Great support for the duo’s brand new EP ahead of their hugely anticipated debut album
Hello lads, well you have had quite a journey to London from your home city of Melbourne where you first met at high school through a love of music. What was that genre of music that drew you two together back then?
“We started out listening to a lot of Radiohead and Massive Attack actually. Which is how we got in to drum machines and samplers. The music was so different to what we were experiencing in Australia, which was very insular at the time. The sentiment and imagery of Radiohead’s lyrics were something we identified with. Listening back now, that connection is no longer there as we have moved very far from that point in terms of what we like and what we aspire towards, but it’s probably the most obvious reason for us getting into music.”
Who were the artists you were listening to growing up that you can now cite as influences?
“In addition to the above, Roxy Music, Bowie, Queen, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis, John Cage, Vince Clarke, Daft Punk, Justice and Phoenix, all played their part…”
From the land down under you embarked for Italy where the sounds of Visitor were formed. What’s the story there?
“Lucas is half Italian, and so we decided early on that we would record some music in Italy before moving to London, in order to have something to show for ourselves. It was a pretty strange plan when looking back on it!”
What were the objectives of Visitor when you began?
“We aim to make stadium electronic music. The live show is something that is always at the forefront of our minds and is a consideration in everything that we do.”
How did the signing to Alan Braxe’s Vulture Music label happen?
“Braxe heard demos of Los Feeling & Love on our Soundcloud and offered us a deal! We’re huge fans of Alan’s and everything Vulture does in general, so it’s amazing to be part of something that is also such a big influence on the work we do.”
You then moved again, to the ‘sunny’ city of London. What’s the latest on the album which you have been working with honorary third member Diamond Cut with. What can we expect musically from it?
“We have never actually met Diamond Cut – he is based in Sydney or New York these days and so it’s an online collaboration we have with him. Our album is finished. We have tried to create a balanced album, with big stadium kind of things to more electronic or dance inspired songs.”
Who brings what to the studio production wise, who excels where?
“Kyle sings, Lucas plays guitar and bass. We both do everything else. Most of the album stuff has ended up being worked on in several different studios. Then we send the project over to Diamond Cut for him to make it sound great.”
Away from dance music, who are the artists you are listening to?
“Frank Ocean, The Killers, Roxy Music, Kanye…Arcade Fire… Twin Shadow.”
You spend so much time in the studio together, what are each other’s most annoying habits?
“We have a few studio meltdowns. It gets very emotional!”
Was there a record that changed your life?
“The Thin White Duke remix of the Killers’ song Mr. Brightside. That was the turning point for us and formed the blueprint. It encapsulated what we wanted to achieve in terms of the electronic sound vs. pop song structure, in a cool way.”
Who would be a dream vocalist to get into the studio?
“Brandon Flowers would be pretty cool… Or Bryan Ferry.”
Are there any plans for live shows?
“We are currently developing the live show. It will start off small, but we have very big plans for it. We’re getting a lot of offers for shows in the US, so we’re keen to get that together. We really want to get out there to promote the album as much as we can, and get the live show where we want it to be. We’re keen to get Diamond Cut involved in the live show too.”
What do you miss the most about Melbourne, other than family and the weather?
“It would probably be the same for anyone who has left their country for a dream. The little things all add up to a bigger whole. It’s also a lot less stressful than living in a big city.”
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“Stay true to yourself, forget everything else.”
And finally, how much influence has the label and management had in your sound? Has it been hard to keep the door firmly shut so you can do your own thing?
“That’s an interesting question. We are fairly autonomous now, and are relatively free from big compromises that would affect the music.”
Coming Home//RNB is released on September 10th
