your local music scene
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: There's a lot going on, plenty of great venues and good people looking for good music.
ITN Magazine: Why do you think people are into your music?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Perhaps its coming full circle and people are now looking for confrontation in live music once again.
ITN Magazine: What are your current obsessions?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Tracking the new record, it’s hard to think about anything else right now.
ITN Magazine: Is there a song you wish you wrote?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Frankie Teardrop
ITN Magazine: What is the most played track on your iTunes?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Mick Turner - Rosa I
ITN Magazine: What is your most cherished musical object?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: I have a few guitars that I consider very cherish able, more the history and length of time that I've owned them.
ITN Magazine: Do you have go-to album on a rainy day?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Dirty Three - Horse Stories
ITN Magazine: Proudest moment of your career thus far?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Moving from Melbourne to New York took it out of us, it's a tough city to remain afloat, but 3 years later we're still here, that's definitely the proudest thing we've done. We all work real jobs and hustle to keep the shit moving but were here. It’s easy to pop in for a month or two but to relocate a 4-piece band without label support is like pushing an overweight cow up the steepest hill.
ITN Magazine: Are you most influenced by your surroundings or your inner monologue?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Both,
ITN Magazine: Favorite venue to play in and why?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: The usual suspects, Pianos, Mercury Lounge, Glasslands.
ITN Magazine: Dream venue to play in and why?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: I'd like to do the top end of Bowery Presents, T5, Williamsburg Music Hall etc. etc..Bowery Presents run great venues and look after the artist.
ITN Magazine: First band t-shirt you ever purchased from a merch table?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Truth be told, I’ve never bought one.
ITN Magazine: Album you wish your parents exposed you to in the womb?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Stooges - Fun House
ITN Magazine: Last record you purchased?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Mick Turner - Moth
ITN Magazine: Where can our readers find your band on the internet?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: ourmountain.com
ITN Magazine: How has Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) impacted your band?
Matthew Hutchinson - Vocalist/Guitarist: Their all great tools for connecting the dots and staying close to fans, it’s definitely made it easier communicate directly to the people that listen to the music.