The Brisbane roots collective draw on friendship, gratitude and a love of classic groove-driven rock for the latest release from their album Tilt.
Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble have released Moneymaker, a new single from their album Tilt, with the song’s origins tracing back to a simple act of trying to cheer up a friend. Built around one of Mize’s distinctive horn riffs and a relaxed, rhythm-driven arrangement, the track delivers a message about finding reasons to celebrate even when life becomes complicated.
Written by Mize and guitarist Jeremy Edwards, Moneymaker began with a conversation about taking stock of the things that matter. Rather than dwell on life’s pressures, the song looks towards the people, relationships and music that provide perspective.
“Moneymaker came out of cheering up a friend, taking stock and finding solace in what we have. We have our family, friends and the music, so there’s a lot to be grateful for, and a helluva-lot to celebrate,” Mize says.
That outlook is reflected in the track’s relaxed character. Mize describes it as a warm summer-night song, suited to a coastal drive with the roof down or a gathering in the backyard.
“In a world as stressful as ours, sometimes we’ve got to turn off the news, put our worries down and let go on the weekend, take ourselves a little less serious and just shake our bums,” she says.
The release continues the rollout of Tilt, an album that reflects a more collaborative chapter for Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble. While Mize remains the band’s principal songwriter, the record was developed with a deliberate emphasis on contributions from the wider lineup.
For Mize, the album format remains important. Rather than approaching a record as a collection of unrelated singles, she wanted Tilt to have a broader identity, allowing different musical ideas and songwriting voices to contribute to the finished work.
Many of the songs began as ideas exchanged through Dropbox or were developed during dedicated writing weekends. Moneymaker was one of the collaborations with Edwards, who brought an existing groove and some lyrical ideas to the process before the pair worked through the song together.
The track also contains references to two artists who have influenced the band’s musical outlook. Its title tips its hat to The Black Crowes’ album Shake Your Money Maker, while a lyric referencing “weed, whites and wine” acknowledges Little Feat.
Those connections reflect the musical conversations that helped shape the group when it first formed. The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Little Feat, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were among the shared reference points.
Mize says the band enjoys incorporating those influences without making the references too obvious, leaving something extra for listeners who recognise the connections.
The collaborative approach extends throughout Tilt. Three later tracks began with other members of the group: The Great Escape originated with former bassist Zach Watson, Nobody Said This Would Be Easy came from drummer Steve Fearnley, and Work On Me developed from an idea by Edwards.
For Mize, those contributions represent the evolution of the band and its identity.
“Tilt isn’t about me. It’s about all of us,” she has explained.
The album’s closing track, The Great Escape, also takes the band into different musical territory, incorporating Neo Soul phrasing into its established roots-based sound.
Mize’s own musical background has prepared her for that stylistic flexibility. Classically trained in violin and cello from an early age, she subsequently worked in orchestras and musical theatre before performing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. She also sang with Michael Bublé and developed professional relationships that included working with Shane Nicholson.
After settling in Australia in 2006, Mize began concentrating more seriously on songwriting. Her classical training and experience across different musical environments continue to inform the horn arrangements that are an important part of The Rough N’ Tumble’s sound.
The recording of Tilt took place at Record Works in Brisbane with engineer Jason Millhouse. The album’s title emerged from the studio environment, where Millhouse’s enthusiasm for pinball machines became part of the recording experience.
When a studio video reached Kevin Bennett of Kevin Bennett & The Flood, his response was that the record should be called Tilt. The suggestion stuck, capturing both the pinball connection and the band’s willingness to move beyond familiar musical boundaries.
Moneymaker brings those different elements together. It has the roots-rock foundation, horn-driven character and collaborative musicianship that define the group, while its lyrical message comes from something considerably more personal.
For a band that wants audiences to leave their everyday concerns outside when they walk into a show, the single also reflects a central part of its live philosophy.
With further music from Tilt continuing to reach listeners and the nine-piece lineup preparing for more performances, Moneymaker provides a reminder of what the band wants its music to deliver: good company, a strong groove and a reason to celebrate.
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