Loon Lake

We chat to Sam from Loon Lake ahead of the band's headline tour for their debut EP, Not Just Friends.

You know you’re onto a good thing if a band this new to the scene has already established a unique brand of sound. There’s that low-fi aesthetic of a twanged guitar, incredibly raw vocals and a somewhat limitless vintage amp.

“Most of our better songs have come really quickly and we’ve all liked them instantly, there are no real recipes.”

 Loon Lake’s sound scratched and broken all over – but in the best possible way. Luckily for us this wasn’t lost when the band translated their demos into their debut EP Not Just Friends,

“We were all adamant that we wanted to keep the sound of those demos. We also wanted to get the same kind of sound, our sound, but have it sound good in headphones. So you can decipher all the parts instead of it being a big jumbled mess.”

“It’s probably easier when I have a song almost formed and done, with five dudes and you’ve all got different ideas – sometime it can take ages and the freshness of it can be gone after a while.”

It doesn’t come as a surprise that the industry has also got behind Loon Lake, especially after they won Triple J’s Big Sound competition last year – alongside tough competition with the likes of Boy and Bear, Washington and Children Collide.

In particular Triple J presenter Zan Rowe has sent a lot of love their way,

“She just wrapped herself around it from the start, she started playing our songs flat out and then she wouldn’t just play them but give some really nice words.

It struck a chord with her. I’m sure there’ll be someone else at triple j likes someone else but I guess its just taste, she likes us and we’re really lucky that she does. 

Although things seem to be moving quickly for Loon Lake there’s definitely the sense that this is a down to earth band, one with a good head(s) on their shoulders.

“I can only speak for what we’ve done but when we won that competition and started getting airplay we had a lot of people out of the blue writing to us.

I would definitely recommend you do your research, we haven’t signed anything either if you’re a young band and you’ve got all sorts of people approaching you the best thing is to do it on a trial basis.”

Not Just Friends is a record that screams summer more than anything else. It’s sunny, warm and infectiously catchy. Besides, this is the kind of music you listen to at a summer bbq after a long day at the beach.

I wonder if Loon Lake felt the same way, as the last track Wine comes to a close there the sound of applause and someone getting very excited that “the sausages are ready.” 

That aside, next month will see the boys set off to play a string of shows for their first headline tour so be sure to check them out. Are they looking forward to any shows in particular?

“All of it – we’re all really big surfers so anywhere where we can get good waves and I’m really looking forward to playing at Byron Bay at the Great Northern. It will be cool, there’s always a crowd and they love live music.

What can I say? If the records anything to go by, It’s going to be a good time.

Drop in to JB Hi Fi for a copy of Not Just Friends, or any other reliable music store. Also feel free to check it out onItunes.

San Cisco

There’s something to be said of the music that has emerged from Perth our west coast capital and Cisco are no exception. There’s Jordi James (guitar, vocals, keys) Josh Biondillo (guitars, vocals, keys) Scarlett Stevens (drums) and Nick Gardner (bass, keys).

"San Cisco is a place situated between reality & a dream state. It is kind of like a huge cauldron we put all out creative input into, mix it together to make a super explosion of fantastic, wild creations. This is San Cisco."

After releasing Golden Revolver earlier this year, San Cisco has impressed both audiences and critics alike with their unique blend of indie pop. They’ve played a host of festivals and supported the likes of Architecture in Helsinki, the Grates and Jebediah soon to come.

With an average age of 18 and the youngest member Jordi James yet to finish high school, many say San Cisco’s music is beyond their years. I can’t say this really sat well with me. The way I look at it their sound is their years. It’s fresh, upbeat and reminds me of bliss filled summers.

It just goes to show that great music comes at any age, anywhere.

How would you describe San Cisco’s sound?

It has a lot to do with the music I am listening to at the time. As I listen to new music the sounds I make are influenced and sound like the music I have been listening to. For example, I bought the entire Flaming Lips Discography and have been listening to that, which dates back to the early 80’s. Its pretty incredible, the changes they have been through as a band is quite interesting. Wayne Coyne is actually so cool. Listening to The Flaming Lips then led me to listen to a lot of other music that is produced by Dave Fridmann, who has pretty much produced all of the flaming lips stuff. Bands like Mercury Rev and Sleater-Kinney and obviously MGMT, Tame Impala… Sleepy Jackson. Dave Fridmann has pretty much produced most of the music that I love.

How has it been being able to develop your sound in WA - a state home to a unique music scene, not to mention some of Australia’s most iconic bands?

Couldn’t ask for a better place to grow up really.  Mingling with amazing musicians and other musically orientated folk is interesting. It’s a really supportive atmosphere, you can’t avoid learning and improving living in Perth. 

What was the best thing about recording the EP?

Learning about the recording process and hearing the tracks develop from live songs to polished recording is really interesting. Also having something to show for the hard work is nice. 

What’s in store for the rest of 2011?

Another EP recording in July, some TEE exams, lots of education and a number of gigs, it is certainly looking pretty bright.

Given your pick, if San Cisco could take to the stage with any artists (alive or dead) who would they be?

Well that’s easy. The Beatles.