INTERVIEW: Trophy Eyes John Floreani catches up about new music and tour -

Interview by Cody-James Henderson

If you know anything about the Pop-Punk scene of Australia, then this is a band that needs no introduction. Since 2016, Trophy Eyes have become a national household name, known for their emotionally captivating melodies, heartbreaking subject matter and the energy of a thousand suns when it comes to putting on a show. From the days of local AA back in 2014, the band has traversed the globe making a standout name for themselves that always leads them back home. These years of sacrifice have led the band now to their biggest headline shows to date across Australia this August, bringing along their friends in Boston Manor and Towns for the ride of a lifetime.

As these shows grow ever closer to happening (as well as selling out completely!) we had a sit down with vocalist John Floreani to check in on the Trophy Eyes camp before things really start to pick up.

In the lead up to this historic shows, the band would release a brand new single ‘Enmore’. A 2-and-a-half-minute blitz of nostalgia fuelled intensity that has gone down a treat with the TE faithful. But don’t look at this as a B-Side or a left-out track from the band latest album Suicide & Sunshine, this is a stand-alone piece that was ready for the world.

“I was just kind of working on some ideas, to put out a couple of songs to stay busy and to be making new music and moving forward” says John, saying that this was a song crafted well after their latest album was released. “Its not a show of new direction or a b side, its just a bit of fun between album cycles.”

The band who are no strangers to regular national tours across the country, have crafted the biggest shows oft their career after continual sell outs of some of Australia’s finest music venues. With this tour seeing them take on 2000+ capped venues for the first time on headline tours. But at the end of the day, the band are respective of where they once came from.

“That’s one thing I don’t ever forget when I’m standing on stages like that or touring with bands that I listened to as a kid. Even before the Hombre days, of just, that aching yearning of wanting to be in that world.” When being asked about the bands All Ages days 10 years in their hometown of Newcastle.

“It’s an incredibly humbling feeling as well. Thinking back to little me or even 21-year-old me and going ‘Look what we did’. All the work, all of the concentration now is making the show that’s worthy of a room that size.”

The band are no strangers to larger venues, having supported the like of ‘Bring Me the Horizon’ on their arena tour in 2019 across the country as well as taking the main stages of festivals over the years, sometimes with nothing more than a banner behind them. This time around the band is taking extra steps to highlight just how much these sorts of shows will mean to them.

“We’ve been writing extra pieces in our set that kind of go between the songs, not so much in a theatrical way but in a very emotional and honest way. It’s about realising that this is a shared space and kind of taking people on the journey that is this set that we’ve picked out”

Before wrapping things up, we wanted to know what was next for Trophy Eyes after a successful year. Following the Aus Tour, the band heads to the UK to support Boston Manor, who are embarking on their own album headline tour, but what comes after that is exciting news for Trophy Eyes fans.

“Truth be told I’m writing for a new record now for Trophy Eyes. Whether or not we record that at the end of this year, we’ll see,” says a tight-lipped Floreani. “It’s not actually locked in but that’s what I do with my days. But that’ll probably be the 2024 wrap and hopefully we start 2025 with a new record and some world tour plans.”