Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - We Chat With Australian Singer-Songwriter Vance Joy

Episode Date: October 20, 2025

Ahead of his New Zealand shows with Ed Sheeran on the Loop Tour, Vance Joy joins Jono, Ben & Megan to reflect on his incredible career so far, from touring with Taylor Swift to an unforgettable encounter with Sting. He also shares the surprising longevity of his hit Riptide and the amusing story behind his glow-in-the-dark tooth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to Hello Fresh. Cook easy, delicious dinners the whole family will love, because nothing beats dinner time. Lovely to meet you, Vance. Are you in Melbourne at the moment, are you? I'm not actually in Barcelona at the moment. Okay, that's not Melbourne? But I'm coming to Melbourne tomorrow. Oh, well, thank you for talking to us. That's bad. Well, it's very exciting to be talking to you, and you're very exciting.

You're coming to New Zealand with Ed Shearan as part of his loop tour. How does that work out when you get the call up for that? Does Ed message you? Does he talk, does people talk to your people? How's it happen? I think there was a fair bit of organizing behind the scenes. My managers were telling me that this could be a possibility. Then it was off. Then it was on and it was off again. And then they were like, it's over.

Just forget it about it. Like, okay. I'll get on with my life. And then like a week later, my manager called, she's like, back on, baby. I love that your manager finishes sentences with baby as well. Showbus. Show me the money.

You've toured with some incredible artists, before. I mean, you know, obviously Ed Shearing coming up, but Jewelie and Taylor Swift. Now, you went right, like 80, was it 80 concerts around the world with Taylor Swift? It was. It was so many. We got very used to sleeping in the bus and hanging out in car parks of stadiums for about six or seven months in America. It was, it was a cool experience. Jeez, I need. That's not an experience. That was cool. That was cool. The cool bit was playing. You're like, you can hang out in buses in New Zealand if you want. Yeah, that's fine. We've got plenty of those you painted a bleak picture of touring with taylor swift there mate what was it

because we saw a photo on your instagram and and it looked like a dress-up party a taylor swifts in an olaf costume from frozen but you're a character as well maybe you were swen or something like that as well sure mendies is there he's got the olaf hat on um it looked like a wild party you know that party a party reminds me of that tour and it was a great time and it also reminds me of Taylor Swift and Edge Shearing of taken on the world and I'm done alright but they've gone stratospheric and I've kind of just

I'm working on my slow gradient You don't want to you don't want to ping up too quickly Speaking of pinging up quickly Riptide has been The number one song in Australia For about 150 years I think Is that the stat?

It's 150 years old That's correct And it's good for pinging up Because that's the song It just keeps on giving was 2013 the song you released the song and it was like 2024 it was australia's number one local song it's been in the charts since then could you ever imagine that song had remained it still in new zealand charts if you go on the top 100 on streaming services could you imagine it'd still be

around um all these years later no not at all i mean i i knew it was special when i wrote it and i loved playing it people they always gave me a good response it's had a long life and it's been something I'm very appreciative of because it opens so many doors to me. As long as people can get too annoyed by listening to it or hearing it all the time, you know, I'll keep playing out as it goes. 643 million views, I think, at last count on YouTube.

Pinging, mate, it's pinging. And Taylor Swift did a cover of it as well. Were you like, bit pitchy, Taylor? Did you give her any feedback on the cover? I did. I sent her an email. I just said it as, I was like, I know, just you and the pianos, all right. What's the

special flavour. It's a special flavour. What are you bringing to it? What are you adding to it? Yeah. I, uh, now you, uh,

you had a pretty successful career as a, as an AFL player, we understand. Well, I played in the reserves for Richmond, which was the Coburg's Tigers back in 2008 and nine. I got best first year player or what or no one or most improved or something, but one year.

You played at the AFL final. I mean, not, I mean, you didn't play in the, in the game, but you played, uh, you know,

you sung there. That must have been pretty cool for a lover of AFL? That was the best day ever. That was, um, it was so special. I got to play open, then living end and then sting. After I played, I got this embrace and I looked around and it was sting and he was like, great show man. And so, wow, I'll never forget that. Sting. You got cuddled by Sting. Yeah. He's like, he's pretty ripped for an old dude. Yeah, he's pretty, is he, is he the tantric? Did he was, does his hugs last for a while? He's the tantric sort of guy that, you know, Like, is he hugging for a long time, or is it pretty quick?

It was pretty quick, but I reckon it didn't leave a profound effect on me. Yeah, that's right. He left something with you. He'd make love to you for five weeks, Stingwood. You've been, how we done, Sting? I've got meetings, I've got a family I need to go see. I haven't seen my kids in a while. I love the stories behind some of your songs.

As little boy, is that true that it was a BMX accident, and you ended up with a larger tooth from the dentist? Yes, that's true. I was riding my bike in the local hood. I was about eight or nine years old. Something I don't know what it was. I flew over the handlebars, knocked myself unconscious, knocked my front tooth out.

But they replaced my tooth with a really big tooth, and it was like too big, and it glows in the dark. And the dentist told me that I'd grow into it. Can I see which tooth it was? Oh, you know, you've got to grow up. Yeah, you've got it in front of it. He knew I'd have a bit. Does it still glow in the dark?

It still grows in the dark. It's cool. I always tell my wife, I'm like, I'm threatening. I'm like, I'm going to get the Hollywood teeth. I mean, $643 million. Surely that counts for some Hollywood teeth. You can get that from Rip Tide. Streaming numbers don't really lead to much money, but I think I can get my teeth.

I reckon it could lead to one, two. Or like a whole set of glowing teeth would be pretty cool. Get the whole lot done. That would be shit. we can't wait to have you hang out in New Zealand it's going to be very exciting one little request if you're coming from Australia can you bring me over some clinkers now I don't know if you know clinkers from man of course I know clinkers can you because I tried I was over there in the weekend and one night and my kids are like bring back

clinkers because they're big on TikTok they're sold out everywhere sold out I'm trying find clinkers man maybe coals or willies will have it I'll take a little look at oh thank you I'll pay you back I'll pay you back if you can bring me some smuggled we in some clinkers i'll pay you back in clink as well yeah he's like i should be writing music and said i'm hunting for clinkers for some guy i just met on zoom because i'm a nice guy hey well lovely talking to you uh we can't wait for you to be in new zealand it's going to be amazing to see you and ed shiren in concert uh lovely chatting and we'll hopefully see you soon likewise guys thanks for the great questions appreciate it see you mate have a good one

Say, bye.