Australian eight-piece collective Ukulele Death Squad is anything but ordinary. Blending Anglo-Celtic folk, R&B, Balkan, Latin, soul, and pop influences, the band thrives on musical experimentation, high-energy performances, and a philosophy of radical self-expression. Known for their unpredictable stage antics and genre-defying sound, the group has built a reputation as a must-see live act.
With their latest single, Baby Don’t F**K With Me, they deliver an unapologetic anthem celebrating body positivity and personal freedom. We caught up with them to discuss their creative process, upcoming performances, and what audiences can expect from their boundary-pushing live shows.
RM: First of all Who is Ukulele Death Squad?
UDS: Uke Death Squad is an Australian musical fellowship, with 8 members at varying points on the Kinsey and Neurodivergent scales. Therefore, the answer to this question changes with each member one asks. Our music is filled with soulful vocals, bold horns, marksmen like precision on the ukulele, and, of course, show-pony personalities. This diversity and range within our personalities and creative inspiration is also what makes up our 8 secret spice recipe for a good time. Our band formed as an Adelaide 2-piece in 2017 and has been musically impregnated as years progressed, giving birth to a democratic vehicle of creative chaos that knows no bounds. We are deeply inspired by a diversity of music genres including Anglo-Celtic Folk, Balkan, RnB, Latin, Soul, Pop and Bluegrass. Plus, we all have a penchant for a flat white, twiggy stick and swimming in any body of water we can find.
RM: What inspired the title of your new single ‘Baby Don’t F**K With Me,’ and how does it reflect the themes of your music?
UDS: Baby Don’t is an anthem for people who buck against the idea that bodies aren’t amazing with all their “perfect imperfections” as John Legend would say. The verses tell a story of a man trying to fit in a small societal box only to be set free in the chorus to strut down the street in an outfit that makes him feel like his best self.
RM: You’re kicking off your first New Zealand tour this March. What has you most excited about performing in New Zealand?
UDS: Kiwis are famed to be much friendlier than Aussie’s, so naturally, we need to assess that for ourselves! Plus, so much incredible music comes out of NZ so we can’t wait to bask in the country’s creative energy.
RM: Julian, you mentioned that New Zealand has been on your bucket list for a while. What took you so long to make it happen?
UDS: WOMAD Aotearoa is our ultimate NZ festival and we knew we couldn’t settle for anything less. For us, touring Europe was a stepping stone to ready us for the ‘ditch crossing’ of a lifetime.
RM: How do you plan to win over the Kiwi audience, knowing that they can be tough to impress?
UDS: We haven’t had any strategic meetings to confirm the formal plan to win over the Kiwi Audience. However, uncontrollable energy leads to some pretty wild stage antics that makes every performance one of a kind. When you come to a Uke Death Squad show you know that you are getting a bespoke experience even we can’t predict!
RM: Can you tell us a bit about the setlist for the New Zealand tour? Will fans get to hear a mix of new songs and some older favorites?
UDS: We’re most excited about one song: Julian has been singing a single lyric over and over again ‘I’m gonna dance with the Devil, with the devil I know’ for 10 years now and we’ve finally turned it into a whole song! Plus our set will include recorded favourites, a couple of which we’re giving a fresh spin for NZ’s aural pleasure, and premiere some newbies.
RM: Your performances are known for being theatrical and chaotic. What can fans expect from your live shows in New Zealand?
UDS: You name it and it has happened on our stage! Including an audience member partaking in a live breastfeeding by Matty, smashed ukuleles (RIP), Ali B’s flips, Nacho’s high kicks, Reuben’s musical battles, Ash stealing the soundguy’s lunch money and power struggles to decide who is the ‘real’ front person of this band. Matty even went head over heels (literally) in Germany after slipping on a rainy stage and he didn’t even miss a beat with his powerhouse vocals. We love to leave room in our live shows for antics and New Zealand will be no exception.
RM: You’ve received accolades, including the title of ‘Most Popular Soul/Funk/R&B’ at the South Australian Music Awards. How has this recognition impacted your music career?
UDS: I think being recognised within the category of Soul/Funk/R&B was a real milestone for the band. We have previously won the People’s Choice ‘Folk’ category, so it was very creatively affirming to our vision and song writing that we could expand our horizons to genres we love and not be limited to Folk. The award made us feel connected to and affirmed by the people that have maintained support even as we’ve shifted our vision and we’ve birthed new members. Very confidence boosting i.e. dangerous! Haha
RM: Your music blends folk and R&B with a unique twist on the ukulele. How do you push the instrument to its limits in your sound?
UDS: Honestly, the way you push an instrument’s limits is by not seeing its limits. The Ukulele is misrepresented as not a ‘real instrument.’ But it is as real and good as you make it. Our tenor ukulele player, Pidge, is a classical guitar virtuoso and Julian, our baritone ukulele player, was originally an incredible violin player because his mum thought his hands were too small for guitar. Both Pidge and Julian apply their vast musical knowledge, skills and ripper solos to this little 4 stringed instrument with epic results. Additionally our Uke-Bass player, Silky, creates the fattest, wonderful sounds that rival it’s “regular” bass cousins. Who wants to be “regular” anyway?! A logistical bonus is that Ukes can be taken as ‘carry-on’ luggage when we tour! You can’t say that for every instrument.
RM: With your recent success touring in Australia and Germany, how do you think the audiences differ between these locations?
UDS: Australian and German audiences are more similar than different in terms of enthusiasm, demographic and atmosphere – always excited, friendly and never short of a beer or two. The main difference is obviously the language barrier. Matty once accidentally announced that Ali B was his pasta dish, instead of his sister.
RM: Your music video for ‘Hands Tied’ received nominations at significant film festivals. How do you view the relationship between music and visual storytelling?
UDS: We put visual and musical storytelling on an even playing field. We like for people to look at us and know exactly what they’re going to get before they have even listened to us. The vision for ‘Hands Tied’ came from a pub conversation between Matty, Ash and Ali B. But, credit where credit is due, without Director, Sam Sassaby transforming that vision into an incredible film clip we would have not have received nominations at Melbourne nor Milan’s Queer Film Festival.
RM: You’ve played at various festivals around the world. Are there any particular festivals or venues in New Zealand that you’re especially looking forward to performing at?
UDS: We are looking forward to all of the shows, but none of us can deny WOMAD Aotearoa 2025 will definitely be a highlight. We have performed at WOMAD UK and WOMADelaide in Australia – every time we just feel so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful festival with an incredibly inclusive and celebratory ethos.
RM: Can you share any memorable experiences from your recent tours that you think will influence your performances in New Zealand?
UDS: Performing at Rudolstadt 2024 Festival in Germany, which was set in such an idyllic German town with an incredible world music offering, was so life-affirming. Everyone was so welcoming backstage and on stage, which made for a very special few days. We were even lucky enough to have some of it captured below
RM: How do you see your sound evolving in the future? Are there any new influences or styles you’re interested in exploring?
UDS: At the moment we are leaning into BlueGrass and Americana Folk, largely because Julian has introduced a ‘Banjolele’ (i.e. a banjo & ukulele hybrid) into the mix. Super inspired by Johnny Cash and Nick Cave’s styles of writing, we’ve been writing new songs with that vision in mind. Latin rhythms are also getting more of a look in, as Nacho finds creative ways to blend his Argentinean roots into our band’s sound.
RM: “What role does collaboration play in your creative process, especially given your eight-piece band dynamic?
UDS: Collaboration is incredibly important for our band’s creative process. We are split in half with four members living in Melbourne and four in Sydney. Therefore, songwriting involves a lot of sending voice memos and manic jamming when we touchdown in the same location. Touring creates opportunities for songwriting and refining because we are finally together. We all come from different walks of life and are inspired by different genres so our music is a melting pot and at times feels genreless. Our sax and drumkit player, Reuben, is an accomplished jazz musician, whilst our percussionist Ignacio grew up in Argentina so brings Latin influences. Alice, one of our lead vocalists and trumpet player, is a complete choir nerd and loves vocal arranging and harmonizing. Ash, a powerhouse lead vocalist and trombone player loves a soulful belty banger. You get the idea, we all love music and our differences drive our creativity.
RM: Lastly, what message do you hope audiences take away from your music and performances during this tour?
UDS: The overall message we hope people take from our shows is that we celebrate people being their authentic selves and give people permission to let their inner child out and their freak flags fly. We implore people to come, be merry, be vulnerable, be silly but most importantly, be open to all of the possibilities a night with Ukulele Death Squad could hold.
With their genre-blurring sound, theatrical performances, and unfiltered passion, Ukulele Death Squad is a band that thrives on energy, connection, and creative chaos. Their latest single, Baby Don’t F**K With Me, reinforces their commitment to authenticity and self-expression, while their highly anticipated New Zealand tour promises to bring their signature mix of musical virtuosity and wild stage antics to new audiences.
As they continue to evolve, incorporating influences from Bluegrass, Americana, and Latin rhythms, one thing remains certain—Ukulele Death Squad refuses to be confined by labels or expectations. Whether on stage or in the studio, their mission is clear: to celebrate individuality, embrace the unexpected, and create unforgettable musical experiences.
