The Sky is Falling, and dust Are Just Getting Started: An Interview with Liam Smith

Image Courtesy of twnty three

Emerging from Newcastle, Australia, dust have built a reputation for intense, unpredictable music that blends jagged post-punk with elements of experimental jazz and electronics. Formed in 2020 by drummer Kye Cherry, bassist Liam Smith, saxophonist Adam Ridgway and dual vocalists and guitarists Justin Teale and Gabriel Stove, the band first came together during lockdown, using the time to shape a sound that is as confrontational as it is cathartic.

Several members grew up in the nearby town of Maitland, where opportunities for live music were limited. Moving to Newcastle opened the door to a broader scene and the connections that would eventually form dust. Their early singles quickly gained attention, particularly ‘Joy (Guilt),’ which has amassed over half a million streams. In 2023 they released their debut EP ‘et cetera, etc,’ introducing their angular, genre-bending take on Australian post-punk.

Since then, the band’s momentum has accelerated. They have toured internationally with artists including Interpol, Slowdive, and Bloc Party, while also moving into their own headline shows across the UK and Europe. Their debut album Sky is Falling arrived in October 2025 and landed in the ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums Chart, further cementing their rise.

Now, with a North American run supporting The Belair Lip Bombs stretching from March to April, dust are continuing to take their volatile live show further afield.

We spoke to bassist Liam Smith about forming the band during lockdown, touring with some of their idols, and what comes next as dust keep pushing their sound forward.

dust formed during lockdown. What was it like starting a band in that environment?

It was really just the only way we could hang out. In Australia at the time you were allowed to leave your suburb if you had a job or something to do, so band practice became our excuse. We’d meet up in a small room and call it ‘work.’

We started playing together toward the end of the first lockdown and managed to get our first show before restrictions kicked back in again. We even started an East Coast tour. We played Brisbane, Maitland and our last show was meant to be in Sydney. At midnight the night before, new restrictions came in because cases were rising again.

COVID didn’t really shape the sound of the band, but it probably influenced some of the lyrics at the time. For us it was mostly just a reason to get together and play.

Image Courtesy of twnty three

You, Justin and Adam come from Maitland where music wasn’t especially encouraged. What did moving to Newcastle unlock for you creatively?

There wasn’t much of a music scene in Maitland. There were barely any venues and there still aren’t many now. We all played music at school but it wasn’t really something people took seriously.

Justin moved to Newcastle first and started going to gigs there. That’s how he met Gabe and Kye. I moved there after lockdown around 2020 or 2021. It’s only about half an hour away from Maitland, but the vibe is completely different. There’s the beach, a lot more young people, and a big university scene, so you’re surrounded by like-minded people.

When I first moved there, I was living in an eight-bedroom share house with random people. Around that time Justin and Gabe were living together, Adam was still in Maitland, and Kye was in Cardiff before eventually moving into Newcastle as well.

You’ve gone from your first overseas tours to opening for bands like Slowdive, Interpol and Bloc Party, and now playing your own headline shows. What has touring taught you as a band?

You slowly figure out what works and what doesn’t. The first time we toured the UK and Europe we were just excited to be there. It was everyone’s first time overseas, so we were just playing shows and driving nonstop.

By the last tour we were a lot calmer and more responsible. You realise touring isn’t just chaos. You can still take a walk, have a rest, or look after yourself during the day before playing.

Watching how bigger bands operate has also been really helpful. Seeing their routines, how they prepare for shows, and how they structure their days taught us a lot.

We’ve been very lucky with the opportunities we’ve had. Our first overseas run was with Hockey Dad, then we did our own tour, and getting to support Interpol was huge for us. We all put a lot of work into making those tours happen, and a lot of our own money goes into it too.

Are there any artists you’d love to collaborate with? 

Everyone in the band would probably give a different answer because we all listen to pretty different stuff. Personally, I’d love to work with a rapper from Florida called 454. I’d also be keen to do something with a hardcore artist and mix those worlds together.

I’ve also been listening to the new Harry Styles record a lot, so collaborating with him would obviously be amazing. Another artist I’d love to work with is EsDeeKid. I saw him in Sydney a while back and he was incredible.

We’re also really interested in working with different producers, especially in the UK. There are so many great ones over there, so that’s something we’re looking into.

Image Courtesy of twnty three

You’re touring North America this month supporting The Belair Lip Bombs. How are you feeling heading into that run?

We’ve only been to North America once before for SXSW in Austin, and that was just for a week. This time we’ll be there for almost a month, which will be a proper van tour.

We’ve been talking about all the places we want to see while we’re there. I’m definitely keen to do the tourist stuff. I want to see Times Square and the Statue of Liberty.

We’re also really good friends with The Belair Lip Bombs, so getting to do the tour with them and their crew will make it even better.

What keeps you motivated to keep pushing the band forward?

I think everyone dreams of being able to live comfortably from music. But honestly, when we started we didn’t expect any of this.

We’ve already done things I never imagined, like touring overseas and playing with bands I grew up listening to. If everything stopped tomorrow, I’d still be really happy with what we’ve achieved.

The main goal is just to keep enjoying it, keep playing with your friends, and hopefully reach a point where we can focus on music full time.

What's coming up next for dust?

Right now we’re starting work on a second album. It’s still early days, but we’re experimenting with new ideas and seeing where the sound goes.

Beyond that we just want to keep releasing music, keep touring, and hopefully play some bigger festivals. I’d love to do some Australian and Japanese summer festivals at some point.

Listen to dust on Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music and follow them on Instagram.