Ahead of the release of their new single ‘Lonely But Not Alone’, we caught up with Sydney’s dream-pop pair EGOISM.
EGOISM are Scout Eastment and Olive Rush whose music always sounds wonderfully euphoric. Combining introspective but confident vocals and blissed-out and shimmering guitar lines, the pair intend to make their listener’s feel comforted and happy.
Their new single is ‘Lonely But Not Alone’, their first release this year after the success of last year’s On Our Minds EP. They left behind Sydney’s Inner West to record the video in rural Victoria.
According to the pair, the song and video are supposed to “feel like the dread of going nowhere and never ever improving, but maybe you don’t realise that’s what’s happening. Just driving around feeling really lonely even though you’re right next to the person that’s supposed to understand you the most.”
Ahead of a busy period for EGOISM – they’re supporting Odette on tour through May and June – we caught up with Scout and Olive to find out more about their music and career as part of our popular Get To Know series.
ODETTE SUPPORT TOUR DATES
Friday May 21st | The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
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Saturday May 22nd | The Northern, Byron Bay, NSW
Sunday May 23rd | Hota, Gold Coast, NSW
Friday June4th | The Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Saturday June 5th | The Cambridge, Newcastle, NSW
Friday June 11th | UOW Uni Bar, Newcastle, NSW
Saturday June 12th | Fiction, Canberra, A.C.T
Check out ‘Lonely But Not Alone’:
How did your artist name come about?
After we received a cease and desist letter for our first band name, we made a big list of different names we could use. EGOISM was the only one we agreed on.
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
S: Well I currently live with a 94 year old who described The Beatles and Pink Floyd as current pop music…so with great difficulty.
O: My Oma only knows German folk songs from the 50’s, so i just describe the different instruments we use in the songs!
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
‘Lonely But Not Alone’ kinda sums it up in the title. That feeling of being misunderstood and isolated. The dichotomy of being with someone and still being lonely I guess.
What do you love about your hometown?
S: There’s a lot I love about Sydney, it’s really pretty and has so many different areas to go to, but I would have to say that I love the weather. It’s the last spot on the east coast that is subtropical and so it’s just so sunny and warm for most of the year without a lot of crazy 40+ degree heat. Also once I learned about the Dharug seasons it all made so much more sense than the European 4 seasons we’re taught!
O: Would have to second Scout on the weather. My friends and I often talk about how it’s literally always a good time to go outside in sydney. Except for when it rains non stop in march and gets super windy in August. The Dharug 6 season calendar helps to feel more connected to subtle changes in Sydney’s climate.
Career highlight so far?
S: Getting our manager Niriko – far out that has been so good everyday! I’m pretty excited to be supporting Odette for her tour this month. Especially because we’ll be getting to play in places on the East Coast we’ve never been able to play before.
O: I think just selling out a show and not really knowing anyone there was the first time I felt like people genuinely wanted to see us play purely for the music and nothing else.
Fave non-music hobby?
S: Doing anything crafty – I’m actually pretty bad at crafty stuff but I really enjoy it. I even make these very naff little cards for anyone who buys our merch online.
O: I am shockingly obsessed with film photography, it only got worse during lockdown.
Check out ‘Sorry’:
What’s on your dream rider?
S: I’m going to say world peace, ending global warming, and good eggplant lasagne.
O: A totally quiet room all to myself.
Dream music collaboration?
S: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Charli XCX.
O: Probably Kanye just for the story we’d get out of it!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
S: I think I’m trying to stay away from those sorts of thoughts – I have a tendency towards existential dread. But I would love to have a stable music career and a bub or 2.
O: Swimming.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
S: It’s a cliche but ‘Sk8er Boi’ – it was the first song I got a perfect score for on Singstar Pop.
O: I like doing really obscure Beatles songs because they always have them for some reason and no one expects me to rip ‘The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill’!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
S: He was a punk. She did ballet. What more can I say?
O: It’s not scary, it’s interesting.
What’s one obsession you have that no one would guess after listening to your music?
S: I’m pretty obsessed with fashion history and the sociology associated with it (plus I just love pretty clothes). But that’s probably kinda guess-able thinking about how I mentioned op shops in the lyrics of the song.
O: I had a big phase of watching snooker championship games on youtube. I also get really into maps. This is tip of the iceberg honestly, I’m a very obsessive person.
Check out ‘Enemies’:
