Hoogenboom relocated to Australia back in 2009, when he was 19, and formed Set Sail the following year. The band has since issued three EPs of summer-soaked pop music and widely traversed the country as well as many parts of the globe. Although Hoogenboom’s departure won’t be permanent, the band are currently on an Australian send-off tour, which comes to Melbourne next weekend. If his hangover is anything to go by, Hoogenboom is enjoying the tour thus far.
“We were in Airlie Beach for a week, that was awesome. We did a few shows there. Then down in Brisbane last night was pretty fun, got pretty festive, pretty floral,” he says.
Ever since their nascent Sydney gigs a few years ago, Set Sail have encouraged audiences to engage in lively revelry. Hoogenboom indicates the band’s off-stage behaviour mirrors this trait.
“We go all-out. The thing is, when you travel you want to catch up with your mates. It’s like, ‘Mate I’m in town, would love to see you,’ and then it’s like, ‘Oh, well if we’re catching up, let’s have a beer.’ So it gets a bit wild.”
Although the band (which is completed by violinist Josiah Willows and the rhythm section of brothers Dan and Josh May) embrace the novelties of tour life, Hoogenboom says that living large doesn’t impinge upon their performances.
“You’ve got to embrace it and put out positive vibes and never doubt yourself,” he explains, going on to state his mantra, “Feeling the vibe, feeling the vibe.”
Despite Hoogenboom’s calming attitude, Set Sail have encountered their fair share of touring mishaps. The most serious of these came following a stint in New Zealand early last year when Visa restrictions prevented Hoogenboom from re-entering Australia. It’s not a great surprise to hear the current tour is no exception.
“I don’t know what it is, we’re like a dysfunctional family I swear. We were on our way down from Airlie a few days ago and ran out of petrol. We were in the middle of the bush and we just had to pull over.”
However, Hoogenboom’s Zen perception stays firm. In fact, he explains that this seeming turmoil actually led them to a natural sanctuary. “Where we ended up having to stop was a pretty good place. There was a mango tree, there was a little pond/river thing and there was some railway tracks, so we were very entertained the whole time.”
The repeated instances of misfortune haven’t tainted Hoogenboom’s views on operating as a musician in Australia and he speaks fondly of the Aussie music scene. “I really like the style that people embrace, all the acoustic relaxed stuff that people can really get into. People genuinely enjoy good quality music and it’s a cool thing.”
Now, Hoogenboom’s departure seems to interfere with the unveiling of the band’s long-awaited debut album. However, he reveals that the release date is actually imminent.
“We’re recording an album at the moment and we’re going to release it in the beginning months of next year. We’re really stoked, it’s sounding really good. We’re calling the album Good Vibes.”
The forthcoming Good Vibes will hopefully tide fans over until Hoogenboom’s planned return in late-2014, but he underlines that it’s still urgent for people to come along to their two remaining Melbourne gigs.
“I really hope everyone comes out and has a bit of a farewell for us for a while. I feel like we’re having the best fun we’ve ever had and we’re playing the best we ever have.”
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
