Young, determined and a bit mischievous, Melbourne-based indie-rock band Des Cortez are ready to get serious.
They’ve gained experience and popularity on the back of DIY everything, and they’re not afraid to tackle difficult issues with their expressive and thought-provoking lyricism. Now they want to take the next step – and focus on their music full-time.
Devlin McCarthy (drums), Paddy McPhee (bass) and Sam Knight (guitar/ vocals) want to do more than just pay the bills – they want to make music with meaning.
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Des Cortez’s indie-rock sound was born in the Australian summer of 2020 after the self-taught trio graduated from high school.
“Sam and I were school friends. We had already been playing shitty covers together and had a few songs in the works – but we needed a drummer. We met Devlin at a formal afterparty, and he said he played. Turns out that he barely could – I guess he was a few drinks in at that point – and to be fair none of us could really play back then,” McPhee said.
By March 2021, McPhee, Knight and McCarthy had recorded their five-song debut EP Burn After Listening which launched them into Melbourne’s burgeoning underground scene.
“The production of our EP was rushed a bit; it was the first time we had ever been in a studio and we recorded the whole thing in a day. Most of the takes we used were the first or second shot at it. We couldn’t afford to get it mastered and it was barely mixed – basically like we had put out the demos. But somehow… I don’t know how – people still really liked it,” Knight said.
The intentionality and introspection behind the album were undeniable, earning the trio rave reviews and a growing fan base. Eventually, the band sorted out their first gig which became a wake-up call to start taking themselves and their music a lot more seriously.
“At our first show we had no idea what we were doing; we didn’t even know what a booking agent was,” McCarthy said.
“One of my mate’s uncles owns a pub. We asked if we could play there and he was kind enough to give us a go. Somehow we sold it out in eight hours… I really couldn’t tell you how. The show was completely DIY. We set the stage up out of old crates, sorted our own sound system and did our best to mic everything up.”
“It was the first time we really took ourselves seriously as a band and the first-time people paid to see us, so we reckoned we better put on a bit of a show,” McPhee said.
After their live debut, their memorable performance saw offers rolling in for them. But just as the boys started to gain traction, like so many underground artists at the time, they were slammed by the second COVID lockdown.
“When COVID restrictions were reinstated the four headlines we had sold out were all cancelled. It was really difficult because we were getting so excited and gaining all of this momentum and then it was just cancellation after cancellation and having to refund everyone. It stunted our group for a bit but coming out of it we were just so excited to get back out there,” McCarthy said.
Now Des Cortez can see the light, and beneath their happy-go-lucky charm is an unwavering determination for success.
Since the band’s EP, they have released a handful of singles and have been working to develop their sound. With a focus on confronting meaningful themes and creating evocative lyrics, they’ve come a long way from the early days.
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“Our music looks at relationships; with your family, your friends, romantic relationships and your relationship with yourself,” McPhee said.
“Our writing process is all over the place. Usually, someone comes to Monday rehearsal with the start of a song in mind and then we just hurl out ideas. Sam and Paddy are both amazing writers. I don’t really write or read but I get in there anyway. Most of my stuff is shocking but now and then we get something sick and then it’s like we have won the AFL premiership or something,” McCarthy said.
Like their comrades, the boys aren’t quite yet able to support themselves off their music. Right now, McCarthy works in a pub and McPhee and Knight are baristas at rival cafés. But the trio is determined to take on their music full-time.
“Our goal is to just do music. If we could live off the band that would be ideal. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that our ambition is because we love it and we want to see where that can take us. We could do this for the rest of our lives,” McPhee said.
This summer is filling up with gigs for Des Cortez, but they’re particularly excited about their charity show on Saturday the 19th of November for B Side Sounds in collaboration with the Smokin’ Laces community.
The event celebrates the power of music to improve mental health and encourages awareness about men’s mental wellbeing with all proceeds being donated to Movember – a booking that was a happy coincidence for Des Cortez, as it goes hand in hand with their latest single In My Head. With lyrics like “the more you speak the more uneasy I feel the space exceeding”, the boys intricately poeticise the most personal of feelings.
“In My Head is about overthinking, not processing things properly, and maybe panicking a bit,” said McPhee.
“Talking about what you’re going through and turning it into something meaningful is a big part of what we are about. I mean our rehearsals are basically like therapy sessions anyway – so this gig with B-Side seemed perfect for us,” Knight said.
Catch Des Cortez headlining for B-Side Sounds on Saturday the 19th of November at the Yorkshire Stingo Hotel. Grab your tickets here.
