No smoko for Kim Salmon
Smoked Salmon, featuring Scientists, Surrealists and Beasts of Bourbon supremo Kim Salmon, kick off their national Totally Sick!! album tour in WA on Friday, July 24, at Mojos Bar, Fremantle, and Saturday, July 25, at the Prince of Wales, Bunbury. BOB GORDON chats to Kim Salmon about taking the new record on the road and his ever-diverse creative pursuits.
You recently toured with the entity-melding Surreal Science lineup. If The Scientists, as you’ve described, were both the addiction and the cure, how would you describe or diagnose Smoked Salmon?
Smoked Salmon is something that is totally sick and therefore good for you. It’s fun and gives you an endorphin rush, which is in turn good for your mental health. But do not think of this as wellness in any way, we’re an antidote to that. ‘Bring on the sickness!’ we say!
From The Scientists, Surrealists, Beasts of Bourbon, Antenna, Darling Downs and beyond, you’ve always maintained an admirable creative diversity. How important as an artist has it been for you to be able to commit to doing this?
Not at all, but I can’t help it! It’s been as much a hindrance as anything. An audience for one project does not ensure an audience for another. And as much as I might love to ‘never play to the gallery’, playing to a limited audience has its frustration. It’s the old tree falling down in the forest analogy.
Describe the Smoked Salmon live experience.
Satisfaction guaranteed! Mutual—for our audience and for us! But we’re not playing to the gallery, mind.
What’s happening in the visual side of your art of late?
I’m definitely between phases. Smoke Signals to Aliens, my residency at Wireless Hill a couple of years back, and Mercurial Muses, which I did earlier this year, were both extremely successful for me, both leading to further opportunities. But more importantly, they were both part of the same exploration which, while I’m not completely done with, isn’t inspiring me to a big creative splurge.
I’ve disdained figurative work as a serious concern for years now, but interestingly, the Smoked Salmon graphics I’ve needed for LPs and posters has by necessity got me interested in creating scenes with inherent narratives. Just the research you have to do to concoct a scene that doesn’t exist is a lot of fun and challenging.
I just got asked to contribute to a themed exhibition and to a charity auction that I know has a particular demographic, so I’m being forced to get out of my rut!
I’m also going to enter the Archibald next year and have someone who I think is a great subject. I’m not disclosing their identity, but they are distinguished in the field of arts and literature.
And what else is cooking in that musical brain of yours for the future?
Once again nothing in particular, but I got asked to do a limited edition 7” for an Austrian label to coincide with the October Smoked Salmon Euro tour, so expect a left turn from Smoked Salmon.
Your West Coast visit takes you to play in Bunbury for the first time since 1993. How does it feel to perform after so long in the place of your birth?
I have no idea what to expect! Hopefully I’ll see some relatives I haven’t seen for yonks, which’ll be nice. All I can say I feel at this point is flight trepidation, but I’m sure that’ll pass.
Smoked Salmon hit Mojos Bar on Friday, July 24, and the Prince of Wales on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from moshtix.com.au
