DUSTIN DOLLIN & JULIA PIERCE (FINE MESS) - INTERVIEW
Interview & foreword by Beau Croxton
Julia Pierce & Dustin Dollin by Chevy Taheyna
Dustin Dollin is an Australian professional skateboarding legend who has been in and out of music his whole life. He is also a figure who I’ve personally been well aware of since the early 2000’s when I was about 11 years old. As a kid, I used to watch Dustin’s skate videos with my friends on repeat, such as Transworld’s “A Sight Unseen” and Baker Skateboards’ “Baker2G”. Dustin was a part of the notorious “Pissdrunx” crew, which consisted of many of my favorite skaters. A large part of my journey with music was due to the killer music selection in these skate videos, so big shout out to the Pissdrunx- because Occult Magazine may not have existed without them!
Julia Pierce is a notable musician in the NYC scene and a dear friend of mine. We worked together for some years, spoke endlessly about music and supported each other's music endeavors. Her band Titsdickass (aka TDA) has been on a real tear for the past two years. To sum it up briefly- TDA were declared “New York City’s Hardest Working Band of 2023” by Oh My Rockness, for their staggering amount of live shows, and they celebrated the announcement with a photo of the band that was taken by Hedi Slimane. Respect!
Recently, Dustin and Julia have become quite inseparable since meeting in October; they have known each other for 8 months and have been together for 6 months of it. They formed their group called Fine Mess and they toured the East Coast of Australia, from Sydney to Brisbane and back. They launched photo exhibitions of skate/punk culture and played sold-out shows to follow. They opened for the Aussie post-punk band, Dust, in Newcastle, who went on to support Interpol on tour. It’s been a wild ride with a spontaneous spirit, and Dustin and Julia plan to extend this nonstop touring party throughout the summer in New York with countless shows, DJ sets and plans to record an album.
I caught up with Dustin and Julia ahead of their first NYC show at Club 101 with Christeene, which is this coming Friday, May 30th.
BEAU: Hi Julia! Been a minute ol’ friend, glad to talk to you. Dustin- It's so nice to meet you, man.
DUSTIN: Nice to meet you!
BEAU: I'm sure Julia told you, but I grew up skating, and watching all the Baker/Deathwish videos quite a lot. That whole crowd was my very favorite corner of skateboarding culture. There's a lot of great skating, culture, humor, and music in those videos that I really appreciated growing up. It was very inspirational for me, for sure.
DUSTIN: Oh, wow...we appreciate you! Every one of ya. Everyone that's keeping us alive right now is great!
BEAU: Dustin, I'd love to hear about what you've been up to the past couple years. It looks like you've been up to like a lot of art, music and skating related things- kind of a mix of the three?
DUSTIN: Well, I was living in Paris for seven years. And I was on tour a lot with the Vans Europe crew, which are my greatest friends. But when I was off tour, I wasn't really feeling too productive. Then one day, I was at my friend's house and my friends' band were all kind of jamming out, and I started to do my poetry. And then we all started this group……with 46 members in this band in Paris, called Olympia Jamming Orchestra. So they gave me the opportunity to start singing again.
I used to sing with LSDemon and like with Figgy, Nuge and Tommy and Richie…. But I hadn't really played music since Skate Rock, like after Asia. The band kind of split up because it was too fucking hectic. But I've been in music my whole life, like as much as I've been skateboarding. And then while I was here, I was staying with my producer, Matthew Hutchinson's place. And we took the train and I met Julia on the metro going to see Lydia Lunch. And then we have kinda been inseparable about writing music these days.
If I want to skate again, I'll have to really get back in shape. I've been working on a documentary of my life, like for two years now of like… all the fucking crazy shit. So we've got one more year to film that. The art shows we do are like seven different photographers and we just go hang them on the wall ourselves with nothing for sale. It's just like- showing the Skate punk-rock life.
JULIA: We would go to a new town and do the photo show and then we'd attract all the heads- and then the next night we would play a show. So it was a good way to like to meet people & meet musicians and then play with them the next night. It was a cool way to approach a tour.
Dustin Dollin by Adam Scarf
BEAU: My next question is about the band - Fine Mess. I haven't been lucky to see you all live yet, but I will be changing that this week.. What’s the collaboration about and the whole vibe?
JULIA: Sometimes I like to say it's punks making rock and roll. There's some ballads and a variety of stuff. It's very romantic and also poetry-based, Dustin is an intense writer.
DUSTIN: I would say like.. Leonard Cohen and Frank Zappa…(laughs) you know? But the thing is… Julia was meant to come out and just play her solo stuff at shows with me, but then I said “fuck this, let's start a band!” So we just grabbed band members from everywhere and just ….hit the road, you know?
JULIA: We've talked about bands like Violent Femmes and that kind of stuff. Beau, do you know, David Peel at all?
BEAU: Yeah!
JULIA: Yeah….. it's kind of like “street rock” kind of stuff.
DUSTIN: I don't know. All the songs are so different. People are going to be surprised. I think they're just going to think it's going to be like TDA, her other band. Yeah. You know, like where it's just like rock-
JULIA: It's not heavy the whole time. It's just nice peaks and valleys. But we're not afraid of doing pop songs or anthems…..but we do them in our own way, you know?
BEAU: Yeah, I'm sure there's kind of a cohesive thread through it all.
JULIA: Dustin and I both sing together and kinda sound the same. While we were in Australia, we stopped in Newcastle and we recorded this song called “Fun”- it was really a great experience. We had all these kids in a room and we're just singing together..
DUSTIN: We would grab bands, and then stay at the hotel room above the pubs in Australia. It's like a “play to stay” kind of thing- it's very old school. The way that we've done Fine Mess, it's like gathering new band members wherever the fuck we go. We're the legs of the band and then everybody else jumps in because they believe in it. It's a rotating cast.
BEAU: It sounds sick. It sounds like there's a really good spirit behind the whole thing.
DUSTIN: Yeah, it's romance and music!
BEAU: So how does the song writing work in the band? Like, Dustin, do you bring in your stuff separately, and Julia brings in hers, or do you collaborate on it ?
JULIA: It's kind of everything. Dustin will write lyrics or have poetry, and then I can make some edits. Then I work with the music behind it. Everything we do… at the core, is very simple. And that's kind of why we're able to have people cycle in the band because they're easy songs to learn in some ways.
DUSTIN: You know how we write good songs is…. no ego of who's in charge of it. I'Il write lyrics and I'm like… “you can change anything you want.” I don't give a fuck. I don't know the progression of how the music works properly, so I give her the lyrics and she says, “these are good.” And then I'll go to the park, have a beer and come back with “I just want to change this one part.” And then she will put the chorus in a better place. We just work together perfectly well. Usually, we pick a subject.
JULIA: True. Yeah, sometimes we start with a subject and work backwards. So with our song called “Fun”, Dustin was like “ I just want to write something that's like a message for young kids to be optimistic and just like, have fun and just like bringing goodness into the world.”
DUSTIN: ….And then we go “Fuck everything!” (laughs)
JULIA: (laughs) And then we have another song called like, “I Don't Give a Fuck.” A lot of the writing we've done has been while we’re on tour.. So it's a direct representation of what we're doing.
Julia Pierce and Dustin Dollin by @filth.film
DUSTIN: But also we've had a lot of film on the road too. There's video clips coming out like, this is Zombie Island for like an Australian surfer- like a skit, you know.
JULIA: Yeah Ozzy Wright, he's a surfer.
DUSTIN: He's in Goons of Doom.
DUSTIN: What was the first name we had for the band? We were joking around like “Uncle Dusty and the Pizza Nipples.”! (everyone laughs) Then I was like nah… I don't want to call it that anymore, it seems like a joke.
JULIA: But yeah- We’re excited to bring Fine Mess to New York. Yeah!
DUSTIN: Did you see that (New York) schedule? It's fucked.
BEAU: Yeah, that looks.. that looks insanely busy!
DUSTIN: Yeah, but as exhausted as I am, this is the only thing that makes sense for me. As a skateboarder who’s been on tour for 28 years, it’s just best to just keep going with the band ..like to keep motivated, you know. Creativity is my only addiction really besides… beer…and.. cigarettes.
(everyone laughs)
BEAU: Julia, I have some questions for you. You've had a lot of solo music come out, and it's super cool. I really love “It's Not Nothing” , that is such a good one !
JULIA: Aw, thank you!
DUSTIN: Did you like the video clip? I filmed and edited that.
BEAU: Yeah man! I noticed that!
JULIA: So when I got to Sydney, that was the first thing. I wrote that song about Dustin while we were apart for a month before I went to Australia. We filmed in bars, and I just got to Sydney, so I was so hyped - but at the same time, I was like, “I don't know who any of these people are.” But then like a week later, I knew everyone.
DUSTIN: You definitely don't look embarrassed on that fucking video. You look cocky as fuck. Yeah, I love it. Like…confidence!
JULIA: It's funny because I'm American, but going to Australia, we wanted to make something that was very Aussie-coded. So like…the kiddy pool…and like all the local pubs and like, you know, all the spots in Sydney.
DUSTIN: It's a very Australian looking video clip. It's like…an old school video by The Saints or something like that.
JULIA: But regarding my solo stuff, I have a couple of solo shows in New York this summer with a backing band. It’ll be fun to be able to play some of the music with a full band behind it. But some of those songs ended up becoming a part of the Fine Mess set - So it's kind of like... It's a huge collaboration.
DUSTIN: It's kind of just a gigantic cultural collaboration basically. We got a theremin player today. You know…we’ve had Roy Molloy from Alex Cameron playing saxophone…
BEAU: Incredible! Julia, question- how do you know what's good to separate for solo material versus TDA material or Fine Mess? It does sound like A Fine Mess is.. a fine mess of everyone’s songs.
JULIA: Yeah, that brings life into Fine Mess..
DUSTIN: Well, we'll just talk to each other like, to Julia, I'm always like, “you keep that”. Or she's like, “that's for your solo shit.”
JULIA: They all kind of influence each other. With TDA, I'm in a position where I'm like, okay, TDA can stay more aggressive or noisy. And then “Julia Pierce” gets to be a little bit more softer and twee and Fine Mess is a little bit fun and chaotic, you know?We like using the word rock and roll with Fine Mess because in TDA- we're punk rock or we're like, like post-punk or whatever. But with Fine Mess, we're not trying to overcomplicate it. There's a bit of Americana to it too.
DUSTIN: It's a lot different from a lot of other music that's going on right now.
JULIA: Well, a lot of music can be so overproduced or can sometimes lack the human quality. So with Fine Mess, we get to be kind of messy, we get to be ourselves.
Julia Pierce by Nico Malvaldi
BEAU: So Julia- What's up with TDA? That band has been on such a tear for like, yeah, oh my gosh. The past two years. I think I saw some footage of you in the studio with Gordon Raphael…maybe?
JULIA: I guess TDA is keeping a low profile these days. The last show we played was in January at TV EYE. Now we're playing Elsewhere on the 28th. It's a little harder to catch TDA these days, but we do have some cool stuff coming out… I still want to keep the momentum going! Everyone in the band is on a crazy schedule, we love each other and with everyone’s side projects we build on the collective creativity. And yeah, we will have a second TDA album eventually rolling out..
BEAU: Excited to hear it !
JULIA: Gordon (Raphael) was just so great to be in the studio with. He had everything set up and he works really fast. The band came in and recorded eight songs in a day. He just hit all the levels and had the mix kind of just set up before we even recorded. So when we recorded, it was already basically mixed. He's a pretty well oiled machine. Mike from Insecurity Hits helped make that happen. TDA was a three piece band for a while, but now TDA is now a four piece band. We have Carmen Esperanza on bass, she’s great- and my friend Caitlin Starr. So more girls in the mix, which I'm happy about. When the record rolls out, you know you can expect tour dates and things like that.
TDA is trying to make the switch from being a local band who plays a lot locally- to being a band that plays a few shows locally and focuses on touring more…when that record comes out. You know how it goes, Beau.
BEAU: Yeah, of course, I do. You pound the pavement and just play a million shows…And then when you finally start getting the attention you strive for, then you can kind of hang back and be a little bit more strategic…then you can spread your wings on tour a bit.
JULIA: There's nothing more fun than playing a ton- I mean, at least for my experience at TDA. That’s what Fine Mess is going to do in New York this summer. Just meet as many people as we can.
DUSTIN: I don't want to meet NO ONE! I want to play to NOBODY….(Laughs) But Yeah, we're just bouncing around.
BEAU: The TDA Elsewhere show is coming up this Wednesday, May 28th- that’s exciting!
JULIA: It’ll most likely be the last chance to see TDA this summer. Yeah, it’ll be a great show! We're playing with Shred Flintstone-
BEAU: They’re sick!
JULIA: also (the band) Adult Human Females.. I mean, TDA headlining Elsewhere- Zone One is probably one of the best shows we've played. We took pretty much the whole time in the band to kind of earn a headlining spot at Zone One (at Elsewhere).
So I think it'll be a fun show. We're going to be playing songs from both albums too. You'll hear the old material and some of the Gordon material, which is a little bit different. There's guitar solo moments, which is something TDA never really had before. Nothing crazy but it's really fun to have that.
BEAU: Yeah, expand a little bit yeah ? That's great. So yeah, I got two more questions here-
DUSTIN: Yeah baby! COME ON BEAU-BEAU!! WHATSUP?!?
BEAU: Hell yeah brotha! (laughs) So, what's in the cards in the immediate future for Fine Mess? You just showed me the massive schedule-. Tell me a little bit about the prospective recording studio stuff ahead.
JULIA: We're supposed to go upstate to Hudson and potentially record at Sound at Manor studio with Oakley (of Black Lips). Our bass player in Fine Mess- Jesse- He's in a band called Figure of Fun and he will also be a main character for this summer. He's a great producer and musician, he produced Genre is Death’s debut. Our goal this summer is to kind of finish our record in New York and hopefully do that with Oakley upstate if schedules can work out.
BEAU: Looking forward!
JULIA: The goal is to leave New York with a record. And then I think we're going to go to Mexico after that and just keep on going, traveling around and setting up shows.
DUSTIN: Oh, we're going to play Mexico City!
JULIA: Mexico City is going to be like…August…September-
DUSTIN: Then maybe Brazil and then we have a Vegas show ... .and then maybe go to Russia.? Just insane.
BEAU: Fine Mess world tour? Fuck yeah.
JULIA: Yeah, we're going to keep traveling and playing wherever we go.
Dustin Dollin and Julia Pierce in Newcastle, Australia
DUSTIN: I just think it's funny because most bands take a year to like, like plan like their world tour. And ours is like…calling someone like, “oh, in two weeks, we'll come in there…We're playing.”
BEAU: Spontaneous. That's kind of the vibe of the band, you know, so adding to the experience and the music… that's so fun and sick though!
JULIA: Yeah!
Beau: So on Friday you have a big show playing with Christeene at Club 101. How excited are we? I haven't been to club 101. What's the vibe?
JULIA: It's where Pyramid Club used to be- It's cool that we're doing a late show like Christine's playing at midnight. We're playing at 11:30. So it's like it's a great debut for us. It's kind of cool playing a late show in New York. Like they used to like the old school way-..
DUSTIN: We love it when everyone's hammered and they like to get into it. Yeah! (laughs)
JULIA: I think Dustin and Christeene are going to be a great fit. I think they're big personalities. And I think it'll be fun to have them share a bill.
DUSTIN: I think I'll have to try and keep up with Christine. You know I'm a little bit mellow, but you know…I might fuck it up a little bit! (laughs)
JULIA: It'll be fun. (Our friend) Lyla is playing drums with us for the show! So come through.
BEAU: Oh sick! Oh, OK I'm going to come by… gotta say hey to all you lovely motherfuckas!
DUSTIN: Yeah! Come get a free drink because we fucking definitely better be…
(Everyone laughs)
BEAU: Well, I'Il see you then! Thanks y’all!
JULIA/DUSTIN: Bye Beau! Thanks so much. See you soon!
Fine Mess plays Club 101 this Friday with Christeene and you can get your tickets here.
The Fine Mess never ending NYC party, aka the “NYC RECONNAISSANCE” starts there and continues thru the summer …….
May 30 - Night Club 101 with Christeene (Tickets)
June 3rd - Poetry Reading @KGB
June 4th - Night of Joy (DJ Residency)
June 10th - Night Club 101
June 11th - Night of Joy (DJ Residency)
June 13th - Flying Fox Tavern (DJ set)
June 14th - Main Drag
June 18th - Night of Joy (DJ Residency)
June 19th - Powder Room @KGB
June 25th - Night of Joy (DJ Residency)
July 3rd - Baker Falls
July 12 - Alphaville
More to come! follow along at @finemessofficial / @therealdustindollin / @devilstgirl