The Paper Kites (03/10/2012)
After creating an immense amount of buzz around the country with their debut EP, Woodland, Melbourne indie-folk five-piece, The Paper Kites are back with a new offering, their Young North EP. 59th Sound caught up with Christina Lacy from the band to chat about the new EP and upcoming national tour.
“We really had to learn a lot in a short space of time,” says Lacy in regards to The Paper Kites seemingly fast rise to prominence. “A couple of the guys had been in bands before, but they hadn’t overly toured or anything, so we really had to learn a lot on the run.”
Having shared the stage with notable and experienced acts such as Boy And Bear and Josh Pyke, Lacy notes that both bands were forthcoming and more than qualified to offer advice to the young group when they recently enjoyed some time on the road together.
“Both those acts really took us under their wing,” admits Lacy. “They really reiterated to us the importance of doing it your own way and playing what you want to play. It sounds kind of corny but you really do have to be true to yourself.”
With that in mind, the band teamed up with much revered producer, Wayne Connolly for the recording of ‘Young North’. After the group were introduced to Connolly it was obvious this would be a flourishing collaboration with Connolly recognizing the bands keen ear for melody and structure.
“Wayne really loved the structures of the demos we gave him,” proudly says Lacy. “His main contribution was really exposing us to new sounds and instrument ideas. He’s such a nice guy and it was a real honor and privilege to work with him considering the caliber of artists he’d worked with in the past.”
The reception to the bands video clips from their debut EP, ‘Woodland’ was quite remarkable. The clip for new single ‘A Maker Of My Time’ is again no exception with 50,000 clicks and counting. Was the creative process of these videos something the band had been heavily involved in?
“Sam (vocals/guitar) really leads the input with the videos. He’s a creative genius. The band didn’t really understand the concept at first for the ‘A Maker Of My Time’ video, but we trusted Sam and we’re really happy with the result. We wanted to do something that was bold and to really explore something that was different from what we’d done in the past.”
The ‘Young North’ EP is a strong follow up to 2011’s ‘Woodland’ EP, featuring lush arrangements, maintaining the romantic and whimsical feeling of The Paper Kites past work. Lacy recalls that the creative process was similar this time around, lead again by vocalist/guitarist Sam Bentley.
“Sam usually works out the skeleton of a song and brings it to the band and then we will all add our own pieces. Occasionally Sam and I will write something together but it does normally come from individuals and is then fleshed out in rehearsals together.”
With the ‘Young North’ National Tour just around the corner, Lacy points out that carving out their own path as a rightful headlining band has been a fast and sometimes daunting road for The Paper Kites.
“It can be a little nerve racking. I do however, think we’re becoming seasoned performers, having spent a fair bit of time on the road together now. This tour we’ll be bringing ‘Art Of Sleeping’ and Sydney band ‘Battleships’ on the road with us. It’s going to be great to establish relationships with both of those bands on the road.”
Catch The Paper Kites on the road for their ‘Young North’ Tour throughout October/November.
“We really had to learn a lot in a short space of time,” says Lacy in regards to The Paper Kites seemingly fast rise to prominence. “A couple of the guys had been in bands before, but they hadn’t overly toured or anything, so we really had to learn a lot on the run.”
Having shared the stage with notable and experienced acts such as Boy And Bear and Josh Pyke, Lacy notes that both bands were forthcoming and more than qualified to offer advice to the young group when they recently enjoyed some time on the road together.
“Both those acts really took us under their wing,” admits Lacy. “They really reiterated to us the importance of doing it your own way and playing what you want to play. It sounds kind of corny but you really do have to be true to yourself.”
With that in mind, the band teamed up with much revered producer, Wayne Connolly for the recording of ‘Young North’. After the group were introduced to Connolly it was obvious this would be a flourishing collaboration with Connolly recognizing the bands keen ear for melody and structure.
“Wayne really loved the structures of the demos we gave him,” proudly says Lacy. “His main contribution was really exposing us to new sounds and instrument ideas. He’s such a nice guy and it was a real honor and privilege to work with him considering the caliber of artists he’d worked with in the past.”
The reception to the bands video clips from their debut EP, ‘Woodland’ was quite remarkable. The clip for new single ‘A Maker Of My Time’ is again no exception with 50,000 clicks and counting. Was the creative process of these videos something the band had been heavily involved in?
“Sam (vocals/guitar) really leads the input with the videos. He’s a creative genius. The band didn’t really understand the concept at first for the ‘A Maker Of My Time’ video, but we trusted Sam and we’re really happy with the result. We wanted to do something that was bold and to really explore something that was different from what we’d done in the past.”
The ‘Young North’ EP is a strong follow up to 2011’s ‘Woodland’ EP, featuring lush arrangements, maintaining the romantic and whimsical feeling of The Paper Kites past work. Lacy recalls that the creative process was similar this time around, lead again by vocalist/guitarist Sam Bentley.
“Sam usually works out the skeleton of a song and brings it to the band and then we will all add our own pieces. Occasionally Sam and I will write something together but it does normally come from individuals and is then fleshed out in rehearsals together.”
With the ‘Young North’ National Tour just around the corner, Lacy points out that carving out their own path as a rightful headlining band has been a fast and sometimes daunting road for The Paper Kites.
“It can be a little nerve racking. I do however, think we’re becoming seasoned performers, having spent a fair bit of time on the road together now. This tour we’ll be bringing ‘Art Of Sleeping’ and Sydney band ‘Battleships’ on the road with us. It’s going to be great to establish relationships with both of those bands on the road.”
Catch The Paper Kites on the road for their ‘Young North’ Tour throughout October/November.