Villainy's music traverses musical fault lines which makes for dark, intricate, and engagingly well presented alternative rock and speaking from personal experience I can tell you that their music is a complete assault on all your senses, especially when heard live. Simply put - you have to see Villainy during their current NZ tour with City of Souls and Decades - no ifs, buts or maybes! Thom answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:

How did you become involved in music?

I got my first guitar aged 6 and discovered that if you played The Rose with just the right level of feeling people would weep. It was a frightening amount of power for a child.  

If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

I'd be a backup dancer for Beyoncé. I feel like it'd be a good challenge. Either that or I'd play the triangle in The Beatles. 

Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?

Ha, all of them for a variety of reasons. At the moment, No Future from Dead Sight sticks out for me because of the way it was captured - we wrote the track in about an hour, and the vocal take on the track is actually the rough guide performance that we left in because they felt right. 

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?

The sound of everything breaking. 

What can we expect to see from you in the next year?

We're on our nationwide tour with Decades and City of Souls throughout New Zealand right now - we'll be heading back to Australia mid-year - and we'll also write a new album, so may need an excuse to road-test some songs later on in the year.   

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

The Tattletale Saints. I used to flat with Cy before the band moved to Tennessee and they're some of the most gifted and driven New Zealanders making music.

What local albums have you been enjoying recently?

The new Marlon Williams album is excellent. I've also been listening to a lot of Jakob and The Skeptics too.  

What is your favourite NZ venue, and why?

You can't go past the Powerstation. Dark, but not grimy, the sound is amazing and it's got the best sight-lines in the country.

Have you got any tips for dealing with nerves before a gig?

Unless you're in some kind of weird cutthroat band comp, no-one is watching you hoping that you fail. You know what you're doing, you'll be fine (unless you don't know what you're doing, in which case you should totally sort that out).

How do you balance your music with other obligations; family, job etc.?

With great difficulty and understanding from all involved. Gifts also help. 

Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?

It can come from anywhere. Reading books, watching movies, being outside, being alone - all of those places have a vibe attached to them and it's fun to sit down to try and channel those feelings into songwriting.

Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians? 

Write constantly. Creativity is a muscle which you need to keep flexing - you just have to be OK with writing a lot of bad things. I have a phone full of about 300-400 voice memos - many of them are not-good ramblings of me whispering chords in my phone at 3am. But if even 10% of the ideas are good, that's 30-40 demo ideas. Those are sweet odds.

• 1
  Head Like A Hole
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Fur Patrol
• 5
  Michelle Rounds
• 6
  L.A.B.
• 7
  Devilskin
• 8
  Coridian
• 9
  The Boondocks
• 10
  Late to Chelsea

• 
  LOST BiRD @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Just Janie @ Space Academy, Christchurch - 15/12/2024
• 
  Dream Chambers @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024
• 
  The Phoenix Foundation @ Meow Nui, Wellington - 14/12/2024

• 1
  APT.
  ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
• 2
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 6
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 7
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 8
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 9
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 10
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan

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