Passing Down Wisdom Q & A: Ed Tripodi from Mount Defiance

Melbourne indie-rock quartet Mount Defiance are turning plenty of heads with the release of their debut EP ‘Learning Derby’, which sees them combine intimate confessionals and rambling rock tunes with a great sense of humour. We asked the band’s frontman Ed Tripodi how he’d approach being the world’s greatest teacher and what we should know about their debut EP.

If you were a teacher at a school, what subject (apart from music) would you teach?

Sports! I’d get to be outside, sunshine, fresh air and all that bizzo.

If you had a problem student what form of cruel and unusual, yet technically legal, punishment would you devise for them?

Force them to wrestle their best friend for my approval. I’m talking no holding back…

What would you do to inspire a group of at-risk, inner-city kids to achieve in their dreams?

Take them to see a film about a teacher inspiring a group of at-risk, inner city kids. That seems like a time saver.

Who would play you in the inspiring Hollywood film about your story?

Brendan Fraser, I feel like he can’t play a bad role. The man produces nothing but cinema gold, could use his magic touch on a film about me.

When the film is an astounding success, will you continue to teach?

Oh absolutely, can’t forget your roots. My students come first, always and forever!

When the fame and fortune inevitably go to your head how will you go about disgracing yourself?

By missing a set-shot from 20 out, dead in-front after the siren.

Which five musicians will join you in the debauchery?

The other three lads in the band will always be all I need. After all, it was them who encouraged me to chase my life long dream of taking at-risk inner-city kids to the movies…

For the uninitiated, how would you describe Mount Defiance’s your sound and live shows?

We like to think we spin nice little musical stories and play fun tunes. Our live shows just have the upside of showing off how good looking most of us are.

We really loved listening to Football is a Contact Sport, what was the inspiration behind writing it?

Thanks! Not so much inspiration, but having a girl you like laugh at you for being tackled repeatedly by an athletic 26-year-old man when you’re a spindly 19-year-old is certainly the basis of the tune. Ain’t love grand?

Lastly, what should we know about your debut EP ‘Learning Derby’?

We recorded it in Wye River, there’s two sports references in the EP’s lyrics, and on one track Sean played one note over and over for texture and it’s all I can hear when I listen to it now. Way to go, Sean, you handsome bastard!

Mount Defiance Live Dates

THURS 1 SEP
Oxford Circus, Sydney
FRI 2 SEP
Cambridge Hotel Side Room, Newcastle
SAT 3 SEP
Trainspotters, Brisbane
THURS 8 SEP
The Workers Club, Melbourne