L.A. Mood’s debut album ‘A Print out of the Sun’. L.A. Mood is the solo project of Melbourne based multi-instrumentalist and producer Dave Mudie. Dave is the full-time drummer for Grammy Award Nominee Courtney Barnett, and has played in upwards of 40 other bands and counting.

Dave says of ‘Catch the Sun’: “The first sample you hear on this song is my daughter’s heartbeat when she was in the womb, and that’s how the beat came about. Everything was then layered over the top. The lyric which I had for a few years became a bit of mantra to me during recording, long tours and lockdown, trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel, really. “We’ll try and catch the sun for you and everyone.” I also really like how the piano and harmonies work together on this one.”

“Classic power pop, a welcome ray of audible sunshine.” – Peter G. Holmström (The Dandy Warhols)

After two EPs, 2022 will finally see L.A. Mood’s debut album release, titled ‘A Print out of the Sun’. It was written and recorded across Melbourne, Portland (USA) and Castlemaine, and mixed by Collin Hegna of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The title is inspired by a longing for the sun in places where it can seem hard to find. It’s an opportunity to take lightness with you wherever you go. The cover image is by Austin, TX artist Mary Streepy.

And there’s plenty of lightness on the album – 60s harmonies, bright guitars and psychedelia… But there’s also plenty of grit, distortion and thumping drums.

“In the Rock and Roll solar system, I could live on planet Mudie. ‘Catch the Sun’ is as playfully joyous and soul-expanding as one would expect from Dave and his pych-pop cohort. 10/10.” – Ashley Naylor (Even, The Church)

‘A Print out of the Sun’ is a welcome statement from one of Australia’s most experienced musicians, both on stage and in the studio. Effortless production meets confident songwriting. With a national tour planned upon release, 2022 will see The Mood very bright indeed.

For Dave Mudie, touring down-time means burying into studio projects and playing local gigs. Most recently he played drums on Jess Ribeiro’s album ‘LOVE HATE’, recorded Jade Imagine’s debut ‘Stay Awake’, and played on releases from Gumboot, Super American Eagle (alongside Brent DeBoer of The Dandy Warhols), Cannon, Baby Blue & Evan Dando (The Lemonheads). Having grown up in a musical family (both parents were professional musicians – his mum a singer, his dad played in Axiom), music has always been an obsession in Mudie’s life.

In 2017, after years of touring the seminal album ‘Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit’ with Courtney Barnett, Dave Mudie finally turned his attention to his own music. Before ever playing a gig, L.A. Mood signed with Hotel Motel Records for his first two releases.

Debut EP ‘Crushing Highs & Amazing Lows’ was recorded at Revolver Studios in Portland, Oregon with producer Collin Hegna of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. It showcased a range of styles – slacker rock, indie-pop and alt-country; and influences – T. Rex, Dandy Warhols, Ty Segall etc. It includes collaborations with Courtney Barnett and Bob Harrow (Immigrant Union), and artwork by Celeste Potter.

2019’s EP ‘Breakfast at Sassy’s’ draws from the swinging 60s, psychedelic 70s and indie-pop of the 00s, and was again recorded in Portland with Hegna. It features collaborations with Ambrose Kenny Smith (King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard), Bones Sloane (fellow band member of the Courtney Barnett band), Jess Ribeiro and Bob Harrow. The EP tour was the first time L.A. Mood played live with a full band, seeing them sell out shows in Melbourne and Sydney. The cover image is by Austin, TX artist Mary Streepy.

“Out of all the drummers in Melbourne’s nu-rock scene of the 2000s, Dave Mudie was the most musical, the most expressive, the most effortless, and just generally the best.” – LNWY

“Each track on the EP transports the listener to the sun-soaked streets of California.” – Beat

“With irony-laden tack piano tinkling away above waltzing guitar chords, Mudie’s louchely chanted vocal evokes drunken saloon singalongs and long periods of self-reflection. Enjoy.” – Killing Moon

“The vibe is ’90s/’00s rock that sounds like it was cooked in a garage with a touch of blues on the side.” – When You Motor Away

“Charging power-pop, waltzing country and hazy slacker rock, all joined in an unshakably accomplished feel that belies the fact it’s his debut release as a solo songwriter.” – For the Rabbits

“It’s just good old-fashioned Aussie indie rock.” – Double J