02 Jul INTRODUCING: Luboku
Photos by Sarah Chavdaroska
Since 2014 Melbourne producer, singer and songwriter Luboku has been steadily releasing music online. Collaborative work with NZ-based Hosaia and last year’s solo release ‘The Surface‘ has seen his name popping up more frequently and with growing praise.
This year, after already releasing two singles ‘Without You‘ and ‘None Of You‘, Luboku’s burgeoning career has started to take off – with a Triple J ‘Feature Artist’ select, support-spot on What So Not‘s national tour and his recent signing to Niche Talent Agency‘s growing roster of amazing artists.
After the busy start to the year, we managed to squeeze in some time with Luis Kennett (aka Luboku) to have a chat and get to know him. We wanted to understand from his perspective how he has found this year so far, how he discovered his visual-aesthetic and what he has planned in the near future for shows and releases.
Tell us about Luboku. Who is he? Where did his passion for electronic production come from?
Luis Kennett: Luboku is many things, sometimes a musical vampire, sometimes a balladeer, always making songs though, that’s the important part. Luboku came about because I needed something to focus my creativity toward. I can focus inspiration more clearly when I have something specific to work on so it came out of necessity, to be honest.
‘Without You’ which was released earlier this year is a stellar track! How did that track come to be?
Luis: Why thank you, I guess people are really digging it! I had a lot of fun making that song and I think that comes through. ‘Without You’ was also one of the quickest songs to come together so far, it always felt a bit edgy. Simon Lam (Kllo, Nearly Oratorio) helped me mix this one actually, he managed to pull in some of that edginess but keep a really great vibe which was just ace.
Your John Fish video collaboration and music artwork is all very visually appealing, carrying a very strong aesthetic. Trying to balance music and visual expression is a particularly important thing at the moment for a lot of artists. Who designed your cover art? Tell us a bit about that process.
Luis: A Melbourne designer named Darren Oorloff, in collaboration with Nick Keays, created these first few pieces. I’ve felt really lucky that they’ve been on board with all my ideas and have executed an aesthetic that I am 100% behind. I feel very strongly that visuals and music work hand-in-hand, carrying a desired look and feel through any art form I’m creating.
A John Fish video also makes me *crosses fingers* expectant of a big light or visual show on the horizon?
Luis: Big light show? Of course! Working with John Fish on the video for ‘Without You’ has definitely given me some ideas on what a BIG headline or festival slot could look like.
Only the other weekend you were a support act for the Melbourne leg of What So Not’s Australian National Tour at The Forum Theatre. Tell us about how that came about! How did you find the support act spot on such a large, electronic tour?
Luis: The show was wild, one of my favorites so far. As for the opportunity, that’s something I did not see coming. All of a sudden I’m on the phone to Triple J Unearthed, being asked to play the Forum Theatre with What So Not, it was all pretty crazy. The hardest parts of playing live, I find, are always the moments just before the show – you feel like you’re waiting in live music limbo. The best thing was getting out there and playing the new live set, it was so much fun.
Last week you released your new single ‘None Of You’ and already it’s taking off – congratulations on such a solid release! Tell us about ‘None Of You’ and (if I’m not mistaken) if there is a theme connecting your two new singles?
Luis: Thank you, I’m glad you vibe it! I guess ‘None Of You’ is a pretty personal track for me. It’s about a time when I was struggling to connect with someone who was going through some stuff, sometimes that person doesn’t have any space for you and I think this song captures how I felt about that whole situation. I have always felt ‘None Of You’ and ‘Without You’ to be Ying/Yang (hence the piano at the end of Without You) – they are definitely connected. But that needs more context… There is an EP coming!
If you could play one stage or one event in the next year, what would it be and why is that your pick?
Luis: This is a bit left of field but I think the Boiler Room live stream gigs are pretty iconic, tonnes of people moshing around you as you’re performing to an endless amount of people online, that would be so sick.
Do you have any future collaborations in the works? (Dreams collaborations welcome.)
Luis: Nothing I can talk about yet… I’ve got a secret passion for really heavy hip hop though, I think a dream collaborator would be
As a producer and song-writer in Australia, do you think that the music industry is helping young, emerging artists make a break? Or is it a tough job and difficult to navigate with the sheer amount of new artists?
Luis: I couldn’t think of a better place to start a career in music. Australia, and Melbourne in particular, have such vibrant communities, I feel like creativity flourishes here. There are also many opportunities for up and comers in the live arena and with platforms like Triple J Unearthed the ease of discovery makes things pretty accessible (they listen to everything! That’s intense). Shoutout to my manager Brandon who’s been a literal lifesaver (haha).
Plans for the rest of the year?
Luis: More tunes! And lot’s more shows.
20 Apr Trading Tunes with Jade Imagine
Photo by Jamie Wdziekonski
Melbourne’s own Jade Imagine, fronted by indie-scene-legend Jade McInally, have become a staple in the local scene. Having released an EP with Milk! Records – headed by Aussie favourites Courtney Barnett and Jen Cloher – the feeling is that Jade Imagine will continue to rise to greatness.
Not only are they releasing great material, backed by all-Aussie-all-star label and artist management collective Our Golden Friend, their band currently features many notable names – Liam ‘Snowy’ Halliwell (The Ocean Party) on bass, producer/guitarist Tim Harvey (Emma Louise, Real Feelings) and James Harvey (Teeth & Tongue) on drums. It’s an all-star cast all-round!
Before Jade Imagine hit the stage at Melbourne Museum‘s Nocturnal event this Friday night – alongside Totally Mild, Jess Ribeiro & RVG in collaboration with Our Golden Friend – we had a chat with Jade and she gave us some favourite tracks from the classic film ‘School of Rock’. Tickets are still available for Nocturnal.
Jade McInally: Because we are a “rock band” and we’re playing in a Museum it seemed fitting – Museums are often frequented by schools on excursions. School Of Rock is set in a school. Its all connected… derrr!
Stevie Nicks – ‘Edge Of Seventeen’
“We are currently working out how to play this live. Fun fact, you can make a medley mix of this song and “I Was Made For Lovin You’ by kiss, cuz they have pretty much the same guitar part. This is also the moment in the film where the school principal gets drunk and lets her guard down. Y’all gonna let your guards down and play with us on Friday?.”
David Bowie – ‘Moonage Daydream’
“The best Bowie song ever. Fun Fact, this week we had a full moon in Scorpio. AKA Pink Moon.”
Deep Purple – ‘Smoke On The Water’
“This is the bit where Jack Black says “cello!” and I always laugh.”
AC/DC – ‘For Those Of You About To Rock’
“This will be us on Friday at the Melbourne Museum (Cc: RVG, Jess Ribeiro, Totally Mild)”
T. Rex – ‘Ballrooms Of Mars’
“The youtube comments for this song are amazing… “T.REX BROUGHT ME HERE”, “that guitar solo makes me want to jettison my body into the cosmos” and”I came here because I hate Guns N Roses”, amongst others… ”
02 Mar A Night at the Museum – Nocturnal (02/02/18)
Photos by Sarah Chavdaroska
It was a stroke of absolute genius whoever decided to combine music, a museum and an all-time Australian favourite – booze.
Heading down to the Melbourne Museum on the first Friday of every month to see a fantastic line-up, go exploring (including just standing in absolute AWE of the blue whale skeleton) whilst enjoying a glass of red… Well, as the saying can go, money CAN buy happiness.
It was an absolutely packed affair at the last Nocturnal when the folks behind the planning of this stellar Melbourne event had Total Giovanni, Sampology, Francis Inferno Orchestra and Kate Miller grace their stage.
The stronghold of people (and I say stronghold because there was A LOT of people) was a true testament to the sensational line-up and organisation of one of, what I would call, Melbourne’s more unique music offerings.
Only occurring once a month means it truly stays as a special evening that can be enjoyed by anyone. So although a lot of the booze-happy-crowd was perhaps, at times, over-indulging on the service of full wine bottles (I mean lines, who wants to wait in them – get a bottle) it was still highly enjoyable. Happy, dancing faces could be seen for miles as the people had absolutely flocked to enjoy a night at the museum.
For the month of March (and being the first Friday it’s happening TONIGHT) they have again organised a line-up to be reckoned with – Jordie Lane & The Sleepers, Ainslie Wills, with support from Sean McMahon and Hollie Joyce. Tickets are still available and we couldn’t recommend heading down to Carlton highly enough. Supporting the live-music ventures that happen in Melbourne is exactly why we get to see these dynamic and exciting new things.
14 Feb PREMIERE: SAATSUMA – ‘Isolate’
Melbourne-based electronic duo SAATSUMA have signed, sealed and delivered yet another amazing track – getting their 2017 off to a cracking start.
‘Isolate‘, their newest single and set to be released on their forthcoming album, is a well mixed, dynamic and rhythmic track with signature SAATSUMA sampled and layered vocals that carry you through the track as the momentum builds.
It’s a track that makes you think – whether you focus on the strong composition and arrangement by Memphis Kelly and Cesar Rodrigues, the lyrical think-tank or the mixing and mastering by Dream Kit (Declan Kelly) and Adam Dempsey, there is an element for all throughout ‘Isolate’.
Kelly’s vocals are soft but focused, with an Australian-voice that is distinct and melodic. It’s an enthralling sound she creates that is then backed solidly by Rodrigues’ synth work that builds the track up as it picks up the pace.
Following on from their other single releases – ‘Storm‘ and ‘Floating‘ – it’s exciting to see SAATSUMA hone their craft, push their creative bounds and follow through on a sound that is unique across the board. From their cohesive live sets to their recorded material, there is nothing but praise for the electronic duo.
March 10th – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney | March 17th – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane |
March 18th – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne | March 24th – The Hills Are Alive, Victoria |