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I have been enjoying the video for Break, the latest release by Australian outfit Passat Act and the band have kindly answered a few questions for this blog. Read on:
Please give us a brief background about the band?
Passat Act is Declan Moran, Emma Jessop, Tom Walsh and Dylan Miller. We formed in 2021 in Melbourne having met after seeing each other play in different bands. We are not signed to any label/distributor and have organised all our releases independently.
How did you get your name? Were there any names you rejected?
Our name is taken from one half of the name of a song from a band we like. It's also a little homage to some of our krautrock tendencies. There were of course many rejected names but this one is the only one that really ever stuck.
How would you describe your music?
We like to use 'disco-punks' as an easy descriptor. However, there are plenty of other elements and influences in the songs. The crucial aspect to our music is equal focus on each instrument.
Tell us about your creative process, who writes the songs and where do you record?
Our process is relatively uncomplicated. For the most part our guitarist Declan writes riffs, sections and in some cases fully formed songs for guitars, bass and drums. We collectively play and arrange the songs to get a live feel. Vocals tend to be the last element added. Part of this creative process is performing the songs live to crowds to get a feel of what works. We try to add new material each show. The songs from our self titled EP were recorded live with Nao Anzai at Rolling Stock studio. This was a significant step up from our previous bedroom recordings and something we're really proud of.
What are your musical influences?
We have many diverging and overlapping influences. Some bands that we've taken as inspiration are Gang of Four, LCD sound system and Liquid Liquid. Vocally there's plenty of Robert Forster and Andy Savage.
Please tell us about your latest work?
Our latest work and debut EP include some of the very early songs we worked on and is the culmination of us finding a 'style' we were all happy with. It was recorded in one day, but took a little longer to get ready for release. We also made a video for BREAK which was directed by Anychance productions and filmed in a warehouse in Collingwood on one of the hottest days in our memories.
Do you play live shows, if so, what are they like?
We do indeed! We just about say yes to every show we can as we think our music is best consumed live. We also know the time when getting together to play a show comes easily will pass. At their best our shows are intense, unrelenting and eclectic.
What can we expect from you next?
We have another 2 EPs in the works which hope to release this year. We're working our way to an album in the next year or so. We'll be playing plenty more shows and hopefully getting to a few more parts of Australia.
Which song would you like to nominate for the Spotify 'Sidetrack Jukebox' and why?
Rain Dogs - Venus in Furs
Finally, where is the best place for people to connect with you?
You can find us at these locations:
facebook.com/p/Passat-Act-100082695464341/
open.spotify.com/artist/6v7LbLOKA9XEkZG6TCCBm3