Where do start??? We are called Planet Love Sound. Our sound could be described as psychedelic. We are releasing an EP, called ‘Part 2’, in September. We will also be releasing a video clip to accompany the first single from this EP, which is called ‘Middle of Nowhere’. This will be out in October. We are launching the EP at a warehouse location in South Yarra, Melbourne, next Friday the 7th of September. I think that’s it for now.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
Earliest memory of performing is mainly of pure panic. I did a piano recital as a nine year old and was so scared my parents bought me Lego afterward as a reward. As far as inspiration goes… I think that is somewhere deep in the collective unconscious.
You must answer this question honestly or we steal your rider. What and where was the first gig you went to?
It is fun asking the other guys in the band what they think the answer to this question is. They are saying… Van Halen, Led Zeppelin… Bryan Adams (!!), and so on.
Well, the answer is this. I tried to go to a Steve Vai gig but I was underage so I couldn’t buy a ticket. So that was a failed attempt. Attempt number two was successful. I went to see Brian May. It was nothing without Freddie though.
How long has there been an aural/visual relationship in your music? Did it start with you guys, or have you always been approached by visual artists who’ve taken an interest in your music?
Well, the link between sound and visuals certainly didn’t start with us. If anything, it has always existed and perhaps the two have been increasingly divided in our relentless drive to modernity and beyond. In any case, it has always been an interest – whether in graphics, art, or video. We have been involved with a designer, Murray Bell, for a number of years, and he has worked with us on our graphic approach, posters, website, and so on. We have also met several film makers over the years – Osvaldo Budet Melendez, Astrid Salomon and Josh Dawson, and most recently Maia Horniak, as well as the projection artist Thomas Russell, who we have had the pleasure of working with on video clips, documentaries and in doing visuals for live shows.
How do you guys find the European reception to your music as opposed to back in Australia?
Well, most of our time has been spent in Australia to be honest. We spent a long time in Europe living, writing and existing. So Europe only received us in as far as that it hosted us as people! We learnt a lot there – about ourselves, about each other. The shows we played there were received very well however. We were quite a different band. People were receptive, kind, and they listened. That was fantastic. Here in Australia we experience all different aspects of the spectrum – wonderful, patient audiences; audiences that talk right through the show; audiences that want to dance. So at the moment we’re feeling a lot of what audiences can give back.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s soundtrack to ‘Holy Mountain’. Tom Waits’ new album ‘Bad As Me’. The Dandy Warhols new album. A podcast called ‘This American Life’.
By the way – most of the time these aren’t on the iPod anymore!! Spotify, iPhone apps… you know how it is…
What’s the reason behind a secret warehouse show? And why Prahran?
Well, it feels empowering to do a warehouse show. Less regulation, the ability to perform according to our own desires and rules. That’s the main thing. We’re doing a two hour set, a whole bunch of visual artists will be exhibiting, and there will be a live projection artist for our set. Prahran is just by happenstance – it is where the venue is! We’re working with a great crew called the Ko-Op and also T-Squat – our good friend James Watkins – has been instrumental. We wouldn’t be doing it without him.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have (attractions/food/bars etc)?
First thing: one stage only. Second thing: not too many people. 10,000 max. Third thing: price limits on food! Fourth thing: people may bring their own alcohol.
Is this festival gonna send us under? Probably.
The Russian Ballet.
Gareth Liddiard can MC.
There will be discussion sessions – quantum physics. Relativity. Consciousness. Pantheism.
There will be comedy. Daniel Kitson.
Bands? We will bring back Fela Kuti from his cryogenic state (he must be frozen somewhere!), and he will do a nine hour set.
That’ll do.
What’s the reason behind the full album in Europe but dual EP’s in Australia?
Well – er – let’s be honest. We haven’t released a full album in Europe. Sorry if our press release confused you there. We have just released the first EP online, and have pressed vinyl which we’ll ship anywhere in the world and that can be bought from our website. The second EP, again, will be released online across the globe on September 1. We’ll be recording a full-length album in the near future.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
Nick Cave. He is prolific, he is honest. He is down-to-earth. He works hard. He engages in different art forms. He writes both music and words.
What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?
Hmmm…. Meditation is one thing that it would work for. Aikido sessions, perhaps?
You’ve got a huge range of artists on board for the Warehouse party; tell us about what drew you to them in particular. Is there a consistent theme between their work and your own?
The theme of the night is transformation, alchemy and contact with the unconscious. So within that, we were seeking for artists that would be relevant to those themes. I think that we are all on a common search and so I think we’ve got a great team to explore those themes.
You’re on a desert island, and you’ve only got one CD to listen to. Is it Portishead or PJ Harvey?
PJ Harvey for me. Her most recent album, ‘Let England Shake’. It’s so relevant to now, and so potent. Although I’m not sure if that will be of any use on a desert island. As such, we will now change our mind to Portishead ‘Dummy’. This will allow us to drift away.
Catch Planet Love Sound on Friday 7 September at their secret warehouse launch: www.planetlovesound.com
