Just signed with General Pants Co.’s pioneering ‘singles only’ record label, Angela and Jack of Circle Pit took a moment to answer a few important questions...

How long has this band been together? How did get started?
Circle Pit have been together for 2 years with many different line-ups, based around Angela and Jack, who are the two core members. We had played music together since the day after we met, in various bands around Sydney,  but Circle Pit is the first time we've taken centre-stage so to speak, as  songwriters, singers and guitarists - so in a way it feels like something entirely new and dangerous compared to what we'd previously done together.

What inspires your music (artists/day to day stuff…)
We're largely inspired by our surroundings - the people in our lives, the streets we live on, the daily struggle of waking up, trying to find purpose and meaning in an absurd world where the only truths are found in music, friendship and love. We love to listen to music but that doesn't really come into the picture when it comes to the creative act, we approach our music in the same way that we approach all other creative pursuits, and as such are more inspired by artists who dare to take risks and stand out, without compromise. People who don't necessarily make music but are involved in actions and ideas that come from a place of honesty and trying to figure out how to get by without losing yourself. People like John Cage, Ant Farm, Larry Clark, Nan Goldin, Darby Crash, our mothers and anyone else who spits in the face of fear.

If you could go on tour with any band dead/alive who would it be and why
Probably Guns N Roses in 90/91, Appetite For Destruction Tour, when Axl was really hot and before Steve Adler was fired for being too far gone - We'd do anything to have had a chance to save that poor lost soul.

Do you feel supported by your local music scene? What is your general perception of the current Australian music industry?
We don't feel like we're part of any particular scene as such, there's a small community of creative people in Sydney who we love and admire, but we support ourselves and would be doing the exact same thing whether anyone was listening or not. The Australian music Industry, and the music industry in general is our second least favourite thing about being in a band. (after lugging around gear) But fortunately for us, it seems to be at a crossroads - the power is shifting from the rich white men into the hands of the people.

What are your current plans for world domination? Do you think a band has to leave Australia to really achieve great success?
I think people need to leave Australia to achieve great success in life no matter what you do, and playing in a band in no exception. It is a huge world out there, with so much to experience and learn - if you don't move around then you can't appreciate what's right in front of you. The isolation of Australia works to its advantage and disadvantage. Coming from such an isolated continent give you a unique perspective on the rest of the world - with eyes wide open and your ears to the ground. At the same time Australians are notorious for cutting down those who rise above the rest and find success elsewhere.

Have you done much touring outside your hometown?
We've toured Australia and North America extensively in different incarnations, and will be returning to the states mid-year for the first time with our full band.

Describe your best and worst ever gig? What happened? 
Every show we play feels like our best and worst in some ways. Playing live in itself is always a huge rush, but can also be a major head-fuck - we lay our emotions bare, and make ourselves quite vulnerable in doing so, so depending on the audience and the mood on the night this can either be very therapeutic or traumatic.

Who do you think is the next big thing (apart from your good selves of course!)
I think the term 'next big thing' should be reserved for careerist bands who make a lot of money for a lot of rich white men in a short amount of time and then disappear. We do however know several fellow artistic luminaries at the peak of their creative powers and would be happy to mention them: Naked On The Vague, Pink Reason, Royal Headache, Kurt Vile, Dominic Talarico, Psychedelic Horseshit, St Helens, Blues Control.

What musical instruments are you hankering after? Describe your dream gear set up?
Between the two of us we own one guitar, zero amps, and about $5 so we'll pretty much take whatever we can get.