Annaliese of Neon Sunset speaks with frontman of The Chills, Martin Phillipps, about his 2018 solo tour of Australia, the art of pop music, the evolving nature of rock and the challenges of mixing moody lyrics with good riffs.

They also spoke about how Mark's ongoing battle with depression and illness interplays with his creative processes.

"I believe in rock music more than is fashionable at the moment because I still believe it's the alpha-art that has absolute freedom to do whatever it wants, to pick and take from any culture, era and throw things together. You can be absolutely high-brow there's lyrics that have been written that are as good as any poetry that's been written and there's absolutely the most stupid lyrics... some of the Ramones lyrics are mindnumbingly brilliant. I think rock music is getting a well justified kick in the butt at the moment".

photo: supplied.