What is your name and role within the band?
Aaron Ikin – Main songwriter, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
We’re based in Sydney. The scene has taken a hit lately due to the lock out laws, but now they have been lifted it should start to snowball! The reopening of the Lansdowne a couple of years back has been amazing for the scene. Such great music there. Frankie’s is a definite hotspot for all sorts of shows and you can really feel the Sydney music scene alive and well when you’re down there.
How did you first start playing music?
I had always had an inclination for poetry growing up and an ear for good music but it wasn’t until I lost my dad at 21 to Motor Neuron Disease I taught myself guitar, singing and songwriting. I decided at that point music is twofold – great for self-expression but also a gift to someone else.
How did Love Drunk Hearts form?
Out of a warehouse party!! I was living there at the time and attempting to write as much as I could. It was a real hub for musicians on the Northern Beaches and a great practise space. Our lead guitarist had tried out for Benny’s (bass player) old band Bec and Ben but didn’t make the cut. This was probably a good thing as we got along straight off the bat and started writing together. I sent him a memo of our first recorded and released song and luckily he didn’t run. When we got good enough, Benny jumped on board as a bass player and in house producer and bought tonnes of experience with him on that. Brownie, our drummer, had worked with Bec and Ben and another band called Clubfeet. We are very lucky because we all get on great, although sometimes I can act like a bit of a diva.
Your new single ‘Park The Cars’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?
I’d like to say it’s a combination of listening to Angus Stone’s Broken Bright’s album and Noel Gallagher’s solo work. I always like the feel of both their stuff, particularly Noel’s vocals. I’ve always loved the shoe gazey / driving stuff – you get lost in it for a while. It was a real welcome change of direction for us. Oscar Dawson’s expertise on this track – he really polished the track and brought it to another level, particularly in the arrangement and soundscapes.
How did you go about writing Park The Cars?
I was literally strumming in the bedroom of an old unit in Manly and started singing the line ‘where they park the cars’ and although it’s a bit of a funny lyric, it fit the vibe of the music really well. In regional areas all along the coast, the carpark acts as a bit of a meeting ground; an access point to the great outdoors and the beach. As Australians, I think we all love a good road trip with friends and family.
What is the purpose/meaning of the song?
It’s a song about escapism – I think as humans it’s vital to explore and experience. The song aims to conjure pictures in the listener of their paradise, the destinations which give a feeling of freedom far from circumstance and instil a yearning for something different and something more.
Where and when did you record/produce?
We recorded in Melbourne at Aviary Studios in Abbotsford last April. We road tripped down from Sydney and listened to Paul Kelly’s A to Z the whole way. What a trip!
What programs/ instruments did you use?
Oscar used ProTools on his end and we used a bunch of different guitars, amps and pedals. A mixture of our own gear and stuff that was in the studio. The main guitar sound comes from a couple of different Fenders; the smoothness of a Strat mixed with the bite of a Tele.
How did you approach the recording process?
We came at it from a live feel. We all got in the room and tracked live. After 3 or 4 takes we would escape to the NASA control room and pick the best parts. Once the bed of the track was done we recorded the vocals and worked on extra guitar parts in Oscar’s studio.
Holy Holy took care of the production, how was this experience and how did you come to work with Holy Holy?
Amazing. Oscar was great. I felt like as a band we got on with him really well. His a real wizard at production and guitar and an all round great guy. I’ve been a fan of Holy Holy’s stuff and love the sonic textures that they explore on their records. Some of the best modern rock in Oz. I always think as a band you need that 5th member to really get the best of a song and Oscar filled that so well.
We were lucky enough to meet with Oscar’s management for a band audit and during this audit Oscar was suggested for production – I reached out immediately and we were so lucky Oscar liked the tracks.
What do you like to do away from music?
Surf and exercise. I’m always learning too. My partner and I are always having a laugh and a great time too. I’m also pretty fond of a good beer.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been hammering Dope Lemon lately. Great vibes. HOLY HOLY’s last album was epic too. Liam Gallagher’s latest solo work has some bangers. DMA’s track ‘Silver’ is a gem. There’s also a local band called 100 releasing some good tunes.
What’s planned for 2020?
We have another song Oscar produced to release in April! And another self-produced track after that. We also want to jump on some solid supports and start working with a manager – it’s all been in house so far.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I’d have to say a burrito with chips. California style. The best every time. I love hanging out in Manly by the beach. Nothing better. Home in Freshwater isn’t too bad either.
