The Australian Government isn’t the only entity that puts people through a rigorous cross-examination to prove their loyalty to a bunch of stars and a Union Jack. Each week at 'M+N', we make an Australian act kiss the flag by asking them questions about their favourite local acts: who they’ve been listening to recently, their underground heroes, or whether they prefer Marty Monster or Agro.

Despite being in a “dance sort of band”, Art vs Science’s Dan Mac was weaned on the classics: Chisel, Acca Dacca, Midnight Oil and INXS. The Sydney trio will launch their debut self-titled EP across the east coast this month.

Part 1. Geography

a. Tell us about your hometown.
Two of us grew up in the badlands of inner-suburban Sydney. One of us is from a semi-rural suburb on Sydney's fringe. Try to guess which one. You may be pleasantly surprised.

b. Name your favourite bands from your neck of the woods.
Sydney's got so many good bands at the moment it would be unfair not to list all of them. But right now we're really digging on the vibe of Papa vs Pretty and We Say Bamboulee.

c. Where’s your local and what’s it like?
I'm in between places at the mo so my local is wherever the wind takes me. We have been doing a lot of our music appreciation/drinking at our friend's mum's house. Way cool. Just cant stay up past 9pm.

Part 2. History

a. Which Australian bands did you grow up listening to?
I had a healthy dose of Aussie rock ala AC/DC, INXS, Midnight Oil and Cold Chisel. Dan W's first ever live experience was Gerling at Homebake in '98, so he's skewed a little differently. I know Jim loved Peter Combe (of ‘Newspaper Mama’ infamy) when he was a little tacker. We were all listening as one though when The Living End released Prisoner of Society. I remember listening to it on the top 40 countdown and moshing in my bunkbed while it played on my Sony Walkman.

b. What’s the first Australian record you bought?
Mine would probably be Back in Black by AC/DC. Dan W's would have been Frenzal Rhomb Meet The Family. Don't know about Jim Finn ... maybe John Farnham?

c. Who’s your favourite Australian band/artist of all time?
Although we're a dance/electro sort of band, I've always thought that Aussie rock in the ’80s and early ’90s was really unique and resonated strongly in Australia. So it's a close tie between INXS and AC/DC. AC/DC has the raw groove and dirtiness but INXS has the romp. We dig the sound on Bon Scott-era AC/DC recordings (ie. a band in a room hitting it out) and it was a feel that we were going for with tracks like ‘Flippers’ and ‘Take Me To Your Leader’. Live recordings, no click tracks, no edits, all in a room together on tape with few overdubs.

d. What’s the most “Australian” record ever produced?
Just the Chisel albums with ‘Khe Sahn’, ‘Flame Trees’, ‘Working Class Man’ (sic) and ‘Cheap Wine’ on them. Jimmy Barnes is Australia. Even though he's Scottish and he sings in an American-Blues accent.

Part 3. Current Affairs

a. Who are some of your favourite new Australian bands?
Foxx On Fire from Melbourne: their disco-y sort of songs are really, really, cool. Also loving the hippy vibe from Tame Impala. Jackson Jackson and John Steel Singers are rocking it too.

b. If you could collaborate with one current Australian artist, who would it be, and what would it sound like?
Chris Cheney of the Living End. It would sound something like ‘Release The Beast’ by Breakwater (aka the sample from ‘Robot Rock’ by Daft Punk). Keyboards would join forces with guitar stabs and a massive, thumping four-to-the-floor beat. Plus in the breakdown I would challenge Mr Cheney to a guitar duel on stage. He's certainly got some speed on me but I reckon I could hang on for a couple of rounds

c. Last great local gig you saw.
We've been holed up recording and mixing this latest EP so I can't say I've got to see many bands over the last few months. I think the best time I've had at a gig lately was side stage with 2manyDJs at Parklife last year (does Parklife count as local?). It was also funny because I have a South African friend who was at Parklife with me and he calls it "Porklarf". He speaks weird.

Otherwise seeing The Grates, Vasco Era and John Steel Singers a few months back at the Metro was awesome. We danced like slippery eels.

d. Do you think an Australian artist needs to go overseas to succeed?
No way. Unless you choose some peculiar type of regional folk music that will only sell in, say, Luxembourg or something. Then again Australia probably has a huge underground Luxembourgian folk music movement. There's always a market if you just look hard enough.

Part 4. Multiple Choice

a. ‘Eagle Rock’ or ‘Ego Is Not a Dirty Word’?
‘Eagle Rock’. It's a tradition that when it comes on, everyone's pants come down.

b. Marty Monster or Agro?
Agro. Because he was always teamed up with a pretty girl.

c. Jet or Wolfmother?
Wolfmother. Afro beats Ringo haircut like rock beats scissor.

d. Pie or parma?
A good pie. I've gone off the mystery meat ones from the servo.

e. Double Dare or Amazing?
They're both such incredible shows. I think Amazing, because you used to win a Game Boy if you won - and somehow when I was watching I could feel that joy of winning a Game Boy. It would have been wonderful. I never had a Game Boy when I was young.

f. Neighbours or Home And Away?
A strong, resounding NEITHER. My Art vs Science colleagues always accuse me of sounding like a ranting old man but the soapies are poisoning the minds of growing adolescents and teaching them false rules of social interaction. The less drama on TV the better for all. And why are there so many crime shows? It's morbid! To think people come home from a hard days work and plug themselves into the TV and watch gored-up, sick, nasty business - and the stories are rubbish too!

g. Puberty Blues or Picnic At Hanging Rock?
[No answer]

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ART VS SCIENCE EP LAUNCH

Friday, May 1
Fans @ Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane, QLD
w/Elke + The Touch

Saturday, May 2
Groovin The Moo, Townsville, QLD

Friday, May 8
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
w/Papa vs Pretty + We Say Bamboulee

Saturday, May 9
Groovin The Moo, Maitland, NSW

Thursday, May 14
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
w/Foxx On Fire + World’s End Press

Friday, May 15
Revolver, Melbourne, VIC
w/The Dirty Secrets + Clubfeet

Saturday, May 16
Groovin The Moo, Bendigo, VIC

Friday, May 22
Rocket Bar, Adelaide, SA
w/The Killgirls + The Touch