Primal Urges feels both introspective and lighthearted — what kind of headspace were you in while writing this record?
I’d say the blanket headspace was just being open to whatever came through, and a lot did – but there’s about an album’s worth of other songs that didn’t make it out of demo territory for good reason!
You’ve said the songs are more “outward focused” this time. What shifted in your perspective compared to Dreamworld?
I didn’t have the low hanging fruit of breakups or singledom breakdowns to pick from this time around. Dreamworld was full of that stuff and it’s easier to write so it was nice to open up a bit and let other things in a bit more. Speaking of – my partner Becky who does all the visual art for us have been juggling having baby born and raising him through all this.
There’s a warmth to this album that feels lived-in. How did you balance humour and melancholy without tipping too far either way?
I want the songs to be able to wash over the listener without the lyrics slamming them in the face, but if you want a bit more there is more. It’s a part of that balance I think.
Working with Alex Markwell seems to have brought a certain polish while keeping your charm intact. What was that collaboration like in the studio?
He’s a lot of fun. He has a way of being so relaxed by doing all studio tasks at wizard pace. We didn’t talk much about tones or anything, we all just did our thing and it worked pretty naturally.
“Blue Horizon” dives into an imagined love story between a bushranger and his lover — where did that idea come from, and what drew you to that era?
Ahem.. not imagined! The part that is imagined is Frank convincing his lover to escape with him after the heist. They did exactly that so one would assume there were convincing convos a plenty.
The album moves from hazy nostalgia to something almost cinematic by the end. Was that progression intentional?
Not at all but thanks for listening to it. I tried to put catchiest ones at the start so by the second half you feel obligated to stay on board.
You’ve been praised for your clever, observational lyrics. Do you start with words, or does melody usually lead the way?
Almost always chords then a loose melody then lyrics. I’d love to change it up and do lyrics first but it hasn’t happened much yet. Maybe next time.
After your return to live shows with “Blue Horizon,” how did it feel reconnecting with audiences after a few quieter years?
A lot of fun. We’ve had Liam Gough on drums for this run of shows and we’ve never sounded better. I’m on the guitar for a change , so for Aiden (guitar) and Riz (bass) and I it’s been a Breath of fresh air and I think that translates live. People seem to enjoy it!
You’ve cited everyone from The Clientele to early Madonna as influences — how do you blend those references into something uniquely Redspencer?
I think I’m so locked into my songwriting style now that it’s hard to make anything that doesn’t sound like Redspencer. So I guess I’m a blender.
Looking ahead, what do you hope listeners take away from Primal Urges — and where do you see the next creative chapter leading?
I want people to feel positively charged after hearing it, I tried not to write any filler moments in there, nothing too challenging. It’s a pop album and we’re very proud of it . I’m not sure what happens next because we are all so busy these days with kids and running businesses ect – so we’ll just enjoy this era for now and see what happens naturally!
Primal Urges is out now, with vinyl available for pre-order HERE
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