Homegrown rocker, Dan Sultan, is no stranger to an infectious guitar riff, nor the harsh reality of racial politics here in Australia. We sat down with him to talk about his set at Splendour in the Grass โ17, the inescapability of all truth, and his new release, Killer.
This is actually the third time Iโve seen you up close recently. About a month ago, I saw someone that looked suspiciously like you at the Unicorn Hotel during a Steve Smyth gig.
At the Unicornโฆ yeah, yeah. That was itโฆ I know Steve, heโs great. His bass player and I went to high school togetherโฆ Heโs awesome. Heโs a fucking force.
So the other time I saw you so up close was just at Splendour last weekend. I only caught the last twenty-ish minutes of it, but it was a great set.
Ah rightโฆ Thanks very much, man. Did you see the confetti?
Yeah, I did.
You got the best bit. My whole life had lead up to that momentโconfetti!
Youโve been applauded for the political statement you came out with, alongside A.B. Original.
I donโt think itโs politicalโฆ I think weโre just pointing at the scoreboard. I donโt think itโs protest, I donโt think itโs political, weโre just sayingโฆ weโre just telling everyone what happened. If anything, people denying itโฆ thatโs the fucking politics, and thatโs politics getting involved. All weโre doing is giving people a history lesson. You know, if anything, for everyone else to kind of react to it in a negative way, I mean thatโs on them. Weโre just pointing at the scoreboard, thatโs all weโre doing.
Was there any discussion or co-ordination between you and A.B. beforehand?
No, we donโt discuss anything. Weโre all individuals, and we all just go for it. Weโre family, weโre brothers. Things like thatโฆ serendipity, it happensโฆ Weโre just wearing a shirtโฆ I donโt think about it that much, bro. Weโre just out there doing it. Whatever happens, happens. Weโre fighting the good fight, and we know that weโre right. And we know that weโre on the side of right. Itโs not a matter of opinion. Itโs not our opinion that that happened. Itโs not our opinion that weโre fighting the good fight. We fucking are. You know, someone could have the opinion that the world is flat, and theyโre entitled to it, doesnโt mean theyโre not a fucking idiot. Know what I mean? Itโs not our opinionโฆ that history will see us as the freedom fighters that we are, and you are, and we all are. Trying to do the right thing.
Youโre a part of the minority in this country, know what I mean? Trying to do the right thing, the shit youโve dealt with, in some respect. And I donโt know what you know, and you donโt know what I know, but we can relate, and we can emphasize, sympathiseโฆ fuck what these rednecks say. And Iโll tell you what, if pointing at the scoreboard and giving a history lesson about Australia affects someoneโs sovereignty, and their national pride so muchโฆ of a country they apparently love so much, and would do anything for, but they donโt even give a fuck about its historyโฆ
Must be something culturally wrongโฆ
โฆ Oh, well obviously theyโre full of shit. Their sovereignty is fuck all, and itโs wafer thinโฆ We know where we areโฆ It is what it is. Itโs up to other people whether it becomes political or not. Weโre writing a song. For me, itโs a love song. It is. Itโs a patriotic song. Probably the most patriotic song thatโs been written.
I know you said itโs all divorced from politics, but thereโs no better time to politicise the issue of race. With movements like Black Lives Matter, the verdict of the Elijah Doughty case, it comes to this recurring theme that can be found in your album.
Just because people are talking about that stuff now, doesnโt mean itโs suddenly a thing. Itโs been a thing for fucking hundreds of years, mate. Itโs genocide, thatโs what it is. Itโs ongoing genocide, unapologetic, white supremacy, [against] our people. Mandatory sentencing is only in place in the Northern Territory, and WA, where most of the Aboriginal population liveโitโs not a fucking coincidence mate. And weโre still dying in gaol, every yearโฆ Itโs gone up since the last inquestโฆ itโs fucking genocide, mate.
Itโs all very well to sit here in Surry Hills, and have a beer, wearing our nice coats, and going outโitโs happening. Itโs full on. And it happens from the day a child is born. To the day they die, seventeen years earlier thanโฆ someone who wasnโt born Aboriginal. Itโs a fucking disgrace, and the whole worldโs watchingโฆ all weโre doing is holding the mirror, and if anyone freaks out about it, itโs because they donโt like how they look.
The inescapable truthโฆ
Well, all truth is inescapable. There is only truth though. Itโs either true, or it doesnโt exist. People can lie about it, doesnโt mean it isnโt true though.
With the massive amounts of stories out there, do you ever have trouble deciding which ones to tell first?
Itโs heartbreakingโฆ Itโs just heartbreaking. I think about it every day. Everyday. But fuck, if you donโt laugh, you cry. You got to keep moving. Iโm very fortunate, to be in the position Iโm in. I need to enjoy it, and make the most of it, and just keep fighting the good fightโฆ What really hurts is people telling me that itโs not, telling me that I shouldnโt be offended. Donโt tell me what I should and shouldnโt be offended byโฆ Itโs just the height of entitlementโฆ Iโve travelled the worldโฆ Dark people are cleaning it up, and white people are making the mess.
I have to say, in this you paint a beautifully vivid picture of identity, heritage, and your connection to the land. Songs like Kingdom is raw with emotion. Almost like a rallying battle cry, calling to reclaim whatโs rightfully yoursโฆ
Ours. Itโs ours. Weโre all in this together. We can be better. Kingdomโs all about being better. Like, โWhat the fuck do you care if these people get married?โโฆ Weโve got the technology, weโve got the heart, weโve got the brainsโฆ weโve got the means, weโve got the knowledge. We can do it. Weโre better. Weโre better.
Then on songs like Magnetic, where youโre struggling to retain who you are as a person. You tap into this deep reservoir of emotion. Do you ever find it draining?
Yeah, totally.
And how do you recharge?
I donโt knowโฆ You just donโt know, mate. There have been times where I havenโt been able to recharge, and Iโve got nothing to writeโฆ I mean, youโre a writer. You know. You get writerโs block. And then sometimes, itโs like bang! Whether itโs a great meal, or a friend, or someone youโre spending time with, it makes you feel something that lights something within you. The way they smell, even after theyโve left, on your pillowโฆ Weโre so esotericโฆ and as writers, weโreโฆ spongesโฆ But then it takes one little drop to [Mimics sponge absorbing liquid.]. Itโs soโฆ we canโt stop.
And finally, if you could have one message broadcasted to every household in the country, guaranteed to be heard, what would you say?
Buy my album [Laughs.]
