The Jungle Giants boast an impressive CV. Since the release of their first single ‘Mr Polite’ in 2011, the Brisbane four-piece have enjoyed extensive Triple J play, performed at Splendour In The Grass and Big Day Out, sold out tours across the country, and supported indie-pop heavyweights Two Door Cinema Club and The Vaccines.
It’s safe to say that the energetic quartet are showing no signs of slowing down, either. This year will see the band, who are friends from high school, showcase their talents on the world stage at SXSW before returning home for a tour on Aussie soil.
So, for a group who have already released two EPs and one album in their short musical lifespan, what collections inspired them? We caught up with each member to chat about the albums that left a significant impact on their lives.
Jeff Buckley – Grace
1994, Columbia Records
“I first heard this record when we were recording our debut album. It feels weird that it took me so long to hear it. I’d always heard of Jeff Buckley but never seemed to get around to listening to his music. The studio we were at had a massive living area that had bunk beds and a TV and kitchen and stuff. Sira brought a live DVD of one of his shows and we watched it almost every night. I instantly fell in love with that record. I was mesmerised by his songwriting, how aloof and unhinged it seemed, but how powerful its effect was. I also was blown away by the production. Everything sat perfectly in the mix. Every tone seemed so appropriate, and really made me wonder if it was all meticulously arranged or just came out that way. It really struck home with me, and made me review my songwriting in a different way. Other artists and albums have had that effect on me too, but nothing to the scale that Grace did, and still has.”
Sam Hales – lead singer, writer, guitarist
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland
1968, Reprise Records
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I heard, or at least listened, to the opening riff of ‘Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)’. Being a moody, relatively music-sheltered 12-year-old, my listening diet was filled with aggressive gangster-rap, which was the craze around my group of friends at the time. That literally all changed when I heard that riff and the album it comes from. My idea of music flipped and within a year I was teaching myself guitar on a busted-up acoustic guitar that I found in my garage.”
Andrew Dooris – bassist, vocalist
The Dandy Warhols – Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
2000, Capitol Records
“Thirteen Tales… really taught me a bunch about guitar tone. We all started listening to it in the year leading up to making our first album, and I don’t really think I’ve stopped. Everything from the way the guitars sound, to the songs, to the structure of the album, the artwork, and just the RIFFS; it had a big effect on me. Bless it all.”
Cesira Aitken – lead guitarist and chief shredder
Cloud Control – Bliss Release
2010, Ivy League Records
“I heard the first single off Bliss Release in early 2010 when I was on the bus going to Uni; it’s called ‘This Is What I Said’. I remember flipping out when I heard the beautifully balanced, rhythmic, and melodic elements that were using. It felt real god damn satisfying and really special because I’d been playing with similar ideas at the time. I hadn’t started the band yet and was still doing the shitty singer/songwriter thing. I’m pretty sure I decided at that point that I really needed to start a proper band in order to write and play what I wanted. I didn’t have Shazam when I heard it, so I’m pretty sure I just listened to Triple J real religiously for the next couple of days to catch what band it was. It was around that time I decided to drop out of Uni and start working at McDonald’s and a convenience store while I wrote and saved money to record our first EP. The record was great. It was their mix of drums and delicate guitar parts that attracted me. Gave it a sort of tribal and euphoric appeal. I met the lead singer when we played at Splendour last year and we chatted about the record. Wicked band.”
Sam Hales – lead singer, writer, and guitarist
Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
2006, Domino Records
“It would have been back in Grade 8 when Andrew Dooris showed me this album. We had been good mates for years and were working on forming a band so he was showing me some music. At the time I was listening mainly to older music, which probably came from my parents, people like Bob Marley, Crowded House, The Police, and Stevie Wonder, so the Arctic Monkeys was my first honest taste of new music and I loved it! It was also the first album I learnt cover to cover on drums, and it must have taken me months back then. But ever since then I’ve been hanging out for every new album like a crazy fangirl and probably always will be.”
Keelan Bijker – beater of “skins and metal things”
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
2008, Jagjaguwar Records
“I was in Grade 10 at high school when I first heard this record. I was learning how to play guitar at the time and started to teach myself his tracks on guitar tab. I also hadn’t really sung while playing guitar that much, so it was a good way for me to learn. I don’t think I’d ever written a proper song before I heard Bon Iver’s music either. I tried writing some death metal tunes once or twice while I was into that, but I gave that up pretty quick. Anyway, once I’d understood how he [Justin Vernon] was playing it, I started becoming obsessed with how he was actually stringing all the music together. How he was coming up with chords and melodies, and how he made them sound so epic and beautiful. At the time I was trying to impress a girl at school, so I guess I took what I’d learned from the record and wrote her a song.”
Sam Hales – lead singer, writer, guitarist
The Jungle Giants Australian Tour 2014
w/ special guests Millions and ShortStraw
Tickets on sale now
Friday March 28 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
Saturday March 29 – Ric’s Big Backyard, Brisbane
Sunday March 30 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane (Under 18s show)
Friday April 4 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday April 5 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Friday May 9 – The Rosemount Hotel, Perth
All ticketing details at www.thejunglegiants.com
Also performing at:
Groovin The Moo 2014 Dates & Tickets
Fri 25 April – Oakbank SA (ANZAC Day Public Holiday)
Sat 26 April – Maitland NSW
Sun 27 April – Canberra ACT
Sat 3 May – Bendigo VIC – SOLD OUT!
Sun 4 May – Townsville QLD
Sat 10 May – Bunbury WA
