Super Massive is all about classic pop songwriting, synth sounds of any vintage, deep, funky danceable grooves and the lustiness of a full blooded rock band. It's creative alterna-pop/electro/rock. A heady brew of tasty playing and exhilarating grooves, with plenty of variety in the songs and sounds. It's as fresh as a snowflake and as black as your soul.
The band was formed in 2005 by singer, songwriter, actor & dancer Malina Hamilton-Smith and drummer & songwriter Glenn Abbott (best known for his work in popular Australian band Machine Gun Fellatio).
In November 2007 the pair were awarded the prestigious Best Alternative Artist Award at the 2007 MusicOz Awards (Australia’s premier national music awards for unsigned and independent bands), for evocative, synth-rock song “Fists In My Pocket”.
In May 2008 Super Massive released their debut EP, with “Fists” its leading single. The release has received rave reviews. “Fists” shot to no.1 on the Triple J Unearthed Dance Chart and remained in the Top 5 for two months, with the band championed by Triple J's Radio Funktrust DJs, selected as Triple J Unearthed Featured Artist and included in the Funkcast podcast.
The video for “Fists” went to no.1 on the Channel 31 video chart, and has had play on Rage, Channel 31 and TVS, on Scout TV and Songwriters Across Australia as well as being featured on British music bible NME’s website and receiving play on V:MX Pop and V:MX Taste on Tiscali TV, the UK's biggest pay TV syndicate. The video has also just been picked for play on TV screens in coffeehouses in the US on the Independent Coffee Network.
Sydney based, Super Massive has played headline and support shows over the past two and a half years at Sydney’s premier venues including Home Nightclub, Candy’s Apartment, Spectrum, The Supper Club, The Hopetoun, The Annandale, and @Newtown. The band also make regular forays to Newcastle and Maitland.
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Pics from Friday The 13th Glam Ghoul show at The Junkyard, Maitland, 13th Feb 2009
Super Massive played at last year’s Surry Hills Festival and has played at Glebe Street Fair and Marrickville Road Festival, as well as having toured twice to northern NSW and Queensland. Most recently the band toured to Tasmania, playing a run of shows in Launceston and Hobart.
The band has even scored fans in Rufus Wainwright and his band, who stumbled into Super Massive’s show at the Beach Hotel Byron Bay, watched the show, loved it and invited the band to watch their own show at the State Theatre & to party on with them afterwards. (For the full story, have a read of the band's tour photo blog, above.)
Last year Super Massive supported youth charity The Oaktree Foundation's national ‘Global Night Shift Concert to End Child Slavery’, playing in a national line-up that included Evermore, The Hampdens, Tonks & Green & Tzu.
Super Massive's debut EP (which includes the award-winning song "Fists In My Pocket"), is out now in stores & online through MGM Distribution & iTunes.
"This is a smashing piece of chunky pop that seems both ethereal and driving...which one would think would be hard. However, this crew pulls it off with seeming ease. The track sounds like it was waiting to be written... Impressive. Sure to hear more of this outfit." Aaron aka Learned Hand, Radio Funktrust, Triple J
"... the track's stiff military groove and evocative vocals work to blend dance and rock into a provocative sound that's more infectious than the plague... bound to further propel them down the road to stardom." The Music Network - Hit Pick
".. a swag of catchy beats and a vocalist who really knows how to use her voice.. Super Massive have enough credibility and talent to stand tall above the pill-fiends and mixmasters in the electro world." Lindsey Cuthbertson, Rave Magazine
"..along comes Super Massive, a group that threatens to build a bridge between the electronic and rock world with a self-titled EP that is one of the best local short plays to be released in Australia in 2008... You could listen to this track 100 times and still not listen to it enough... Super Massive are the next big thing coming out of Australia... jump aboard the band wagon before its too late." Dave Griffiths, Mediasearch
"Making crowd members blush with sultry movements and cheeky lyrics, this man-eater strutted across stage, the audience putty in her hands... To hell with Justin, it's these guys who are REALLY bringing sexy back!" Dominick Scilorres, 3D World Magazine
"Frontwoman Malina Hamilton-Smith sighs and moans like Kylie's porno double... while squelching funk and a touch of Harold Faltermeyer's minimalist synths and electronic drums complement Abbott's solid beats throughout." Rip It Up Magazine
"It's certainly not hard to see why lead track Fists In My Pocket bagged them 2007's MusicOz 'Best Alternative Artist... An impressive debut offering from a band that sound like they'd be worth checking out live." Evil Chris, 3D World Magazine
"Sydneysiders Super Massive are gloriously unreconstructed and joyous as they pump their way through four big slices of dancefloor-directed groove, powered as much by shattering shards of guitars and barraging drums as synths and programmed blips and pieces... Molly would/will love them." Michael Smith, Drum Media
"I love these guys!" WSFM's Brendan "Jonesy" Jones
"The result is impressive, featuring a diverse range of sounds, melding rock and pop instrumentation with electro beats and Malina's vocals. In fact, the transition between the two styles of music and the blends created are quite seamless and make this EP a pleasure to listen (and groove) to." Eva Roberts, Australian Musician
MX Magazine Sydney. Thursday 5th March 2009. "They're living up to their name as one of Sydney's best emerging electronic/dance/rock bands.."
I have started band management and my first project THE KIDNEY THIEVES from Brisbane will be playing at the clubs, Blink and Trash in Sydney this weekend. They are on stage both nights from 10 - 11pm, check them out, its like Ash Phoenix meets Mr Bungle on heat!! If you wanna hop on the industry guest list and check em out for free, text your email address to 0415 692 901 and say TKT in the message!! This bad is unreal and these events will be massive
The weather has been really nice here the last couple of days. Skirt and dress weather (well, with tights...it is Tassie after all) with lots of sun.
Looking forward to the next single, I can't wait to have some new stuff to play! Oct/Nov is a good time for a tour too, gives us a nice little break before exams, haha.
Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed for change in the JD votes - you guys totally deserve it.
Oh man, I was really hoping you guys would have the little stars next to your name on the JD thingo. Either way there is now a crap load of new people checking out your stuff though :)
So far I've been voting everyday, I'll keep it up as long as I can keep track of what day it is!
The newest club for all your beer, steer and queer needs, Q & A (Queer and Alternative) is a monthly alternative music club.
We're catering for the broader alternative scene, gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, goth, punk, tattooed, pierced, cross-dresser, we want all of you to come on down and rock out.
Every month we can be found at The Taxi Club, 40-42 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst.
This month's event takes place Saturday, 27th June.
We know it's cold. We know that, instead of going out into the icy winds and pouring rain, you'd much rather stay indoors, cuddled up to someone warm.
That's why we think you and your warm someone should get in to Q&A for cheap. Q&A is now $8 if you come in all on your lonesome, but $10 for the both of you if you bring a friend.
Then you can spend the night cutting up the dance floor with other warm bodies. What more could you want on a cold winter's night?
Hello - nice to meet ya! Yeah, the lil' bird is actually a wild bird and it landed about 15 feet away from some buddies and I one morning. I moved in slow motion for about 30 minutes until my hands were under it and then slowly lifted it up. It sat there in my hands for about 45 minutes. One of those rare moments! How are things going in your direction?
Shouldn't be long till I have some more tracks up for you to listen to :). I just wanted to remind you again that if you ever need someone to fill a spot I would love to back you guys up.
Hey, guys. Great show at the Laurieton Hotel last night. Wish there was a bigger crowd for you. Good to meet you and can't wait to see another show soon. Peace.
I certainly am. Its little more than a cute idea at the moment though, but if (more WHEN!) it gets to that point, you're ambling zombie #1 :) When are you guys doing sydney again? I keep missing you!
Thanks so much for the nice comments :) and for accepting the friend request. I love your old school pop meets funk sound it's great I would love to support you guys at a gig some time.
I saw on your page that you are coming through Maitland in June I think I'll have to come and see you guys and maybe have a beer or something after.