Along with our Festival Guides comes a new feature, On The Road centered around the colliding worlds of music and travel. With these Q&A interviews we hope to delve not only into the touring side of a musician’s life, but to also see the world through their perspective.
While their origins might have begun in Sydney, Oli Chang and Jack Milas of High Highs first became a serious musical entity after separately moving to New York. The pair ended up crossing paths and together they crafted their debut record, Open Season, which was released earlier this year. Chang talks us through everything from the move to Brooklyn to touring the States with Vampire Weekend and returning home.
Tell us about your most recent tour overseas, where did you travel and how long for?
Before our recent Vampire Weekend tour we were on a US tour with Sky Ferreira and her band for 21 days. We went up the East coast into Canada, drove down into the Midwest and then back up into West Coast of Canada. From there we drove down the fertile US West Coast finishing up in LA.
What do you think you took away from touring with Vampire Weekend?
Probably, we realised that so many people in the middle of America (obviously) want a tropical beach holiday. Also that long melodies sound gigantic in arenas.
While on the road did you make any detours and do any sightseeing? If so, where did you go and what did you do?
We did a bunch of “run-stops” which means we stopped in a bunch of natural locations and ran for an hour and a half in each spot.
North America is a vast land full of incredible natural wonders. My top 5 places we saw on the tour were:
The Cascades on Oregon and Washington – misty cliffs with raging waterfalls densely covered in pine forest. Truly mystical.
Colorado – Serious cowboy country with beautiful people. Huge red rocks littered with plump green valleys.
Utah – Old world green mountains thick with spring flower perfume. Wherever you are in Utah you can look into the distance to see a never-ending expanse of snow-capped mountains.
Idaho – Sepia toned hills with quivering grass rolling into the horizon.
Everyone always has a few strange or crazy travel stories. Could you let us in on some of yours?
We learnt that if you wear a black leather cap in Middle America you run the risk of having an encounter with someone with a concealed firearm. Also you can buy a house in Detroit for 5k.
The two of you moved to New York at different times for reasons unrelated to High Highs, what is it about this city that brought out the music in your outfit and the countless of others who have made the move?
I think the main reason NYC brings out something good creatively in people is that you’re surrounded by extremely hard working people in your field and also in related fields. For example if you’re doing something different and you’re doing it well your path can cross with other highly motivated musicians, artists, directors, designers etc. Then good collaborations can happen. There’s urgency in the air that stimulates a will to work hard.
Was moving to Brooklyn what you expected it to be?
Personally I really didn’t know what to expect. At first I was taken aback by the griminess of the streetscapes, but overtime realized the beauty was hidden in the energy of the people that live and work there. The people, energy and culture is what makes it a special place.
The music scene in Brooklyn has been written about many times before and it has a fairly prestigious reputation. Does it live up to the hype? What is it like being involved in this scene?
I think any place that has a strong concentration of musicians is going to end up being a hot place for music by default. I guess the good thing about Brooklyn is that you don’t have much time to become complacent if you want to succeed. There isn’t really anytime to pat yourself on the back after you achieve a milestone. It’s always ‘what can we do next? How can we improve?’
How do you fill your time while you’re on the road? What music have you been listening to? What TV shows have you been devouring? And what books have you been flying though?
Jack had his head buried in Hemmingway. He’s working his way through some of the classics. We listen to new and old music. Have debates. Write music. We even record vocal ideas. We really enjoyed listening to the audio book of On The Road. It’s pretty magical.
You’ve already played a bunch of shows in many different cities this year. Do you have a highlight?
It would have to be Red Rocks with Vampire Weekend and Of Monsters And Men. It’s a huge amphitheater set amongst gigantic red rocks in Colorado. It was spectacular to play to 5000 people in that setting.
You’re now back in Australia for a few headline shows of your own as well as a support slot at Vivid for Empire Of The Sun. What’s it like to be home?
We LOVE Australia. We can see our family and friends. It’s our home and you can get decent espresso.
After living overseas and travelling around do you view Australia and Sydney differently? How has your perspective changed?
I definitely realized that people in Australia are much friendlier than I remember them. So many sweet people. Also the nature is so much wilder than I remember.
