Dylan Mattheisen – Tiny Moving Parts “Providing the positive vibes”

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Tamara May

Tiny Moving Parts released their 5th studio album breathe through Hopeless Records this past October, providing us with some cool new tunes to tide us over in the lead up to their first headline tour of Australia this coming January. We caught up with frontman Dylan Mattheisen all about the new album and how pumped they are about doing a bunch of headline shows down under!

Congrats on finally making a headline tour to Australia! What are you excited to do on this tour run that you haven’t been able to do before?

We are so freaking excited to come back! Last time we came it was winter, which we thought the weather wasn’t even that bad, but real stoked for summer warmth! Would love to visit Rottnest Island and hang with some quokkas!

I sure hope you never got to experience the Shoey at your last shows here! What’s been the weirdest thing you’ve experienced during a show?

Haha thankfully never done a Shoey!!! Nothing too weird is coming to mind. Sometimes I’ll ask if anyone knows the words to a song to feel free to jump on stage and sing with us. There’s been times where it’s 50-70 people on stage and it becomes a super fun crowded party.

When you’re not playing shows, what are you most excited about getting up to in Australia?

The food will have to be up there! The Luca Brasi boys told us last time to get some chicken parmesans, and ever since we’ve been craving it. Hope to go to some beaches too since there’s none in cold Minnesota!

I’m really excited that a US pop/punk band is finally making it over Down Under next year, because you guys in the states have such awesome, talented bands from all genres and your scene is something that some of us from overseas only dream of experiencing. Who’s your fave US band currently killing it at the moment?

The Menzingers is collectively one of our favourite bands. They’ve been around for quite some time and still killing it. Some of the nicest people we’ve ever met!

You’re touring in support of your 5th album release, breathe. 5 albums! Hats off to you for that achievement! What’s been your top achievement during your overall time as a band?

We were pretty dang proud of our last London show which was our biggest headliner to date, but on a personal level it’s just been great to keep going out and touring the world with awesome people. We’re heading back to Australia and SE Asia next year and that’s very exciting to us!

You’ve created such a top quality record in breathe. Tell us how the recording and writing process for this record differed from previous albums, and how that’s made you all grow as musicians?

We went with our friend Greg Lindholm from Blaine, MN! He’s done a majority of our records and we always feel comfortable going with him. We did however step out of our comfort zone and did a few songs with John Fields from Minneapolis. He’s done some crazy artists like Backstreet Boys, Miley Cyrus, and Jimmy Eat World. Was really fun to work with someone new to spice things up and help push us.

What were you inspired by when writing the lyrics for this album?

It sounds cliche to say that writing lyrics is my outlet, but that truly is the case. Writing about trying to stay positive while feeling low seems to help me out, and it helps reach out to others going through some stuff. Just want to provide positive vibes!

Which song from breathe are you excited for Australian fans to get into live?

It’s so hard to pick one from the other! The Midwest Sky is definitely one of the funnest songs we’ve ever written! Medicine is always a fun jam with lots of energy!

Interview by Tamara May @citylightsTAM

breathe is out now. Purchase here!

Tiny Moving Parts are playing all over Australia from 24th January 2020.