INTERVIEW: From NY to Down Under, Jamband artist Hanuman talks music, comedy and The Dead

According to Hindu mythology, the God named Hanuman is the monkey god who symbolizes strength and energy. I had the pleasure of meeting the artist who goes by the name Hanuman. From his recent interview, his energy appears endless. A native New Yorker (from Long Island), Hanuman approaches music like a calling from God who tells him to help others not “take this life thing too seriously.” Using his music and natural comedic ways, Hanuman ends up in Australia where he brings to life his Dead-inspired music to audiences who barely know The Grateful Dead “from a bar of soap.” I was thoroughly amused by Hanuman as a regaled me with his musical journey through life between NY and Australia. And I am pleased to premiere his new music video “Saturday Night Feel Good,” the first single from his upcoming debut album (out this summer)!

Being originally from NY, how and why did you decide to move Down Under? How did that influence your music writing?

I’ve had a lifelong, kind of calling to Australia. When I would see TV shows when I was a kid (like the RAT PATROL) and there were Australians, I would be like “What??? Where is that?” There’s another place besides America??” I was fascinated.

Then over the years friends and family visited Australia and came back with their eyes all aglow… As well I had a sense that Australia would be a more chill place to be for the coming (present) transitional period of “civilisation” (or lack thereof….) Perhaps let’s call it “the re-civilisation process.”

As far as music influence, Australia is what I would call spirit of place. It is a more earthy, easy and open. And also a good deal of types and styles of music are played here along with the great Aussie singer/songwriters I have worked with and naturally learned from.

In your experience, what is the biggest difference between music audiences in the US and in Australia? What ​has been the biggest challenge and the biggest advantage being an American musician in Australia?
America and its audiences are more intense and more driven. It’s older with over 10 times the population. More conflict, more triumph, more drama, and has birthed many a modern art form like Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll, The Grateful Dead, Weird Al….which Australia has not.
American music lovers have access to more, especially live, and in that way are more savvy. America and its audiences have set the environment for unparalleled excellence like (using bands currently touring): Stevie Wonder, Dead and Company, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and shows like Book of Mormon.

That said, America is a land of extremes…I say “best of everything, worst of everything.” And as the current presidency would indicate, another quite wtf’ly large part of America and the audience therein are very confused by shiny things, no matter how vacuous. That part of the American audience will buy a recording of a turd being dropped onto a glockenspiel by an epileptic monkey if it was properly marketed.

Australian “punters” are more middle ground, less starstruck, more humble, softer, and more chill. They tend to like their stuff unaffected and straight up. They especially love what they do best–humble teamwork in Bands. I mean band bands, pub bands: AC/DC, Men at Work, Cold Chisel,
Divynials, Midnight Oil, INXS, The Saints, and more recently Silverchair and Wolfmother… Even The Wiggles (who probably made as much as all the aforementioned put together) were a band’s band and a pub band before that…..
Australians are also more likely to form an enthusiastic crowd around a busker…like Tash Sultana.

As far as advantages and disadvantages, in the negative, early on here, I came across some bias toward American-ness but mostly from acts trying to establish their Australian musical identity. And now playing Grateful Dead material here is a slight challenge as the average Australian “doesn’t
know them from a bar of soap.” Otherwise, being a Yank is more likely an advantage in that many Aussies are partial to and curious about the American accent, lifestyle and allure.

Being​ ​mainly ​a Grateful Dead inspired ​band, who are your other big musical influences?​

To be clear, the DEAD SET part of the band is indeed heavily influenced by the Dead, and if it is the focus of a particular gig or venue, we will blissfully do all Grateful Dead. Otherwise, The FUN NUGGETS part of the equation lets me include my originals works and arrangements and thereby air my other eclectic influences, such as: Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, John Coltrane, Bob Marley, John McLaughlin, Ravi Shankar,
Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, Weird Al, Jewel, Alison Krauss, Airto & Flora….. Aretha Franklin, all of Motown…Sergio Mendez, The Smothers Brothers, Parliament Funkadelic, Sun Ra…Producer George Martin – Drummer Steve Gadd – Vocalist Karen Carpenter – Songwriter Paul
Williams, Concert promoter Bill Graham.

What has been really influential for me about the DEAD is their relationship with the audience as part of a non-hierarchical symbiosis. One teacher of huge influence was Maestro Narada Michael Walden. He said at the end of lesson: “The audience gets your consciousness in the music. If you play with love and high vibration…it’s like sprinkling invisible vitamins and nutrients on a sandwich…they “eat” the sandwich cause
they are hungry but get the love…which they really need…and it heals and transforms.”

What was the video making process like for your latest video “Saturday Night Feel Good”?
It was a really fun and satisfying experience. It was the first video I made that I could take my time with and had a budget to try stuff. I was not in “artist” mode as much as I was in “caring for my declining Dad in the USA living away from my home and doing art as therapy” mode. In my
creativity, I get visions or inspirations that kind of just show up. After the music track was finished and came up so well, I started getting ideas for some of the sight gags. The drinking the wine/mountain shot, the “Mighty” sign and the ending with the Mountain being carried off by
Hanuman. You know, I don’t think we ever did a story board per se. We shot a lot of stuff…and some magical bits happened, as they do. Basically we placed what worked automatically, and then it was like doing a jigsaw puzzle from there, sourcing other shots and/or making custom motion graphic stuff to fit.

I see from your website you’ve got quite a sense of humor. How much does your comedic side play into your music and your live performances?

Thank you, flattery will get you everywhere.

Well, when I was very young, the Lord came to me…(this was even before I started taking drugs…) and said “Bob….everyone is taking this life thing WAY too seriously. Can ya help me out, Bro???” and I am now “being about my father’s business” (that’s bringing light-ness…not selling carpet.)

Comedy has always been in the fabric of my life and I have naturally wound up in groups who incorporate comedy. My own few past musical comedy releases, done more as a hobby, have also been very successful indeed. I have garnered a smash underground hit first time out, then an ARIA nomination (like a Grammy) for comedy record of the year and induction into the Australian National Archive for my various sophomoric efforts. Currently I do bust out some of my comedy tunes live when I can get away with it…and on mic, I can talk shit like a champion! I have some stuff that makes me smile up on the web, and I regularly produce new musical comedy in studio with some exciting new pieces in the works.

As far as weaving more comedy into live musical performance, I have some really exciting ideas and want to see how wide and wild the pallet can get. However as I am very new to fronting, singing lead and playing guitar, it’s going to have to be an evolution over time. My initial focus is on
seeing that the music is reasonably together and that any laughter comes from the comedy and not my guitar playing.

How did you come up with the band name “The Dead Set Fun Nuggets”?
Well DEAD SET is an Australian expression of certainty and seem to fit well for an Australian based Dead influenced band. Fun Nuggets is name I came up with for the light-hearted non-music video clips I make and post on my personal website (Imakestuffforfun.com). As it became
clearer for a few reasons that I needed an entity to put my own “sonic stuff” into, meaning my originals, comedy originals, mash-ups and reworks- something more creatively and comedically open-ended, a friend said, “You should call that band “The Fun-Nuggets.” And as they say in
Australia, “Bob’s your Uncle” (meaning it was a done deal)!

What can fans expect from Dead Set and Fun Nuggets in 2018?
2018 is a time to go out and play live gigs!
I am coming to New York in April to do some small shows to get this ball rolling. Sunday April 22nd at 4pm and Tuesday the 27th at 10pm at Beaus Bar in Greenlawn, NY (Long Island). Also we have a showcase at Pianos in NYC on Tuesday April 24th at 9pm and a gig with details TBA on Sunday, April 29th.
Also planned is a debut EP release with the working title “Maiden Nuggets” and looking to be in July when I plan to have a release and more NY/USA dates! Hopefully a few festivals both in USA and Australia. The single release of “Saturday Night Feel Good” through Relix is connecting
me with more Dead lovin’ folk around Aussie and I hope to do some shows in Sydney and Melbourne later this year.
Overall “More Fun” is the short answer.

For more info and fun, go to Deadsetband.com.