The Last Martyr- One of newest Melodic metal from Melbourne, Australia!
Interview conducted on Nov. 31, 2019
by Dan Locke
Melbourne-based melodic metal outfit The Last Martyr have returned with a new single, ‘Like A Ghost’, a track that tackles the contemplation of giving up on goals and aspirations when the going gets tough, and overcoming the negative thoughts we all struggle with. The band has also announced they’ll be jumping on the Melbourne date of Bare Bones East coast tour to launch the new single live!
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Lalic (Windwaker), ‘Like A Ghost’ is a hard-hitting tune from start to finish with a heavy, haunting undertone that compliments the theme of the track. Vocalist Monica Strut’s impressive vocals are flaunted with soaring highs and harsh screams that are utilised in a chorus that’ll get you humming along by the second half!
Band Members
Monica Strut – Vocals
Ben Rogers – Guitar
Matthew Mumford – Bass
Vin Krishnan – Drums
Dan Locke: How did the band get started?
Monica Strut – I moved to Melbourne and was looking for a new project. It took me a while but eventually, I found Ben (guitar) on an online Craigslist type of website for Melbourne musicians. He knew the other boys from previous bands and TLM was born!
Why did you pick the name you did?
All of us went to music college or had been playing in bands for a while. After many years we kind of felt like we were one of the last people in our friendship groups doing music. We liked the word ‘martyr’ and I guess the band name symbolizes the journey it’s taken to get to where we are. Which is nowhere near the top as yet, but it’s definitely been a ride so far!
What were your influences while you were growing up?
For me, Linkin Park and Evenesancce were my gateways to heavier music. I played piano and so Amy Lee was a huge influence for a while. Then a friend introduced me to 80s glam and I became obsessed with the music and lifestyle of bands like Guns n Roses and Motley Crue as well as Divinyls. Chrissy Amphlett is still an influence to this day and paved the way for females in the rock here in Australia! At the same time emo was popular and the music at all the local shows so I was definitely an emo/galm hybrid!
Since your EP hit North America in August. Is there any plans to do any type of tour in the United States?
We would absolutely love to. As Australia is pretty isolated, it would have to be when the right opportunity. But I LOVE America. I always wanted to move to LA and I’ve been there several times so it’d be a dream come true to return to the States with the band!
Tell me about your latest single Like a Ghost?
It was inspired by conversations I’ve had with friends who quit music. These conversations made me so sad – I almost took them personally and felt so alone as being a musician is a rollercoaster and not for everyone. You can see how this ties in with the band name, right!? So, Like a Ghost is about having a strong mindset and the fact that the ups and downs of pursuing your dreams are better than giving up and becoming a shell or “ghost” of yourself in the process.
However, everyone has times when they feel down. So whilst we can all strive to ascend in consciousness, we must always remember we are human and forgive ourselves in those moments of doubt.
How is it to tour Australia?
It’s a lot of time spent in a car! Our major cities are pretty far apart (10 hours or more)! It’s fun for a while but thankfully we have the internet so we can find new fans online a lot easier than slogging it out on the road!
How do you stay healthy while touring?
I’m vegan and gluten-free so traveling is hard in Australia when the cities are so far apart and there’s only truck stops to eat at (we call them servos i.e. service stations). So I always try and pack my own food if I can!
I am going to ask you about some bands from Melbourne. I would like for you to tell me something about each if you can.
The Birthday Party – Literally know nothing about them, sorry haha.
The Living End – A few solid songs!
Little River Band – Can’t comment too much!
Kylie Minogue – Used to be obsessed. She is a Queen that never ages.
Olivia Newton-John – I liked that movie she was in.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Don’t know much about them.
Crowded House – I listen to their albums when I was to feel calm! Love the Crowded House. Many good memories listening to them at an old job in a restaurant sweeping floors and teaching myself to harmonize vocally to their music.
Air Supply – Before my time
Missy Higgins – Not a fan. I wonder what she’s up to nowadays.
Deez Nuts – Awesome hardcore band
If you did do a tour of the U.S. which cities or clubs would you like to do?
Definitely LA somewhere on the Sunset Strip to live out my teen fantasies. Also in New York, somewhere in New Orleans (such a spooky place, I love it). I love the fact America has so many cool smaller towns too. Like Lone Pine, for example. I remember I was on a road trip stopped at one of the motels off the highway listening to the first mixes of The Last Martyrs first EP under the stars. It was a special moment and such a beautiful little town. But honestly, we will play anywhere!
The following questions are for Monica:
Monica, I liked your YouTube channel. You are a great spoke person. This your digital marketing, music journalist and strategy consultant helping the band and give me some examples?
Thank you! Yes, I’m a digital marketer and music journalist so this has definitely helped us launch in a time where things are more online than ever. It’s really important for bands these days to be knowledgeable in the business side of the music industry and working on the business side of music has taught me so many invaluable lessons that I like to pass onto other bands through my YouTube channel, blog, podcast and consulting. It’s all about helping each other and I want my peers to succeed as much as I want to succeed. As I mentioned earlier, I have felt quite sad when musician friends had told me they were quitting so this is my way of trying to help people stay on the path to their dreams.
But one particular way my industry knowledge has helped was when TLM released our first single, ‘Into the Black.’ I ran the PR campaign myself and we ticked off every goal we had with that track. There’s no way we would have reached half the people we did with that song if I hadn’t worked in media and marketing for so long! It’s experiencing I intentionally went after but one I’m very grateful for it at the same time. And anyone can put themselves in that same position if they want it bad enough.
I like your video on Coachella / Festival LookBook- This could make a good series for you. Any chance of this happening?
I actually did that a few years ago when a friend who is a YouTuber was encouraging me to try YouTube as well. I made a few videos like that lookbook as I do like fashion, but honestly, I wasn’t passionate enough to do it long term.
I now have a music industry blog for emerging heavy bands at monicastrut.com and have been posting consistently for over a year. It’s growing more and more each week as I am dedicated to it and immensely passionate about the topic. I think for any sort of entrepreneurial venture you really have to love it as you won’t earn money from it at the start and won’t put in the blood sweat and tears required to keep producing high-quality consistent content.
Is the band going to try to play Coachella next year?
Sure, can you get us on the bill?!
How was the BigSound Festival?
Amazing. I went as a music industry representing my consulting business, not with the band. But we hope to be chosen to showcase there next year! I’ve been before and it’s SO invaluable to new bands and industry for networking and learning from those more experienced in the industry. For example, I got to sit down with the manager of Of Mice and Men and booking agent of Download Festival the UK and ask them anything I wanted. I mean, how amazing is that!
Are you going to be playing BigDay Out Soon?
Unfortunately, Big Day Out is no longer running. But we have festivals like Download, Unify and Good Things which we would love to play!
What is the best advice you have ever given a band?
It’s hard for me to say as the bands I work with would probably have to answer this! But my general favorite advice is that it takes 10 years to be an overnight success. Don’t give up and don’t listen to the naysayers as when people tell you that you can’t do something, it’s just them projecting their own insecurities and fears onto you. Nothing to do with you at all. So keep going, we only have one life!
How is “The Ultimate Social Media Handbook for Bands doing”?
It’s going so well, thank you for asking. I can’t believe I have a book on Amazon, it makes me so happy.
Who’s the idea was it to start making behind the scene videos of your videos?
I think we all love a good BTS video. They’re great for showing the personality of a band and good extra content to post on socials.
How do you see the band in the next five years?
Hopefully touring the USA on a big bus, writing my blog posts and staring out the window at cacti with my best mates.
Anything you like to say in closing?
Thank you so much Unrated Mag for your support and to anyone reading this for your interest. We hope you check out, ‘Like a Ghost’ and if you like the track spread the word to your friends and let’s get this US tour happening!
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