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Where are you currently based?
Right now, our bedrooms! The band is spread across Melbourne, all of us in various stages of lockdown.
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?
We’ve mostly been preparing for our upcoming EP release, ‘Not Here’. Covid has definitely thrown us a curveball though – it put a pin in our touring plans and meant we had to rethink a lot of our approach when it came to performing and promoting the release, especially when Melbourne hit round two of lockdown as the rest of Australia opened up. Fortunately, we’ve all been really lucky in terms of our day-to-day employment, we have a great band support team around us and isolation has turned out to be a really productive, creative time. So we’re actually pretty excited for what we have planned with the EP release now.
How did you first start playing music?
We all got into music pretty young, learning through school either self taught or lessons – Alison (vocals) and Andrew (keys) went to high school together and have been playing music together since about 2010, while Ben (guitar / bass) and Lyle (live drums) have both been in different bands over the years. In terms of playing together, it was a matter of convenience – Alison and Ben started dating, so he joined the band with Andrew, and for a while it was just the three of us. We met Lyle last year, when he was playing drums for a mutual friend, and quickly realised we needed to recruit him!
How did Howlite come about?
Howlite is Alison’s baby. She initially wanted a musical project that didn’t have her name on it, and had a kind of ambiguity over whether it was a band, a solo project or something else. It also gave her the chance to move more into pop music and away from the folk music she was performing at the time. Alison recorded Howlite’s first EP ‘Reasons’ with a friend from uni, Michael Robinson, but slowly grew to incorporate Andrew and Ben into her live sets. From that point onwards Howlite was formed as the band, and we went on to record and perform together as a group rather than a solo project.
Your new single ‘Canary’ is out now, what or who influenced the sound and songwriting?
The idea of metaphors or analogies is something that happens a lot in our writing and it’s fun to incorporate them into a narrative. We’d all been listening to a lot of trip-hop music, and we were definitely influenced by bands such as Portishead and Massive Attack, along with bands such as London Grammar and Daughter, that delve into that more sort of dark-pop or left of field pop realm. At the time of writing, Alison had also been listening to some of Aurora and Marika Hackman’s early stuff, and she really liked the dark imagery of their music.
How did you go about writing Canary?
Alison tends to write all the songs, and will bring them to the band for evaluation and workshopping. The seed of the song started with Alison on piano, just the chord progression of the verses and the opening line, “Curse me in your mother tongue, do you kiss her with that mouth – why not me?”, and it kind of developed from there. At the time Alison was in a transitional period of life, really questioning identity and sense of self within the context of others. It’s a very “lost” song. Kind of pleading and looking around for answers from people, or wanting to feel accepted and safe. The chorus is quite sparse, with the line fading off into repetition, to give that idea of isolation and a lack of clarity or response.
Where and when did you record/produce?
We recorded the bones of the whole EP way back in 2019 at The Alamo Studios here in Melbourne, working with our producer Tyson Fish and mixing engineer Daniel Caswell. From there, we did some development on drum tracks and arrangements with our friend and producer, FAULK. The main post-production, and some of the mixing was then carried out by our other producer JP Fung, who’s based in Sydney, who helped craft and articulate the tracks. We then left the final mastering in the capable hands of our longtime mastering lord Joe Carra from Crystal Mastering. It takes a village to build an EP!
How did you approach the recording process?
We had worked with Tyson and Dan in the studio on our last single before this EP, ‘Orchestra’, and it was such a positive, fruitful experience that we were excited to dive right back in for the EP. They helped us immensely with pre-production, workshopping the songs and demos to the point of recording and planning out the recording schedule. Previously, we’d often head into the studio right away, and then end up spending a lot of time problem solving or exploring multiple ideas. This time round we had the good fortune and freedom to really take the time to do things properly, both before, during and after recording, to get the best out of ourselves and the songs. We made the decision to track the vocals first, and build the song around it. As we got further into the project, we decided we really wanted to push and develop our sound, and look at creating something that took things to the next level. That’s when we decided to work with JP on the post-production side of things, as well as sharing the mixing of some tracks alongside Dan.
Working with different people over an extended time meant that there was a lot of development, a lot of inspiration and a lot of logistical nightmares! We had some concrete reference artists and production styles, and it was exciting to build things we loved about other artists into our own work. By not setting dates on the releases this time we had the freedom to explore some really creative directions and approaches, both with recording and production, until we ended up with a product we felt 100% happy with – and we feel that you can really hear that in the recordings. We couldn’t have asked for a better team to help bring the tracks to life to be honest, and everyone was completely on board with what we were trying to achieve.
What programs/instruments did you use?
We record all our demos in our home studio using Ableton, with a basic midi set-up and direct input for guitar, bass and vocals. Neither of us are particularly well-versed with DAW set ups; so the process is very raw and serves ultimately as a way to organise arrangements, construct vocal harmonies and experiment with ideas rather than achieve any kind of polished product. As we move more into the realm of pop and synthetic sounds, it’s been so much fun to play with samples and sound packages, and create things we wouldn’t have considered a few years ago. Once pre-pro is signed off, it’s time for the professionals and ProTools. It’s always a joy recording at The Alamo because we get to work with such a large collection of vintage instruments and amps, and record with their amazing Neve V1 Recording Console.
In terms of instruments, we wanted a nice blend of organic & synthetic – so there are live tracked drums and bass, but also sampled beats and synth modulations, and a lot of elements that take cues from trip-hop and 90s/2000s electronica. JP really helped bring a sense of pop to the recordings as well, by introducing more layers of samples in post-production. We also like to reflect this approach in our live setup as well, so we now incorporate guitar, bass, live kit and keys, but also work with sample pads, vocal loops and pedals.
Your EP ‘Not Here’ will be released in the next few weeks, please give us an idea of what to expect:
A warm, dark, luxurious embrace, like cocooning yourself in velvet and taking a nap.
What do you like to do away from music?
Our DIY projects have gone through the roof this year thanks to isolation! Alison has taken up knitting, Andrew has been renovating his bathroom and making his own salami, Ben has been restoring a 1970’s moped and our drummer Lyle has gone full handyman and built his own soundproof studio in the garage so he can play drums at 3am.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
There has been so much time for music at the moment! We’ve been listening to a lot of local artists – absolutely loving Braille Face’s latest album ‘Original Cast Recording’. We’ve also been loving Two People, Lastlings, ALTA and EOGISM, who are such big inspirations for us. Internationally, we’ve been listening to London Grammar’s latest, as well as Anna of the North, Future Islands, Tuvaband, Florence + The Machine, and the latest The XX side project from Romy. Alison has also recently taken a dive back through Spotify and is taking a lot of inspiration from early 2000s alt/electronic artists, like Ladytron, Vaults, The Delgados – and lots of synth horror movie soundtracks! Gotta be ready for Halloween.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
We have a few exciting plans for the release of our EP, including an amazing music video that filmmaker Michael Roberts has been working on. He’s done some incredible work with Slowly Slowly, and produced the music video for our last single ‘Stranger’, so we’re excited for that. We’re also planning to record a live set with him and photographer Jeff Anderson Jnr at some point, once we’re able to leave the house!
As for 2021, it’s also shaping up to be pretty exciting, as we’ve been writing heaps, and looking to head back into the studio and record our next EP. Depending on travel restrictions amid the pandemic, we’re also hoping to get the chance to take this EP out on the road, and actually play some live shows around Australia. Anything further than 5kms will be exciting.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Pizza! It’s such a versatile food, with so many flavour options! And they do dessert pizzas! You’re covered for all occasions. As for a favourite hangout place, we’re all just hanging to be able to get back into a pub – any pub, anywhere, just a pub please!
Instagram: http://instagram.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
Official Website: http://www.howlite.com.au/
“If you’re a fan of Channel Tres, you’ll dig what Life On Planets and Taylor Bense are cooking up.” –This Song is Sick
October 9, 2020 — Today, Baltimore artist Life On Planets shares his new collaboration with Brooklyn’s Taylor Bense to share a new EP ‘Glowstick‘. The three-song project is their first release together after signing to esteemed dance/electronic label, Kitsuné Musique. The two musicians put their newfound musical chemistry on full display with their sultry summer R&B/House EP.
The title track “Glowstick” premiered on This Song is Sick who says, “The groove on this one is undeniable. The bass line is enough to get any dance floor moving, especially with the playful vocalizing, “bum-ba-dum-bum,” that rides along with it.”
Celeste explains how his new project with Taylor Bense materialized staying, “We were at the studio talking about how we both loved R&B and trap and stuff that was coming out but how it didn’t belong in our sets at dance clubs. We wanted to make something with a taste of both worlds that could be played at our performances without being totally alien to what we already do.”
Life On Planets and Taylor Bense’s new EP is out now via Kitsuné Musique.
MORE INFO ON LIFE ON PLANETS:
Life On Planets is the solo project of singer/guitarist Phill Celeste. Melding soul, R&B, and house in his original productions; the artist’s eclectic sound took him from the streets of Baltimore to cities the world over. Join Phill as he weaves live performance with electronics to spread messages of truth, love, and consciousness across dance floors.
MORE INFO ON TAYLOR BENSE:
Like his own musical tastes, Taylor Bense draws on numerous and diverse inspirations. From jazz and Motown, all the way up to the records that sampled them (Dilla, Tribe, Detroithouse) Bense has managed to take familiar sounds and repurpose them into fresh tracks with unexpected lyrical and stylistic pairings.
CONNECT
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR BLOOD
ANNOUNCES ALBUM RELEASE SHOW AT THE VANGUARD, SYDNEY
“…charming Sydney singer songwriter churning out indie heartwarmers” – triple j
“…a star amongst the Sydney indie-rock world that in the year just gone started to find his footing in a national sense” – Pilerats
Jack explains what Blood is about, “Blood is also a meditation of frustration. Of feeling as though I’m just working all the time. Where it differs from Who Can Say is that I’m more leaning in to it, throwing myself into the flood. Being honest with myself is a really liberating thing, and I’m feeling the frustration eases and I can remind myself that the work is the actual reward.”
He adds, “We wanted to explore the concept that, although it’s long and arduous, putting in work is a reward in itself. It also does a lot to capture my non-musical influences such as Dr Who, Batman and The Mighty Boosh.” about the video.
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This is The Kit have shared new single ‘Was Magician’ alongside a live performance video. The single comes from her upcoming album Off Off On, out on Rough Trade Records / Remote Control on October 23rd, 2020. The video was recorded and filmed by Lyon Sound and Vision at L’Epicerie Morderne in France and remotely directed from NYC by Marisa Gesualdi.
‘Was Magician’ is both a wander through the books of author Ursula K. Le Guin and a meditation on the gifts and powers that people have, and what happens when they are underestimated. This Is The Kit’s Kate Stables explains, “Often it’s children who have underestimated powers. They have an understanding and wisdom about things that we think beyond their abilities, they are often leaps and bounds ahead of the ‘adults’. People like Greta Thunberg – the young people who we have borrowed the earth from and who we have to give it back to, and hope that they will take better care of it than we have.”
Stables worked on Off Off On with producer Josh Kaufman, New York-based member of Bonny Light Horseman & Muzz, who has also collaborated with The Hold Steady, The National and most recently Taylor Swift. The two first met when working with Anaïs Mitchell on a cover of the Osibisa song ‘Woyaya‘, their paths later crossing at the PEOPLE residencies in Berlin and Brooklyn.
“We were on the same page about a lot of musical ideas, as well as doing things I wouldn’t do musically,” Stables explains of working with Kaufman. “It was a lovely mixture of ‘you’re exactly in my brain and exactly at the opposite end of my brain.’” The band, completed by Rozi Plain (bass/vocals), Neil Smith (guitar), Jesse D Vernon (guitar, keyboards), Jamie Whitby-Coles (drums/vox) recorded Off Off On in Wiltshire, UK’s Real World Studios, finishing just in time for everyone to get home before lockdown began in March.
‘Was Magician‘ is the third single to be released from the upcoming album, following earlier tracks ‘This Is What You Did’ which was added to Double J rotation and ‘Coming to get you Nowhere’ premiered by Triple R’s Breaking and Entering.
Pre-order the album here: https://thisisthekit.
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This Is The Kit – Off Off On is Friday 23 October via Rough Trade / Remote Control This is The Kit
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AC/DC RETURN WITH HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM ON NOVEMBER 13, 2020 UNLEASH NEW SINGLE ‘SHOT IN THE DARK’ OUT NOW REVEAL LIMITED-EDITION DELUXE OF POWER UP |
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AC/DC will release their seventeenth full-length album POWER UP on November 13, 2020 through Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment Australia. This marks the legendary band’s first new music since 2014. POWER UP is available for pre-order HERE.
To set the stage, they just unleashed a new single entitled ’Shot In The Dark’. The song sees the lineup of Angus Young [lead guitar], Brian Johnson [lead vocals], Cliff Williams [bass guitar], Phil Rudd [drums], and Stevie Young [rhythm guitar] firing on all cylinders once again.
For the album, the band reunited with producer Brendan O’Brien who helmed BLACK ICE in 2008 and ROCK OR BUST in 2014. Charged up for the next decade, AC/DC cut twelve new tracks for the album, proudly maintaining their signature sound and all of its powerful hallmarks. POWER UP will be available in multiple configurations that will excite collectors and die-hard fans alike, including digital, CD, and deluxe versions. The limited edition, one-of-a-kind deluxe POWER UP box is the ultimate fan package. Hit the button on the side of the box and watch the flashing neon AC/DC logo light up while the opening bars of ‘Shot In The Dark’ blast out of the built-in speaker. Inside the box is the full CD package in a soft-pack with a 20-page booklet that features exclusive photos and USB charging cable allowing the box to remain powered up and on display. The vinyl LP will be pressed on 180 gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket. Limited edition variants of the LP will be available at select retailers nationwide, as well as the band’s online store. The album will be available on all digital platforms.
Check out the full track listing below!
AC/DC are back in 2020. Get ready for POWER UP now.
POWER UP TRACKLISTING: 1. Realize 2. Rejection 3. Shot In The Dark 4. Through The Mists Of Time 5. Kick You When You’re Down 6. Witch’s Spell 7. Demon Fire 8. Wild Reputation 9. No Man’s Land 10. Systems Down 11. Money Shot 12. Code Red
AC/DC are one of the most influential rock bands in history with over 200 million albums sold worldwide and 71.5 million albums sold in the U.S. alone. The double-diamond BACK IN BLACK stands out as “bestselling album by any band ever” and “third bestselling album by any artist” with global sales of 50 million and counting. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® in 2003. The band also garnered their first GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Hard Rock Performance” for ‘War Machine’ during 2010. They continue to sell out stadiums on multiple continents, sell millions of albums annually, and generate streams in the billions. AC/DC return with POWER UP in 2020.
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Born inside a multicultural environment, Alith came in touch with the realm of electronic music & its endless possibilities of stimulating emotions. The artist tends to experiment in the spheres of Electronica & Alt. Pop. He then merges the amalgamation with elements of Ambient and UK Bass to craft a sound that portrays his interpretation of nowadays’ music.
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Where are you currently based?
Meanjin (Brisbane, Australia). What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?
As with most promoters/labels in the Brisbane scene, things have been pretty quiet. We’ve used this down time to finalise our recently released vinyl release (the label’s first) and lock in some other digital releases. Other than that, we’ve played a few sets on The Quivr – A Brisbane based DJ streaming platform that so happened to pop up just before lockdown began. Please tell us about Pocketmoth and your co-founder; how did you wind up starting a label together?
Zach and I have played in a band together for about six years, and always had a mutual interest in Electronic music. As time progressed, we started making mixes, digging for music, and attending raves etc. Having been involved with a record label via our band, we understood the basics of how to run one, and figured we could do something similar. What core values do you have as a label?
– Our label abides by the core values of dance music; Inclusivity, diversity, safety, free creativity and expression. What qualities must an artist and track possess to be on Pocketmoth?
– we are captivated by sounds that move us. Our discography contains many articulations of this, from tight minimal pieces, do huge luscious soundscapes. In short, we chase unique sounds from unique artists that share our philosophy; attention to detail, a clear conceptual framework, and passion for music in all forms. Do you find it difficult to push such a unique sound in a city like Brisbane?
Not hugely. We have such a tight knit community, and many of the Bris-based artists that release with us are well respected by their peers. Naturally, this gives local releases an organic reach throughout the city, which is very special. Our scene is still growing, and I feel that Pocketmoth and Brisbane will move forward very quickly in tandem. Who knows where we will be in a few years.
Please tell us about some of your artists?
It’s almost an injustice to spotlight a few, as there are so many talented artists that feature in our discography. Perhaps then, I’ll mention the artists responsible for forthcoming Pocketmoth releases: – Gabriel Magdelani and Niran Mantin: Two very talented minimal producers from Tel Aviv, responsible for the recently released vinyl, Physical Desires [PKM009]. Though we’ve never met, we’ve developed a strong friendship with Gabriel, Niran and their network of producers, having featured a few on Pocketmoth releases.
– Olympic Swimming Pool Maintenance
A producer, visual artist and live electronic performer from Brisbane. He is due to release an ambient techno EP on the label digitally in the next few months, so stay tuned.
– DJ Borderforce
A close friend, collaborator and co-founder of local promoter ’No Persuasion’. We share a studio with him also. An extremely refined producer with an incredible work ethic. He’s always experimenting with new gear, new setups, and new ideas in his music. His forthcoming EP will be filled with big drums, luscious pads and uplifting chord progressions.
– Squidgenini
Possibly the most all-round talented artists we know. An Incredible vocalist, keys player and critical thinker, with a bunch of well-received original music already to her name. Squid has been recently diving into deeper styles of electronic music, and the results are super exciting. No dates locked in yet, but likely early next year. Some exciting news, word has it you are releasing your first vinyl this month, please tell us about the release: What inspired you to go for vinyl?
Pressing music to vinyl has been a goal of ours since we started the label in late 2017, however as a small label with not much reach, no contacts and an unrefined palette, it didn’t make sense at first. Things are different now – we have rubbed shoulders with amazing artists and label owners from Australia and abroad, grown within local and international communities, and maintain a better understanding of our goals. Having already released on the label, Gabriel suggested to us the idea of a collaborative release with his colleague Niran. As Gabriel is Arab Israeli, and Niran Jewish Israeli, the release aims to show the transcendent power of dance music, and share a message of unity. Of course, the music was also incredible: tightly produced, textural, groovy. We couldn’t have dreamed for a more perfect release to press as our first vinyl.
Physical Desires EP [PKM009], by Gabriel Magdelani and Niran Mantin, released on the 25th Sept 2020, and is available physically via Bandcamp Juno, Decks, Deejay and a number of record stores. It’s also available digitally via band camp, Soundcloud and primary streaming services.
Does Pocketmoth ever do label nights?
Super Whatnot w/ Madeline Holt: A monthly night of all-vinyl selections by Myself (Black Mannequin), and Zach (Quincy Raw), accompanied by digital art projections by our good friend, Madeline Holt. Cerulean Showroom: This was our bimonthly club night, featuring immersive deep blue visuals, quadraphonic sound and strictly local selectors playing prime-time sets. It showcased the talent that Brisbane has to offer, by providing local DJs with an international level setup and vibe. It sadly came to an end due to certain constraints, and given the COVID situation, we haven’t been able to book anything much since. We’ll be back though, offering the same production level with a fresh concept.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Off The Meds K-Lone
Satoshi Tomiie
Al Wootton
Local:
Squidgenini
Big Dead
Waqef What do you like to do away from music?
Play football, ride bikes, read. What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
We aim to piece out two more releases before the new year, and then another couple in early 2021. From there, maybe another vinyl? It’s hard to know given the current circumstances!! Favourite food and place to hangout?
Fave food: Almond Croissant (paired with long black).
Fave hang out spot: Super Whatnot – Burnett Lane, Brisbane City. Amazing mixologists, tasty nibbles. Music policy: strictly vinyl. Small bar, big vibes. |
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Stay connected with Max Leone:
Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Soundcloud
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Stay connected with Sunset Rollercoaster:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Website
Where are you currently based?
How did you first start playing music?
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?
Your new single ‘Playboy Type’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
How did you go about writing Playboy Type?
Where and when did you record/produce and who with?
What programs/instruments did you use?
How did the concept for the music video come about?
Where and when did you film and who did you work with?
What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the video?
Who are you listening to at the moment?
What do you like to do away from music?
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
Favourite food and place to hangout?