You’ve just returned from a massive global tour. How has performing internationally shaped your sound and live shows?
Touring influences us in so many ways! We’re always listening to music on tour and seeing great shows. Most festivals we play at will have acts that we haven’t seen or heard before, and we often leave thinking, “Wow, we need a set design using colours and staging with that vibe.” It’s hard not to feel inspired by other artists doing their thing.
The Jungle Giants have achieved over half a billion streams worldwide. How does that kind of success influence your creative process?
I tend to separate songwriting from everything else because I’m a big believer that songs are private little affairs that have to be true to you, even if they’re different or odd. As long as you love it, it’s the best thing you can give your fans. That being said, our streaming success has been so helpful in reaching places in the world we haven’t been before. We played a huge show in Mexico a little while back, and it’s thanks to streaming that we could have found those new fans.
You’ve played at some of the world’s biggest festivals—how do those experiences compare to more intimate shows like the upcoming BWS Cool Room?
They’re all fun in their own way! Sometimes the more intimate shows can be more nerve-racking, maybe because you can really make out the faces in the crowd, and you can tell people are really, really listening, haha. It’s great, though—the intimate shows give you a chance to communicate with the audience in a really nice and different way.
Your latest album hit #1 on the ARIA charts and went platinum. What do you think resonates most with your audience?
It’s hard to say. I’d love to assume people are interested and excited by what excites me—like rhythmic sections that get stuck in your head and melodies that are happy and sad at the same time. That’s one of my favourites—something a little sad melodically that hooks you in, and then something hopeful or driving that pulls you along, like a chord structure or weird sounds around it. I’ve been a big fan of mixing bird sounds and other natural ambient elements into songs at the moment. You can’t really hear them if you just play the song, but when you take them out, it feels like something is missing.
What are you most excited about for your performance at the BWS Cool Room at SXSW Sydney? How do you think the Cool Room environment will impact the vibe?
For sure! I already love the idea of playing in a giant cool room—I’ve spent enough time in those to feel comfortable, that’s for sure. Plus, it’ll be a chance to get up close and personal with a smaller crowd. I’m sure there’ll be some silly banter and handshakes going on in there.
Can you talk about the inspiration behind your latest single and how it fits into your evolving musical journey?
Our last single, Rakata, was something I’d been working on for a while. I built it around some Spanish samples that I really wanted to bring to a Mexican artist. We were touring in Mexico shortly after I made it, and I met an amazing artist named Rénee, who was just perfect. Making the song with her really took it to where it needed to go, and we became such good friends in the process. Another reason why music in Mexico has always made lots of sense to me, haha.
With the rise of streaming platforms, do you approach creating albums differently now compared to earlier in your career?
Yeah, I’d say for sure I have a different outlook on track listing. Album length is also a factor. When we first started, I wasn’t overly thinking about these things, and still to this day, the music is obviously the main factor. But it’s fun fitting things together in a way that makes sense not just for vinyl and CD but for streaming as well.
As a band, you’ve toured extensively across the globe. How do you stay grounded and maintain your connection with your roots, especially when coming back to Australia?
We have a couple of little tricks for keeping our sanity on the road. A big one is exercise, and an even bigger one is food. We love food so much and always make a bit of an event of a pre-show dinner, especially if we’re in a new place. They’re good for just hanging out, but they also remind us of what we would normally do at home. We never really feel too far from home, though. I think it’s important to take who we are and let the travel and music build on that foundation—then ALWAYS go see Mum when we get back home.
Looking back at your journey, what’s one of the most memorable moments you’ve experienced as a band?
Oh man, we’ve had some crazy stuff happen. From partying in Segue Mendez’s mansion in LA to getting kidnapped in the Philippines for about an hour. For some reason, we’ve had some funny times with famous rappers, too. I shook Snoop Dogg’s hand backstage when I was 18, which blew my mind. And in Adelaide recently, ASAP Ferg came to our green room and said, “Y’all got swag.” That’s possibly the best compliment I could ever receive.
What can fans expect next from The Jungle Giants? Any exciting projects or collaborations in the works?
NEW MUSIC! Got so much coming very soon, so keep your eyes peeled for big things next year!