In this Noise11 Q&A, Paul Cashmere sits down with Luke Hodgson, the driving force behind Mondo Freaks, to discuss the band’s evolution from a cover-band collective to a full-fledged original outfit. Over the course of their conversation, Luke reveals how Mondo Freaks began as session musicians in Melbourne playing covers, and how over fifteen years the project slowly expanded into a 10-piece ensemble with five vocalists — each with their own voice in the music.
2025 marks the band’s breakout moment. Luke traces that acceleration to the pandemic years: having toured as a backing ensemble for legends like Evelyn Champagne King, the group found themselves unable to tour and turned inward, writing and recording their debut album. He shares how the long-distance creative collaboration with Jade McCrae (based in Oregon) worked via overnight file trading, how they recorded live in the studio to capture raw performance energy, and how they ultimately enlisted Michael Brower, Grammy-winning mixer, to bring cohesion and polish to their retro-forward sound.
Luke also reflects on Melbourne’s vibrant soul/funk scene, the influence of bands like The Bamboos, and the importance of optimism in their music amid global unrest. He discusses their animated video for “Put Your Hand In My Hand” (in collaboration with Andy Bull), their upcoming album launch show in Melbourne on 12 December 2025, and how a shared belief in the project has kept a large, fluid ensemble together over years of sideline work.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering them for the first time — this Q&A offers rare insight into the vision, process, and heart behind Mondo Freaks’ rise in 2025.
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