Live electronic Australian trio Crooked Colours´music is characterized by a mix of indie and dark electronic and with their first release out of their upcoming debut album “Vera”, out on 23rd June via Sweat It Out, they totally drummed up our enthusiasm for wanting to hear more about them. “I Hope You Get It feat. Ivan Ooze”, that we are premiering on C-Heads today, is such a dope track, no need to describe it further really, as it is best enjoyed by putting up the volume. Furthermore, find out more about Phil Slabber, Leon Debaughn and Liam Merrett-Park and their thoughts on “Vera” and the profound meaning behind “I Hope You Get It”.
“For us it´s about making music that people will connect with. If you can do that you’re doing something right.”
Indie and electro – how did mixing those two genres come into being for Crooked Colours?
Growing up, we listened to both genres. It was a natural progression for us that we started writing music that has an element of both in it.
You worked the past 18 month on your album „Vera“ – how is the work divided between the three of you when new songs are written? (e.g. you work separately on ideas and then meet to put it all together? Or you jam together to create new stuff?)
Usually Phil will have a song that he’s been working on for while that needs some fresh ears on it so he’ll send the song to me and I`ll tinker with it and send it back and vice versa. We work better separately where we have time and space to fuck around with synths and stuff, rather than being in the same studio looking over each others backs telling them your playing it wrong or whatever.
Tell us the story or inspiration behind the album and the name for it?
We wrote the majority of the record in two tiny log cabins in the south west of Australia in a remote place called Bunker Bay. The cabins were side by side and we had a studio set up in each so we could have our own space to work in. I think being so remote, where there was no distractions, helped us concentrate on writing the record. We spent a bit over a month there, then moved to Sydney to finish it off.
The Album Title ‘Vera’ is Latin for ‘True’ as we have tried to stay true to what we wanted our music to sound like with no exterior influences and is also taken from Aloe Vera where the artwork concept comes from.
“The song “I Hope You Get It” is an insight into being trapped inside a dark state of mind. It reflects on the feelings of depression and the hope of escaping it whilst struggling to maintain normality.”
Were there moments where you felt artistically stuck during the album work – like not being able to finish a song or so? Was that the time when bird Eddie came into the play? I read he was watching your productivity.. haha…
Yeh definitely. We had most of the album done for a while and getting the last 20% of the songs done for us was the hardest part. Moving to Sydney gave us a fresh perspective living in a new place with different surroundings etc helped us put the final touches on the album. Haha yeh Eddie was good company at the cabin. He kept trying to eat our food though..
I love the album artwork. Who did it?
An artist from Belgium called Mellon. I came across a few of her illustrations on a blog somewhere that were amazing. I emailed her and that´s when the collab started.
What is the song “I hope you get it“ about?
It’s an insight into being trapped inside a dark state of mind. It reflects on the feelings of depression and the hope of escaping it whilst struggling to maintain normality.
So, back to the beginnings – how did the three of you meet?
Phil and I were at a party and decided to start making music. After working on a few tracks we needed a drummer to jump in and that´s when Liam came on board.
Your musical education – autodidact or professional music education?
Production wise it was definitely a self-taught thing. For us that helped us shape our sound.
What music has influenced you the most in your adolescence years?
Early 2000’s electro was a big influence on me growing up. It´s what made me want to write music.
“We work better separately where we have time and space to fuck around with synths and stuff, rather than being in the same studio looking over each others backs telling them your playing it wrong or whatever.”
Do you dance to your own music? Like when you finish a song putting it really loud and do a sort of final „feel&move“ check or so?
I think you kind of have to right? If your not feeling the song you can’t expect fans to vibe it.
With everyone being so exposed on social networks these days, do you feel a pressure to expose more and more of your life in order to keep fans attracted?
I think it depends on the artist but it is always going to be a balancing act. As long as you’re writing good music I don’t think it matters too much.
One artist that I interviewed once said that he makes music only for himself, and he never has in mind how it will be perceived by people or what they expect. How is it with you on this one?
For us it´s about making music that people will connect with. If you can do that you’re doing something right.
And last but not least, your favourite quote to live by…
“I’ll come at you like a shark with knees” Mighty Boosh.
