Music Interviews

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Brisbane, Australia

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing violin when I was 4 years old… It’s always been a passion of mine.

I was part of many orchestra’s and ensembles growing up.

I had been told by various influential people that I would end up as a concert violinist, but that direction changed when I started improvising and experimenting with music; and that’s when I realised I had an interest in Middle Eastern and Balkan sounds.

My singing came later on… I was actually embarrassed to sing in front of people for a long period of time … I truly didn’t think I could sing.

When I turned 18, I took an interest in song writing and music production and that’s kind of where it all began.

What have you been working on recently?

I’ve just released my new song called “Tøngue Tied” which came out on the 21^st of April.

I’m now preparing for my next release which comes out this month on the 20^th called “Not My Vibe”; – so stayed tuned for that!

Your new single ‘Tongue Tied’ is out now, what influenced the sound and song writing? How did you go about writing Tongue Tied?

Using my emotional pain and turning that into my art is kind of my escape and how I deal with things… It’s actually very therapeutic.

I feel a lot and I am very in touch with my emotions… when I feel, I write.

In the past I’ve allowed certain toxic behaviour from others to control me emotionally to some degree…

I never felt like I was fully in control of my emotions, but rather allowed people to treat me the way they wanted to, just to keep the peace.

I’m a very empathetic person… It’s my nature… in the past I would always try to please everyone before pleasing myself… and that would often be to the wrong people.

Writing Tøngue Tied was about me re-gaining my power and self-worth, as well as my healing process and journey.

Where and when did you record/produce? Who did you work with during recording/producing? Who did you work with during recording/producing?

My producer and close friend Brandon Jonak really helped me overcome a lot of insecurities and allowed me to express myself artistically.

I’ve worked with a number of producers in the past who have been controlling in some form or other – whether that be related to lyrics or melodies or whatever.

I remember I worked with one producer who constantly berated me… they would say things like “oh that was sh*t” or “why would you do that, that was absolute rubbish”- things that would really crush me as a song writer and artist. I ended up hating writing with this person as it was always about what they approved or didn’t and there was no sort of ‘collaboration’ between us but was all one sided.

When I first worked with Brandon, he sent me home with this random beat he had made 5 minutes before and said, “Do whatever you feel sounds good, then send it back when you finish”.

I remember ringing him literally the day after and was so anxious as to whether he was going to like it or complain about something and make me change it… I remember the first thing he said was “wow this is amazing Sophie…So this is the way we are going to work – I’ll do my thing, you do yours, no pressure, no stress, our creativity combined!”

From that moment on, I felt comfortable and able to really challenge myself and had finally the freedom to really create music that I loved.

Anyone who’s been in similar situations knows how important it is to have good dynamics between yourself and your collaborators.

Please tell us about how losing your hearing has affected you and how you are dealing with it:

Waking up one morning and completely losing your hearing in one ear without any previous health issues doesn’t really seem possible… but it happened, and I’m left with a completely and permanently deaf ear.

I didn’t think I would be able to continue music and there were a lot of obstacles I had to face.

A whole year later and it is what it is. I’ve come such a long way to heal and to accept what happened.

My whole lifestyle has changed because of this but it’s only given me more desire to want to help others.

Having a disability isn’t just about the physical aspect.

There’s the anxiety and depression to deal with, bullying, acceptance, rejection and much misunderstanding from people… it’s real and I’ve experienced it.

Because of my suffering, I feel I need to be a voice for those who are also experiencing and struggling with disabilities… and that is exactly what I’m going to do.

Who are you listening to at the moment? 

At the moment I’m listening to a lot of house remixes. I go through weird stages where I’ll listen to a specific genre for a period of time and then get bored and go to another completely random genre.

Who or what influences your sound?

Jhene Aiko has been a massive influence. Her music, her lyrics, her persona, has helped me a lot in my personal growth.

She’s an artist I truly admire.

Doja Cat has influenced the Urban/Hip-hop sound that I’m now incorporating into my music.

What do you like to do away from music?

When I’m not doing music, I’m painting, I’m drawing, I’m learning a language. I’m a creative. I also have ADHD, so my mind constantly wanders, and I get more easily distracted than most, so I need to be doing something at all times.

Please tell us about your experience being an Australian with an Albanian Royal connection:

My family found out we were bloodline descendants of Albania’s national hero “Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg”, who is my 14^th generation great grandfather, back in around 2011.

The importance of what this man stood for and his legacy didn’t really resonate with me at the time…I was growing up far from Europe, so culturally I was a bit naïve to say the least.

Now as time has passed and having visited Europe several times, I understand his role in European and Balkan history – I am incredibly proud and in awe of his achievements.

I’m so lucky to share his blood and I feel it’s my duty now, with my platform to really spread the word as to what a great man he was.

What’s planned for 2020?

Unfortunately, Covid-19 has really put a stop to a lot of things this year for me. I was planning to tour around Europe and perform at various places.

Right now, I’m continuing to write and produce more songs and see where life takes me.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Vietnamese food… Hands down. Place to hang would probably be in the studio.

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Where are you currently based?

      B: We’re both living in our hometown of Newcastle! 

      M: Benny will never leave this bloody town – He’s hooked! We both grew up here and I’ve recently moved back to be closer to the long haired/ golden voice of Benny for writing and band purposes. Cracking surf!

 How did you first start playing music?

      B: We both fell into it in similar ways I guess. Got given instruments from cousins that didn’t want to play anymore and found ourselves figuring it out in front of the speakers. Music takes a hold of yred oxide ou if you give it enough.

      M: Benny actually had to teach himself how to sing because nobody wanted to sing in his first high school band. You know the ‘short straw’ trick? He literally unlocked his f*ucking amazing voice because of a bloody straw! 

I slaved away in the school concert band on the drums since year 2 – this jerk gets a short straw thrown in his face and is now the voice of an era!

 How did Boo Seeka form?

      M: The universe has its ways of connecting people when you least expect it. Before this all started we weren’t even really hanging out together. Benny was drunk in Bali when he called me for the first time in 10 years to see if I wanted to be in a band with him. I thought he called the wrong number. Maybe he did and just ran with it. We will never know. but he’s stuck with me now! + I think he thought I had slept with his sister at some point so that’s awkward. 

      B: We’ll never know….

 You’ve just released your new single ‘Take A Look’, what influenced the sound and song writing for this track?

      B: We always know what we want to create, but getting that out of our brains and into the computer is one of the hardest things for us. But we think we did it for TAL.

      M: The track is basically a message to ourselves. A message we took way too long to decipher, but glad we got there.

You’ve been in the studio working on your forthcoming sophomore album with super skilled producer Matt Bartlem (who has previously worked with Matt Corby, Lastlings, Jarryd James).

Please tell us how you came to work with Matt and how the experience and process has been as a whole.

      M: We’ve recently just signed to new management – Untitled group, and they’ve worked closely with Matt previously. To cut the whole story short, the first minute we met Matt we knew he was going to be an integral part of this next album!

      B: Originally we were just going to do one track with him, but TAL came out so good we knew we wanted him to do thewhole record. He’s got the best dog too so it pushed us over the edge.

 How did you approach the recording/production process? 

      M: It’s funny how every band would create their own process over time and although ours may be slightly dysfunctional or basic at times, it really allows us to write and create anywhere! Benny writes most of his hooks and melodies directly into garage band on his phone then we build from there!

      B: We work with some pretty amazing guys in the industry, so our little demo writing/ producing click is amazing. Will Cruger from the band Abroad is in our corner alongside Matt and special guest instrumentalist, Ian Perez.

      M: ‘Take a look’ is definitely the start of something special for us – we keep calling it phase 2 and we’re pretty excited for the world to hear what phase 2 is going to bring!

 What programs/equipment did you use?

      B: My Brain, imagination, bottles of wine, a guitar and my phone.

      M: We’re not the biggest gear heads but we’ve been experimenting with some new synth sounds, some new ways of recording our beats and vocal effects for this next album. ‘Take a look’, for the gear heads has some pretty funky gear being used. Listen closely!

You’ve recently signed to label ‘Daily Nightly’ what’s the story behind this? How has the experience been so far?

      B: It’s our Managements label. We love that they look after everything. Keep it in-house. Keep the control. It’s our first release together and many more to come. 

      M: Annabelle, our direct at DN is a wizz. She’s got us covered!

 What have you found most challenging and rewarding about the creation of the album?

      B: There are so many songs in my head and to keep it short, to hear people vining off whats coming out, that’s the be all and end all for me! We want to being some excitement back into peoples lives!

You have an Australian Tour pencilled in for October 2020 (pending COVID-19 restrictions), can you tell us where you’re heading? Or is that still a secret?

      M: Ohhhhh that’s tricky! Let’s just say we’ll be seeing all our favourites plus some new spots we’ve heard great things about!

Your debut album ‘Never Too Soon’ was a global success. What do you attribute to the massive success of your debut album and what tips would you give to any upcoming artists who are wanting to break onto the scene?

      M: Remember I mentioned the short straw? The kids voice is like gold. 

My advice to anyone coming up through the ranks is to have the right thought process. Be ahead of the pack and plan! Plan like your music is a brand and you want people to want to be associated with it!

 You’ve played massive shows with performances at Splendour In The Grass, Beyond The Valley & Groovin The Moo. You have also supported the likes of Kim Churchill, DMA’s, Jarryd James, Cherub and SAFIA. What do you enjoy most about playing live and how do you prepare for live shows?

      B: We would play 365 days a year if we were allowed. We just want people to come to our shows and forget about all the crap going on in their life for an hour. Doesn’t matter if it’s our headline shows, festivals or we are supporting someone, we still prepare the same. We want to give people the same feeling we get when we stand in the crowd and watch our favourite bands and artists.

      M: This is what we live and breathe from the second we wake up to the minute we go to sleep each night! If we’re not performing, we’re dreaming up idea’s on how to improve or add things to our live shows etc etc. All I can say is once we’re allowed back into things, the shows we play are going to be wild!

 Who are you listening to at the moment?

      M: Benny tries not to listen to too much music when we’re in the writing process but I force as much music as I can into his head when we’re in the car or chilling at home! 

Jungle, Slowly Slowly, Glass Animals, Dua Lipa, Bronson, The 1975, Tyler the Creator, Coldplay, Amity Affliction, G flip etc etc. We keep it broad.

      B: As I mentioned before, we know exactly what we want to put out to the world and I, personally, like my own time in my head to bring that out. But I’ll admit, driving along our beautiful beaches in Newy blasting some Dua Lipa is a favourite pastime currently.

 What do you like to do away from music?

      B: Cooking, helping others where we can, sampling every red wine that is available, figuring out how to to prank our new management cause they got us good the other day and we need to get them back, surfing, basically anything we are allowed to do in the current times.

      M: I’m getting old, man. I saw a chiropractor today. I’d love to say I’ll be sinking as much piss as Benny boy but that boy can sink them like no-one else. I’ll just spend my time with old John the Chiro!

 What’s planned for 2020?

      B: At the moment…. who knows… no one knows. Hopefully we can get back to the studio, finish the record, release it and get back to what we love doing the most. Hanging out with a room full of legends every night.

      M: We’re pretty big planners so we’ve got some big things lined up for the end of the year in regards to shows and production. I’m also not meant to say this but we will have another single and possibly album 2 dropping before 2021 begins too…

 Favourite food and place to hangout?

      B: Uber eats and the bottle shop are making a killing out of us at the moment. We really try to support all the local businesses as well. 

Newy Burger Co see’s me every few nights!

      M: We actually grabbed a burger on Monday night for the premiere of our new track on Triple J and sat at bar beach car park and listened in. Brought back memories as I think we both used to take a few lovers to the exact spot when we were kids. Ah, take me back!

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Where are you currently based?

In the hinterland of Byron Bay, Australia!

How did you first start playing music?

We’ve grown up in a very musical family, so music has always been around us ever since we were babies and we fell in love with it from a very young age. There was always instruments at every corner of our house so it was very natural for us to pick up an instrument and jam together.

How did The Buckleys form?

We’ve always played music together, but we we’d say we officially formed ‘The Buckleys’ at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2011 when we were busking on Peel Street. We were notified the next day that we had come top 10 in the Busking Competition with around 600 acts competing (and we didn’t even know we were in a competition!) and were invited to play to a few thousand people on the main Toyota Park Stage. That was the biggest stage we had played on at that time and it was insane! It was a massive experience for us especially being so young and we definitely caught the bug!

You’ve recently been on a virtual tour with Live Nation, how did this come about and how has the experience been?

We had touring plans this year that we obviously had to postpone, but we love playing live and connecting with people so didn’t want that to stop. We think it’s really important to bring a bit of positivity back into the world right now as well, so it was great bringing some fun and live music to other peoples homes all around the world, from our very living room. We are so grateful to Live Nation for making it possible and the amazing team at Petrol Records and UMe too.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the virtual tour?

The timezones were probably the most difficult part of the virtual tour, but I guess that’s the same as if we were playing a normal tour…. just lucky we got to roll into our comfortable beds here at home afterwards!

Your latest single ‘Money’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

We envisioned something really fun for everyone around the world to be able to dance and singalong to. We were inspired by the fun, energy and spunk of the 60s surf rock and pop bands and music videos where it just feels like a party and you want to be there. We carried that vision through from the writing to the production, music video and photos etc. It’s bright, colourful and a party!

How did you go about writing Money?

Sarah: I wrote this song in Nashville with two buddies of mine, Phil Barton and Dave Thomson. I had this guitar groove and a bit of the verse already so showed them and we all just dove into it straight away! It was a really fun write with ideas bouncing around everywhere very quickly! The lyrics and melodies were really fun to play with and write.

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

We recorded ‘Money’ November last year in Nashville with Chad Carlson (Taylor Swift, Jewel, Hunger Games soundtrack) at the Sound Emporium Studios. It was very cool recording at sound Emporium because so many legends and musical hero’s of ours have made some of the best records of all time there. You can feel the musical legacy in the walls. It’s very inspiring to be around when creating.

What programs/equipment did you use to record/produce?

Lachlan: Throughout the album I was using my 2 guitars, the “epiphone les Paul” and “Fender Mustang”. I play these guitars through my pedal board which consists of 2 overdrive/distortion pedals, Wah pedal, Boss DD7 delay, Rotovibe, Strymon BigSky reverb pedal and a classic BigMuff fuzz pedal. This allows me to have a vast option of sounds when it comes to recording so I’m able to mix and match everything to each song!

What do you attribute to your rapid rise within the music industry?

The past year and a half especially has been pretty wild since signing our record deal with Petrol Records and Universal Music and releasing our debut single ‘Daydream’ which went #1 in Australia. That was definitely a massive moment and changed the landscape for us very quickly and we are just so excited and humbled to be in this position where we get to share our music with the world and work alongside so many amazing, creative people who are also so passionate about music.

Any tips for upcoming artists?

We are still learning so much everyday, however right now something that we’ve learnt and is really important to us is just staying true to who you are and making sure you enjoy what you play and create. Following your gut is so important and just making sure you enjoy every moment of the ride (because their lots of up and downs!).

Who are you listening to at the moment?

We listen to a whole range of things and it’s different for each of us… and really depends on the time of day! Right now we’re on a bit of a 70s female rocker binge and are loving  the likes of Joan Jett, Blondie, The Pretenders etc. to be honest! Also recently discovered the Electric Light Orchestra and wow just wow.

What do you like to do away from music?

When we’re not playing music we love to go out into nature and surf, explore waterfalls, go on bush walks or maybe just stay home and watch a movie. But nature is definitely something we love and appreciate no matter where we are. The beach is a big part of our lives when we’re home too.

What’s planned for 2020?

2020 is a big year for us. Positivity and music is something we all need around the world right now, so we don’t intend to stop or slow down anytime soon! We are really focused on giving people as much quality entertainment via social media and the technology we have available now, and of course music to connect us all. We have our debut album coming out which we are really excited about and our documentary ‘Meet The Buckleys’ just came out as well. We’re writing and working on lots of new music always too!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Our favourite food and place to hang out would have to be this this wicked burger bar in 12 South Nashville Tennessee, called “Burger Up”. We literally spent 2 weeks eating there almost every night and day while we were recording our album because you just can’t find any burger of such sacredness and quality on earth!! Haha. And we were living within walking distance and have no self control.

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Where are you currently based?

Melbourne Australia! Moved here in 2017 and have been in love ever since.

How did you first start playing music?

I started off Djing and producing. I would perform at under age festivals and play ‘Melbourne bounce’ and ‘trap’ music hahahaha. EVentually I was hanging with a producer friend in LA and he had heard me sing around the house. He asked me to lay down some vocals for him and from that point forward I’ve been writing and singing.

How has your lockdown experience been so far?

Thankfully way too easy. I feel very blessed to be surrounded by my family and to also be living here in Aus. We have managed to smash the curve and even during lockdown restrictions havent been so bad. Not a lot changed for me as well. I was still locked away in my room making music.

Your new single AAA is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

yess its out. I’m over the moon that people can finally hear it. I wrote this song in London and it was a really great trip. I was listening to a lot of the Beatles and obviously went to visit Abbey road. I guess I just wanted the track to feel very real. I never really know where I gather my influence and ideas from though, it all just kinda takes place in the studio and whatever vibe or mood I’m feeling, is what will show in the song.

How did you go about writing AAA?

Writing AAA was a breeze. Like I said it was written in London with 2 super talented musicians. Caitlyn Scarlett who wrote the song with me and Matt Zara who produced the track and did that stunning guitar you hear. At that time of the trip I kinda felt homesick and just wanted to get away with my girlfriend at the time, so my emotions were high and that’s when I find it easiest to write. I think all the lyrics were done within one hour.

Where and when did you record/produce?

London! I NEED to go back. One of my favourite places on earth.

Who did you work with?

Matt Zara and Caitlyn Scarlett! as mentioned before hehe 🙂

How did you approach the recording/production process?

I never really approach anything in a ‘certain’ way. I really love to write in the moment and not think too much about it. What comes out first is the truth and the most real. So i like to keep it all in the studio.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

ahhhhh so much BENEE. Supalonely is just like . Otherwise Ball Park Music, G Flip, and some new Frank Ocean. If im not in the singer songwriter vibe ill listen to techno hahahaha. Nina Kraviz, Aphex twin, Karela Dust. All great artists.

What do you like to do away from music?

I mean its not really away from music but I still love to DJ. My mate and I throw some parties and try to raise money for charities and what not. All my friends thankfully love music so its a lot of fun. I enjoy photogaphy and videography too 🙂

What’s planned for 2020?

Who the hell knows. Were living in uncertain and unprecedented times. I’m just gonna carry on putting out music. Lots and lots of music and see what happens. I’ve got a new single and EP coming out sooooon so stay tuned for that 😉

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I live for a veg burger. Can eat them honestly every day hahahahaha. hmmmmm and avo hand rolls. I dont really mind any place to hang out, but I think amidst all the Corona restrictions I’ve found a new love for hanging with my mates at parks and gardens. We’ve been playing all our favourite childhood games like hide and seek and its just been the most fun. No need to go spend $50 on beer at a bar anytime we wanna hang out.

Where are you currently?

I’m currently in my bedroom/studio in Melbourne!

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing guitar when I was super young so that has always been my go to and saviour. Throughout high school I then played in a few different bands and once I finished, I started touring the country so it all evolved from there!

What have you been working on recently?

As well as this first release I have been getting final mixes & masters completed for the next few Lakelend tracks! I have also been hiding away working super hard on the live show ready to start performing when shows are a thing again!

Your debut single Fall Down is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

The first instrumental demos for this track were written on my laptop in a Vietnam airport in December 2018. Everything I tried to write before this just didn’t feel right but this is the first thing that did. I think sonically and songwriting wise it’s a mix of artists like Lauv, LANY, The 1975 & The Chainsmokers.  

How did you go about writing Fall Down?

The first part of this song that was written was the intro bell hook. I am definitely someone that writes of vibe, chord progression and sonic feeling. As stated above I was sitting in an airport in Vietnam when this melody came to me. I then built the rest of the instrumental and song structure on Ableton ready to fly back home with. Once I got back to Australia I had a session with one of my best friends Nicole and we wrote the topline for the song.

Where and when did you record and who with?

After completing the bulk of the songwriting for the song, I took the track to the MSquared boys (Michael Paynter & Michael Delorenzis) to build the production even further and record the final vocals! We did this over 3 days in May 2019.

What programs/equipment did you use to record?

I do all of my production in Ableton on my laptop! As far as equipment goes, I’ve got a few go to plugins on board my computer then I’ll use my Kemper to pull the guitar tones through my interface and finally my Shure SM-7B microphone to track vocals. Super minimal setup that works really well for musicians/producers that are on the go! 

How did you approach the recording process?

I start with a vibe and build around that! Whether it be some chords or a vocal/melodic line I usually put this down first and construct a song around these elements. Once this is done I’ll make sure the song structure is correct. I’ll then usually midi the keys, samples & percussion out and after record the live instruments (guitar & bass). After these bones are in place I’ll then dive deep into the production and make sure it represents me as a person and Lakelend as an artist.   

What inspired the music video?

I wanted to create a video that visually and emotionally represented the song to me. Having Clair and Indigo dance in the clip was so amazing. As well as their incredible talents I wanted them to portray the two completely different sides of my personality as one body.  

Where and when did you film and who did you work with?

Months of planning, preparation and dance rehearsals were completed before shooting commenced. When it came time to finally filming the video it was done over three days in two different locations in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne in December 2019.

There were 13-15 people on set at any given time which was wild!

I brought the clip to life with Ben Davies (Director & Editor) and Anthony Littlechild (Director Of Photography). We then worked with choreographer Jordan Herbert from Boss Dance Company and two of his amazing dancers and people Clair Breyley & Indigo Hunt. These two extremely talented women had previously danced with artists like Tones and I & Vera Blue.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

At this very second I’m listening to some old school Bring Me The Horizon but my recent go-to’s are Lauv, LANY Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler, Sash Sloan, Juice WRLD & The Kid LAROI.

What do you like to do away from music?

Exercise and hang with my friends & family. I honestly think if I couldn’t exercise most days or listen to music I’d really struggle mentally. The combination of all of these together keeps me as happy and healthy as I can be.  

What’s planned for 2020?

This year I plan to put out a few more stand alone singles, keep building the Lakelend team and start performing my live show that I have been working on for over a year now – very excited.   

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Ooooft. Such a tricky one but I think right now my favourite food is from a Vietnamese restaurant called Typhoon in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne – incredible.

As far as places to hangout, I’ve always felt right at home near the ocean. So I love doing any sort of activity where I’m close to or in view of the water. I think good company comes before location though so I could literally be anywhere in the world and be super happy with my best mates around me.  

Where are you currently based?

I am based between Barcelona, London, Newcastle, Andorra & Ibiza.

How did you first start playing music/producing?

First DJed (as a cheesy pub DJ with pop music and  a microphone) from 1997, then started DJing house music from 1999/2000. I started in 2003 in a production duo. Then started releasing and producing on my own since 2006/7. Then the rest is history really. Evolved ever since.

How has your Lockdown experience been so far?

Frustrating & annoying. Lots of changes in my personal life, not the same amount of time to make music as I have a small daughter so she requires more time with no schools or nanny’s an option. Love spending time with her, she is the world but I also like to lose myself in my music as it helps to relax me. I also can’t wait to get back to DJing.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I have actually been revisiting albums from the likes of Fatboy Slim, UNKLE, The Who, Fleetwood Mac and others. Plus I listen to new music daily via my labels 33 Music & 1980 Recordings.

Please describe your production process:

Sit down. Open Logic. Open a starting template I have set up. Get a beat going. Maybe use a sample to get inspiration (I don’t always end with that sample in it). Then add a bassline. And a synth line. Maybe add vocals. Then arrange. Send it off for mastering. Plus always keep hydrated while I work.

What programs/equipment do you use?

Logic X. UAD Apollo Twin. Waves Plugins. Fab Filter Plugins and many other plugins & softsynths. Access Virus TI Snow.

How are you staying creative during lockdown? Any tips for other artists to assist with stay inspired and creative? 

Well if you look at my answer above, the creative side has taken a knock with not having enough time. For me I usually finish a track a week that is release ready but I have finished one track over the last 6 weeks. Frustrating. 

My advice would be if you don’t have the distraction of children make as much music as you can. Don’t rush the finished production. And don’t rush to sign them, they are only old to you at the end of the day. The other day I sent an email to a person who sent me some demos. This was the 5th or 6th email in about 2 weeks of new music. Some of them had good ideas but some of them needed to be finished. Take your time and make that one demo/release ready track a week sound the best it can rather than dilute and make 7 ok/average tracks.

How are you coping mentally during lockdown?

Not going to lie, it’s been tough. Trying to remain positive. I am quite a strong positive person in general, yes I like to be grumpy just like any other Englishman ha but in general I try to stay positive. Not like a happy smiley positive in your face but try to see the positives in situations for the better. Being locked in the house with a child and partner and no escape is hard for a social person who is a DJ.

What advice would you give for others to help with the mental strain caused during this period?

Talk to people, talk to your parents, talk talk talk. It really is good to talk and get stuff off your chest. Talk. Don’t keep it all to yourself. That never turns out good.

Your EP ‘Dance’  is out on 8th May, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this EP?

The influence was the vocals. I worked on another track with King Hitz & Paul Browne (the lyric writer), called Cake which was signed to EDX’s label Pinkstar Black. Paul said he had this accapella, so he sent it to me. I loved it. I wanted to do something cool with it but not ’too commercial’. I think I have made it have that accessible radio vibe but still making it cool and underground.

Where and when did you record/produce it?

I produced this one in Barcelona in January 2019. I then sat on it, revisited and had it finished in Feb 2019. I did the usual send to larger independant labels then decided to get a good set of remixes and release myself as the offers I had for it from labels were shocking.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of ‘Dance’?

Nothing really challenging. I just wanted to not over do it and make it cheesy. Keep it with that underground vibe. Which I did. So I guess that was rewarding.

You have a proposed stream set to run on 1st May with artists across your own labels 1980 Recordings and 33 Music running over 14 hours, how did this concept come about and what can we expect?

I saw the likes of Beatport & Defected doing this and they seemed great and what better oppitunity to raise money for charity and showcase the talent I have been working with over the years on both labels. You will have a plethora of genres from funk, disco, soul to house, deep, & tech to techno. It really does have it all.

What’s planned for 2020?

More releases across both labels, some rather large ones on 33 Music. More live streams, I have a taste for it now. I currently do one every Friday around 15.00h (GMT)/16.00h (CEST) and let me followers on IG (@danmckiedj) vote for which genre they want to hear. Then use mine & my labels catalogues to make the mixes live. We Are Live.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I have a bar in Barcelona which is my favourite to go sink a few caña with mates but I don’t want to name it as it might get ruined ha. My favourite food is for sure Curry.

Dan McKie’s ‘Dance’ is out on 8th May and is available via Beatport

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Where are you currently based?

Toronto, Canada 

How did you first start playing music?

I first started playing music through singing. My dad used to spin Motown records and eventually my mom saw my passion for music and bought me a guitar. I then started playing and posting covers on youtube. Might I add, *cringey* covers. I’ve taken them all down and stored them in a memory bank that I hope to never access again! lol

What have you been working on recently?

Writing, writing, writing! I spend my days either in front of my computer and keyboard, or with a guitar in hand, with a notepad. Staying home has freed me from a lot of distractions that would otherwise keep me from writing. Now I can focus on music….and baking cookies.

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

Falling in love inspired the content of the song, I can’t say any specific genre or type of music inspired the sonic sound of the track, we just did what felt fitting for the melody and lyrical content. It all happened very naturally! But I definitely wanted to make sure that the song had some bounce to it, you have to be able to dance. 

How did you go about writing the music for Go Slow? How did you approach the recording/production process?

This song started with the melody and words “go slow, slow, slow”, that you already hear in the finished product! Eric and I put some demo production behind it just to get a vibe, then brought the track to our producer/songwriting partner Benjamin Nudds. After that, we started working on the production with Joel Stouffer. 

Where and when did you record and who with?

Benjamin Nudds, Joel Stouffer. That’s the dream team right there! We just all click, it’s like they know what my ears are looking for even before I do. We work so well together. 

What programs/instruments did you use?

We use logic and ableton mostly for production and just a keyboard or guitar when we’re trying to get a particular vibe.

How did the concept for Go Slow music video come about?

We wanted the video to feel sensual, empowering, passionate and hypnotic! The neon lights and the backseat of a car filled with smoke is sexy, and the darkness of the night is alluring.  It wasn’t so much of a concept, but a feeling we were trying to evoke in the visuals – I think it came together perfectly!

Where and when did you film and who with?

The one and only Kelsi Lux! Look her up, she’s a dope creator!

I can’t tell you where we filmed it, it’s a secret location 😉 sh!!

You have an EP coming out later this year, please tell us about the progress and what we can expect:

It’s so funny how they say it takes your whole life to make your first album! Well this isn’t even our first album and it feels like it’s been a lifelong process haha. The  process has been an amazing learning experience because we’ve been able to grow through it and do so many cool things as a result. This ep is about just that actually- Personal growth, Self-reflection and love.

What do you like to do away from music?

Photography, mostly digital, but lately I’ve gotten really into film. I just love how it’s so tangible. It looks timeless which is always very appealing to me!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Anything that makes me want to dance really- a lot of Dancehall/Reggae/soca, I love it so much! 

Oh! Check out stefflon don if you haven’t already, if you haven’t heard her on Boasty, you’re missing out!

What’s planned for 2020?

Hopefully being allowed to leave my house haha. I want to play a lot of shows! And record all this new music I’ve been working on!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Anywhere there is Pho and beer! Haha To be honest, any Asian cuisine is my favourite! I’m obsessed! I don’t really have a favorite hangout spot… Any cool bar in the city really! I’m not picky, I just want good people around me. That’s all that matters to me.

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Photo: Will Cornfield

Where are you currently based?

Rochester, New York

How has your isolation situation been so far?

It has been refreshing. Granted I get stir crazy fairly quickly, I’ve been able to focus more than I ever have.

What have you been working on recently?

More music! And recording some covers when I’m less inspired. I also just finished building a bathroom set piece consisting of two walls, sink, toilet, mirror and cozy artwork to make it feel like home. It’s sitting in the middle of my backyard right now.

You’ve started a side solo project aside from Joywave, how and why has this come about?

After touring and being in the band for 7 years I wanted my own vehicle for expression, and the stars happened to align with time off between album cycles.

Your new single ‘Joshua Tree’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?

The production is influenced by slow-motion movie sort of drama. It feels epic and drawn out like something catastrophic just happened. Living in your perceived moment.

How did you go about writing ‘Joshua Tree’?

The lyrics were inspired by a literal cleaning lady that drove a Mercedes-Benz. My mind filled to the brim with ideas and assumptions about what their life might be like. I wrote them all down with a flow in mind and that became the song.

Where and when did you record and who with?

I recorded this in my home studio (spare bedroom) all by my lonesome, about a year and a half ago? I think that’s right.

What programs/instruments did you use?

I used Ableton, and a few analog synths/drum machines. This project I kept 100% analog. Even the opening choir sound is all me stacked/and pitched around. Full instrumentation is Roland JX-8P, Ensoniq ESQ-1, Yamaha RX-11, piano, voice memos, vocal, and my partner screaming before the second verse drops.

What do you like to do away from music?

I enjoy cooking, running, reading, and travel. I’ve made what feels like over 10 pounds of pasta from scratch since I’ve been isolated.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Rina Sawayama’s new record, my friends Ynough and Jessica Genius, Steely Dan, and some Ravel.

What’s planned for 2020?

More music!! Releasing a few more singles, and *fingers crossed* getting started on an EP or some sort of longer collection of tunes. I also want to make some focaccia.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

There’s been a boom of great restaurants and eateries in Rochester the last few years, it’s usually quite difficult to pick a place. But Fiorella is my favorite Italian restaurant in town. Very quaint, dimly lit, and the food is on par if not better than some I’ve had in Italy (shhh don’t tell them I said that) .

Where are you currently based?

Beautiful Brisbane.

How did you first start playing music?

I got a guitar when I was 16 and worked my way through a Cat Stevens song book. Then started writing my own stuff.

How are you getting through Iso?

Haha it’s a bit loose at our place. I have a day job where I normally work from home, but now I also have a 5-year-old doing home learning and a husband who is trying to teach from home too. It is definately not what I thought the year would look like, but we are lucky to live in a lovely place, with lovely neighbours.

Your new album ‘Hiatus’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

‘Hiatus’ is a collection of songs that have been written over a few years. We spent a few months travelling, particularly in Italy and Bali, and most of the songs were started then. I’m a bit of a people watcher so I love telling those stories. And having a baby definitely influenced a couple. We have incorporated sound worlds from artists we love like James Vincent McMorrow, Iron and Wine, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Lisa Hannigan, Glen Hansard and Angus and Julia Stone.

How did you go about writing the music for Hiatus?

I really enjoy the craft of songwriting. I love telling stories that connect with people and make them think. The song ‘Our Lady of the Highway’ is a reflection of seeing highway prostitution in Italy and diving into news articles about who these women are. It ended up being two stories: hers, where she is doing what she needs to but won’t let it define her, and mine: we become what we drive past; we shouldn’t.

The song “This is forever” is a personal one. It tells the love story of a cousin and his widow. It’s about grief and love and good times and the worst of times. I was pretty happy with it but Pennay kept saying very annoying things like: “It’s great, I just don’t think it has a chorus.” After collecting my ego from the floor I wrote what I think is the best chorus I’ve written, so I guess he was right.

I wrote “Little eyelashes” as a lullaby for my son. It tries to capture what I hope for him. Thankfully he likes it.

It is amazing how songs written in a totally different context seem very relevant right now. “So, where does that leave me” is about the end of something significant. “This is not free” is a statement on how undervalued the arts are and what a bleak world we would live in without artists. I think that is particularly relevant now as the creative industries are in free-fall. “Heading home” and “Juniper trees” are about finding peace being at home.

A number of the songs were either finished or started while I was doing an online songwriting challenge with the I Heart Songwriting club. Having a weekly assignment really helped me keep the creative thoughts flowing.

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

The only song we didn’t record at home was “Someday”, which was recorded as part of QUT’s Indie100 project with the wonderful producer Paul Pilsneniks.

All the rest was performed, engineered, produced, mixed and (in most cases) mastered by my husband/producer Andrew Pennay and I in our home studio.

How did you approach the recording sessions?

We approached recording this album differently to anything else we have done. I write on guitar. We would record the guitar and vocals as a guide to get the song structure, then essentially get rid of the guitar and build the song from scratch. There was a lot of trail and error to find the right sound for each song. We just focused on how we wanted each song to sound so that it captured the intent of the lyrics.  We included elements from our travels like a (very effected) Balinese Gamelan recorded on a walk in rural Bali in “Heading home” or a car on gravel at the start of “Our Lady of the Highway”.

Most nights we put put the small person to bed and then head into our home studio and try different instruments and sounds. Most of the songs sound very different to when they were written.

What programs/instruments did you use?

We recorded it all at home so used ProTools and lots of plugins. Everything is just the two of us: all the instruments, production, engineering, videos. There are very few real drums on the album, mostly due to necessity rather than intention. I always thought we’d get real drums in the end, but we really liked the mix of electronic drums with organic snare, toms, home-made percussion. There’s a ring on a wine glass on one song. A honey jar filled with the right mix of rice and baking paper.

Pennay is a keyboard player so this album has a lot more keyboards, organs, synths etc. than our previous work. Often I would go to bed and Pennay would work into the night. When I’d listen to what he had done in the morning sometimes he’d put a string quartet on something, or a double drum kit! One morning he had added an analogue synth to the song “So, where does that leave me” and it blew me away. I loved the rawness it brought to the track and I can’t imagine the song without it now.

Towards the final stages of mixing we called in the big guns in a few music friends to get their advice on a few of the tracks, but no one had heard the entire album when it was released.

What did you find most challenging whilst creating Hiatus?

We recorded the whole album in the evenings after the small human went to bed, so the most challenging thing was probably finding time, energy and persistence to get it done. It took a year-and-a-half in the end.

You have a live show on May 8 at 8pm via the Live on Mars Facebook Page, how will you prepare for this show and what can we expect?

Firstly, we are watching a few livestream shows and talking to people who have done them to figure out the best sound. At this stage it will probably be a striped down version of a few songs. We can’t do full band with the two of us anyway, so it will be fun to reinterpret or pair back so tracks. The dog will also probably bark in the middle of it.

What do you like doing away from music?

Hanging out with my small human and dog. At the moment we are doing a lot of wandering around the neighbourhood, bush walking, putting on unrehearsed and unscripted shows in the lounge room and reading. I also really like good TV, so I have been watching way too much lately!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m watching a few great livestream concerts where the artists are either getting paid directly or raising money for great charities. Glen Hansard did a gorgeous solo show from his home to celebrate his 50th birthday.
Other than that, I’m really enjoying the new Laura Marling album, Thelma Plum, new Bon Iver and Calexico & Iron and Wine. Holy Holy, pretty much anything that Sarah Aarons has written, Grand Salvo, Darren Hanlon, Gillian Welch, Jason Isbell, Sufjan Stevens, Taylor, and the Teeny Tiny Stevies are all pretty much on high rotation in our house.

 Your Bad Guy cover is out now, please tell us the story behind the track:
We love covering songs in unexpected ways. Pennay came up with a version of Bad Guy in a major key and we rolled with it. We wanted to do something fun using a mix of the instruments we used on ‘Hiatus’ so it’s a mix of folk and electro sounds. We call it folktronica. All instruments are by him, apart from my vocals. He has also made it into a game (on our website) where you can mix your own version and make it as folky or electro as you want.

How did the concept for the video come about and who did you work with during the filming/editing?
It was really Pennay’s idea. We just had to work with what we had available to us. We made the video at home on the first Saturday night we went into covid lock-down. We had one camera, a black background, a fan, a spinning chair and that was about it. I edited it (from the same room) the next day and we uploaded it that night. It’s meant to be fun. We didn’t want to overthink it.

What’s planned for 2020?

I guess we will see? If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that we need to expect the unexpected!

I will be promoting ‘Hiatus’ as much as possible. Connecting with friends and family online. Hopefully doing good work in my day job (raising money and sharing stories of those much less fortunate than us). Writing. Growing veggies. Spending time with my family.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Most weekends (in normal times) you can find us loitering around the West End or Northey Street Markets in Brisbane. At the moment, we are enjoying loitering outside our house in the afternoon and waiving at the neighbourhood going for their afternoon walk/ride.

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Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

Currently I’m Based in Toronto and the music scene here is absolutely awesome! There’s a huge sense of community and people are so down to earth and friendly.

How did you first start playing music?

My dad was a musician so it was kinda baked in to me as a kid.

I remember when he bought me my first guitar when I was 10 and I never really put it down.

What have you been working up to recently?

Currently I’m putting out singles from my upcoming EP!

Your latest single ‘Help Me’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track? 

The song comes from a very real place of when I was going through one of the hardest times in my life. It was a late addition to the album and really tells my story. The sound was something we focused on a lot; we wanted something dark, edgy, and powerful.

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

We recorded this back in may of 2019 and it was produced by the super talented Joel Stouffer

How did you approach the songwriting for Help Me?

Help me was the very first person. It was really easy to write actually it pretty much just says everything that was on my mind at that moment.

How did the recording take place?

We actually recorded the whole song in the basement of my house. I built a home studio a while back so everything besides mix and master was done here.

What programs/instruments did you use?

This song was produced on ableton with the help of Joel Stouffer. This song was mainly digital instruments as we wanted a very lo-fi sound to it.

How did the concept for the Help Me video come about?

The video concept came to me very easily. I really wanted this desolate desperate feel and for that me and my team agreed to head out to the dessert in LA.

Where and when did you film and who did you work with?

We filmed in one day at the El mirage desert in California, just outside of LA. I worked with my incredible video guys who came on the trip from Toronto called Red Tip Productions. The director’s name is Dave Redman and he is an absolute genius.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the video?

The most challenging was the fact that I was sick and it was about 100 degrees fahrenheit out there so that was super hard. But after powering through that, when we wrapped up, I felt so happy that I pushed myself through it. Other than that it all went down pretty smoothe.

You have a new album coming out in a few months, what can we expect?

In my opinion, You can expect a little bit of everything from mental health to heart break. This album is special to me and I hope that everyone can relate to at least one of the records.

Where are you at in the creation of your new album?

It’s finished! Now we’re just putting out music consistently, and putting the full album out early summer.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Currently on my most recent played is: The 1975 cause im a die hard.. The band camino cause they’re perfect, and Bazzi!

What do you like to do away from music?

During the winter I snowboard quite a bit, I love cooking, hiking and spending time with my dog Mika! I also love working out and meditating.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Easily North of Brooklyn Pizzeria in Toronto such a great spot for a pint and a pie!