INTERVIEW: Lastlings release debut album 'First Contact': "We want this album to spark all the beautiful and important memories, feelings and emotions."
Brother and sister duo Lastlings - Amy Dowdle and Josh Dowdle - today release their debut album First Contact, an assured and beguiling 12 track collection of electronica that is both dancefloor ready and deeply emotive.
Based in the hinterlands of Southern Queensland, the Japanese-Australian duo have been releasing music for five years, when lead singer and songwriter Amy was just 15 years old. Their earlier releases were stripped back, gentle electropop with hints of soul and indie, but as they have matured as artists their sound has developed into all encompassing electronica. And this is far from a restrictive soundscape. On First Contact every track explores a different sonic avenue, feeling both comfortably familiar and excitingly new. Album opener ‘Deja Vu’ starts off low-key before building into a synth-dripping, brooding anthem, while ‘Held Under’ is a touching electro-ballad that transforms into a moody dancefloor banger in the best tradition of the ‘sad-dance’ of artists such as Robyn: ‘when the hurt is done, will you be around?’ Amy plaintively sings. ‘Visions’ is a trance infused, hedonistic track which transports you to a late night dancefloor while latest single ‘Out Of Touch’ treads a more traditional pop track path.
For a band so young First Contact is a debut album that is nothing short of stunning. Masterfully produced, tumbling over with sublime melodies and smart lyrics it is music that engages both your mind and your body. We recently caught up with Amy to find out more about the creation of this gem.
Hey Amy! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. 2020 has been quite the year - how have you been coping?
No worries! 2020 has definitely been a wild year for everyone. I have faced a lot of ups and downs, challenges and feelings that I have never experienced before. However, I would say that 2020 has been a great year for me to grow, learn and face my fears.
Your debut album First Contact is out today and it is incredible, congratulations. What does it feel like to have it out in the world?
Thank you - means the world to Josh and I! I am incredibly excited - a little nervous too.
The track ‘Visions’ is just brilliant, with its keyboard intro and trancey, late night nightclub vibe. Can you talk us through the inspiration behind this track?
I certainly can. Josh and I were listening to a lot of Kiasmos and Christian Löffler at the time. It was ‘York’ by Christian Löffler that inspired the production. ‘Visions’ is about moving on from a toxic relationship and the hardships you face during the healing process.
You released the single ‘No Time’ earlier this year with the beautiful, really moving animated music video. Can you tell us more about its creation and how the storyline came about?
We worked with a director from France, Joel Durand and his amazing team. They helped us bring this dystopian world to life. The ‘No Time’ video is a chase between darkness and light, where a brother and sister together face their fear of passing time. Our character designs were inspired by “Perfect Blue” by Satoshi Kon. The cultural mix of Japanese and occidental styles in the video clip can be seen as a reflection of our own heritage too.
Was there a particular message or vibe you wanted to project with the album?
First Contact is all the moments that you experience for the first time, how special they are and how important they are in shaping us as people. Moments and experiences like first love, first heartbreak, first flight or even your first time at a new destination. We want this album to spark all the beautiful and important memories, feelings and emotions that you feel when you experience something for the first time.
You have been releasing music for around five years now, your first singles are a little more stripped back compared to what we hear on First Contact. How do you think your sound, as well as you as an artist, has changed and grown since those very first releases?
Our sound has changed and grown a lot since the beginning of Lastlings. Our first few singles were definitely influenced by the music we were listening to at the time. We used to listen to a lot of Beach House and Alt-J. Over the past few years I think we have definitely found our sound. I think that we have both learnt a lot over the years of doing this project together. We have met so many incredible people that have been like mentors to us - especially in the electronic music scene. We were both always really into electronic music - and we wanted to make the music that we were already listening to and passionate about. Josh’s production has improved so much and I personally have noticed that I have improved a lot with my song writing too. I am really proud of First Contact.
If we go back to the beginning, obviously you are brother and sister, but how did Lastlings the pop group form?
I was 15 and Josh would have been around 20. Josh would always be in the garage with his band making music, whereas I would always be in my room writing songs on the piano. I always used to go pop my head in the window and check out what they were doing. Eventually Josh and I started jamming together and doing covers of songs. Then one day we wrote our first song and produced it with our friend!
The music industry has not traditionally been kind to female artists, based in part because it has been run by older, white, straight men for decades. What are your views on sexism and gender equality in music?
Today I feel really inspired by the women in our industry who have successfully found their place and have helped create opportunities for females today and for the future women in younger generations. I have met so many incredibly talented female artists, crew and industry people over the years at shows, events, Zoom calls (ahhh 2020) and in the office! Over the next few years I really hope that I can inspire young girls to follow their passion for music because they are certainly capable of doing anything - especially a career in music.
As we discussed at the beginning, 2020 has been a bit of a car crash, from pandemics, to racism, to police brutality, to bushfires and almost everything in between. In amongst all of these horrors, what do you think the positives have been?
One positive that I can think of right now is - Connection. Not only with ourselves but with the people in our lives who are most important to us. We have had so much time to really dive into ourselves, our families, friends and people who we are closest with. I think I have really gotten to know myself through all the challenges that this year has thrown at us. I have grown and learnt a lot - and that I am thankful for.
Debut album is out today, what else is coming up for Lastlings?
Our hometown shows! We are so excited - it’s been way too long. Hopefully some more shows in 2021 too.
First Contact is out now via Liberation Records/Rose Avenue Records. You can download and stream here.
To keep up with all things Lastlings, you can follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
