A Quick Chat with The Witchy Djypsies
Can you tell me a bit about your inspiration for your single ‘In My Mind’?
I wanted to write a song about overthinking and feeling everything all at once. I was sitting outside at about 2am in a dead silent night witnessing the endless train of thoughts and overwhelming feelings that come with it. I wrote the intro then and had a bit of a concept. I brought it to the band and we shaped it together in this mad song! We actually worked on that track while touring up north in 2022. We had just done our last gig in Exmouth and we all got COVID. We were stuck on a campsite and I do believe the fever brought out the best of us! Being trapped in an overthinking mind is like being a cowboy riding on a horse through the chaos of a western movie.
What are your influences and how do they affect your songwriting?
In the past we were influenced a lot by our way of life with about 8 of us living in one small house. We would rather be busking than working but eventually through a combination of opportunity, luck, persistence and a lot of cheek we started to realise that we had something special and we really made people move! We still try to keep that mentality in our minds when we write our songs and create our shows, we want to move both people’s feet and people’s hearts by trying to hit topics that are relevant for us and the people we know. Another huge aim we have is to make sure that everyone watching feels like they are on the journey with us and part of the show!
What’s the creative process like for you?
Chaotic but collaborative. It's a big mix of everyone’s input, someone will have an idea and bring it to the table and then everyone jumps on board. For example, for this song Jo had the concept and one part of the melody, showed it to the band and then Sam took it away and made the foundations. Chris and Dennis helped with writing the lyrics, Leo brought the western feel and the blues section, Jimmy kept the song pumping throughout. Every element of the song really reflects on each instrumentalist’s own added flavour.
If you could change something about the Australian music industry what would it be?
The distance between Perth and all the other cities, might need a bullet train between Perth and Melbourne. But in all honesty it's actually great doing this in Perth as there is heaps of special local talent unlike anywhere else. It would be great to have more music grant opportunities for Australian bands to access easier so they can tour around the country.
What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet?
If the band stopped today we’d at least have great cardio from all the jumping on stage we've done at our gigs. Dennis would be a professional soccer player. Jo would be touring with big theatre shows. Sam would be in Brazil working as a wood sculptor. Chris would be in jail, probably in a padded cell with a nice permanent self hug jacket. Leo would be a goat farmer. Jimmy would be a school teacher. And life wouldn't be as fun as it is in this band :)
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with? Why?
Madness, for us they are the band that made ska insanely popular. Django Reinhardt, because he was an amazing guitar player and a really well known gypsy guitarist. The Gypsy Kings because helloooo, they're the kings of gypsy. The Cat Empire because they are so fun! Melbourne Ska Orchestra because they are amazing local talent.
What’s your advice to young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry?
Sometimes everything works out exactly how you planned it and that is super duper great. But sometimes things go very wrong, but that's all part of the process and this awesome journey of life. Whether it’s your saxophone player Chris not making it to the gig in Karijini because he decided the best thing to do was to take a 4x4 track in his little Suzuki Swift or it’s playing at a venue where people keep asking if you play ACDC covers, things go wrong and that’s okay. Pick yourself up, find a solution, learn from your mistakes and laugh about it. Life’s too short to not be laughing your ass off!
Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/met?
Without a doubt that would be Fatso. Ironically the leanest fittest human you could ever meet, Fatso runs the Lunar Circus (aka Karnidale) in Karridale, WA. We first met him when we played at the circus festival as the house band learning new songs each day for the nightly cabarets. Not only is he hilariously eccentric, he also runs the entire show while still finding time to do daily handstand classes for everyone at the festival and do workshops for kids. Honestly this guy is one of a kind, you won’t find anyone else like him.
Any plans for a tour on the cards?
We definitely have big dreams of hitting the east coast. We’re currently waiting on some festivals to get back to us and if all goes well we may be taking the caravan to the other side for a few weeks early next year. If you’re reading this from somewhere on the East Coast, please go outside, blast our music and yell our name until we get onto the lineup for your local music festival.