Reetoxa originally emerged as the brainchild of Melbourne’s own Jason McKee, a lifelong songwriter whose musical awakening took place as a teenager against the gritty backdrop of 1990s Frankston, although life quickly got in the way of his creative dreams.
Years later, affected by the death of his mother during a prison stint, Jason once again found himself seeking catharsis, penning the song Bobbie in her honour, and committing himself to recording a debut album after his release.
Claiming the moniker he'd acquired during his AA days, Jason set to work refining the signature Reetoxa sound, a distillation of influences from Pearl Jam and Radiohead to Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan and beyond with a nostalgic, distinctly Aussie twist and a penchant for unfiltered lyricism.
It wasn’t long before he’d joined forces with ARIA-nominated producer Simon Moro, Grammy-nominated engineer Joe Carra, and a legendary lineup made up of drummer Pete Marin, guitarist James Ryan, bassist Kit Riley and pianist Phil Turcio to bring his vision to life.
A true labour of love, Reetoxa’s debut album Pines Salad — Frankston slang for a bag of weed — was released in March 2025, each track demonstrating Jason's unmistakable outsider charm and knack for immersive storytelling.
With momentum now at an all-time high, Reetoxa is now preparing for a breakout year, with plans for more music and a first wave of live shows marinating in the background, much to the delight of its diverse and growing fanbase.
-Interview- (7/29/26)
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
I wrote my first song “Amber” in 1985 when I was 15 and got my first microphone and guitar soon after. I started off Punk and Grunge sounding but listened to as much music as I could to be broad minded.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
I want them to think about them and their lives and to find solitude in our art. Have their own experiences. Hopefully we are a cool new act they can get into that’s genuine.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
We have been described as “90’s with a modern twist” and one person said “cool INXS” which made me laugh. We always put the song first and any genre is not off limits.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
I’d love to tour with Tropical Fuck Storm, The Breeders, and Radiohead.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
AI can be a handy tool to make demos or test out different keys quickly but I don’t like music solely made from AI. As Mick Jagger says it has to be original.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Rock?
I think there is a lot of cool undiscovered stuff in the underground that’s dying to burst through. It’s time for the older brigade to nurture that or get out of the way.
7. What’s the current local music scene like there in Australia?
It’s amazing here in Melbourne, so many venues to play. I get so much support from the local studios.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
It seems very low, I have not made any profit from millions of streams but I don't want them to put the subscription prices up for young fans.
9. What’s next for ReeToxA?
We are recording our third album, it’s 22 great songs with great variety. It should be out between Dec - Feb.
10. Any shoutouts?
Big thank you to our producer “Simon Moro” ! His patience and diligence know no bounds and he has changed my life.
