Jules (The Primary) asks Casey (Sleep Decade)…
The ‘Into Spinning Lights’ album was extremely well received by the music press in Melbourne and wider Australia. Besides this show, what’s next for Sleep Decade?
We’re currently trying to organize a few more Into Spinning Lights shows. It was really nice to play it from start to finish at NSC with Laura Baxter contributing her vocal parts and Thom Russell doing visuals. We’re also going to start making another record in the coming months. This time we’re recording it ourselves.
Casey and Mont, when I contacted you about this show you guys were in India. Do you think that the experience of that trip will influence your future writing?
I think it’s bound to have some influence, yes. To what degree, or in what manner I’m unsure, but our music has always been a reflection upon personal experiences and events. The last time I went to India I bought a sitar, and also made a bunch of field recordings, but neither has found its way into any Sleep Decade songs as of yet.
A lot of killer bands, such as yourselves for instance, are coming from Geelong to Melbourne at the moment and making quite the impression. As an inner city, white bread sort of hipster from Thornbury I’ve never been down that neck of the woods to see a band. Whats the music scene like there?
It’s a really supportive community of people down there, and there’s some bloody awesome bands and artists. Everyone plays shows with everyone else (regardless of genre) – there’s no pretentious attitudes, and there’s a bunch of people that work really hard to organise some killer line-ups, day festivals and parties. It’s a fairly small music community but one that’s really tight knit.
Casey (Sleep Decade) asks Jules (The Primary)…
You guys formed quite recently, but already have a well-developed sound. How did The Primary start?
Well I’ve been playing solo for six years and put an album out under my own name, Gemma (bass) and Raffa (guitar) played in Daydream Arcade and Will (drums) plays in Mansion, Alaska. The band started out of me outgrowing my solo stuff and wanting to form something that reflected what I was listening to at the time, which was more shoegazing kind of stuff. Initially it was an extension of that and still very solo oriented, but grew into the band it is today by realising what incredible talents were around me and what they had to offer.
Run us through your process – how does The Primary create their songs?
Generally we start from Will coming up with a drumbeat and then I go from there and make a guitar line and lyrics. The lyrics take the longest as we’re very much committed to the idea of smart, articulate lyrics.
You’re bio mentions you have a love for pop sensibilities in your music. What’s your favourite pop song ever written, and why?
Hmmmm that’s a hard one. I’d have to say it’d be Husker Du Celebrated Summer off their third album New Day Rising. A short, fast and incredibly furious pop song in a way only they can do.
Finally, what does 2013 hold in store for The Primary?
We’re going to be releasing an EP recorded by our friend Tom Thomson later in the year and embarking on an East Coast tour, which should be oodles of fun. Other than that our next show after this one is on March 21 at Bar Open with Hollow Everdaze, Tangrams and another special act so stay tuned.
SLEEP DECADE (homecoming show) and THE PRIMARY play The Grace Darling Hotel this Thursday February 28 with ESC and Contrast + Howard DJs. It’s $10 from 8.30pm.
