Dojo Cuts
If there’s ever such a thing as magnetic soul music it would be Australian-based duo, Dojo Cuts. Guitarist, Nathan Aust and vocals, Roxie Ray, offer simplistic beauty in their music’s nuanced playability. Roxie’s sultry voice coupled with a golden hue of nostalgia and adorned imperfections stem from the same live equipment like Grampian dynamic microphones and Goldentone amps that would’ve been used by their 1960s-era soul counterparts. Here’s a chat with Dojo Cuts to talk about their story and their sound.
Where are you from?
Australia
When we hear 'dojo,' we think martial arts. Why the name Dojo Cuts?
The original rehearsal space was an unused office in an industrial area in Sydney. The building was owned by a Japanese man called Massaki who did jujitsu. So we called it the Dojo. :)
Tell us how the Dojo Cuts’ sound was developed and the changes that were made along the way. how does afro-beat The Liberators fit into the picture?
The band started with 3 of us - Ed on drums, Guy on bass and me (Nathan) on guitar. We put down some demos and then put an ad in the local magazine for a vocalist. Roxie answered and obviously has been with us since. We recruited horns and made a demo. That demo become our first album. Roxie went overseas so I started The Liberators with some Dojo players and some new players we made the first album. The key change was drummer Andy and original drummer Ed became a guitarist. Roxie came back and the band evolved with some Liberators and we made DC album number 2 - Take From Me.
The Liberators had a bit of a break up in the meantime, but I restarted it and we recorded Power Struggle. After so much work we just slowed down. I moved 1,000 km away from Sydney. Nothing happened musically for 5 years - the bands were effectively dead. I started playing around and recording in my garage. It sounded good and felt good, so I sent stuff to Roxie. In 6 weeks we wrote and recorded Tomorrow’s Gonna Come long distance. I still haven’t seen Roxie in the flesh for 5 years. Throughout the history of the bands I did all the production.
Artwork by: Terry Gillespie
What gravitates you toward soul/funk music?
Not sure. It just feels right. ;)
There seems to be no shortage of talent down under with artists like Cookin’ On 3 Burners, The Bamboos and so many others. Are there strong soul and funk roots in Australia?
I’m really a recluse and not aware of what is happening out in the scenes. I’m aware of a bunch of like-minded folk, though.
Roxie Ray’s voice is pure nourishment - pacifying yet bound with movement and emotion. The band is rhythmic, percussive and capricious yet grounded and pacifying. Describe your collective songwriting process and how you all manage to complement each other so well.
I lay down groove ideas... send it to Roxie. If it speaks to her, she does a rough take. She sends it back and I rearrange to suit, or sometimes it’s fine as is. It’s very effortless, and to be honest, I’m not sure how it happens! It just does. We just be who we are and put it out there. Roxie is amazing.
Where do you draw inspiration from to constantly recreate such nostalgic sound?
I really dig the sounds of 60s-70s recordings. That doesn’t mean I don’t like newer music too. It’s just easier for me to make rough ass recordings because I’m not professional and don’t really know what I’m doing.
How much of a balance would you say your music is between preserving the past and creating and experimenting with new sounds?
We draw inspiration from the past but don’t really go out of our way to stay ‘vintage’ or ‘retro.’ It’s just pleasant to our ears and sensibilities. I’m a junglist from way back so I guess good drum breaks are a driver. I also am a Hendrix, Floyd and Zep disciple, so the guitar grooves shine through. I also dig jazz and grew up on country music from the 50s and 60s, so it all comes together.
Any new projects on the way?
Lots more music and collaborations. Releasing a song with Carlton Jumel Smith soon.
What’s your favorite Dojo Cuts project to-date?
Tomorrow’s Gonna Come because it was soooo easy
If your music could be the motion picture soundtrack to any film director’s movie, who would the film director be?
Tarantino for art Spielberg for popular impact and $$$$
What is one of your most magical memories performing as Dojo Cuts?
Those gigs where we’re all sweating and the audience is enthusiastic and we all look at each other and understand that - that moment is special.
If you could collaborate with one guest artist (singer or musician) on a track, who would it be?
Otis Redding