Years later and the award-winning pair have travelled all over the globe performing to thousands of fans and appearing at some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals, including SXSW, Lollapalooza, Pukkelpop and Reading. They’ve become loved by their peers, shared the stage with music icons, and influenced a new crop of up-and-coming electronic artists.
Despite their long list of accomplishments, Elgusto was still taken by surprise when he found out Hermitude’s fifth studio album Dark Night Sweet Light had debuted at #1 on the Australian charts. “As we’re mainly instrumental electronic music producers, we hadn’t really fathomed having a number one record before – that was a real career highlight, and a truly special moment,” he says.
Ever since Dark Night Sweet Light dropped, back in May 2015, the boys from the Blue Mountains have been on the road. “We’ve been touring pretty heavily for the last two years, and it’s taken up so much of our lives, but it’s been amazing,” Elgusto says. “We did a lot of shows over in Europe and the US last year and we got to play at some of the biggest festivals on the biggest stages amongst a lot of our peers. It’s been a really incredible ride.”
Hermitude are well respected throughout the national music community and are often the first choice for a support act whenever Australian artists venture overseas. Late last year they joined Flume for part of his world tour: “We ran into Flume when we did a few shows with him in the southern states of America. It was cool to catch up with him and hang out for a bit. At the moment he’s doing some huge shows and venues, we got just a little taste of it.
“We also did some of our own headline shows over there, which was a bit of a dream come true,” Elgusto adds. “It’s been really nice to come home and do things like Splendour in the Grass, and to have a home crowd to come back to and rock out with.”
Over the years Dubs and Elgusto have become staples on the summer festival circuit, and 2017 will be no exception. They are currently preparing to travel to the Apple Isle as part of the killer lineup assembled for Tassie’s Party in the Paddock. “We can’t wait to go back – we haven’t been down to Tasmania in so long,” he says. “It’s always a pretty raucous vibe when we play down there. One of the last times we were there was for Falls Festival in Marion Bay, and that was one of the most hectic crowds we’ve ever played for.”
Just a 20 minute drive from Launceston, in the rolling hills of Burns Creek, this year’s Party in the Paddock has attracted some of the hottest acts around. Hermitude will appear alongside The Smith Street Band, The Bennies, Tash Sultana, Vera Blue, and Luca Brasi, among many others.
“We will definitely be staying down there and checking out the rest of the festival, after we play and before we play. We always like to catch up with everybody and hang out – and we’ll play a sneak preview of a track that we’ve been testing out on the road, which will be really fun. We love to play live – it’s one of our favourite things to do. We always bring a lot of energy, and vibe off the crowd.”
It isn’t only festivals on the agenda though, Elgusto says they’re spending time recouping and writing new music. “We are definitely going to be dropping some tunes soon, so keep your ears open. We’re still working on things, so unfortunately I can’t let anything out of the bag or give too many hints.
BBQs, beach days and banging tunes – doesn’t sound all that nerdy to me, but Elgusto remains true to his roots. “We’re still those same nerds,” he says. “We’ve always been music nerds, one hundred percent, and I don’t think anything is going to change any time soon.”
By Natalie Rogers
