Written collectively as King Brown
Tell us a bit about the genesis of this EP – when did writing begin and how do you think it stacks up in terms of the band’s song writing now you can look at it as a full record?
Out in the Desert is a showcase of our collective songwriting spanning from our beginnings up to the time of release. The opening track Moto has been with the band for a long time, whereas tracks like Matter of Time and Oyzo were written specifically for the EP.
The EP is our musical offering showcasing the band’s creative range both of songwriting and our sonic palette. The songs each have their own distinctive sounds but still meld together throughout the record to form the King Brown sound.
Are there any particular songs on there that still stand out as favourites for you (and why)?
Moto stands out for its sheer energy and power. The song has been with us a long time but still is a favourite for both us and for audiences when we play it. It tends to charge the crowd up when we let it loose live. That feeling is also heavily present throughout the song thematically too, hitting the open road and letting it rip.
Way Down also stands out, it’s been really popular and is super fun to perform. The song was waiting in the wings for a long time, not quite pieced together. It is amazing seeing it released and people enjoying it. We were able to fill in the pieces and put a bow on it with the extra time that the first lock down gave us.
How has the last year been for the band; how crucial has music been for you during the weirdness of 2020?
Our music has given us a sense of direction and purpose during COVID. While it’s been tough for the music scene we used that time to work on getting this record together. The shows we have been able to play were amazing because you really get to appreciate them and not take them for granted. It’s also been good in a sense for the whole WA scene, people didn’t have the option to see east coast acts so they discovered all these great local bands, it’s grown the whole scene.
Can you tell us a bit about the band’s current creative and sonic influences? How have they changed?
We each bring our different musical influences with us to King Brown. At the start our songs had a more surfy vibe which has now progressed to show more of a rock and blues influence. The different influences show in each of our instruments, creating our unique sound.
Our musical influences within the band range from acts like Oasis, CCR, Skegss, and Allah-Las, however the influences that reflect through to our music would be Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, …etc.
What did you learn about yourselves as musicians during the writing and recording of this EP?
We learnt that we have the ability and skills to get a lot of things done ourselves. Ben has put in a lot of time and effort recording the EP, without that we probably wouldn’t have been able to get it done. Shaun has been instrumental in creating all of the artistic elements and graphic design for the band, and also filming and editing our music video for Way Down.
We have also learnt that as a band we can rely on each other to bring whatever is needed for our music. One of us can bring in a song or an idea and everyone adds their piece to make a unique collective creation.
In terms of live performing, what’s exciting you the most about eventually being able to tour a record like this?
We are really excited about getting the chance to play our new music that people have heard and become familiar with. It makes it that bit more special when you perform a song and the crowd engages with it so much more because they know it.
It’s a great thing when people react to us playing a certain song or shouting out requests for songs. It is the payoff of a lot of our time and effort spent making this EP.
What’s coming up for King Brown for the rest of the year, that’s getting you pumped?
Our next main goal is to release an album. We are excited to get stuck in to challenging ourselves to write and record a lot of new material for people to experience. Each one of us will bring our own ideas to the group, and from that a King Brown album will be made. That is a pretty amazing concept.
Out In The Desert is out now.
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