https://backl.ink/146802140To celebrate the release of Have Like Like that on Off Leash Records, we sat down with Lucas (PKA Health Club) for a chat about where things are for him and the music, right now.

Greetings Lucas, for those that don’t know about Health Club, how long have you been at this project and how would you describe the music?

Hello! I’ve been writing music under Health Club for around 3 or 4 years now.  When I first started the project I was listening to and influenced by a lot of soul, funk and neo soul, which led me to this sort of pop/neo soul output.  I’ve always really enjoyed lower tempos; they leave a lot of space between the beats and allow for more explorations in groove.

This new track of yours “Have It Like That” on Off Leash Records, is a funky, soulful record. The vocals remind me a little of early UK dance, but then there’s an almost American style janggly hip-hop beat plus some very Australian usage of the saw synths. Is it deliberate for you to merge styles or is that something that just happened organically?

I think initially I had leaned into some more of the UK feel on an earlier version – using some parallel harmony, 909s n what not but at some point, I just started from scratch and played with a new, more soulful angle.  It all just unwound from there and I found myself throwing a slap bass in the chorus.  I do love intentional use of juxtapositions or clashing of ideas but in this case, I think it just happened.

Are there specific influences that contributed to the tone of this track? If so, who are they?

Pharrell is always a massive influence, and if you get down to it a lot of the more current influences would also lead back to him too.  People like Lynda Dawn, kaytranada, Mndsgn & Toro y Moi; are very key components of the sound I’ve created with this release.  Can’t forget to mention Patrice Rushen, I don’t think I could go a couple days without listening to her.

Some of your more recent singles have been closer to a house/disco tempo. Are we gonna hear you stick around in these more open grooves for a while?

Definitely.  I’ve been DJing a lot over the past year or two – more than I have in years.  I’ve been listening to and playing heaps of late 80s and 90s stuff, especially Italo and Dream House.  I think I’d like to explore writing some actual club music very soon.

For the production nerds out there, are there any favourite instruments, plugins or tools that can be heard on “Have It Like That” and what do you like about them?

A lot of the lead and mono sounds on this one are from an sh101 remake.  The original was my first synth and when they brought the modern remake out, I had to get it.  I’ve used Soundtoys ‘Crystallizer’ for some of the lush background sonics too, definitely worth giving that thing some praise.  And, on every song, I’ve used the prophet 08 – in this case, for the big saw pads in the chorus.

No doubt, Electronic music is in a strange place worldwide with limited capacities and not much of a festival scene. How has Queensland been of late? Are you and your contemporaries able to go out and play shows? How do they feel?

It’s taken some time but we’re back to what feels like normal.  The limited capacity is still in place of course, and is quite a point of tension, with other areas of society seemingly “immune” to covid safety restrictions and procedures. Friends are throwing shows nearly every weekend, to smaller and maybe more dedicated crowds.  People are aware of the limited release, so the tickets are bought up quick and the attendance is always in high spirits.  I’ve even caught some shows from international artists which seems crazy.

On, that; If you could play support to any international headliner, who would it be and why would that be an awesome show for Health Club?

Probably someone like Erika De Casier or Toro y Moi. I feel like any show they would do would be awesome regardless of my involvement, and would be great to be a part of it.

What about in the studio? Who would be a dream collaboration for Health Club and why do you think it would work?

Adam Bainbridge (Kindness) or Joseph Mount (Metronomy).  They’re not exactly current influences on the music I’ve released but they’re two of the biggest contributors to my high school obsession with music.  They’re both artists that I feel pushed pop music in really interesting directions and reference some great records in their own ways.  I’d like to think over the years I’ve found a lot of the same influences that drove them to make their work and would hopefully have a common ground to draw inspiration from.

What’s next for Health Club is there anything you’d like to leave us with?

More music, and hopefully soon.  Earlier this year I played a live show with my friend Millie, the first I’d played in years.  It left me excited to work on it further and look into performing more live shows in the near future.

PLAY/DOWNLOAD

https://www.instagram.com/health_club__/

What is your name and role within Rat City?

 My name is Lasse Michelsen, and I’m a producer/songwriter and a member of Rat City.

Where are you currently based?

 Oslo.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

 Right now, I’m on daddy’s leave, so it’s all about getting through the day with my nine month old daughter. It’s a lot of fun! Covid-19 hasn’t really affected our daily work as much as other businesses. We’re used to being stuck alone in the studio.

Your new single ‘Rather Be’, a collaboration with Isak Heim, is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 The sound is based on what we have released earlier, horns, live bass etc. Kind of an organic sound mixed up with house/disco-vibe. I have no clue what to call it… Since there are so many songwriters involved, I can only speak for myself, but I think it’s about cutting loose from a bad relationship or person.

How did you come to collab with Isak and how was the experience?

 We have worked with Isak on several previous releases, so it was very natural for us to ask him to sing on the song. He has an amazing voice!

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

 All recordings are done in our own studio in Drammen (Norway). Phil Tan (U.S) on the mix and Sing Master on the master.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Like we always do, press record and use your imagination.

What does ‘Rather Be’ mean to you?

 A lot! It’s one of a few records that we still love to listen to.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 Kamara, she is really talented.

What do you like to do away from music?

 Fly Fishing, hunting and hiking in the mountains.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

 Make more music!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

 A nice meal in the tent on the tundra after a long day of fishing.

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Where are you currently based?

 Hollie – I live between two places – Northcote and Ocean Grove, Victoria. Basically, part time city, part time coast life.
Joe- I am based in Brunswick, Victoria. I made the move to Melbourne almost five years ago from rural NSW.

How did you first start playing music?

Joe – I was always fixated on music from a very young age. I’d set up pretend microphones and make my family gather around for living room concerts, singing along to CD’s. When I got my first guitar, I was about eight years old. I’d lock myself in rooms and just listen to notes ring out for hours.

At the age of thirteen I began teaching myself songs on the guitar and jamming with a friend from high school, he was becoming a great guitarist, so in order to start our band I scored a drum kit scholarship at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium to be able to afford lessons and got my chops up on the kit.

Hollie – Yeh! I was pretty similar actually, I grew up in a family of performers so I was always surrounded by people performing music, dancing etc, basically a lot of big personalities. I started learning the piano with my Nanna, but quickly became uninterested in playing covers and wanted to write songs of my own. I would have books and books of little poems with this monophonic 80’s Casio that only played one note at a time but it had a recording function so I would layer parts for hours over the best/worst beats you’ve ever heard. I was probably 13 when I started having a crack at writing songs on guitar, dad bought me an SG shaped black Ibanez electric guitar but I never played it because I had my eye on his 70’s acoustic guitar that I still play to this day.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

Joe – As you know Melbourne has just endured it’s fourth lockdown. This time around I have personally lost one The Stained Daisies show, of which we rehearsed for months in advance training extra band members, one Tug show on the 12th and we are still holding our breaths about whether we will be able to do the launch for DEA on the 18th of June.

Covid sucks.

Hollie – Thank goodness for the daily quiz.

Your new single ‘Dea’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Joe – I was at the back end of writing my last album “Songs to Track Down To”, a very mellow bunch of folk songs, when I decided to start writing and recording something that completely polarised what I was pushing out at the time. I began working on the “Queen of Smiles, Blues & the Devil” concept. I had planned that it was to be a straight up rock album with the same kind of poetic value that the previous album had, only yelling it this time. So I guess the sound and energy I was pushing in Dea was a product of me somewhat challenging myself to embrace an essence of anger whilst I worked on something very peaceful.

How did you approach the song writing process and how did you come to work together?

Joe – I approached Hollie online with the instrumental version of the track and asked if she would like to contribute some kind of vocal layering to flesh out the groove. Once she had done that we decided it wasn’t finished and Hollie agreed to throw some words at it. She was given the album name “Queen of Smiles, Blues & the Devil” and came back with what is now “DEA”.

Hollie – I remember constantly sending you updated versions of little clips being like, “do you like this?” “what about THIS?” until I realised you just wanted me to do my thing haha.

Joe, how was the experience working with Hollie?

Joe – Working with Hollie was everything you’d hope for in a collaboration. It was a great mix of fun and serious as we dipped into each other’s worlds for a moment.

Hollie, how was the experience working with Joe?

Hollie – Same! Working with Joe was just so easy considering we didn’t really know each other before this. I agree, a healthy amount of being ridiculous and then working hard.

Where and when did you record/produce master and who with?

Joe – The Instruments were all recorded and mixed by myself at my home studio in Brunswick. All of Hollie’s parts were recorded and mixed by Hollie on top of the instrumental track. It was then mastered by Aidan Bateman.

How did you approach the recording process?

Joe – My zoom R24 is my writing tool. I’ll have a riff or a groove and just keep adding layers of instruments into the recording device, and that is the product you hear. That’s how Joe Terror music has always worked.

Hollie – I basically imported the track Joe sent me into logic and just wrote everything directly in producing and mixing as I went along.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Joe – This week I have been listening to “Still Sad”, a playlist by Mikey Young & Anthology records, a follow up to the 2019 “Sad About The Times”. It’s brilliant. Also, Big Thief Live at Bunker Studio, Pig Lib by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Hurtsville by Jack Ladder and a heap of Sarah Mary Chadwick.

Hollie – I’ve been getting stuck into the album “On” by Altin Gün, Pete Drake, but mostly the song “forever”, The Kevin Fingier Collective and Imarhan.

What do you like to do away from music?

Joe – I enjoy working in the country and being in the bush. I have also recently taken a liking to bartending. It can be a fun social environment and somewhat keeps me out of trouble.

Hollie – I’m usually chipping away at something, whether it’s in the garden, or writing something, painting, drawing, cooking etc. I also tend to plant my feet either in the dirt or by the water.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

Joe – I’ll be trying to tackle as many Joe Terror shows as I can in the next couple of months along with another few singles from the album. For the majority of September, I will be back in the country looking after a bunch of goats and recording some new stuff. Most of October I’ll be touring the East Coast with The Stained Daisies. Then maybe in November I can finally have the full album out and see out the year with Joe Terror shows.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

Joe – Space food sticks. On the moon.

Hollie – Wait woah, I want to be on the moon too so naturally I’ll also need some space food sticks, if you have any.

Joe Terror IG HERE

​Hollie Joyce IG HERE

Spotify link HERE