Having already established himself with a flurry of impactful anthems these last few months, Sydney-based artist Jon Maratheftis continues his My Pet Rhino project with the vibrant new single 'Knots'.
Capturing more of that bright and wondrous indie-pop aesthetic he has been crafting lately, 'Knots' makes for a stellar return to form for him. With its rich and shimmering textures, lively atmosphere, and his own compelling vocals at the helm, he is certainly looking to turn plenty of heads with this one.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Definitely the guitar! I first started playing when I was seven and never really stopped since.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I gravitated towards bands like Metallica, Nirvana and Foo Fighters - basically anything catchy and heavy.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I bought myself was Nevermind by Nirvana.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen. There are not many perfect songs in the world, but this is as close as it comes. The instruments do just as good a job at telling the story of the song as the lyrics do, and all the parts just blend together seamlessly despite breaking all the rules for what is meant to be ‘popular’.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I tend to try and write songs while just noodling around on an un-amplified electric guitar. If I can make something sound good when the guitar sounds its worst, then I know I am onto something.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I have been loving artists such as Julien Baker, Murdo Mitchell, Jamie Lenman, Mother Mother, We Were Promised Jetpacks, and There Will Be Fireworks at the moment.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
There Will Be Fireworks – mostly because they don’t play many shows, so it would finally give me an opportunity to see them live!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Turning something that started out as just a figment of your imagination into a real-life thing that everyone can enjoy.
And what is the most frustrating part?
It’s a tie between trying to get songs past all the gatekeepers that prevent you from reaching your audience, and that everyone other than yourself seems to make more money off your music than you do.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
If you make a mistake playing live, play the mistake twice and all of a sudden it sounds deliberate!
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My Pet Rhino's new single 'Knots' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.