INTERVIEW: Kendra from The Hunting Birds talks new music, isolation and gender equality: "There is an unspoken deep rooted misogyny still lurking around every corner."
Melbourne based three piece band The Hunting Birds (vocalists Kendra and Chris and guitarist Connor) formed in Western Australian when they all studied music. They first released music together in 2016 with the country-folk single ‘State of Mind’ with their debut EP In Its Nature arriving in 2018. Last year, they won Pop Song of the Year at the WAM Awards (West Australian Music Awards) for their single ‘Currents’ and in April this year they released their first new music in over a year with the single ‘Catch Up’. A marked change in direction for the band, the song moves the band away from their country roots into a more classic rock pop sound. A gentle opener leads into a driving chorus with an insistent beat that threads throughout the rest of the song sweeping you along in a rush of sublime melodies and harmonies. “We based it on the idea of not feeling in sync, like one person was always behind another, be it in relationships, friendship or professionally,” the band says. “It's a feeling we think a lot of people have in a climate where everything moves so fast and so unexpectedly. It's hard to be on the same page sometimes and that's totally okay."
We recently caught up with vocalist Kendra to find out more about the band and the creation of ‘Catch Up’.
Hey Kendra! So great to be chatting to you. How is everything going for you in this crazy new world of isolation?!
Hey there! It certainly is crazy. It's been a weird time for me, a little jarring but I think a lot of people are feeling similar in the entertainment industry. I’ve come home to Western Australia to be with my family on the farm I grew up on. It’s been nice to have the space and fresh air, so I count myself lucky.
Can we take It all the way back to the beginning and talk about your first memories of music and what role music played when you were growing up?
Growing up I was surrounded by music all the time. I remember my dad banging away on the drums in the shed, echoing so loud we were lucky we didn’t have neighbours too close. We would have nights, where after dinner me and my sisters would be dancing in the living room to whatever my parents were playing. Music has always been there whether I liked it or not. Always consuming, always looking for a new song to put on repeat until I could recite it line by line.
I started lessons for piano and vocals around eight years old and loved it. Hated practicing though, but did any of us really enjoy it at that age? I slipped in and out of love with it in the early days of high school, but that all changed when I started writing. I spent a lot of my last years jumping on the piano as soon as I got home from school. Pages everywhere with scribbled lyrics and chords.
Was there a moment you decided to make music your career or was it something that was always a given for you?
I think it has always been what I aspired to do in the back of my mind. When I started writing my own songs, it became more apparent. I wanted people to delve into my songs, analyse the lyrics - receive a wave of emotion from listening to my songs, just as I did growing up. I always loved the idea that a song could take you to a memory or allow you to feel what the artist is serving up to you.
How did The Hunting Birds form?
We all met whilst studying music. Connor and I were fresh out of high school and were given an assignment to collaborate with others in. He had asked to partner up with him to sing ‘Cold Is The Night’ by The Oh Hello’s. We clicked into place very quickly after that. Connor had the idea of starting up a band and asked me to join with a few of our classmates, including Chris.
Where did the name come from?
I wish I had a super cool story about the name, but honestly we were all just sitting in a practice room spitballing names. I actually didn’t like the name when we first decided on it. I remember saying to Connor that it will do for now, we will come up with something better later. I guess later didn’t happen!
Congratulations on your latest single ‘Catch Up’ it is gorgeous. Can you tell me a little about the inspiration behind this song?
Ah, thank you! We wrote ‘Catch Up’ based on the idea of feeling out of sync with someone. How sometimes it may feel like you are two steps in front or two steps behind, but ultimately can find that middle ground and get back on track.
What was the creative process like for this track?
We wrote this song up here on my parent’s farm with Joel Quartermaine. I hadn’t experienced writing with three minds previously and it did take us some time to hit our stride. Writing can be quite nerve wracking sometimes, but Joel was great and we started to feel the parameters of not being too tentative. Once we had locked in the theme of the song we started spitballing melodic choices and wrote the lyrics as the song progressed.
There is a bit of a change in direction with this song, moving away from your country-folk sound into a more definite pop soundscape. Was this a conscious decision or did it evolve organically in the studio?
Purposeful unapologetic pop was definitely planned. We went into the writing sessions with Joel knowing where we wanted to take the sound. Creating a soundscape that was energetically modern was really important as we started the production process.
Is this a sound you plan to continue with on your future releases?
We stepped into this year wanting to expand into something that was hooky and shamelessly easy listening. This year felt a good opportunity to explore further into our sound, recreate it a little. I think it’s important to be okay with reinventing, with change comes growth!
Is there more new music on the way, possibly a new EP or a debut album?
We are definitely planning on releasing more music super soon. Keep an eye out for another single in the next month or so! Being able to write and get into the studio to maybe even put together another EP would be amazing, so we will see how the rest of the year treats us.
Over the last year or two there has been so much talk about gender equality in the wake of #metoo. What are your thoughts on gender equality and sexism in the music industry?
There has been a wonderful shift in recent years and so many things to celebrate. Women are being given a platform and it’s exciting to watch unfold. There is still a whole lot of work to do, however. I won’t lie, it does get frustrating. There is an unspoken deep rooted misogyny still lurking around every corner. We are all guilty of it and we don’t even realise. Seeing these amazingly talented women succeed just to be pulled down, because we can’t just celebrate their achievements? I am all for constructive criticism, but expressing dislike towards women in the industry based on limp unhelpful mindsets is not assisting anyone.
I would love to see a world where I am not assumed to be the girlfriend as we load in for a gig or when I walk into a music store to purchase something. To not be whistled at as I take off my jacket on stage. I aspire to be recognised as a strong songwriter rather than feeling my worth is based on if I am palatable or nice to look at.
What advice or tips do you have on how to navigate the new, and sometimes scary, world of quarantine and self-isolation?
I can only give the advice that has personally helped me, because we are being bombarded with how best to spend our time in isolation. All I can say is do what makes you feel good. Being told you HAVE to be constructive, that you HAVE to be creative - I have found, distinguishes any of those creative juices. If you feel lazy, just be a couch potato - If you are wanting a distraction, rekindle that love for that hobby you enjoy but never have the time to get lost in.
What else is coming up from The Hunting Birds in 2020?
This year we will be focusing mostly on writing and recording. Building up a new set of songs for live shows ideally! We are really keen to get back into the studio and share some new music with everyone. Being quite off the radar last year has made all of us eager to keep active and keep producing new material.
‘Catch Up’ is out now. You can download on iTunes and stream on Apple Music, Spotify or Soundcloud.
To keep up with all things The Hunting Birds you can follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
