INTERVIEW: The Buckleys on their new single and debut album: "Doing something that isn't out there right now, sounding fresh, is the goal for this album and our music in general."
Interview: Jett Tattersall
Sibling trio The Buckleys (Sarah, Molly and Lachlan) have been performing music together since they were pre-teens including busking at the Tamworth Country Music Festival since Molly was just 9, Lachlan 10 and Sarah 12.
After being discovered by record company mogul C M Murphy in 2019 the band had a phenomenal rise to success, achieving a number 1 single on the on the Australian country radio charts with their debut single ‘Daydream’ just six months later. This was followed by a prestigious Golden Guitar nomination and last year they released their debut album Daydream, recorded in Nashville, and co-written with numerous industry leaders and Grammy Award nominees/winners.
Last month they released a remix of their single ‘Money’, adding a new sheen, buzz and beat to the track, and have recently been added to the lineup for this year’s Bluesfest festival, the first staging of the beloved festival in two years after the 2020 event was cancelled in the wake of coronavirus. We recently caught up with The Buckleys to find out more.
Hello to you The Buckleys! How is everyone faring?
Molly: We are doing good. Great to be in Sydney. Love the city.
Sarah: It’s great to be back.
Amazing. You had an album out last year but I want to talk about your latest single which is a remix of ‘Money’. Can you talk me through the inspiration and creation of this song?
Sarah: Well, I was over in Nashville. I pretty much graduated high school not too long before that. So I had no money. It was a bit ironic but I was hanging out with some friends in Nashville, we were kind of jamming. Had this musical idea and someone shouted ‘money!’ and we just ran with it. It was almost sarcastic. But it's just a fun, having fun with friends at a party sing. It has this almost 60s vibe. We were inspired by The B-52s.
And what about your take on the remix of it, mixing it up. Was it just rolling it into 2021?
Sarah: Well it was funny because our former label head who founded Petrol Records, Chris Murphy, had been speaking to Mark ‘Spike’ Stent over in the US, who's an amazing producer he’s worked with Harry Styles and Dua Lipa. He loved the song and was playing it in his studio and Charlie Holmes who works with him, who's also an incredible mix engineer who had the number 1 alternative song on US radio recently, really loved it and he made this remix for it which we all just fell in love with. It's out now which is so exciting. It's just a 2021 fresh mix. It's cool how it all came about.
Beautiful. Now your debut LP Daydream, we've also had a recently released deluxe version of it. How was that initial release of the album last year, to release that in such a tempestuous year?
Molly: It was super exciting because it was our debut album. we had never recorded an album before and been in the studio to record … that journey. We were really excited when we went into the studio with Chad Carlson, our producer, in Nashville to just create that body of work and journey and storytelling through each song from the start till end. We listened to a lot of vinyl from 70s, 80s and all that, and we'd find that when you put on the vinyl you listen to it from start till end and you really get taken on this journey. So we approached it like that. you know? We recorded pretty much with a live band. It was just an incredible experience and we learned a lot from it. And releasing it last year was obviously rewriting the rule book about how to release an album. We went on a world virtual tour with Live Nation and released a documentary and did a lot of online stuff, which was so new and so different. But last year, everyone needed art and happiness, and some inspiration. rather than leaving it till later when the world kind of gets back to normalcy we just said with our team, let's put it out and bring as much entertainment and positivity to people around the world who are obviously in a lot of pain and are going through a lot.
Sarah: We also just wanted it to be out in the world so bad because we were sitting on it. Once everything went down and we were like ‘is it the right time to release something?’ But we just wanted to let everyone hear the art we created as well. It's hard to wait.
You mentioned you were listening to vinyl albums, today the way music is out there people can just go song song song song song. Do you feel albums are now being created much more with the integrity of the artist because they're not pushed so much to make hit after hit because the hits will just follow?
Sarah: I guess for every artist but for us that was really important. We wanted to create an album that was a journey. Obviously there's a lot of albums out there especially right now where it's just single single single. but for us, a big part of our band is having that depth and not every song, if you listen to the album, is a single. Some are really left of centre. but that's what we are as a band. We couldn't really do it any differently and have the integrity of who we are, you know, if it was different.
Beautiful. Now you guys have often been recognised as the Australian act that has perfected Americana pop. Now the Australian country music scene has some massive heavy weights, it's a big scene out here as well with some remarkable performers. What do you think it is about your sound that stands you apart from the Australian country music scene?
Molly: We were exposed to a lot of music growing up. Dad was a rock n roll drummer and mum had Rickie Lee Jones always playing on the radio and in the car. We had such a broad spectrum of music played to us from a really young age. So when we went to Tamworth Country Music Festival, dad made sure to get us to that when we were 9 years old to just show us that real live music was playing instruments. We had been exposed to a lot of other genres. so that kind of comes subconsciously into everything that we do just naturally.
Sarah: So a big part of the Daydream album was bringing all those different influences in. So we had rock’n’roll and pop and some funky stuff on there and then the country influence. Just melding it altogether. Our favourite artists that did break the mould and do things that are different and fresh. So that's a really important part of our sound and writing and recording. Doing something that isn't out there right now so it is sounding fresh and hopefully something that people haven't heard before. That's kind of the goal and what we really wanted to do with this album and our music in general.
Gorgeous. Now Byron Bay siblings. born and raised together, however i imagine there's still very much a distinct taste and style and desire when it comes to music. What are the peaks and the pitfalls of working with the people you used to punch, well you probably still do, on a regular basis?!
Molly: As a plus side you can be brutally honest and not be afraid of hurting each other's feelings. If we were just friends, you would have boundaries of what you can and can't say. We can be in the studio and someone gives an idea and we're like ‘nah, that's horrible. next one’. Whereas you couldn’t do that if you were just friends.
Sarah: Yeah and it's the sense of your siblings, your family. You can't just break up and leave. It’s bringing that bond into music. We’re doing it, we're in it, we're a trio, no-one’s going to go off and do their own thing. We are The Buckleys, we're a family. So it's strong.
Molly: It's also that you know you’ve got each other's best interests at heart. You can trust each other 100%. No one is trying to go behind each other's backs or betray each other. There's that safety net.
I want to talk to you about your single ‘Breathe’. I love this song. It's a real favourite. It’s a bohemians country vibe. It was also inspired by the bush fires of last summer.
Sarah: I was in Nashville a few days before we started recording the album, with Chad Carlson our producer just hanging out in his home studio and we started talking about everything that was happening which was the bushfires. I was watching that happen on TV to our home country which was really devastating. We were just talking about it and started writing and this song just happened. It was 3 days before we went into the studio to record, but we had to put it on.
Molly: Lachlan and I were literally on the plane writing out our parts but as soon as we listened to it, it was definitely a must have on the album. My favourite part of this song is how the meaning has evolved so everyone that hears it around the world has said it means a different thing to them which is the most beautiful thing to hear as a song writer. ‘Breathe’ is a really, really special one for sure.
Now Sarah, you also co-wrote ‘Edge of the Earth’ with Caitlyn Shadbolt. How does that creative process differ for you when you're writing for other people or with other people?
Sarah: Song writing is my favourite thing in the world. I love writing by myself. I love co-writing with these guys. I love writing with other people and for other artists as well. The Buckleys, we have our vision that we're on for the next project or whatever, but then having the kind of creative freedom to write with someone like Caitlyn Shadbolt who's on a completely different path creatively is really exciting. It's just great to work with other people as well and push my boundaries and do things that I wouldn't necessarily do if I was writing for The Buckleys. I love writing with everyone.
Now, you guys talked about vinyl and your musical background. Growing up in the Buckley house, who were your musical sheros, who were the musical heroines?
Sarah: Right now our like women in pop and rock big influence right now is Blondie and Joan Jett.
Molly: Sarah, I like Blondie more than you!
Sarah: Me and Molly are very influenced and love the women of the 80s and the powerhouses - Blondie, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett.
Molly: Miley Cyrus. Her whole new era and look I'm loving. This rock phase of hers. Rickie Lee Jones is a favourite. Joni Mitchell. There are so many amazing female artists from every decade. I listened to a lot of Ella Fitzgerald growing up. Every decade there's amazing female writers and singers that we just love.
Sarah: It's really fun because it's like endless discovery in music and so it's really fun to go back to like the 80s. We were talking about Blondie and Joan Jett. We really only properly discovered them and started listening to them at the start of last year. It's really exciting the journey you go on finding new music and discovering new people and then mum and dad are like ‘oh my god, yeah, we used to love listening to them when we were younger.’
Molly: Especially people like Debbie Harry who was one of the first, and Joan Jett, women to come out and have that real bad ass rock n roll attitude in a particularly male dominated rock’n’roll industry in the late 70s and 80s. Seeing different kinds of women being represented across the decades up till now is really cool and exciting and to be inspired by as young female artists.
Beautiful and you’re right music keeps going. Now you guys have been doing big things in the US as well obviously the country music scene in the States, I don't know if it's bigger I think it's more celebrated or it's not so underground. Here, I feel like it's Australia’s dirty secret still. I just want to know your own opinions on the differences between the US and Australia when it comes to performing and writing and your reception from the crowd.
Molly: I think in terms of the country music industry and size, there's a lot more people in America. So the industry is inherently going to be a lot larger and a lot more ears are going to be listening to your music. it won't be so small.
Sarah: Something we started doing coming up to Sydney this year is discovering across all genres a community of artists and being more involved. Everyone, after last year of being so isolated and separated, is really excited and open to collaboration and working with other artists and supporting each other across different industries. So I’m writing with country artists and writers, pop artists and writers, rock artists and writers. Everyone just wants to support each other and create great music at the end of the day. There's a great Australian community of artists, producers and writers which is really exciting. When we travel to the US as well we love that community. It’s all different.
I mean you guys are still fresh out of the gate pretty much. But you've had a very successful career considering how young you are. What have been your highlights and your biggest hurdle to get to where you are today?
Molly: Our highlights would probably be the first trip we went to Nashville. Sarah and I were saving up for about six years before. We went to Nashville for the first time when Sarah was 16. I would've been 13. So we started saving when I was probably eight years old. So that first trip, we busked, we did whatever we could to get some money and then eventually the tin jar filled up. That first trip to Nashville was really monumental and we discovered what a publishing deal was and the world of co-writing and song writing and that you can actually make a living from it. so that was definitely a highlight.
Sarah: And then obviously releasing Daydream our debut album is so, so, so massive and we’re just so excited for everyone to hear this body of work we've made. But then one of the biggest hurdles would obviously be last year because nobody really knew what was going to happen. It was hard, you know, we love travelling so much and playing live shows are such a big part of what we do. So like every artist, last year was really hard and especially in music your identity is connected to it. I’ve been going to Nashville and song writing and performing since I was 16. A lot of artists went through what am I, who am I without doing all this stuff that I usually do in music. So that was a hard thing last year but everyone is coming out of the gates now but as I said collaborating with more people and discovering the Australian music community and being a part of that is really exciting. A lot of music, like all arts I guess, there are a lot of ups and downs which makes everything so much sweeter.
Beautiful. And lastly but not least, what's coming up for you guys?
Sarah: We just announced we're playing Byron Bay Bluesfest which is so exciting. It’s our hometown and to be able to play on that massive stage where we've seen all of our favourite artists play…
Molly: You know, Parliament Funkadelic played there a couple of years ago, they are one of my all-time favourite bands. So it's such an honour to be able to be on the line up and see our names on the line up.
Sarah: We're doing a lot of touring which is really exciting. We're doing a back to school tour, going to high schools across Australia and connecting with people that aren't that much younger than us. We only just graduated not that long ago. So doing that and some song writing workshops at the high schools as well. It's been really really fun to connect with young people and hopefully give them a bit of inspiration and just creativity during their day.
‘Money (Sugar Beach Remix) is out now. You can buy and stream here.
Daydream the album is also available now. You can buy and stream here.
The Buckleys are performing at Byron Bay Bluesfest from April 1 - April 5. Tickets are on sale now.
To keep up with all things The Buckleys you can follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
