The term Mongrel can mean a few things. It typically refers to something of mixed or unknown origin, especially a dog of crossed or unknown breeding. But it can also be a pejorative for a person of mixed race.
I distinctly remember my high school principal going on one of his long rants at parade about how it was the worst thing you could be called when he was growing up. The point of his speech was that if we didn’t wear our uniform correctly, it would apparently raise our chances of being referred to by the term. If you’re confused already, just think about how I felt sitting there listening to him rant on about it for close to half an hour.
When I first heard about Second Idol and their debut LP Mongrel, I was immediately intrigued because it brought back memories of my high school days and that rant in particular. Thankfully, Second Idol is the exact opposite of my rather hidebound, practically prehistoric principal.
Hailing from Gadigal country, Second Idol is much like yours truly. A bunch of Third Culture Kids just trying to make it in a world with precious little space for people like us. Stuck in-between two worlds, they’re carving their own path betwixt one place and the other. Their sound reflects this melting pot of cultures and origins, combining the gloomy, foreboding atmosphere of goth rock with the politically charged anger of punk to create an album that perfectly encapsulates their lived experience.
As they arrived in Meanjin for their first show up north, I bunked off work mid-shift to meet with their frontwoman Kate at the Prince Consort Hotel before the venue could even legally serve us a drink for our earliest Five Quickfire Questions yet!
Second Idol are:
- Kate Farquharson (interviewed): Vocals and guitar
- Theia Joyeaux: Bass
- Sunny Josan: Guitar
- Afeef Iqbal: Drums and percussion
1. If you could get two people together to absolutely flog each other in a Boxing Ring who would you choose?
Kate: Oh, far out ha-ha-ha. I feel like I need someone that I really like and someone that I absolutely despise here. So I would put… Elon Musk against Grace Tame. And I want Grace Tame to beat the shit out of him.
2. Being on the road can be tough at times, do you have any Defence Mechanisms against burning out on tour?
Kate: Oh gosh. I am probably not the best person to be talking about that because I’m pretty relentless for ending up burning out. So, things that I’ve learnt is taking time out and saying no to things. Making sure I’ve got time for myself to reflect. And I drink a shit tonne of tea. Especially being on the road, sometimes you’re prone to getting sick and things like that. So, yeah lots of ginger tea and stuff like that.
OB: Very good advice, especially to anyone who is younger and reading this. I know a lot of people who have just started out in bands, and they’re just relentless. I’m like, “I don’t think you can do that every tour, have beer for breakfast every day”.
Kate: Oh no, I can’t do that. I think it’s good to party and stuff, but also when you’re on the road, we’re kind of working essentially. Just making sure you’re sane and you’ve got your wits about yourself.
OB: I work for DZ Deathrays actually, and sometimes I don’t know how those boys manage to keep the train on the tracks despite all the hard partying, but I feel like they’re like the exception rather than the rule. But everyone sees it and they wanna copy them and I’m like “Ah no you shouldn’t do that” ha-ha-ha.
Kate: Ha-ha-ha, I think it’s such an archetype for like the rock and roll kind of party lifestyle and stuff, and I think it’s fun to do that, but I think you’ve just got to do it within your own capabilities sometimes. So, yeah, don’t push yourself.
3. There are quite a few Third Culture Kids here in Australia, can you name an experience that only they can relate to?
Kate: I think just always feeling like you never truly belong. And feeling like you’re living in-between worlds. I think one kind of experience or observation that kind of fed into that was, I always remember in school people would say things like, “Oh, we grew here, you flew here”. Like shit like that that people would say. And how, like isolating that is. And I think that feeling of isolation, of having two feet in like two different worlds, is what I was kind of tapping into (when I wrote the song).
OB: I was gonna say, being able to speak neither language you speak very well ha-ha-ha.
Kate: Yeah, absolutely. Or feeling like… you’re kind of othered, and you’re in one category, but it’s like, but, yeah I don’t speak the language or anything. And both sides say you don’t fit.
4. What do you think is the perfect cure to Postcolonial Blues?
Kate: I think it’s having… conversations. Open conversations and compassion. And hearing other people’s stories and experiences. No matter what their backgrounds are. Because I feel like we live in such polarising times where people aren’t kind of… willing to listen to people who have different opinions. And I think that’s something that’s really important to kind of bridge gaps of understanding. It’s crucial.
5. And last but not least,if you could blend together two of your favorite dog breeds to create a Mongrel, which ones would you pick?
Kate: Oh my Gooood ha-ha. I had a Border Collie growing up, so I feel like a Border Collie would be there. Ahhh, what kind of Mongrel dog would I have? Maybe a Border Collie crossed with a… Spaniel, because they’re really dopey. Ha-ha-ha, I dunno.
OB: I had a Kelpie cross Australian Cattle Dog when I was growing up, so that would be my pick.
Kate: Yeah, that’s a pretty solid mix. A lot of…
OB: Very hyperactive though. You will not be keeping the dog in the yard.
Kate: Oh my gosh. No, they wanna run ha-ha-ha.
It’s not often that I relate to a band like this, especially one that I’ve not seen before, but Second Idol give a voice to those who are yet to really be heard in the mainstream. Regardless of your opinion on it, it’s clear that the next generation of Australians are very much the product of the multicultural society that we live in. To see a collective of artists encapsulate this experience in such a visceral way makes me very excited to see where they’ll go from here.
Give Mongrel a listen below and make sure to follow Second Idol on the socials:
