Can you feel that rush? That buzz of pure excitement? Dopamine has just released the good stuff. And by good stuff we mean their tremendous new song ‘Decide’. Oh yeah, we’re talking about the Brisbane band, not the chemical, although the two are explicitly linked through the power of feel-good music.
Introducing Brisbane’s emerging indie-rock five-piece Dopamine, who we sat down with to get to know just a little bit better, upon the release of their dazzling new single ‘Decide’.
Following the success of their debut EP Outlaw and subsequent single ‘Ordinary People’ in 2018, ‘Decide’ sees the Brisbane outfit channel emotional vulnerability and honesty.
I’m sure you’ve heard it one thousand times before, that a band has taken a penchant for the introspective and has begun making songs crafted around being raw, open and vulnerable, but Dopamine do it in a way that’s actually thrilling and enjoyable.
Cruising along like a surf rock jam but grounding itself in polished sensibilities, ‘Decide’ dances around its magical lyrics with style. The track possesses some sort of je ne sais quoi that feels like the sun trickling through after a rainy day. And that’s not even me being flowery in my descriptions, seriously go listen to the track, it’s exactly like that warm feeling in the summer mornings.
“The song is about the initial feelings that you feel in a relationship; the uncertainty of where it will go and the hesitance to put all of your trust into someone with the fear that you could get hurt,” reveals frontman and guitarist Finley Miller, “There are lines in that song that are very personal to me, and kind of reflect back to my own experiences. I wanted to write a love song that wasn’t like every other love song really.”
Dopamine have been making major waves in the Brisvegas scene, checking off some major accomplishments like supporting Last Dinosaurs at their 2 sold-out Brisbane shows for the Yumeno Garden tour and playing alongside acts such as The Delta Riggs.
We sat down with the incredible band to get to know them better, so that you too can feel the rush.
Get To Know: Dopamine
How did your band name come about?
I don’t know, it just sounded good. When we started we were called The Scram and we only played one gig under that name before we realised it had to be changed. I remember reading an article about how Dopamine gets released when you listen to music that you like and the name Dopamine just stuck in my mind. When we started going through different names, Dopamine was the one that kept coming up. So we just ran with it.
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
I couldn’t describe it, there’s so many different influences that come together to form our sound that it’s hard to explain to people. I’d probably say, ‘just listen to it nan and make your own mind up’.
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
A lot of our tracks don’t have any meaning, I want people to have their own interpretations about what the songs mean to them. The lyrics are kind of the last thing I focus on to be honest. I usually write them just before I have to record them.
What do you love about your hometown?
I do love the people and the way of life in Brisbane, I can’t really think of another place I’ve been to that’s quite like it.
Career highlight so far?
Supporting Last Dinosaurs was a lot of fun. We’re friends with those guys as well, so it kind of just felt like a group of friends all playing a show together which was really cool. Our show at The Foundry in Brisbane at the start of this year was really fun too. The venue was packed. We’re playing another headline show there on the 27th September, so we’re really keen to try and sell that one out!
Fave non-music hobbies?
Kicking the footy would have to definitely be at the top of the list. Everywhere we go now, someone always brings a footy along. Everywhere we’ve been, we’ve most likely have kicked a footy there. Even in Woolworths! 7/11? Yep we’ve kicked a footy there too.
What’s on your dream rider?
Lots of Apple Jack, lots of beer, and a footy. Maybe bring some dogs backstage as well. Would be great to have a couple of basset hounds running about.
Dream music collaboration?
It’d be cool to work with some crazy producers, like Mark Ronson or Kevin Parker. Even something with a DJ would be insane. A Dopamine and Chemical Brothers collab! It’d be awesome to meet The 1975 as well, they seem like they are always two steps in front of everyone else. I’d like to meet the Gallaghers, try to get them back together. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot of aspirations to be honest. I’m open to anything.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I don’t like to think about the future, I just try to focus on the here and now.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Come On Eileen.
Check out ‘Decide’ by Dopamine
