Skunkhour
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 in Sydney, Australia |
| Defunct | November 2001 (disbanded) |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Studio albums, live performances |
Skunkhour is an Australian funk rock ensemble that originated in Sydney in 1991. Over their career, they produced four studio albums: Skunkhour (July 1993), Feed (April 1995), Chin Chin (July 1997), and The Go (May 2001), before disbanding in November 2001. The album Feed reached No. 21, while Chin Chin climbed to No. 34 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Their tracks "Up to Our Necks in It" (1995), "Weightlessness" (1997), "Home" (1999), and "Kick in the Door" (2000) each secured a spot on the annual Triple J Hottest 100. Since 2009, the band has occasionally reunited for live performances and festival appearances.
Initially formed as an urban funk outfit, Skunkhour featured the Sutherland brothers—Dean handling bass and Michael on drums—alongside Warwick Scott on lead guitar. By 1992, after relocating to Sydney, they were joined by vocalists Aya Larkin and his brother Del, who contributed rap elements rooted in ska traditions. The exit of Del in late 1996 marked a transition from their funk and rap style towards a more melody-driven funk rock sound.
1991–1996
The group began in 1991 under the name Skunk, focusing on urban funk with founding members Warwick Scott (lead guitar), Dean Sutherland (bass), and Michael Sutherland (drums). Their original name reflected their fusion of funk and ska genres.
Aya and Del Larkin became part of the band early in 1992, completing the lineup now called Skunkhour—a name inspired by Robert Lowell's 1958 poem. Their music blended elements from ska, funk, rock, reggae, 1970s funk, and hip hop.
They quickly established themselves within Sydney’s live music circuit, supporting UK acid jazz band Galliano in early 1993. After signing with independent label Beast Records, they self-produced their debut album released in July that year. Critics highlighted their complex sound featuring bass and drums foundations, hints of grunge, jazz influences, and rap vocals. The band toured supporting prominent acts such as INXS and Beastie Boys. In September, they followed up with the Booty Full EP and added Paul Searles on keyboards shortly thereafter.
By 1994, Skunkhour had secured a deal with Id/Mercury Records and released two EPs: State in May and McSkunk in October. Rapper Del Larkin emphasized his dedication to crafting Australian-centric rap lyrics to maintain authenticity. Subsequently, they signed with Sony/Epic for their sophomore album Feed, which came out in April 1995 and was co-produced with David Hemming. This release demonstrated a bolder sonic approach and maintained a presence within the ARIA top 50 for 14 weeks, peaking at No. 21. Additional EPs such as Up to Our Necks in It and Sunstone helped broaden their audience. The UK-based Acid Jazz Records issued Feed across Europe to favorable critical reception.
In early 1996, Skunkhour embarked on a ten-week European tour but encountered creative challenges while preparing their third album. Del Larkin expressed uncertainty about continuing his musical career and ultimately departed after the tour to pursue animation work with Walt Disney Animation Studios Australia. Lead singer Aya Larkin viewed Del’s exit as a positive catalyst for the band's renewal.
1997–2001
Starting mid-1996, Skunkhour evolved their sound by moving away from spoken-word rap towards more melodic compositions. Aya Larkin pointed out the influence of Dean’s bassline on the track "Foam," describing it as commanding: "That bassline is just out of control... it was like he was leading us into battle." During this period, percussionist Chris Simms joined the group. Their third album, Chin Chin, co-produced alongside Magoo (Regurgitator), was introduced by the single "Breathing Through My Eyes" in April. Released in July 1997, it garnered critical praise and reached No. 34 on the charts. Peter Holmes from The Sun-Herald described it as "a massive leap forward," noting its heavier grooves and more rock-oriented arrangements.
Following an Australian tour promoting the album, Skunkhour returned to Europe but faced frustration due to modest sales figures and limited radio exposure domestically. In 1998, Sony dropped them from their roster, causing them to curtail European touring plans. Aya recalled this period as nearly ending the band: "We questioned if we wanted to write together any more," leading them to discard about 15 songs over an eighteen-month span. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, producer Magoo received Engineer of the Year recognition for his work on several tracks by Skunkhour among others.
In 1999, operating independently, Skunkhour released the single "Home" to test audience response, which proved positive. Collaborating with producer Steve James, they recorded material across various studios and informal settings before signing with Universal Music. Their fourth studio album, The Go, launched in May 2001 achieved No. 54 on the ARIA Albums Chart, No. 10 on the Australasian Albums Chart, and No. 8 on the Alternative Albums Chart. The album received commendations; Kathy McCabe of The Sunday Telegraph highlighted its intensified energy balanced with groove retention.
Half a year after releasing this album, Skunkhour dissolved due to dissatisfaction with Universal’s insufficient support amid label restructuring. Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Aya explained that difficulties with the label limited their exposure: "The last album was only heard on Triple J and some community stations... We just wanted to go out on a high note." Dean Sutherland reflected in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that although they accomplished goals such as international tours and record sales, misfortune combined with record company changes adversely affected their progress.
Throughout their ten-year tenure, four songs by Skunkhour featured annually on Triple J's Hottest 100: "Up to Our Necks in It" reached No. 55 in 1995; "Weightlessness" placed No. 93 in 1997; "Home" came at No. 82 in 1999; and "Kick in the Door" secured No. 83 in 2000.
Revivals
Skunkhour reunited in October 2009 for a partial Australian tour consisting of nine shows held in December. In November 2012, the band celebrated their 20th anniversary with a special one-off performance at The Standard Hotel in Sydney. They continued to appear at various events, including the Apollo Bay Music Festival in March 2013, Byron Bay Bluesfest in April 2014, and a full live rendition of their debut album, Skunkhour, at the Queenscliff Music Festival in November 2014.
On 30 April 2016, the group came together once again to perform their first album in its entirety, alongside popular tracks, at The Metro in Sydney. Following a favorable audience response, Skunkhour returned to The Metro on 27 May 2017 to showcase their album Feed completely, complemented by other selections from their repertoire. Former drummer Michael Sutherland passed away on 17 September 2025 due to a heart attack at age 57. His contributions will be commemorated in upcoming Skunkhour reunions.
Members
Based on available information:
- Warwick Scott – lead guitar (1991–2001)
- Dean Sutherland – bass guitar (1991–2001)
- Michael Sutherland – drums (1991–2001; deceased 2025)
- Aya Larkin – lead vocals (1992–2001)
- Del Larkin – lead vocals (1992–1996)
- Paul Searles – keyboards (1993–2001)
- Chris Simms – percussion (1996–2001)
Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Skunkhour |
|
167 |
| Feed |
|
21 |
| Chin Chin |
|
34 |
| The Go |
|
54 |
Compilations
- Essential Skunkhour (Sony, 2010)
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Booty Full |
|
129 |
| State |
|
115 |
| McSkunk |
|
52 |
| Up to Our Necks in It |
|
56 |
| Sunstone |
|
104 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Up to Our Necks in It" (12" LP) | 1995 | — | Feed |
| "That's the Way" | 1996 | 136 | |
| "Breathing Through My Eyes" | 1997 | 77 | Chin Chin |
| "Weightlessness" | 97 | ||
| "Morning Rolls" | 167 | ||
| "Tomorrow's Too Soon for Goodbye" | 1998 | promo | |
| "Home" | 1999 | 106 | The Go |
| "Kick in the Door" | 2000 | 120 | |
| "Gold Radiation" | 2001 | 189 |
Additional Appearances
- The track "Bootyfull" was included on The Next Wave compilation (1993)
- "Up to Our Necks in It" featured in Triple J Hottest 100 vol. 3 (1995)
- "Breathing Through My Eyes" appeared on the Coca-Cola Sampler (1997)
- The song "Up To Our Necks in It" was part of Original Flavor - The Best of Acid Jazz Volume III (1997)
- "Breathing Through My Eyes" was included in Alternative Nation - 19 Original Alternative Cuts (1998)
- "Stadium" featured on the soundtrack for Two Hands (1999)
- The track "Home" appeared on Triple J Hottest 100 vol. 7 (1999)
- "Kick in the Door" was part of Triple J Hottest 100 vol. 8 (2000)