Emerging UK indie-rock four-piece BLOXX have achieved a great deal since bursting onto the London music scene in 2016 with their debut single 'Your Boyfriend'. From signing with Chess Club Records in 2017 to playing Reading & Leeds to supporting indie-rock legends The Wombats and Two Door Cinema Club, BLOXX have quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting emerging bands in the UK.

The band recently released 'Go Out With You', the first track from their debut album sessions. The toe-tappingly catchy track follows their acclaimed debut EP Headspace, which was released earlier this year via the iconic Chess Club Records and even scored air time on triple j here in Australia.
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We caught up with lead singer, Ophelia (Fee) Booth to chat about their new single and how their headline UK tour is going so far!

How did BLOXX come together? When did you decide to start making music?
We all met in college. We were actually in different bands and stuff, I was writing my own stuff and one day I got asked to play a show and Moz and Taz were the best musicians in our class and they were really into my stuff, then we started writing and playing together and it just happened!

Tell us about your music. How did you guys find your sound and how would you describe it?
We like to write fun and relatable music, something the fans can jump to and sing along to. We go through a lot of different genre’s as listeners, so I’m not sure you can call our sound anything specific rather than indie guitars and poppy hooks!

Who or what were your earliest influences?
For me, growing up I listened to a lot of music, my granddad was big into punk and The Specials and things like that, so I guess that’s where I might have found a love for guitar. I also loved Pink and the Editors a lot - very varied ha. I’m a huge Jeff Buckley fan too, I think that’s my biggest daily influence in songwriting.

Congrats on the release of your new single 'Go Out With You'. What's the story or inspiration behind this track?
Thank you! When we wrote this, I was really focusing on it being a live track, something that would go really well live, so we got a bit fun, and kept it bouncy ha!

Is there anything specific you can tell us about your songwriting process?
It differs, sometimes I get down and write on an acoustic guitar in my bedroom and then shape it with the band in rehearsals, or sometimes we all just mess around in the rehearsal room for a few minutes. It’s harder to TRY to write than it is to just let it happen. I find some of the best songs happen naturally.

You're currently on a huge headline UK tour. How is it going so far?
It’s been insane! It’s humbling to see so many people singing back to us, we really enjoy it. Every night is filled with smiles and a very happy 4 members of BLOXX ha!

You guys have supported Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats and Sundara Karma, as well as played at festivals like Reading, Leeds and The Great Escape. What has been your most memorable gig so far and why?
I think we’d all agree that Reading 2019 was and will probably remain our favourite gig for a very long time. We have so many fond memories from gigs, but Reading was 35 minutes of consecutive amazing-ness! Manchester shows never let us down though!

What has been your biggest challenge as a band so far?
I think every band faces challenges at some point, and we’ve been fairly lucky so far, in the sense that we haven’t actually faced TOO many (touch wood). Of course, there are little things, like timing, and balancing jobs to stay steady, but we’ve moved out of those times and I think we’re all hoping that the challenges are over.

What advice would you give other emerging artists/bands looking to pursue a career in music?
Never stop working for it, push for your art, and push for what you believe in. Stay strong-minded, and always believe in your work, against whether or not other people agree, because if you stop enjoying it, then it becomes a chore. It shouldn’t ever feel like a chore if you love your art. Also write, write, write, and make loads of contacts!

What's next for BLOXX?
Hopefully world domination soon! Kidding, kinda. We just want to continue having fun and growing as artists and individuals! We love what we do and are so grateful, that we want to keep giving back to those that support. Meaning new music, big things, big gigs and a whole lot of fun!​

You can follow BLOXX on Facebook for more info and listen to 'Go Out With You' now on all major streaming services.
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Following her impressive debut single ‘Wish We Had History’, emerging New Zealand singer-songwriter BEXY has just released her latest single ‘Stay Away’. Co-written and produced by Ambian & Sleo, along with Zac Emerson and Jesse Brown, ‘Stay Away’ is a laid-back indie pop gem that delves into the universal struggle between head and heart.

We had a quick chat to BEXY about the new single and how she got into music.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to music?
I’ve always been obsessed with music. My Dad is a muso so there were always instruments around the house, so naturally, I gravitated towards them. I can’t remember when I wasn’t writing songs on my bedroom floor. However, I was always very quiet about it all. I struggled to sing in front of people. I used to only post singing videos on Facebook, any performance I would cry before and after or just wimp out and not do it. If it was at home I’d make everyone turn off the lights and sit in another room if they wanted to hear my singing. But even with all my fear, deep down I knew music was what I wanted to do forever. 

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
I think my sound has and will constantly evolve and change as I change and go through different experiences and develop different skills and ideas. My mum has always taught me to just aim to be the highest and truest version of myself and that will bleed into my music. All I can do is be authentic and create what feels right in the moment, try my best and surrender to the rest.

How do you begin your songwriting process? Do you have any routines or rituals?
It’s different all the time. Most recently, my best ideas have come from driving in the car and having a wee singing therapy session by myself to the sound of the car engine. Trying to work through my emotions and recording it on my iPhone, then when I’m home I’ll listen back to the recordings and if anything sticks out to me, I’ll find a piano or guitar and just delve into the idea and refine it. 

I’ve been doing a few co-wrote sessions in studios, where I write from scratch with other musos - All very new and daunting to me but I basically bring out my diary and share way too much and we birth something from that. 

Congrats on the release of your new single ‘Stay Away’. Can you tell us a little about the story behind it?
Well, it all started with a random night in the studio with some new friends, drinking gin and tonic and sharing a little too much information. This song is about when you know someone is bad for you in a way, but your heart utterly adores them so you struggle to ever stay away from them. This song is about the constant battle you have with your head and your heart. At the moment music is my number one and I don't want to get distracted but it's hard when special humans wander into your life. But also I need to live my life to have things to write about so ya know ha ha. I’m heading into a very contradictory and confusing season.

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
At the moment I love Jorja Smith, Raveena, Mahalia, Clairo, UMI - very much into female artists who carry themselves with grace and empower other women. Love Still Woozy, Tame Impala and King Princess. There are so many artists I look up to. Sometimes it's not even just their music but the way they use their influence and community they've created to spread positive messages and change the world in their own way. It's brilliant and beautiful and it's one of the reasons why having the talent and passion for pursuing music as a career is such a privilege.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
Wow, you know what that's a hard one because I am a sucker for a good inspirational quote. I lap up advice, especially if it's from my mum, Oprah, Sarah Blondin or Eckhart Tolle. But something that has always stuck with me from a young age is a scene from an old TV show my family is obsessed with called ‘Frasier’. A character called Martin says: “Life's a crap shoot. We could all go at any time. That's why we have to make the most of whatever time we've got. Like sand through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives”. I'd watched every episode of every season of Frasier a million times but for some reason this time it really resonated with me... I no longer wanted to live in fear. It gave me perspective, that inspired me to live an interesting, fulfilling life.

What advice would you give to emerging songwriters and musicians like yourself that are wanting to pursue a career in music?
You have to want this more than anything and be the hardest working person in the room, push aside fear and just go for it. Use the resources that you have to make the best possible art you can and then surrender to that and enjoy yourself. Enjoy every part of it. Plus just be a good person. This is what I tell myself every day anyway. 

What is your favourite thing about making music?
It’s my therapy and oh boy, I love it so much!

What can punters expect from a BEXY live show? 
A ton of beautiful energy - cuddles and kisses. A lot of me either accidentally flashing you or my guitar pic flying out of my hand mid-song.

What are your plans for the rest of 2019?
I want to just keep writing more and more music. I'm doing a few intimate performances and I have more music coming out. Woop woop! A couple more singles and an EP.

​To celebrate the release of her new single, BEXY is hosting a gig on October 11th in Christchurch where she will perform old, new and unreleased music. More details here. 

2019 is already proving to be a huge year for Western Australian electronic dance trio, Crooked Colours. After playing Laneway festival, releasing two new singles 'Hold On' and 'Never Dance Alone', and wowing audiences at Groovin The Moo festival over the last two weekends, the boys are also about to release their sophomore album 'Langata' and embark on their biggest headline tour to date.

We had a chat with drummer Liam Merrett-Park about the bands new album, what to expect from their live shows and wanting to collaborate with John Mayer.

​Can you tell us a little about yourselves and how Crooked Colours came to be? 
We are three guys from the Southwest of WA that play indie-electronic music. We met through mutual friends like 7 years ago and we started creating music to play for friends at house parties. We had no ambitions of a career in music, we just liked to create it and play it in front of people, and we stuck at it until it has now become the biggest thing in our lives.
 
Tell us about your music - how did you guys develop your sound?
We were always into electronic music, so when we started writing songs in the early days we would try and emulate songs that we liked. During that process you hear a song and go, “How do I make that sound?” and you go back to your bedroom and try and recreate it. During that process you would distract yourself with something different that you liked and expand on that. In a way you almost become your own inspiration, wanting to expand on the last idea you had and make it bigger or weirder. That’s how we have been working, expanding on idea’s that we had on our last album.
 
Your debut album ‘Vera’ hit No.1 on the iTunes Electronic chart and gained over 30 million collective online streams. That must have felt pretty good to get such a strong reaction to the album?
Yeah it was surreal. We had had such a big break since our last release so we didn’t quite know how it would be received. After releasing the first single Flow, the reaction blew us away! It was crazy, we were getting tagged in all these travel Vlogs and on high fashion runway shows. Then the album came out and we hit the ARIA charts and it was actually such a shock! Honestly it has been such a great few years and we are so thankful.
 
Your sophomore album ‘Langata’ is out May 17. How would you describe this album?
It is the next step of Vera. Some deeply personal lyrics, some party lyrics. Some dance-y tracks and some slower chilled tracks. It’s our favourite body of work we have created yet.
 
In terms of the album-making process, did you do anything differently this time compared to your debut album?
This album was largely written on the road so in terms of locations. We were in hotel rooms or on the tour bus or planes which was completely different to largely being based in our home studios but other than that it was much the same. We kept it completely in house using the same gear as Vera. We’re just older and hopefully wiser.
 
What were some of your biggest inspirations (musically or otherwise) during the making of this album?
We were very inspired by the places we had been or the places we wanted to be. For example, the first single “I’ll Be There” was heavily inspired by a trip to New Caledonia and the track “Hold On” was inspired by our desire to be at the beach while we were shivering in the US winter.
 
What’s your favourite part of the writing process? 
That point when you know the project you are working on is actually going to turn into something you want. You often start a track and spend all of this time on it for it to turn into a blackhole of time that never forms into the vision you had of it. It’s best left alone and to start again. But at that point of perseverance and it works out, that’s our favourite. Also, when we are all in the studio jamming out at the final touches.
 
What can the crowds expect from the Crooked Colours live shows?
We always want to bring energy. Starting a bit chilled and then building into high energy at the end. Seeing the crowd react and dance is the ultimate reward. We are also going to tour with a new lighting rig which we are excited about.
 
What’s something most people don’t know about you guys?
We used to live together, and we would eat pasta bake and drink beers all week and we all got fat. It was fun but we all needed to get out of there.
 
If you guys could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? 
John Mayer. What a musician, what a voice! That guy has a deep love for everything music and I think would be able to impart some good wisdom on the way.
 
Are there any emerging bands/artists that you’re loving at the moment?
Ninajirachi. Legend!
 
What advice would you give emerging songwriters/musicians that are trying to break into the industry?
There are going to great times but also some pretty low times. You just have to ride the hard times out and keep on working. Don’t stop.
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'Langata' will be released on May 17th with preorders available now. Tickets for their national tour are also available now via their website.

Last week, Sydney quartet I Know Leopard dropped their highly anticipated debut album ‘Love Is A Landmine’, featuring previously released singles, 'Heather', 'Landmine' and 'Seventy Lies'.

​At its core, ‘Love Is A Landmine’ is an unashamedly romantic record that explores the highs and lows that inevitably come with falling in and out of love. A shining example of the diverse sounds that I Know Leopard have to offer, this album strays away from their previously established indie-pop roots and instead seamlessly blends dreamy synth pop, upbeat 70s soft rock with the new wave energy of Metronomy.

We had a quick chat with lead vocalist and chief songwriter Luke O’Loughlin about the inspiration behind this album, his favourite track and what the band has planned next.
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Congrats on the release of your debut album, ‘Love Is A Landmine’. How excited are you for fans to hear your new stuff?
Slightly terrified but also very excited. This album involved three years of writing and rewriting but after all this time we can still listen to the songs and be proud of them so that has to be a good sign.

Can you tell us a little bit about the inspiration and influences behind the album?
Musically there’s a lot from the 70’s and early 80’s. I grew up listening to my parents’ ELO, 10cc, Alan Parsons Project records on repeat. But we aspired to find a place for this classic aesthetic to live in the modern musical climate. These influences have always been there in our music but we decided to really let them shine through on this record. Thematically, the album is about love, its power to destruct as well as heal and the journey from the former to the latter.

Can you describe the album in one word?
Analeptic.

The album was produced by The Preatures' Jack Moffitt and mixed by Adelaide's synth wizard Luke Million. What was it like working with those two?
It was wonderful working with them both. Jack really opened our eyes to the album being something that we never imagined was within our capability. Luke has the most incredible set of ears I’ve ever encountered and he worked tirelessly with me to achieve something sonically very special.

What is your favourite song on the album?
Everything Goes With You. Love a ballad I do. It’s the song that feels the most natural to perform. It all weaves together with ease.

You guys are taking the album on your biggest Australian tour so far this May/June - how excited are you to be playing the album to a live audience?
We are extremely excited to celebrate with everyone. The passion and support we have felt for this project has been truly palpable so we just really want to put on a big ol’ show to say thanks.

Other than your ‘Love Is A Landmine’ tour, what do you guys have planned for the rest of the year?
There are a few festivals popping up towards the end of the year. I’m also feeling good about writing again now after having taken a break to cleanse the palate a bit. Songs I’ve been writing have been sounding different again so I’m curious as to which road I’ll be summoned down for the next incarnation of I Know Leopard.

​'Love Is A Landmine' is available now via Ivy League Records on digital, CD and limited red vinyl here. Tickets for I Know Leopard’s album tour are also on sale now and available here!
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Indie-pop sensation, Yorke, has quickly become one of our favourite emerging singer-songwriters — and with good reason. The twenty-year-old Byron Bay native, who has been writing songs for over ten years, offers a beautifully honest snapshot of her life through intimate lyrics, carefully-crafted melodies and spacious pop hooks. Her debut single, 'First Light', has gained over 600k streams and been featured on various official Spotify playlists including New Music Friday and New Pop Sounds.

Yorke recently released her second single and its accompanying video, 'Wake The City'. Co-written and produced by Andy Mak (Vera Blue, Bertie Blackman), the track is about disempowerment in a relationship and how often that begs the question of whether to sacrifice who you are or to appease your partner.
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The stunning video for 'Wake The City', which has already racked up 20.5K views on YouTube, was directed by Charli Burrowes (MeOhMy) and filmed in various locations around Brisbane. Beautifully shot Yorke says, “The song itself means so much to me that I wanted to create something really vulnerable and raw.  The director, Charli worked closely with me to maintain the sincerity of the track through the beautiful cinematography and locations. I feel it really brought the song to life."

Check out the exclusive behind the scenes video for Wake The City below!

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what path led you to music?
I’m Yorke – I’m 20 and my two other favourite things besides writing music are animals and food. I started writing songs when I was about 8, which was the same time I’d starting piano lessons. I’d always loved to sing growing up, but once I had a knowledge of chords and stuff I just gravitated towards song-writing as a form to express myself. I think I just came home from school one day and was bored, so I wrote a song and haven’t stopped since.

For those who haven’t listened to your music before, how would you describe your sound?
Emotional, cinematic indie pop.

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
So many to name! I was named after Jeff Buckley’s album Grace, so I feel like that is definitely an influence. I just love good pop music, and get inspired especially by a lot of song-writers themselves. Some writers that inspire me are Taylor Swift for her melodies, Lorde for her lyricism and Lana Del Ray for the way her songs are so deeply symbiotic to her production.

 Where did the name ‘Yorke’ come from?
I get really inspired by being in cities and especially my favourite one, New York. I love the chaos and the buzz and the lights and sense of purpose. The name ‘Yorke’ seemed only natural, I love it.

Can you tell us a little about your recently released single 'Wake The City'?  
I wrote this song with Andy Mak mid last year and it remains one of my favourite tracks I’ve done. It was written about being put in a situation where you are juggling to decide between self-liberation and constraint from someone you care about. I love the way the production sort of juxtaposes the lyrical content – it tricks you into thinking it’s a lot more upbeat.

You also recently released the video clip for Wake The City, which was directed by Charli Burrowes. What was the inspiration behind the clip?  
Yes! Charli is a creative genius. I guess the story behind the song is so close to me that I wanted to be able to capture elements of that through the narrative. The colour palette we chose (lots of red) to show that with emotion comes power. I think the clip as a whole really summarises the Yorke project perfectly.

Are you working on any new material at the moment?
I’ve been in the studio heaps lately, it’s been so great. Lotttts of music to come.

What’s your favourite thing about making music?
Being able to express emotions and imagery in a way that is so vastly subjective to listeners, but still creates incredible connection and meaning.

You supported Nyxen’s Sydney show at the Oxford Art Factory earlier in the year. How was that experience?
It was honestly so much fun! It was only my second Yorke show so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I just got so lost in the moment. So many firsts were ticked off and the vibe of the show was amazing! Nyxen was standing right in the very front, she is such a legend! Definitely go check her out live if you get a chance.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?
Write, release, shows, eat snacks, repeat.

There are so many great emerging bands/artists releasing music at the moment. Do you have any favourites?
Yes! Local acts I’m really into at the moment are E^ST, Robinson, Charlie Collins, Eliott. The female pop music scene is incredibly exciting at the moment, so proud to be a part of it.

Finally, do you have any advice for emerging songwriters/musicians like yourself that are trying to break into the industry?
1) If you put in the hard work, nothing is really impossible -  I knew from a really young age this is what I wanted to do, so I just kept honing my craft without expecting anything, and now it’s all so real and I’m constantly amazed about it. I got to perform at my first festival recently and my younger self would’ve never have believed it. It was whack. 2) Get advice, and really try to take it on board, but also remember it isn’t everything. At the end of the day, you want to do what makes you feel the happiest, and most authentic. 3) Support your artist mates - collaboration is key. 4) Trust yourself, and your intuition.
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Follow Yorke on Instagram for updates and stream 'Wake The City' now on all major streaming services.

After a momentous year of releasing new music and playing live shows, the Sunshine Coast's infectious indie-rockers, High Tropics have returned with a nostalgic new banger, ‘Feel The Same’. Produced by Elliot Heinrich (Future Jr) and mastered by Brian Lucey (Cage the Elephant, Liam Gallagher), the track sees songwriter Josh Stewart expand on his ever-growing catalogue of indie-rock sing-alongs.

We had a quick chat with Josh about the new single and his favourite Aussie albums at the moment.

Can you tell us a little about how High Tropics came about?
High Tropics was a couple of years in the making for me before I put together the band. Originally it was just a folder for me to house the demo’s I was recording, and when things eventually fell apart with my old band, I decided it was time to take control of my own destiny. I guess it’s not too dissimilar to the inner-workings of Tame Impala or BJM, the project kind of exists in two parts; the recording and writing – which is more of a solo endeavor, and then the live show, which much like my social life, is very much dependent on my band.

How did you guys meet?
I’ve known everyone in the band for many, many years now. There have been a couple of line-up changes, but any time someone leaves they’re usually replaced by another friend. I’ve never really had to advertise a position on a notice board or anything like that.

For those who haven’t listened to your music before - how would you describe your sound?
A lot of my favourite albums are from the 2000’s, The Strokes, The Killers, The Vines etc. Those bands had such a lasting impression on me it was inevitable that they’d shape the sound of my own music, especially in regard to tonal references. Ultimately, I don’t ever set out to make a song sound like something else, it’s more just shaped by my musical taste. I like my guitars to have a certain amount of fuzz on them.

Congrats on the release of ‘Feel The Same’. What’s the story or inspiration behind this song?
Thanks! Musically the inspiration kind of just came over me, I sat down with the guitar one morning and that verse and melody just came flowing out of me. I ended up tracking the skeleton of the song over the next day or two. Lyrically, there are various references, but overall the song explores the idea of putting too much emphasis on the destination and not enough on the journey. I think a lot of us set goals expecting some kind of self-transformation to occur once we reach them, only to find we feel exactly the same, or maybe even slightly empty.

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
My favourite bands would be Oasis, The Killers, The Strokes, The Vines etc, but if I’m talking outside of this project, I really love songs more than I do artists. For example, The Mama’s and the Papa’s would never pop up in my top 10 favourite artists, but California Dreaming would probably make my top 10 favourite songs.

You guys represented Australia in the Project Aloft Star Asia competition in Seoul, last September. What was that experience like?
It literally still feels like a dream, Universal and Aloft took such good care of us, we got to live it up like rock stars for a week, met so many rad people and got to visit a part of the world that we might’ve never gone to otherwise. I’ll forever be grateful!

‘You Never Made It Easy’ was featured in Spotify’s ‘Best of The Indie List 2018’ at the end of last year. How did it feel having one of your songs mixed in with the likes of The Wombats, The Kooks and Liam Gallagher?
Getting on any official editorial playlist is amazing, but to be in the company of some of my icons is obviously tremendously validating and encouraging.   

Are you working any new material? An EP perhaps?
I’m constantly writing so the EP has actually been ready for a while, it’s just a matter of getting it out now. It costs money and takes time to break through the multiple thousands of songs that get released each day, but new music is always on the way!

Do you have any plans to hit the road and play some headline shows this year?
Most certainly do, we’ll be playing some shows along the East Coast from March – May. Still finalising some dates but we’ll announce something soon!

There are so many great Australian bands/artists releasing music at the moment. Do you have any favourites?
Recent favourtie Aussie albums would be Bloody Lovely by DZ Deathrays, Sugar Mountain by Jack River and For Now by the DMA's. Funnily enough all on I Oh You. Bloody Johann has a good ear on him.   

Finally, do you have any advice for emerging musicians like yourselves that are trying to break into the industry?
I don’t really know if I’m qualified to be giving advice, but if I can share some guidance that was once given to me, it would be to focus on creation as opposed to attention. The music business is a fickle industry largely based off trends, so make art that’s true to you. And finally, as coach Vinny once said, “winners never quit and quitters never win”. ​
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Have a listen to 'Feel The Same' below and let us know what you think!
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At the fresh age of nineteen, Auckland singer-songwriter BENEE, has already made a lasting impression on the New Zealand and Australian music scenes with her infectious indie-RnB style bangers, 'Tough Guy' and 'Soaked'. ​

​We caught up with BENEE ahead of her debut Australian headline shows next week, to chat about dropping out of uni to make music (and pizza) and what​ she has planned for the rest of 2019.
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Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into music?
Yeah of course! So this is my second year coming out of high school. I was at university for two weeks doing a Communications degree, which is pretty pathetic, um but I had released ‘Tough Guy’ and I’d been working with a guy called Josh Fountain, who I got in touch with after releasing a couple of Soundcloud covers on the internet. So basically that year, I dropped out of uni and was just basically working - I made pizzas, washed dishes for a year and made music. The lifestyle was amazing! [laughs] But yeah I’ve just been working with Josh at Golden Age studios which is in Auckland, and also with this guy called Djeisan Suskov. They’re both in the band LEISURE, which is a really cool band. But yeah that’s what I’ve been up too!

Why did you decide to drop out of your Communications course and uni?
I mean, there was so much pressure in my last year of high school to go to uni. I had just released my song ‘Tough Guy’ and that was kinda like when we had all enrolled and we were all set and everyone was like ‘this is what I’m doing with my life’ and I was like "oh god, is this what I want to do?" I knew I wanted to do something in the creative industry so I was like "okay this sounds good to me". But I guess at that point, music was kinda like the fantasy and probably wouldn’t happen, but if it did, that’d be flipping amazing. And I guess just the response from that (Tough Guy) was pretty encouraging and second week into uni, I just felt like the whole time was just kind of a distraction from what I knew what I actually wanted to do so I was like "I’m just gonna quit this, give music a solid crack and just work hard". Best decision ever!

What’s your favourite thing about making music?
Just like the ability to do anything and take elements from different kind of genres that you like and kind of, make your own sound. I feel like that’s a really important thing. I like different elements from RnB tracks and pop tracks and coming up with something that sounds fresh.

Who would you say are your biggest influences? Are there any particular musicians or artists that you draw inspiration from?
I would say, Travis Scott… his new album is crazy town! And James Blake! He’s just released a new album. I feel like those guys are like pretty out there. I mean I listen quite widely, I’m really into the ‘discover’ thing on Spotify. Like just being able to listen to music and it’ll automatically link you up with stuff that you’d like. It’s always pretty accurate and I find that quite cool.

Yes, I love that about Spotify! So you mentioned you’re barely two years out of school, and you’ve already supported acts like Winston Surfshirt and Lily Allen. Do you ever have moments where you’re like “whoa, how did this happen?”
Dude, totally! I just did Laneway Festival as well and it was flipping crazy! We were at the hotel and Rex Orange County was sitting beside us eating lunch and I was just like "what the heck am I doing here?" and Yellow Days too! And for Lily Allen it was like my fourteen-year-old self, flipping screaming and yeah, I don’t know - it’s just crazy!

If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead, who would it be?
Whoa. Such a hard question! I mean, there are so many people but I’m so obsessed with James Blake at the moment so I think it would be him.. or KAYTRANADA... or The Internets Steve Lacy! OK, there are so many! But those are the top ones.

Congratulations on cracking the triple j Hottest 100, with Soaked coming in at #58. That must feel pretty damn good.
Thank you! I was listening to it live and yeah it was just crazy.

Soaked has also racked up over 6 million streams on Spotify, which is also pretty impressive. Can you tell me a little bit about the song and what inspired you to write it?
Yeah totally! It was recorded at Golden Age again with Josh and Djeisan. And it was like, you know, your classic kind of breakup scenario but I kind of had enough of listening to the sad stuff and I thought how can I turn it and make it relatable and kinda fun. But also, you know, stay true to what I was feeling. But it’s basically like you’re having this conversation with someone that you love and you want to say something and you know what you want to say but for some reason, there’s just this weird lump and you can’t get it out.

Following the recent success of his single ‘All or Nothing’, London-based singer-songwriter, Nathan Ball,​ returns with another stirring single, ‘Call It Love’. Produced by fellow band member and long-time collaborator Max Radford, ‘Call It Love’ is a beautifully crafted indie-folk piece, led by compelling vocal melodies and earnest lyricism. 

The single release coincides with Nathan's second visit to Australia, where he is currently supporting Ziggy Alberts on his mammoth 24 sold-out date tour of Australia. We had a chat to Nathan about his new single and how the tour is shaping up so far!
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Hi Nathan! Congratulations on the release of ‘Call It Love’. For those who haven’t listened to it yet, how would you describe this track?
Thank you very much guys, it’s a treat to have it out in the world. I’d say it’s an emotive but euphoric song; quite introverted in the verses but a euphoric sing-along chorus.
 
Was there anything in particular that inspired or influenced you whilst writing this track?
We’d been on the road a while playing the festival circuit and were just looking forward to getting back to writing. We spend a lot of time driving in the van and getting stuck into albums. We’d been hooked on the National and War on Drugs records and I think there’s a bit of influence from there in the track. As you can tell from the title it’s a love song, but it’s about a relationship breaking down.
 
Aside from releasing new music, you are also on the road supporting Ziggy Alberts on his sold-out album tour - how is that going so far?
It’s been unbelievable, a total dream! I’m feeling very fortunate to be on the road with the team, travelling around Australia which has a special place in my heart and playing to so many people every night. I can’t wait for the Festival Hall show in Melbourne, that’s going to be a mad one.

What is your favourite thing about touring in Australia? Do you find the crowds any different to the UK?
My favourite thing is the weather and the landscape for sure. It’s not often on European tours that we’re living in board shorts all day, hopping in for surfs between sound checks, that’s something I could certainly get used to! The crowds have been super friendly out here, the Aussie crew seem up for a laugh and coming to have a chat and a few beers after the show. It’s been great fun!

Before becoming a full-time musician, you were a snowboard instructor. What path led you to song-writing and to where you are now?
I spent a while up in the mountains snowboarding all day, it was a pretty special time in my life. I’d always been writing music and when the winter season ended I found myself in London and decided to record a few of the songs I’d written. I released them and fortunately, they went down pretty well, so I wrote and released some more and it just snowballed from there really. I’ve always been very keen to grow it organically and keep touring to get more and more people on board, rather than forcing it on people, and we’ve been rewarded with amazing fans coming to see us across the world.
 
Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
I’m a huge fan of the War on Drugs and they’ve certainly had a huge impact on the writing, I think you can hear that in a lot of Max’s guitar riffs on the tracks. I’m actually a massive house music fan and draw a lot of inspiration from deep house tracks, particularly the emotion they bring across in their songs. That’s always something I look to bring into my songs and am continuing to cross genre boundaries there a lot at the moment.
 
Which part of the music making process do you enjoy the most?
I really enjoy the recording process. I’m very fortunate I get to work with Max Radford, who is our best friend, guitarist and producer, so we often just tuck away by the sea and get stuck into the recording together. He’s incredible at catching an emotion and an atmosphere in his recording so it’s always a special time working with him.
 
Are you working on any new material at the moment? A debut album perhaps?
I am… there’s a lot of music to come out and I’m always writing. We’ve certainly got our eyes on a debut album at some point so stay tuned!
 
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Umm, I speak fluent French!
 
Favourite band or musician at the moment?
The War on Drugs for sure, and always will be!
 
Finally, do you have any advice for other emerging musicians, that are trying to break into the industry?
I think just stay true to who you are and believe in the music you’re making. I’ve always made the music I’ve wanted to create and truly believed in and if people are into it, then great news, if not don’t worry about it. If you get to play the songs that mean a lot to you to a crowd of people singing the words back, that’s the best feeling in the world.

'Call It Love' is available now on all major music streaming services. Have a listen below and let us know what you think! 
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With just over a month left before our favourite UK indie-rockers (and adopted Australians), The Wombats, arrive on our shores for their headline tour and a bunch of festival appearances, we caught up with drummer Dan Haggis to chat about the bands latest album, why they love Australia so much and his mum's first time on stage in a wombat costume!

Hey Dan, how are you going?
Yeah good thanks, just enjoying my morning chatting away to people. It’s a great way to start the day!
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You guys dropped your new single ‘Bee-Sting’ a few weeks ago. What has the reaction been like so far?
Yeah, it’s been great. We haven’t actually played the song live yet, so we haven’t physically seen a reaction. But obviously nowadays with social media and stuff  -- we troll some of the comments on our posts and see what people’s vibes are and so far, it’s all been really positive. My mum likes it as well, so that’s a good time!

Speaking of your mum... I saw a video on twitter of her dancing on stage at one of our shows, in a wombat costume. Is that something she does often?
Haha no it was the first time! She’d never actually been on tour before. Like she’d been to gigs but never spent time on tour, so I was like “Mum you’ve gotta come and have a few days on tour” and she was like “ooh I dunno if I’ll get sleep” and I was like “you’ll be fine!” Anyway, eventually I managed to persuade her, so her and her husband came to a few shows in Europe and one of the nights I was like “Right, mum, you and your fella are getting dressed up in wombat costumes” and she was like “Oooh yes!” and like she’s nuts, she absolutely loved it! And her husband is actually one of the most eccentric dancers. One of the best. One of my favourite dancers of all time, to be honest! Well better than Michael Jackson. He’s unbelievable. Yeah and honestly, we were playing ‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division’ and when mum came on stage — obviously I could see by the size who was who — she was just going for it! Oh man, I was laughing so hard I couldn’t play.

Do you get fans in the crowd come up on stage as well?
Yeah, a couple of times we’ve done competitions and the winners would get on stage in the costumes. Often, if we’ve got a friend or family in a city, then they wanna do it. They always text us like “can we do the wombat costumes!?” and also for a lot of people to actually see what it’s like to be on stage, that’s the main thing people love. It’s like “fuck I’ve never really been on stage in front of that many people” you know, they always get such a buzz from it. Often when there’s not anyone there to do it, I just say to our tour manager “can we just go out and get some people?” and he’s all like “health and safety! I’m gonna have to brief them!” So sometimes it depends on the venue, you know they’re not as open to it if you don’t know the people, but I always just lie and say that we know who they are! [laughs]

You released your fourth studio album, ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’, earlier this year – What was the inspiration behind this album? 
Yeah so as the title suggests I guess, especially for Murph as he often has drama in his love life, I think he tried to get to the bottom of what was going on with it all. Song writing is obviously a kind of therapy and a way to get some understanding of what’s going on. I think it’s just really about how hurt you can be by the people that are closest to you, whether that’s your mother, father, brother, boyfriend or girlfriend.