From conquering the main stage at Reading and Leeds to selling more than 65,000 tickets on their last UK tour, and amassing over 400 million streams to date, the trio are, plainly, one of Australian music’s most exciting international exports.
They’re also no slouches when it comes time to dine; from empanadas under a Brunswick recording studio to all things Sichuan, here’s how guitarist Johnny Took of DMA’s does it in his recently adopted town of Melbourne.
My local is Bar Andino in Brunswick, because it’s below my studio.
I know I’m in Melbourne when I’m riding the tram past Queen Victoria Market.
My defining food moment in Melbourne was my first time at Colourful Yunnan in Carlton. They do great Yunnanese food, but I’m obsessed with Sichuan food and if you go here with a big group there is an amazing selection of classic Sichuan dishes to try.
When I want to show the city off to friends from out of town, I like to take them for a bike ride down Merri Creek Trail.
My favourite spot for a pre-gig feed is Green Field on Sydney Road. It’s affordable, and you can go as heavy and light as you want (normally need to go light before getting on stage). I recommend getting the combination vegetable noodle soup with glass noodles.
And our favourite spot for DMA’s catch-up is Small Time Studios when we’re writing.
My favourite place to stock up on supplies is Preston Market; it has a little bit of everything. The vegetable markets are affordable and have great produce, there are great Asian supermarkets, coffee shops and an organic supermarket.
When I want to go all out on a special meal, I go to Tina’s Kitchen with a hangover and spend a full day eating Sichuan soup and dumplings.
When I want to drink something Victorian, my first choice is Carlton Draught.
There’s no better value in Melbourne than a banh mi at K&H Hot Bread in Brunswick. Get a roast pork cracking roll for under $10 and be full all day.
If I could change one thing about eating and drinking here it would be cheaper beer.
But the one thing I hope never changes in Melbourne is me calling it home.
Catch DMA’s touring their fourth record, How Many Dreams?, on tour around Australia now, @dmasmusic