Catch Your Breath are stepping into Australia for the first time this May, and for vocalist Josh Mowery, it feels less like a victory lap and more like the start of something new.
With over 360 million streams behind them and ‘Dial Tone’ already stamped as a Gold certified breakout, Catch Your Breath could easily lean on momentum, instead, they’re treating this run as a fresh test, landing in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with no guarantees, just intent.
Ahead of the tour, we caught up with vocalist Josh Mowery to talk first impressions of Australia, the pressure of headlining a brand new space, the band’s next steps, and why they’re determined to keep evolving rather than chasing past success.
Let’s talk about the upcoming Australian tour – It’s your first time in Australia. How are you feeling about it? Do you have any preconceived expectations?
Josh: I’m just super excited to get down and be in Australia, feet on the ground getting to see it all. I’ve heard nothing but great things about your community down there. The metal scene, the alt community, you guys always show up and they’re always great shows. So I’m just looking forward to seeing that Aussie energy at our shows. I want to see what it’s all about! I’ve heard a lot of hype, so I’m ready to do this.
Your music has been blowing up over the last few years. So how is it for you heading into a new market like Australia, knowing that there’s a growing fan base waiting for you?
Josh: There’s always that toss up. You’re never really sure how you’re going to do when you go somewhere for the first time. We did this in Europe too. The first time we went to Europe headlining, and it went great. So I’m not as nervous this time, but you never know what to expect.
You are diving into a headline tour for your time over here. Do you find that there’s a certain pressure headlining a new place before climbing up the ranks with support slots?
Josh: Yeah. I mean, there’s always pressure on any headliner just because expectations are high, you’re the band everyone’s coming to see, and it’s all on you. And if it’s a bad show, it’s probably your fault. So there’s always that pressure on our shoulders, but I don’t know. I kind of always see it as the same thing, just a different stage and if it’s for longer or shorter, it doesn’t really matter. You just get up there and play your music and have fun.
Are there any places that you’re excited to come see over here, or that you’re looking forward to trying while you’re over here in Australia?
Josh: Well, now Perth. I’m excited to go to Perth. Melbourne, Sydney, of course. I’m from America, so I’m not up to date on my geography of Australia. They don’t really teach us about any other country but America. I’m excited to try some good food. I want to try a good Australian steak. I do want to try a Foster’s while I’m there too. I’ve never had Foster’s.
Catch Your Breath ‘Blood Money’ video
What goes into putting together a set list for a place that you’re visiting for the first time? What parts of your catalogue can we expect to hear from this upcoming tour?
Josh: Most of the time, we go to Spotify and look at what people are listening to. But I think we should go more regional with the set lists. Because I don’t think our Spotify Top 10 overall is like Australia’s Spotify Top 10. So you guys might be listening to two or three different songs than what the overall Top 10 are. I think we might start doing the regional thing, but once we start doing that then we’re cracking open a can of worms that we have to do forever. So I don’t know. You’re definitely going to hear “Dial Tone”. You’re definitely going to hear “Shame On Me” and “21 Gun Salute” – the fan favourites with some new songs.
Speaking of the new songs, you’ve released a handful of them recently. Do you feel like this new era marks the start of something new for you guys or are the releases tied into the same world?
Josh: A little bit of both. So while what’s next is a continuation of Catch Your Breath’s sound, we definitely added new elements. And I think it just overall matured, better songwriting. We all have gotten better over the last three, four years at what we do.
Was there an aim or something that you were hoping to build off of from the previous album writing this new music?
Josh: Yeah. Just hone in on our sound. Catch Your Breath, but a little bit better. Kind of tighten it up a little bit and not be so all over the place. I mean, you’re definitely going to get a variety of songs, but you’re going to be able to tell that we’re starting to hone in on a specific sound. And I think that’s what the overall goal was, to kind of mature all around.
So with songs like “Shame On Me” and “Dial Tone”, making such a huge impression, does the success of these tracks play into the way you’re approaching writing new music?
Josh: No, I don’t think so. I actually had a talk about that with Teddy and Curtis while we were writing the new album. And I feel like if we’re even thinking about “Dial Tone” or “Shame On Me” while we were writing the songs, we would have started chasing the same success, and that same sound. And then when people listen to that album, they’d just be reminded of those songs. So that’s something that we wanted to stick far away from. We don’t want any of our songs on this album to sound like, or remind you of the first album in any way. To the point that we were picking keys to write songs in that we didn’t even use on the first album. So yeah, a lot of F sharp.
Catch Your Breath ‘Shame On Me’ video
Have you had much exposure to Australian heavy and alt music? And are there any Australian bands that you’ve been digging as of late?
Josh: Oh, brother. One of my favourite bands of all time is I Killed the Prom Queen, and then Bury Your Dead, where Michael Crafter went to after that. I’m a big Alpha Wolf fan. I love Alpha Wolf, and Parkway Drive. Actually a funny story about Parkway – I had no idea who they were and they came through Oklahoma City years ago, and I saw these people setting up the stage for Parkway. It was a bunch of dudes in flip-flops and pink collared shirts and Billabong shorts. And I was sure that was their roadies, but no, that was the band. Winston literally set the last thing that he was carrying down and set mics up, and then he just waited until everything was plugged in and ready and then he turned around and started screaming. I was immediately blown away, they were one of the best bands I’ve ever seen live.
It’s been a pleasure chatting Josh, we can’t wait to see you over here in Australia, any final words for fans that are eagerly awaiting the tour?
Josh: We will be releasing an album later in the year. So be keeping your eyes out for that. We will be releasing singles until the album drops, so we’re going to be keeping you guys entertained with that. And if you guys are a Catch Your Breath fan and you’re coming to one of the shows, grab your friends, get them a ticket. Let’s try to make a new fan out of them, let’s have some fun! It’s our first time to Australia, and I want to make some good memories with you guys.
Catch Your Breath Australia tour dates
- Sunday, May 17th – Perth, Magnet House
- Tuesday, May 19th – Adelaide, The Gov
- Thursday, May 21st – Melbourne, 170 Russell
- Saturday, May 23rd – Sydney, Manning Bar
- Sunday, May 24th – Brisbane, The Triffid
Find out more and get your tickets here.
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