Luke Escombe interview in Drum Media Magazine, Tuesday 1st December 2009

Your artist/band name is...?
Luke Escombe. Catchy, no? I thought about coming up with a cool-sounding alias but then I looked more closely at my surname and decided it had some groovy components. "Esc" - my favourite computer key - "Om" - the world's most popular mantra - and then "Be". Plus, you can pronounce it with an accent on the last "e" and make it sound French or Spanish: "Escombay"

Your music is .... (genre)?
Funk, comedy, literate pop and flippant hip hop: FLIP FLOP

Which acts inspired you to produce your own music and why?
There are many acts that I love but probably the biggest influences on my style would be Frank Zappa and Tom Waits. Prolific, artistically fearless, unashamedly complex, witty, intelligent, relentlessley interesting, unique and glorious - they're the guys I return to again and again to remind myself of what is possible in music and songwriting (anything and everything). If I hadn't heard those guys I'd still be on the side of the stage playing blues licks and sticking my tongue out.

What's your wildest ambition for your music?
I trained myself to let go of all ambition a few years ago in order to preserve my happiness and sanity. However, I would still quite like to win a Nobel prize for something one day. Not too fussed about what.

Why should we come and see you?
I can be outrageously rude and absurdly polite almost simultaneously. You'll go away with a smile on your face humming deliciously sweet and profane melodies. Plus, ticket prices to my shows are usually dirt cheap, if that helps.

How do you find the local live scene?
Interesting, diverse, filled with talent, dedication, amazing characters and good friends - all pushing the same enormous boulder up the same enormous hill with enormous smiles on their faces.

What's your greatest rock'n'roll moment?
I was backstage at Bluesfest a few years ago doing a bit of star-spotting when a very attractive young girl came up to me and said "Excuse me, you're Luke Escombe aren't you, I think you're amazing". Unfortunately I was there with my Mum who decided to help out my new-found cred by telling the girl: "Oh, he doesn't have a manager, he doesn't have a record label, he doesn't even have an album out yet, he's useless". The ego is like a baloon: the faster it gets inflated, the faster it bursts.

For more info see: (website and releases)
www.myspace.com/lukeescombe/ www.lukeescombe.com "Golden Ages" - Luke's debut album is available nationally in stores and online through Dri-Clean Only Records and Chaos distribution

Next available at: (upcoming dates and venues in and around Sydney only)
Saturday 6th March - Raval, 1st Floor of the Mac Hotel, Surry Hills

For all enquiries please email lukeescombe@gmail.com