Mink 'Talk To Me' album

Australian-American rock band MINK have completed the recording of their self-titled debut CD with producer Sylvia Massy (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool). The first single "Talk To Me" is set to hit radio March 19 (via Spitfire Music/National Recorder/Fontana/Universal), while the album will be in stores July 10. MINK will head out for select live dates kicking off this Saturday (March 3) at Los Angeles' Viper Room.

The group--NEAL CARSLON (vocals), STELLA MOZGAWA (drums), NICK MAYBURY (lead guitar), DAVID LOWY (rhythm guitar) and GRANT FITZPATRICK (bass)--will also perform at shows in Los Angeles, at the SXSW festival in Austin and in New York City, including a few Australian Music Collective gigs.

Recently in Los Angeles, Christian Lamb (Madonna, Coldplay) directed the video for MINK's infectious "Talk To Me." Playing off the song's title, the band appear on a bizarre Japanese variety talk show. They're interviewed by the show's wacky host, wind up in a mock cooking segment and then perform live (watch out for the Japanese Elvis impersonator).

The group was formed in New York City after the late-night jam sessions by Carlson and his musician friends morphed into a regular gig. Booking as many shows as they could, MINK established themselves as a live act and toured Australia with groups including Angels & Airwaves and Jimmy Barnes. American audiences were introduced to the group via their track "Pressure Pressure" (produced by two-time Grammy winner Chris Shaw), which was heard on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" throughout the 2006 playoffs and World Series.

The group's music, both loose-limbed and tight at the same time, is powered by Neal Carlson's high-energy vocals and 21-year-old Stella Mozgawa's propulsive drumming. "There's a spark when we all get in the same room," says Carlson. "Everyone in this band is so full of life and when we play, that contagious energy just morphs into something else." Other tracks on the album like "Crazy," "Dematerialize" and "Untouchable" display the group's hard-charging rock ethos. "Imagine what it would sound like if a rock club from New York and one from Sydney had a baby," says Stella. "That's us."

Of their songs, Carlson says, "We try to keep the songs real and simple and as open-ended as possible," but admits that "Talk To Me" is about being a shy and isolated teenager. "That song's really for all the girls who wouldn't talk to me in high school." He forced himself to overcome his shyness by writing songs and forging out to open-mic nights at home in New York.

biography
“We’re totally ready,” says MINK singer Neal Carlson.

“To play until the end of time,” drummer Stella Mozgawa continues. “Until the end of the universe.”

The band has clearly hit the ground running. Formed just a blink ago in Spring 2006, MINK has already written more than 60 songs (30 of them in one intense three week stretch), recorded their debut album in just four weeks (with noted producer Sylvia Massy of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tool fame), shot one of the most fun videos of recent times for its infectious song “Talk to Me” with director Christian Lamb (Madonna, Korn, Kelly Clarkson, Incubus), had another song “Pressure Pressure” featured nightly in ESPN’s 2006 Major League baseball playoffs coverage, and has established itself as one of the most exciting new live acts on the scene both in its own club shows and opening big-venue concerts by Angels & Airwaves among others.

And all that whilst going back and forth between New York (from where Carlson hails) and Australia (home to drummer Mozgawa, lead guitarist Nick Maybury, rhythm guitarist David Lowy and bassist Grant Fitzpatrick).

The members come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from the garage-rock, punk, solo and experimental backgrounds of Carlson, Fitzpatrick and Mozgawa to the formal jazz studies of Maybury, to what may be the most unusual combination of credits for any rocker in Lowy – he’s a successful businessman, a producer of the Tony Awards-nominated Broadway musical “The Color Purple” and an avid aviation enthusiast and stunt pilot! And though members cite influences and favorites ranging from classic punk to Prince to Bjork to Miles Davis, a chemical bond formed instantly that gave Mink their own enticing character.

The first single, “Talk to Me,” is already spinning on over 50 Alternative and modern rock stations across the US, and is the perfect Mink introduction. Mink’s sound is free of the gimmicks and production tricks that infect so much rock these days. Instead, this is all about the natural talents of the musicians and dynamics of the band. On “Dematerialize,” Carlson flashes the arid bite of a Mick Jagger or Lou Reed, while “Pills” has choruses comparable to David Bowie at his Ziggy Stardust rocking-est. “Jodi” has a soaring pop chorus riding a wave of crunchy guitar-rock. And live, “Get it Right” showcases Mozgawa’s awesome power.

Now Mink are primed to get the music to their increasing legion of fans, and they’re hitting the ground running taking on a major US tour with Saliva throughout May & June, and backing that up playing dates with KISS in July. With their guitar driven rock album debut set to be released this August, Mink are setting the pace. Until the end of the universe.

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