Daniel Merriweather

Where do you make a beeline for whenever returning home to Melbourne?
I love to get new ink whenever I come back. This time I got in touch with visual artist/tattooist No Scribbles and went to his private studio on Nicholson Street in Brunswick. He's a hand-push/stick and poke tattooist, so he applies the tattoos dot by dot without a gun. It's not as noisy and has a slightly imperfect aesthetic that I like.

I also love Hell's Kitchen at 20 Centre Place, CBD. Great artwork/decor and a very chill atmosphere. I went into Embiggen Books [for skeptics and amateur scientists] at 197-203 Little Lonsdale Street behind the State Library the other day and could hardly leave. Amazing selection of books in there.

Which suburb do you hail from originally?
Dunno if you could really call it a suburb… I’d probably refer to it as “the stix”. I grew up in Sassafras in the Hills right near Sherbrooke Forest. It’s still one of my favourite places on the planet; love it up there.

For those who haven't caught you recently at the now-closed Phoenix Public House and supporting Kimbra, what's your set like these days?
My set is diverse – half old stuff and half new. I have a new EP coming out shortly so it's a great way of people getting a sneak peak of what’s to come.

Who do you barrack for and have you been keeping up with the footy this season?
Well my grandfather Ted Ellis (RIP) actually played for North Melbourne back in the day so I should probably barrack for them… but I was born in Essendon so before my parents moved us out to the hills when I was two, my folks were repping the Bombers pretty hard. I proudly rock a Bombers scarf when I’m in NYC a lot too, and get random compliments from fashionistas who have never heard of the AFL but seem to like the classic look of the scarf. Doesn’t really have the same effect here though!