photo : Cris Greaves
22nd April, 2023
You finished a successful European tour last year with Within Destruction. What were the highlights and lowlights of that tour?
The entire tour was the highlight! As I’m sure most musicians in Australia will agree, being able to play shows in another country is a huge achievement and I loved every second of the experience. I made lifelong friends with all the bands on the tour and I am so thankful that I was lucky enough to be apart of that tour and experience.
Honestly the only lowlight was being away from home and my partner for such a large period of time. I am so lucky to have my partner support me in the way that she does and push me to become better in all aspects of life.
With Misstiq becoming a full-time member of the band last year, how would you personally describe Earth Caller’s current sound?
The current sound with Misstiq I feel is pretty inline with the lighter metalcore end of the spectrum with some synth heavy and euro influence to tie it all together. I have honestly enjoyed playing the newer material at shows compared to older stuff as it’s a little more creative and less reliant on blast beats.
How did getting the gig in Earth Caller come about?
I actually live sessioned 5 shows for Earth Caller in 2018 before Josh Collard asked me to become a full-time member. I had an absolute blast on those shows so I was stoked to jump on board.
photo : Tom Ise
What other bands have you been in, and when?
Bit of a blast from the past, but Nick Davies and I were in a band together for years called Breaking Tradition, this was both of our first major band and we ticked off a few cool things from our bucket lists. This was actually how Nick came to be a part of EC. After Collard asked me to join we needed a bass player and I couldn’t think of anyone better for the job than Nick.
Why heavy music? What is it about this style and sound that attracts you to it?
For me, I think there are two aspects to this. From a drumming point of view I have always enjoyed the layers to a lot of metal drummers playing and enjoy the physicality of the instrument in the genre. The second point would have to be the fact that I am/used to be a pretty angry person. Listening to angry and aggressive music feels like an outlet and helps me process life and my experiences.
How did you first discover and get into metal?
The first full screaming song I heard was 94 Hours by As I Lay Dying. I was instantly hooked after my cousin showed me the track and the rest is kind of history.
Who were/ are your music heroes? Who inspired you to want to play metal?
Contrary to popular belief Lars Ulrich was a huge influence on me. I love Metallica and growing up jamming along to all of their tracks shaped a lot of how I approach music. Some other players who heavily influence my playing currently and over the years has been Nic Pettersen of Northlane, Craig Reynolds of Stray from the Path, Steve Judd of Karnivool, and Jay Postones of Tesseract.
Was there a defining moment that made you decide to play an instrument?
I’ve always been pretty creative and music-oriented but it was Christmas of 2004 and my old man got AC/DC’s Back in Black on CD (a replacement for an already purchased vinyl) and it was being played and the idea was thrown around of my playing the drums. I obviously latched onto this and 2 months later got my very first drum kit for my birthday.
There’s a few photos of me as a 2 year old hitting pots and pans and just generally showing an interest in drums. When I was a little older I used to get mums Tupperware and wooden spoons and set up a little makeshift kit. The wooden spoons on the plastic Tupperware were very unforgiving (sorry mum).
photo : Cris Greaves
Why drums?
It’s loud, physical and aggressive. I’m sold!
How did you learn to play drums? Formal lessons, self-taught, online
After I got my first kit I was self taught for about2 years with a little bit of help and support from my old man. Once I got into high school I started to get lessons. I value both of these approaches as having a teacher help guide and correct you through your learnings I think is essential, but also being able to push yourself and self identify areas you need to work on is
so important for your own growth as a musician and a person.
Were your parents supportive of your choice to play an instrument, and play in bands?
Absolutely! Both of my parents have shown nothing short of full support for what I want to do. When I was playing in my first band with Nick (Breaking Tradition) I was still under 18 so Dad would need to come to the show to be my guardian so I could play. This usually meant I would set up, play, pack up and leave immediately, but I am so thankful for him doing that so I could get my foot in the door early to play live.
Are there techniques that still give you grief that you want to master?
I think it’s everything for me, the day you stop learning is the day you die. You can always do better with everything so I’m always trying to improve my playing, my techniques and my ability on the kit. I am currently trying to work on my push/ pull technique and get this more consistent so it can be incorporated into more of my playing.
Do you write and/or record your own music?
I don’t personally. It’s something I would love to get into, I just do not have any available time at the moment to put in the amount of effort and attention to this that I would like to. In the future I would love to though.
photo : Cris Greaves
How often do you get to practice as a band?
In a lead up to a tour we will practice at least once a week. Depending on the tour and what songs we are playing, we will do 2-3 a week to make sure everything is exactly how it needs to
be.
How often do you practice? Is it playing along to songs, working on specific techniques, etc…?
Not as much as I would like to admit. When I get onto the kit it’s usually very calculated and deliberate practice. I’ll practice technique, new Earth Caller songs/write drum parts for new tracks, or learn specific patterns and stickings to incorporate into my playing.
How are Earth Caller songs conceived?
Songs will be written by a member and the skeleton is essentially presented to the group. From here members will collaborate and put their own flare on their parts before the song is either used or turfed. Music is usually first with all of this and lyrics come last or in the back 80% of the process.
Are you able to make a fulltime living from Earth Caller, or do you supplement it with other work?
Currently no, it would be so amazing to make a living from it but I do need to supplement it with other work currently. Thankfully I get to work at a drum store so it doesn’t feel like work and I get to be around drums and music all week.
Do you teach drum lessons?
I do teach drum lessons. I teach some students at an after school hours Music school one day a week and I also teach some private students online during the week.
Do you know how many shows you played last year? How is 2023 comparing?
We played 35 shows last year as Earth Caller. For 2023 we currently have 32 shows booked. I also sessioned live for 11 shows last year.
photo : Cris Greaves
What’s the last show you saw that you weren’t playing at?
Last show I went to was actually Knotfest in Melbourne. That was a great festival from start to finish!
What artists, old or new, are you listening to currently?
On my current rotation I have: The Devil Wears Prada, Sleep Token, Rüfüs Du Sol, Slipknot, Kendrick Lamar, and VOLA.
What have been some of your most memorable shows to date?
Definitely the first show we played in Europe, that felt like a fever dream. Both the Sydney and Melbourne show on the Jinjer support we’re awesome!
Worst touring experience?
We booked a van for a weekend to play a show in Ballarat and then drive to Sydney overnight to then film the “Spit” video in Sydney with Colin Jeff’s and DVSR. We got to the car rental place and they pretty much refused to give us the car we booked and we ended up needing to take two of our personal cars to get the weekend over the line. It sucked but was still a great experience.
Any pre-show rituals?
Zero, I try to warm up when I have adequate space and time but this sometimes isn’t always possible.
Favourite countries to tour, and why?
All of Germany has been amazing, the crowds just love hearing live music and are so appreciative of bands and artists. Switzerland
is amazing purely because of the land, it’s so beautiful, like you’ve stepped into a movie.
What do you do in your free time? Any other hobbies outside of music?
Usually relax and spend time with my partner. Music takes up so much of my time I don’t get a whole lot of free time so I usually take it and relax when I can get it.
Favourite holiday destination?
Obviously because of Covid we couldn’t do much so my partner and I did a lot of local holidays and travel within Victoria. Outside of home state, I would say most of Europe; I love it there.
photo : Cris Greaves
What new bands should people check out that deserve some recognition?
Deadskin from Melbourne, Relapse from Adelaide, and RUN from Melbourne.
Specifically, what gear do you play?
Kit : Pearl Masters Maple in Vermillion Sparkle:
22” Kick, 12” Tom, 14” Tom, 16” Tom.
Snare : I have three beautiful Nostra Drum
Provision snares.
14×6.5 Cast Aluminium
14×7 Cast Copper
14×7 Cast Bronze
Cymbals : All Zildjian
15” K Light Hats
11” Oriental Trash Splash
19” K Dark Thin Crash
22” Constantinople Renaissance Ride
20” K Cluster Crash
21” A Ultra Hammered China
Sticks : Vater 3A Fatback Wood Tip
Pedals : Iron Cobra Double Pedal
What’s your dream gear?
Honestly I am currently playing it. I do want to eventually own a Pearl Reference kit (this is next on my list)
Thoughts on U18 venues/gigs?
Bring them back! It used to be such a massive thing when I was growing up and I was able to go to so many shows because there were U18 legs on the tour.
Cats – lovable family members or Satan’s spawn?
Can they be both? I have two cats and they are the sweetest little boys but they can be absolute Satan spawn at times.
What does 2023 have in store for Earth Caller, and Josh Clinch?
We have our Europe tour supporting Aviana, and then the UK supporting In Visions. Once we get home we’ll begin writing new music for our next release before heading around Australia in October supporting The Amity Affliction.
For me I’ll be back in Europe for a holiday in July with my partner that has been long overdue!
Josh Clinch : @clinchy_drums