The Thousands

Mark Sultan doesn’t ‘do’ favourites. Sure the guy (aka BBQ) probably prefers a particular ice cream or single malt over others but when it comes to music, his love of all styles – from doo wop, jazz and soul to punk and rock – makes ‘What’s your favourite, music, song, performer, album cover?’ a difficult question to answer.

Instead, the garage one-man band takes all these styles and melds them into one wild and energetic live show. A show that is commonly referred to in the biz as one that makes audiences ‘lose their shit’. Part romantic soul singer, part punk provocateur, the Canadian is a born entertainer. Having toured Australia in 2010 as half of King Khan and BBQ, this month he will be touring Australia for the first time as a solo performer. Get to one of his gigs if only to hear Sultan’s pipes. At times Sam Cooke. Others Joey Ramone. Dude knows how to sing!

Tim Scott: Wow that is an impressive mix! The first three song titles alone are rad – ‘Fuck Authority’, ‘Wild Wild Party’ and ‘Snacky Poo’ Would they be good indicators to how you approach life and music?

Mark Sultan: Haha. I guess so. I mean, the first title has more life than the second, at this point for me, but both slogans still ring true. The third, whether dancing eating or shitting, I’m IN. How can you not wanna cause shit after listening to how much the singer means it in ‘Fuck Authority’??? I have listened to this song almost every day since I was 13.

TS: You start with an Italian hardcore band and end with what sounds like the ramblings of some Heaven’s Gate member but who, in fact, is one of the pioneers in synthesised music. In between you drop garage, soul, doo wop, psych and in the case of Pussy – bizarre shit. Is this all from your own record collection? Are you a music obsessive?

MS: I realized when doing this that I used to LOVE making mixtapes and shit all the time. I love to DJ, etc. I love MUSIC. Ya, I am an obsessive. Anything that twiddles my knob by me twiddling its knob can only be good. Hahahaha. These… I own some on vinyl, ya, but a couple are straight off the internet! The sad truth is that I stopped really hunting down records in the last few years, cuz on top of driving me batty, a bunch of my records were stolen or kidnapped by ex-girlfriends. I started collecting when I was 6. Bummer!

TS: Obviously soul and doo wop has left an impression on you musically. Have you always been into this music or was there a particular song or ‘moment’ that dragged you in?

MS: Hmmm… No, I don’t know… I guess I started getting into shit like that off like Party Rock comps that were strewn about the house when I was like 4 to 7 or something. Dumb shit like ‘Pony Time’ or ‘Get A Job’ – that’s probably the kind of shit I heard first. Or ‘Western Movies’ or something. So, maybe it firstly just seemed like something FUN, which I itself is great. Later, I was (and still am) into the kind of soul or R&B that makes your spine tingle and wanna cry. I’m such a pussy.

TS: What makes for a good mix tape?

MS: 1. Good taste. Now I know everyone has got their own taste. And that is great. But some shit straight sucks. 2. Surprise tactics. Unless you are a fucking music nazi, dig deep. Find dem hits from every genre you love. Don’t give a fuck what people say. 3. I like a good opening song.

TS: I love that you included the Zeroes. Known as the Mexican Ramones they were one of the most overlooked punk bands. What is it about this particular track that you like?

MS: Ya, they are awesome. I had an album out on the same label they had their first album out – Bomp! Records. ‘Handgrenade Heart’ not only has a great opening, but cool tempo and killer lyrics. I love the lyrics. Very cool and visceral. And these dudes were fuckin kids!

TS: Do you have a favourite ever Canadian punk band?

MS: No. Definitely some great ones, though.

TS: One of my favourite tracks is Lee Moses’ ‘Bad Girl’ – his vocals, the horns. It’s a just a really big song. Do you find it easier writing about bad girls over good girls?

MS: In my experience, the bad girls are way more prevalent, unfortunately (or fortunately). So shit’s easy.

TS: You started out as a drummer. Who is/was the greatest drummer ever?

MS: Jesus. I have no favourite anythings. Honest. The only thing I can say is that when I was 7 years old, John Bonham was my inspiration.

TS: I love a good cultural stereotype. My favourite about Canadians is that they are super nice and all of them go to café with their own reusable environmentally friendly coffee cups. And ride bikes. And listen to Sarah McLaughlin and Neil Young. You are not someone who I feel falls into that stereotype. Then again I think I just described an urban hippy.

MS: Well, if it’s any consolation, your description sounds pretty much like Australia, to me. Except listening to Kylie Minogue and The Valentines. Seriously, Canada is very vast and many sections are quite different from the other. Your description is maybe Vancouver? I dunno. I’m from Montreal where people drink, drug, fuck and have fun while listening to music and making art and speaking French. Pazow!

TS: Last question. I heard you like wine. What kind, the stuff that comes in boxes? Let’s drink soon!

MS: I guess maybe that is supposed to be an insult, but there are actually some decent boxed wines nowadays. Ya, I love wine. Hope to get some good shit in Oz when I’m there.

Tracks:
1) Raw Power – Fuck Authority
2) Charlie Feathers – Wild Wild Party
3) The Del Mars – Snacky Poo
4) Silver Apples – I Have Known Love
5) The Five Keys – My Saddest Hour
6) Lee Moses – Bad Girl (Part 1)
7) Ornette Coleman – Holiday For Heroes
The Zeros – Handgrenade Heart
9) The Inner Space – Kamera Song
10) Pussy – Comets
11) Clara Rockmore – Le cygnet
12) The Falcons – Oh Baby
13) Eddie Gale – The Rain
14) The Outsiders – Misfit
15) Ruth White – The Litanies Of Satan
16) FU’s – What You Pay For

Listen HERE.