Mudbelly’s own Bex with comments from John
Interview conducted on June 02, 2020
By Dan Locke
Mudbelly are a dirty-blues-rock band from Christchurch, NZ. Started by Bex, John and Sam in 2018, they’ve performed for the last 2 years as the [unpronounceable] Hypnumb. Cranking riffs, an honest stage presence and soaring vocals are what we’re about.
Band Members
Bex B
John Arrillaga
& mates
Extended Hypnumb family
Jesse Bruce
Clara Anderson
Andy Mcleod
What is your upbringing?
Bex: I grew up in a small, coal mining town in the UK. We were close to Sherwood Forest so I still say today that my grandad was Robin Hood! It was quite a humble upbringing where family was king. I think it was pretty similar for John although he has Spanish blood in his veins so family was king there too.
How did you discover music?
I have been singing at people since I could walk and raided record collections of my mum and grandparents – mainly Motown with some reggae thrown in for good measure! I went on to sing in an amazing choir that has toured across the world and then got stuck in the world of work for far too many years. John’s dad was musical, loved the old crooners, and played guitar so for both of us we had music circling us from a young age. John took it further and played in bands whilst he traveled, picking up guitars, drums, and bass.
How did you start to write music?
We have both always written poetry and I could play you some songs I made up when I was a kid, generally about dolls and poop and later about boys. I’m sure it was the same for John! Together we started to write music a few years back when we were in another band that was more Americana. Our mutual love of dirty blues pushed us to start something new in 2018 which eventually became Mudbelly.
How the band did get its name? Why did you go from Hypnumb to Mudbelly?
Originally the band was named after my favourite moss (Hypnum cupressiforme) but no one could say it let alone say it. Also, naming a rock band after a moss doesn’t have the cool ring that it should! It was in a band jam night when we were tossing names around that we stumbled across Mudbelly by putting words together with body parts. I still like MuckyTummy but it does have a very coal mining town girl sound to it and MudBelly has just enough dirt to sound like a dive bar but not a hovel.
Did you know there was another band name Mudbelly from New York State?
That’s cool! Do they play dirty blues too? Maybe we should collaborate and unite the MudBelly forces….
Back in 2017, you did a tour of the UK. You funded it with a fundraiser. Tell me about it? I saw you were willing to do any shittest job in exchange for a humble band donation?
The tour was so much fun. For me it was a home coming and I got to hug the oak trees in Sherwood Forest once again! The trip skinted us, we did the fundraiser and got enough for the airfares and spent the time bumming round on people’s sofas. It was great to play to new audiences and meet new bands to share the musical experiences with. The shittiest jobs were ace! The best was cleaning out a huge long ditch around a farm using massive rake type things. Stinky, messy and hard work. I felt like we really earned that cash! Another was painting a house – that was pure fun and again pretty messy (especially when you have people painting your face by accident on purpose).
How is your original guitarist Sam doing?
What a lovely question. Sam is doing great. He’s still in the gang and we play with him when he has the energy. As a founding member we have missed him but the way that he has looked after himself has paid off and we all hope that one day he’ll beat the C word for good.
How did you get the idea for the video, 5 reasons to download Mudbellys album?
John is a comic at heart. I think he really just wanted me to wear a mustache which was made of carpet fluff I had swept up!
Your album got released on May 22th. Tell me about it?
The album has been a labor of love for about a year and a half. Many of the songs began their life in many different ways to where they ended up. Most started in Sam’s garage and ended up in the fabulous hands of Thom O’Connor who mixed them. The album is a bit of a journey through the dirty blues rock genre with some real heartfelt songs like Bullet, some whimsical tunes like On Fire documenting a crazy night out to Crooked Magic which is probably our hardest rock song and came from my frustration at being judged by people when they had never seen my shoes never mind walked in them.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Oooh, tricky. I actually love the last song. I think for most people it’s a slow burn but it just popped into life kinda by accident. It’s about feeling so grounded and chilled within yourself that nothing can touch you – a place we all strive to get to!
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Hmmmm, in theory we sleep and eat well and get the touring vitamins in us. In practice we stay up too late, eat amazing food, meet beautiful people and then eat tons of garlic to stave off any baddies floating around to try and make us sick.
Do you think the Me-Too Movement has helped female performers?
I’m sure it has helped many artists to be firm in their right to own and respect their bodies and their authenticity. I think the movement was long overdue and really helped to highlight what behavior is not ok in any circumstances. As an artist, I want to be free to perform without my gender being a huge deal. That means no one expecting me to conform to any gender stereotypes they may hold of females. Until we reach the understanding that everyone is unique, not just gender, I think we will still be paddling upstream. However, I am trying my hardest to refuse the upstream paddle and am staunchly being my feminine self in a male-dominated arena (which is sometimes intimidating). Thankfully all the guys I’ve worked with have been wonderful human beings, just like the females. And long may that remain.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I think it’s great for artists starting out as it allows music to be heard by a wide audience but there is absolutely no money in it. That can feel heavy as you pour your heart and soul into creative projects which people enjoy but do not give you anything in return. I think that underpinning all of this is a lack of respect for the arts. All arts. I feel that the arts are the magic in this world and a life devoid of art would be no life at all. I try to support artists whenever I can.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I think vinyl is wonderfully special but the fact you can take digital music with you everywhere is brilliant too. They both have their place.
Any plans to tour?
Touring is on hold for the foreseeable until we have countries opening up their borders again. However, no time like the present to make plans. In fact, I am going to say right here in this interview that I am super keen to get to the States. Let’s make plans…….
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
I have had “Ain’t No Mountain” by Marvin and Tammi in my head for about a week. I love the unconditional love expressed in that song and it’s still super cool and catchy after all those years. Genius. It also reminds me of my mum, we’ve sung that many a time in our kitchen!
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Tough question…. I’d like to think that it won’t at all because live shows are the best way to experience music. There’s nothing like that feeling of being part of a group of people all in one place just to sing and dance to favorite music. It’s buzzing. I’m believing that will never stop because I can’t comprehend it.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Like many, I had BIG plans. But I went with the flow and I’ve been a mum and home school teacher having the most wonderful time with my two babies. We’ve explored parts of the garden we didn’t know existed and celebrated festivals we’d never heard about. We also did a lockdown song, all recorded on phones – Put The Lime in the Coconut. It was so much fun and we teamed up with a couple of mates from another band here in Christchurch, Sexbeard.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I rekindled my love of yoga and got into a bit of dancing! Saturday night home discos are defo part of the future!
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You are doing something called The Coconut Lockdown Rockdown. What is that?
We were in lockdown separately so couldn’t do any concerts but we did the song recorded on phones and generally passed around bits of music we’d been working on. Like I say, it’s been great to see bands doing the concerts and keeping the music going but it doesn’t sit close to the real thing. We are now out of lockdown and able to see bands again which is bloody marvelous. Missed the vibe.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Possibly, I’m a big believer in “where there’s a will there’s a way” but it isn’t for me.
First it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Who knows? The world is going through so many transformations at present I feel like certainty is the last thing we can be certain of. My gut instinct tells me that (in the words of Benjamin Zephaniah) people need people. We surely can’t go without contact and especially live music for years. I reckon something will give.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Benjamin speaks the truth – we need people and especially that feeling of being part of the group at a music festival. We’ve got this and we will all figure out a way for it to work for everyone – us humans can work it out.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
I’m all about the real and living – cool gimmick though. I’d defo play along for a bit. I’d want Janis Joplin though. Wonder if that will be possible at some stage?
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
In the next five years, hmmmmm. I want to come up with a brilliant answer with definitive goals that I will have achieved but I’m a bit more spontaneous than that so it’s gonna be a surprise. Hopefully MudBelly will have toured the States and made some brilliant mates and the world will have an air of peace around it.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Thanks for chatting with us and picking up our music. It’s an absolute passion and a joy to share with people. I really hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we loved making it. Peace and light x
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