Melbourne’s Beachwood might be new additions to the Aussie music scene, but they’ve more than proved they’re in it for the long haul.
Back in April, the world of music was happy to welcome the newly-formed Beachwood onto the scene.
A Melbourne indie-pop duo boasting the electronic beats of Jarrad Rogers (better known to many as the acclaimed producer MSTR Rogers), and the indie-folk songwriting of Angeline Armstrong, the pair undoubtedly found themselves in prime position to take the world by storm.
Sharing their debut single, ‘Miracle’, the duo soon followed it up with the impassioned ‘Love Me Or Leave Me Alone’, proving that their astounding success was in no way just a happy fluke.
Just last month though, they dished out a couple more tracks, including ‘Marbles’, and an absolutely gorgeous cover of The Beach Boys’ ‘God Only Knows’.
With the band fast on the rise and more success on the way, we caught up with Beachwood’s Jarrad for a chat, learning more about this stunning duo and getting to know what makes them who they are.
Check out ‘Marbles’ by Beachwood:
How did your artist name come about?
We both chose Beachwood as the first place to stay when we arrived in LA. My family and I had been living there for a bit over a year. Ange was coming into town on a year long visa.
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A friend of a friend put us in touch. She chose Beachwood before even talking to us!! It’s a beautiful area just at the foot of the Hollywood hills. Ange worked in a cafe that we used to go. I love Beachwood!! Such a great place!
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
It’s made with computers, but we use real instruments. The singer is a girl with a super cool voice. It’s pop music, but a little different. Stuff we hope the radio will play and make people happy!! Even you’d probably dance to it, grandma!
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
The meaning of the song ‘Marbles’ which is our most recent release: Our words have power, and sometimes what we say can make things spiral out of control. We say things we don’t mean, we say things we regret, we often hurt the people we care about most.
Sometimes, caught up in the moment, we find ourselves saying and acting like someone we don’t even recognise – someone who is not at all the person we want to be deep down – that sort of inner struggle just seems to be a part of human nature. It was cool to work together on a song that found a way to really capture that universal feeling of letting someone you love down, of “losing your mind, your grip on things, your marbles…”
That image is so strong, of all these little glass balls just rolling out of your grip, it really does feel like that sometimes. It’s our song to say sorry to those people closest to us who we’ve sometimes hurt, or said things we didn’t mean, or taken for granted.
The meaning of the song ‘Love Me Or Leave Me Alone’… Love is a tricky game, no one likes to be taken for a ride and sometimes you just have to call it for what it is….LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME ALONE!”
Check out Beachwood’s ‘Love Me Or Leave Me Alone’:
What do you love about your hometown?
My family. And the coffee…the coffee in Melbourne is pretty next level. On par with my favourite town in Italy, actually! Coffee is very necessary for anything creative. Anything in life actually.
Career highlight so far?
Working with Lauryn Hill for three weeks! She was an idol and a huge inspiration. Getting the chance to work alongside her as a co-writer and producer was amazing and had a profound impact on me.
Fave non-music hobby?
Surfing! 100% surfing.
What’s on your dream rider?
Pavlova. Rows and rows of fresh pav with fresh fruit on top – wouldn’t that be the pre-show dream?
Dream music collaboration?
Chris Martin.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
On a beach, sipping green juice and eating endless pav! (again with the pav, haha)
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I have never done karaoke and I vow never to do it. Such a scary thought. I work with incredible singers all day every day. To have to sing myself, in front of people? Nope….next!
What’s on the cards for the future?
Running a label. I’ve always wanted to run my own record label. Maybe in the near future…
Check out Beachwood’s cover of ‘God Only Knows’:
