Yes

...

while you're making dinner test, or the in the car test on a road trip, it's like you can test it to yourself in so many environments, or to your friends and your family.

But testing it in front of people you don't know, like that first pop-up in Melbourne we did where we just played the album from start to finish, that was, um, that was the freshest set of ears we'd had in quite some time [laughs] because-

Mm

... 24/7.

So it could have been that, could have been, you know, a guy just, you know, in, i- in the park that just, you know, loves doing their own thing there.

But yeah, essentially we've, we've been noticing those guys.

So it was nice to kind of get it put in perspective, you know.

And when you do like the gym test or the at home while you're making dinner test or the in the car test on a road trip, it's like you can test it to yourself in so many environments or to your friends and your family, but testing it? in front of people you don't know, like that first pop-up in Melbourne we did where we just played the album from start to finish, that was the freshest set of ears we'd had in quite some time because, you know, it's really hard to get that fresh perspective and playing it there, I remember looking at Adzi and he looked back and we were like, yeah, this is

to be? I need to know because to put, like, I'm going to say this word on the radio for the first time, but to put, like, a scrotum in a brief on a cover is a choice.

Oh, yeah.

Well, it was just one of those beautiful, leathery, sun-drenched old fellas down at the beach that you can't help but just look at and go, you know what? They've got the answer to life in their mind.

Yeah, they live in their best life.

Literally.

And they're in paradise 24-7.

Who's the-

Oh, look, I've just been, uh, sick as a dog, and I'm, uh, trying to get better.

But, you know, I thought I'd wrap myself in a thousand blankets today.

Really?

And, um, I think in the first week there was a, a crazy amount of sales.

So, um-

Who's the-

Oh, look, I've just been, uh, sick as a dog, and I'm, uh, trying to get better, but, you know, I thought I'd wrap myself in a thousand blankets today.

... and stop using your brain

...

I get the feeling it's not bad for sharpening the tools.

Like, if, if you want a, the email to sound maybe more professional-

It must feel really cool that all these people said yes to being a part of big project for you guys?

Yeah, big time.

I think that was one of the really special treats that I guess comes with doing an album is when you do prepare for a lot of rejections and obviously there were some rejections but for the overwhelming yeses from everyone that is on the album it It feels pretty surreal, yeah.

Was he always number one to do that opening piece?

100%, yeah.

I met Jack Thompson in Adam's kitchen when we were about 15 years old.

What? Why was Jack Thompson there? We were just hanging out and I walk into the kitchen and I'm like...

Oh my God, is that Jack Thompson? And, you know, I'm still, you know, bewildered by his presence as a 36 year old, but let's just say when I was 16, I was like, wow, like his presence lingered with me for months to follow.

Introduce it for us, Rubes.

[gentle music] This song is called Forever featuring Paturam.

It's one of the most beautiful songs off our debut record.

Turn it up if you're listening right now, and pump it loud.

Oh, my God.

Yes, let's go.

Here, here is songs six to nine.

No. Oh.

good

question.

I think...

We don't even know the answer to that, really.

We're having such a good time doing singles and dropping individual tracks and it was going good.

It was like a bit of a hot streak.

If it ain't broke.

Thanks, Mum.

We, we've done the Hordern before.

Yeah, we did it, like, in 2019, and it was massive, and the biggest show we'd ever done.

But I guess so.

It, it is the biggest show we've ever done.

We're just matching it.

So it feels like a new frontier for us.

That's right.

Biggest conceptually as well.

Yeah.

All the shows that we've done lately together, it feels like the next chapter in the best way possible.

It's kinda more free, more play, and it shows in the crowds too.

And from our end, we're having more fun than ever with it, to be honest, both from a creation standpoint in the studio, and then also performing.

So this is kind of the first kickoff of the next chapter.

In our heads, we've been there for a while, but for the people that are coming to the show, they'll get to, uh, dive into paradise with us.

Yeah

... and they're like, you know...

And we were like, yeah, like why not? But then we realized, you know, it's time to grow up.

Yeah, there was a few writing trips to Sweden where we like made maybe 60 songs.

And when you only get to release like two of them, you're like, oh, maybe we should probably actually just work on a huge body of work.

And then we get to release, you know, a few more than just one song on that year.

Yeah, for

But also we're talking about the ugly part of Australia, which we think is beautiful and, you know.

You know, the stuff you grow up to, like, that you just fall in love with, like, maybe just going to a caravan park with your family.

Oh, wow.

Well, Ruben, look, what have we got you in the middle of this afternoon? What are you currently up to?

Oh, just going for a cheeky drive.

My laptop screen stops working because I was making some beats in the rain and it was a silly, silly move.

It was picturesque and it felt beautiful, but I've gone and shot myself in the foot there.

How do you bring that every time? Do you guys have like a little pump up routine before you get on stage? What are you guys up to?

It's all about the ritual.

We have a very heated game of chess, and then I just tickle at him for a few minutes.

And then once he gets giddy enough, he starts letting out the steam, and then we're ready.