Project Description

Interview with

THE HUNTING BIRDS

by Vicky Hebbs

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The Hunting Birds

@weareallstardust.photography

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The Hunting Birds are a contradiction of the best kind. Darkness meets light in the band’s enchanting fusion of genres – and they’re stepping it up a notch with their forthcoming debut EP “In Its Nature”.

Since forming in 2015, the Western Australian five-piece have been gigging hard in their hometown of Perth, as well as appearing at major festivals including Falls Festival Downtown and Bluesfest Byron Bay, plus support slots with folk heavyweights The Lumineers and English singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner.

Working with WAM Award-winning engineer Andy Lawson and in-demand producer Joel Quartermain (Meg Mac, Dan Sultan), the group have created a debut EP they’re immensely proud of, and are now excited to announce its release and a pair of WA launch dates to celebrate!

Thanks to this trademark diversity of sound, “In Its Nature” is a journey that will take you in many directions, only to bring you right back home with its warmth and honesty.

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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious concern?

For me, I kind of found music on my own. My parents aren’t particularly musical but I found a stack of my Dad’s CDs in a cabinet and I would throw them into my old player and soak myself into them. It became serious around the time I got to primary school. I followed that through high school, to university where I met the rest of the band.

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What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?

I was and always am huge fan of Paul Simon’s. I played a 3-disc anthology set my Dad used to have in the car to death. I always find inspiration in his lyrics, when I feel there is nothing to talk about. He has a knack of talking about anything and making great musically sound songs. Also helps that he sings like a bird.

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How did you all meet? 

Kendra, Chris and I all met at university while we were studying music in Perth. We started playing together around the end of our second year and have introduced Brad and Gwyn since then.

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Has songwriting always been a part of your lives? How did you start making music?

Writing has always been apart of my life and I’m sure Kendra’s too. I started writing properly around the time I was starting high school and honestly I still have so much to learn and grow from. But we both bonded over our love for writing, so its really been important in our lives.

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What was it like to find your feet in the Western Australian music scene? 

Perth is a super interesting place to play music. We did our first bunch of shows with our friends as a way to get around and have made new friends since then. Its very communal.

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How would you describe your sound for anyone who has not yet heard your music? 

Our sound is a mix between folk/rock/pop – we think each song we have caters for a different light of those three genres. It’s always hard to explain your music, but I can say its probably not what you expect.

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How has your songwriting evolved since 2015 debut single, ‘From the Ashes’?

Not only was that our first single, but the first song Kendra and I wrote together. We have grown up in and alongside the band, which is quite an odd thing. Our music has  subsequently grown with it, as well.

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Your debut EP ‘In It’s Nature’ comes out soon. Can you share the origins or inspiration for the EP? 

A few of these songs have been with us since the beginning, which to me seems like a perfect fit for the title, In Its Nature. 

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What is your favourite thing about being on tour? Least favourite thing?

The change of scene is my favourite part of touring. Travelling around with my mates. Least favourite thing is probably early morning, going to the next place.

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If you had the chance to perform at one venue or location anywhere in the world of your choosing, where would it be

Being a massive dreamer I would love to play a show at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. The Troubadour in LA is pretty gnarly, too. 

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If you could pick absolutely anyone to bring on tour with you, whom would you pick and why? (Dead or Alive)

Fleetwood Mac (Rumours era)

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What are your major goals or milestones for the future?

To grow out of being a local band to a full time touring band is the main goal for us. Something we really hope we are fortunate enough to do. Playing great shows to great people.

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Do you have any advice for other young WA artists looking to become musicians?

Practice.

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Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?

Album – Bringing It All Back Home – Bob Dylan

Artist – Ryan Adams

Movie – Forrest Gump

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The Hunting Birds

Photo – Zal Kanga-Parabia

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THE HUNTING BIRDS
“In Its Nature” EP Launches

Saturday 27 October – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth WA
with special guests. Doors Open 8pm.  Tickets from www.oztix.com.au 

Friday 2 November – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River WA
Doors Open 9:30pm

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“In Its Nature”
OUT Monday 22 October 2018
thru iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and
www.thehuntingbirds.com

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Listen to The Hunting Birds
Spotify | Soundcloud | Triple J Unearthed | YouTube

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Connect with The Hunting Birds
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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AMNPLIFY – DB