My Pet Rhino Unleashes the Roar: “Is This Really How It Ends?” – A Journey from Bedroom Noodle to Stadium Chant
In the untamed plains of the alternative rock landscape, a formidable new force has emerged, commanding attention with the raw power and undeniable grace of its namesake. My Pet Rhino, the brainchild of Sydney-based musician and songwriter Jon Maratheftis, is not just a band; it’s a defiant statement, a testament to unyielding artistic integrity, and a promise of music crafted “our way, no compromises.” Drawing inspiration from the emotive vastness of bands like There Will Be Fireworks and We Were Promised Jetpacks, while harnessing the formidable energy of giants such as Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, and The Killers, My Pet Rhino delivers a captivating blend of progressive rock complexity, hard-nosed alternative rock grooves, and pop-driven melodies that will burrow deep into your subconscious. Get ready to embark on a safari for the ears because once these tunes take hold, they’ll be stuck in your head all expedition long.
The highly anticipated debut album, Arrows, is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a meticulously curated sonic journey spanning over two decades of dedicated songwriting. Each track is a testament to Maratheftis’s unwavering commitment to a “no two songs sound the same” approach, resulting in an album that is as diverse as it is dynamic. From the catchiest melodies to the punchiest riffs and the most creative song arrangements, Arrows is designed to ignite your speakers with a fierce passion while simultaneously enveloping you in the comforting embrace of a loving hug. This is music that speaks to the soul, promising something beautiful and accessible for every kind of rock and roll enthusiast.
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the unveiling of My Pet Rhino’s explosive new single, “Is This Really How It Ends?” This track is a masterclass in organic songwriting, born from the intimate solitude of bedroom guitar noodling and culminating in a wonderfully chaotic “pub-choir” of mates. It’s scrappy, undeniably heartfelt, and possesses a weirdly huge presence, a testament to a creative process stitched together across continents with remote vocals and an abundance of stubborn love.
Jon Maratheftis reveals his unique songwriting philosophy, emphasizing the raw, unfiltered honesty of unamplified creation: “Songwriting always starts by sitting on my bed strumming an unamplified electric guitar with no effects whatsoever, just playing until something catches my ear. It is impossible to hide bad ideas when playing like this: if I can make an idea sound good when the guitar sounds its worst, then I am onto a winner!”
The genesis of “Is This Really How It Ends?” began with such a session, as Maratheftis sought chords with a similar “ring” to Jamie Lenman’s “I Ain’t Your Boy.” Within minutes, a promising chord progression emerged, leading to the humming of a melody – a crucial step in his process, where the sound of the words holds as much weight, if not more, than their literal meaning. This sound-matching approach is a clever technique for unearthing that killer first line of lyrics, which then dictates the song’s entire narrative.
Fortuitously, the line “When you hear that voice out loud” immediately sparked the song’s direction, describing Maratheftis’s frustrations as a songwriter grappling with his own vocal limitations. In a mere twenty minutes, the song’s final form was complete – a lightning-fast creation that speaks volumes about its inherent quality. As Maratheftis aptly puts it, “When it all comes together that quickly, you know you are onto something decent.”
The recording process for “Is This Really How It Ends?” (and indeed, the entire album) saw Maratheftis initially planning to handle most parts himself, with two critical exceptions: lead vocals and drums. Given the song’s lyrical theme, his reluctance to sing it himself was entirely understandable. After a two-year search for a local vocalist proved fruitless, Maratheftis cast his net wider, venturing into the online world – a decision that proved to be a stroke of genius.
The search led him to the incredibly talented American vocalist Leanne “LeeLoo” Greenman, based in Europe, who thankfully offered her services remotely. LeeLoo’s powerful and versatile voice proved to be the perfect match for the song’s wide dynamic range, and her performance was nothing short of exceptional. Similarly, drummer Mark Spiteri absolutely nailed the chaotic drum ending Maratheftis envisioned, delivering a performance so impressive it directly inspired the creation of the track’s music video, specifically designed to highlight his extraordinary drumming.
But perhaps the biggest highlight of the recording process, and certainly the most heartwarming, was the formation of the “pub-choir” for the song’s grand finale. Maratheftis aimed for an ending that evoked the massive energy of a crowd singing along at a live gig. To achieve this, he invited a multitude of family and friends to Zen Studios in St Peters, where they lent their voices to the cause, creating a truly special and communal experience. As Maratheftis beautifully articulates, “It honestly feels so special to include all my favourite people on the track and make it as much ‘their’ song as it is mine.” The masterful mixing by Geoffrey Lee at Zen Studios perfectly blended all the voices, polishing the final track to achieve that undeniably big, chaotic, and utterly exhilarating ending.
“Is This Really How It Ends?” is more than just a song; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, the beauty of vulnerability, and the electrifying joy of shared musical passion. It’s an invitation to experience My Pet Rhino – untamed, unapologetic, and undeniably unforgettable. Get ready to press play and let the rhino roam!
