A Quick Chat with Oscar The Wild

First of all, where did the name Oscar The Wild come from?

Ruby: Oscar the Wild was initially a temporary name. At the time of starting the band, I was reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and my favourite book as a little kid was Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, so I melded the two together to become Oscar the Wild. Now I realise it’s the perfect name, I have always admired Wilde’s bravery in a time where he was imprisoned for being gay, and am still enchanted by the trippy journey young Max takes to a fantasy land of beasts. These two literary kings embody the challenge of being an oddball in a confusing world. 

What were some of the inspirations behind your debut EP ‘She’ll Be Right’?

Ruby: I didn’t start this EP with any intention other than making a more cohesive, larger body of work. Eventually through moments of growth in the last two years, I wrote songs that emotionally relieved me of something. I typically write the chords and melodies first, and it seems like some basement part of my brain puts the right words to it. Now that it’s complete, I can reflect on the tumultuous journey I have been on in my early twenties. In the order of when I wrote them, ‘Pinch Me’ and ‘Unafraid’ are moments when I felt completely stuck, unable to firmly grasp reality as a 22-year-old. ‘She’ll Be Right’ was written on a respite weekend, where I reflected on a happy memory of going on rollercoasters with my love, which I clung to in hard times. ‘Leaking Through’ is an imagined conversation between my subconscious and thinking brain, questioning all my actions and realising that music is the only way through it. And finally ‘Multicolour’ is the happy ending, where, instead of overthinking everything, I just lose myself in the simple beauty of a good relationship. Sonically we are inspired by so many bands and artists, from Courtney Barnett, to the Pixies, from Stella Donnelly to the Beatles; almost all of our differing music tastes have made its way into the witches brew that is this EP.  

You’ve shared the stage with Bloc Party, The Killers & Pale Waves. Which other internationals are on your bucket list?

Nic: We are absolutely counting our lucky stars that we’ve gotten to play with so many AMAZING bands so far, but I think my international bucket list would definitely have Foo Fighters, Paramore and The Cure. Aiming very high here but they would be incredible.

Ariya: Still beaming over these supports honestly. There are so many bands on my bucket list but many I’m not sure we’d fit the genres to support hahaha but some I think we’d work well with are Momma, Soccer Mommy, Beabadoobee, Snail Mail, Boygenius and then I’d have to agree with Nic - Paramore or The Cure would be so so sick. 

Ruby: Thirding how lucky we have been to score these amazing supports! It would be a DREAM to support PUP, Beach Bunny, and like Ariya said, Snail Mail. But I have always craved Aussie music, so supporting Amyl and the Sniffers, Violent Soho and Courtney Barnett would make my inner 14-year-old scream. 

Gem: My god so many good answers!!! I’m gonna go down the 2000’s pop punk route and drop Fall Out Boy, All Time Low and Short Stack even though we might not necessarily fit the vibe, gosh it would be COOL.

What was the first gig you ever attended?

Nic: The first concert/gig I ever attended was the Black Eyed Peas on their ‘The E.N.D.’ Tour in 2009. Very random first choice but it sparked my love for live music which is very much ongoing! 

Ariya: I have been attending local shows since I was about 11 but the first big gig I ever went to was Evanescence. 

Ruby: In 2009 when I was 10, my family took us to see a White Album tribute concert, where music legends Chris Cheney, Tim Rogers and Josh Pyke performed every song. That gig truly kickstarted my Beatles obsession. Phil Jameson was also on the line up, so it’s wild that we are supporting Grinspoon in December this year, real full circle moment. 

Gem: My very first gig was Queens of the Stone Age in 2012 at the Entertainment Centre in Adelaide. I was 12, I went with Nic, I fell asleep. 

What have been your favourite songs of 2023?

Nic: Oooooh, there has been so much good music out this year! I started off the year listening to  new Paramore and Fall Out Boy, but there have also been so many Australian releases that I’ve been absolutely loving! The new Teenage Joans album is incredible, I’ve listened to Aleksiah’s releases (‘Ant Song’ & ‘Pretty Picture’) more times than I care to admit, and the song ‘You Make Me Sick’ by Carla Wehbe has also been a massive standout for me too.

Ariya: I’ve had so many fixation songs that have come out over this year, some include “Ward 52” - Dust, “Yoke” - Teenage Joans, “Slugs” - Slow Pulp, “Miracle (without you)” - Cashier, “Favourite” - SOMOH, “Satanist” - Boygenius. I could list so many songs. I’m also a big fan of  so many local bands too and all their recent releases. 

Ruby: I also third Nic and Ariya’s answers! I feel like the qweens have really excelled in 2023. I am OBSESSED with ‘I Used to Be Fun’ by Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, ‘I Want You’ by the Buoys has been stuck in my brain all year, ‘Lindy Hop’ by Sputnik Sweetheart (and their whole ‘far from you’ EP this year is fantastic) and literally released THIS WEEK Thelma Plum’s ‘We Don’t Talk About It’ is so powerful and harrowing. 

Gem: oh my god this is so embarrassing but it’s been a wild mix of music for 2023. We have so much Taylor Swift, so much Short Stack, so much Paramore, and so so so SO much Kendrick and Frank Ocean.

Dinner party with 4 people (alive or dead) - who are you picking?

Nic: Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Dave Grohl & Hayley Williams. Quite a mix of characters there but I think it would be fun! There would just be so many incredible stories that I could sit and listen to forever.

Ariya: Weird for me as I am the people person and networker of the band but I am one who freezes and can’t speak when meeting any idols of mine (ie. when I met Beabadoobee and tbh I am surprised how well I did when we were hanging out with Bloc Party) so I will forget about having a dinner party with any of my idols to save everyone from embarrassment, no matter how much I want to talk to them about their lives and pick their brains. 

Ruby: My very real and true, sad, honest answer would be to pick some of my friends who have passed away, I’d love to talk some smack with them. 

Gem: Similarly to Ruby’s, my ideal dinner party would be myself and my partner Michael, and our very very good friend Mike who passed away in 2021. We miss him lots and god I would love to get on the Coopers Sparklings and talk some absolute nonsense. 

If you could only have one food with you on a desert island what would it be?

Nic: Mmm this is tough, but if I had to only pick one food it would probably be dumplings. I could eat those forever and never get sick of them.

Ariya: I am the biggest fan of a tofu cold roll (rice paper roll), an odd comfort food choice but I absolutely love them. 

Ruby: Bananas, but considering they might already be growing on the island, my actual answer is hot chips. 

Gem: my answer is bread. As a recent non-gluten consumer, I only want bread, and I want to be able to digest it.

What shows are you currently binging?

Nic: I’ve just finished the third season of Morning Wars on Apple TV+. Everything about the show is truly chaotic but it’s kept me on the edge of my seat, every single episode. That show truly knows no peace and I love it.

Ariya: I haven’t binged anything since the latest seasons of Heartstopper or Sex Education, I’ve been spending all my free time going to see bands play hahahah

Ruby: I have NEVER been into sport, but now find myself avidly watching every Matilda’s game. 

Gem: Bluey and Adventure Time. I swear I'm an adult I promise.

What’s in store for the rest of the year?

Nic: After the EP comes out we’ve got one more gig with Grinspoon on December 15 and then we’ll just be preparing for some very exciting stuff happening at the beginning of next year! Aside from that I will be spending some much needed time away from work, spending time with family and friends and doing lots of cooking and swimming! 

Ariya: Once the EP comes out and we play the show with Grinspoon I will spend my holiday break with close family and friends and then gear up for an exciting start to the year for the band. 

Ruby: Sleep ahaha. 

Gem: I’ve pinned a bunch of budget friendly Christmas DIY’s and my Christmas playlist is defrosting, so that’s me for the rest of the year.