With a sound that harkens back to early-aughts pop-punk, Ojay is more than just catchy melodies and foot-tapping beats. In an interview with Happy Mag, Ojay discusses the inspo and influences from literature to their local music scene.
Perth-based band Ojay’s latest album, The Ride, may sound like a bubblegum pop-punk dream, but its lyrics dive deeper into the darker sides of love and loss. From the infectious hooks of “I Don’t Care” to the grungier vibe of “Bound,” the album follows two characters on a journey through life’s ups and downs.
With influences ranging from Green Day to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, The Ride weaves a narrative of fire and fleeting romance. Ojay’s frontman sits down with Happy Mag to discuss how music has been therapeutic in tackling heavy topics, and the importance of the visual aspect in their work.
The Perth music scene may not be the most talked-about, but with acts like Colourmind gaining traction, Ojay proves there’s plenty of talent to discover. With two more albums’ worth of material already written, Ojay promises that it won’t be long before their fans get a new dose of their catchy, heartfelt tunes. For Ojay, nothing makes them happier than playing music with their mates.
Happy: What are you up to today?
Ojay: I’ve just got back from getting my wisdom teeth removed! Still feeling a bit funny but other than that I’m feeling fresh as a daisy!
Happy: You’ve described your latest release The Ride as a concept album involving two characters. Can you give a brief overview of this concept?
Ojay: The Ride is a collection of individual songs about my life, with a narrative weave from start to finish that follow two characters on a journey of love, loss, and everything in between.
Happy: You’ve described some of your songs as pop-punk. Why was this genre important to the overall sound of The Ride?
Ojay: They say the music you listen to when you’re 14 will influence your taste for the rest of your life, and all I listened to at that age was pop-punk. My mum always says I used to fall asleep to Green Day’s Bullet In A Bible live DVD every night from the age of 4, so that style of music has been a part of my DNA for longer than I can remember.
Happy: Are there any books or movies that you’ve watched or read that inspired your album, or artistry more broadly?
Ojay: Funnily enough Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury inspired the story of The Ride quite a lot. The idea of a woman entering your life in a flash, leaving a monumental mark, and then exiting just as quick, encased in this recurring theme of fire was so inspiring to me. So I wrote a little fictional multi-part song that turned into Mr Man, and then a year later the story I wrote for that song essentially came true in my own life. It was like art imitating life. I just knew I had to turn it into an album.
Happy: What did a typical day look like when recording The Ride?
Ojay: Sitting back in the shed at my house with a mic pointed at my Crate amp, beer in hand, and a smile on our faces.
Happy: You touch on some pretty heavy topics throughout the album. Why is music such a useful medium to explore these themes?
Ojay: I think that music is the best therapy. For anyone. It’s especially therapeutic when you get to write out your problems and express them in as beautiful an art-form as music is. Every time I write a song about a trouble I’m facing I immediately feel a weight off my shoulders, and I can only hope that our music will bring that feeling to our listeners too!
Happy: What’s the music scene like in Perth? Any acts you’d like to shout out?
Ojay: I think it’s pretty easy for people to say that local music is dead, but all you have to do is look a little and you’ll realise that’s not true. Almost every weekend we get the chance to see or share a stage with some amazing up-and-coming acts.
The lads over at Colourmind are definitely a stand-out for us. Not only do they put out amazing music and amazing live shows, but they’re the most humble, down to earth, supportive guys you’ll ever meet.
Even though you’ve just released a project, is there anything else in the works that you can tease for us?
Ojay: I had almost two more albums worth of music written before The Ride even came out, so it won’t be very long at all until we release something new!
Happy: Your single Time Moves A Little Slower Here was accompanied by a music video. How important are the visuals for you when conceiving of a song?
Ojay: The video for Time Moves was the brainchild of me and the great Dion Tyler-Whiteman, a long-time friend of ours who has done all of our videography to date. He is something special, and the way that he works to create something bigger than the sum of our minds shocks me every time.
Happy: What makes you happy?
Ojay: Playing with my mates in Ojay.
