Aine Interview | Blue Communications
On being gobsmacked by gig opportunities and how the morning is a magical time
From what initially started as a little experiment has turned into a real thing with Blue Communications making quite the buzz with their self-proclaimed sun-soaked, jangly music. Aine tells Tempo all about how she didn’t expect it would leave the practice room, the making of their debut album and what we can expect from their launch on Sat March 27 at the Cactus Room.
Hello Aine, you have only been a band since late ‘24 and in that short time have made a great impression with your live shows also supporting acts like Mess Esque, Itchy & The Nits, and R.M.F.C as well as being added to this year’s upcoming (most awesome) festival NAG NAG NAG in Sydney. What’s the vibe in the band room like having had these opportunities and buzz around what you are doing?
We’ve been a bit gobsmacked by the gigs we’ve been billed for to be honest. The band very much started as a little experiment. I didn’t really even expect it to leave the practise room but having been lucky enough to play with so many amazing bands, it’s only given us a sense of excitement and momentum to keep making music and seeing where it can go.
We have already had a lovely glimpse into the sounds you make so far with the double single Australian Summer / Simple Delight and now your full-length recently dropped digitally back on March 20th and the Vinyl is coming in time for the launch on the 27th. Can you tell us about the process of making it, where you recorded and with whom?
We recorded the album down at our friend’s farm in Wallington - Big Fridge studios. Jasper Jolley recorded us. We went down for 2 days and 2 nights and recorded pretty much everything live.
Initially, we planned to go and record 4 songs to then digitally release as an EP. We managed to get a couple more songs in the time frame and Nick and Bridget from Program records really wanted to put it out for us.
Jasper had lots of unique and strange instruments and toys in the studio too and we all really enjoyed mucking around with those bits and over-dubbing the tracks.
Recording live definitely suited us as a band. Obviously, bits and pieces were added in later but to record everything in a way that was just like playing a show felt natural and seemed to capture that slightly rough sound we all liked.
I am really intrigued with the idea of the Morning Music Movement that you associate with. I understand that you rehearse strictly in the early mornings with coffee and pastries to get you through. Can you tell us more about the reasoning behind doing this and your understanding of the movement itself?
The morning time just seemed to suit us all really well. None of us worked traditional 9-5 jobs and the opportunity for a morning practise space came about. I find I’m always kind of exhausted by the end of the day too, so to get things done early in the morning was just productive as well as a good way to kick the brain into gear for the day.
I suppose additionally to this, in a landscape that is often surrounded by booze so it’s nice to be able to change the focus a little I guess… although stepping into a dark, beer laden band room at 8am can certainly have a bit of a dirty feel to it… Ha
The morning is a magical time. Long live the Morning Music Movement!
You fall into jangly Australian sound territory but also incorporate elements of experimental noise and playful punk with a focus on telling everyday stories of people and place adding humour into the lyrical approach. Can you tell us your main influences and creative journey to starting Blue Communications?
Well, it all came together fairly quickly. I didn’t know Zev or Billie really at all before Billie asked me to be in the band. They said they had a vision of making some sun-soaked, jangly music. They asked if I wanted to sing and play stand up drums. Sort of a wild kind of question to ask someone you don’t know and someone who really had no music out in the world, but after the first jam we realised there was definitely a synergy.
It’s very much a collaborative effort when it comes to the creation of songs. Maybe someone comes in with an idea, a riff or a vibe to get things going but it’s certainly a predominately experimental process. Billie has this real ability to write catchy hooks and such on the spot and Zev is often suggesting these experimental sound ideas that I certainly wouldn’t think of but always am totally into. Between the 3 of us it keeps things varied for sure and definitely why the songs on the album are all in some ways, a different vibe from each other.
It feels a bit cliche, but for me anyway, The Velvet Underground has always been one of my favourite bands. The blend of sweet, soft songs with more rock n roll + punk tracks too. Not boxing themselves into one genre or another. Songs that sound like they’re close to falling apart but don’t quite fall… you know? I’ve always liked that.
Bands like The Clean, Les Rallizes Dénudés, Young Marble Giants… they’re bands that are often referenced between the 3 of us too.
Program Records in collaboration with Southern Exposure Records will be releasing the album on Vinyl (Black or Clear Blue Morning) and also digitally. Can you tell us about the connection you have with both labels and what it’s like to have them back what you are doing?
Bridget and Nick have always been so encouraging of us and local music in Melbourne in a broader sense. They have been totally hyping us up from the get-go and we are so lucky to have these guys in our lives and who were really encouraging of us to push the music. Originally, we were talking to Nick about doing a digital (maybe cassettes) release of an EP on Southern Exposure. This timing seemed to line up with the creation of Program’s label. Those guys backed our music far more than we did I think, haha.
It’s totally epic to have them backing it too. I mean, we certainly wouldn’t have been able to afford putting a physical record out if it wasn’t for Program.
You are launching your debut self-titled album at The Cactus Room with special guests Secret Island / Nathan Roche + his R’nR Band on Sat March 27. Can you tell us about the supports and connection to the venue?
I met Nathan around this time last year when he was in Melbourne last. I had heard some of his records and loved it and getting to see him play live… he is a true rockstar. At that same time, Billie started playing in his backing band down here too. I was already chatting to him about booking shows and the timing lined up. We feel blessed to have him keen to jump on the lineup. Secret Island I saw for the first time at the Curtin and was really just blown away honestly, as were Zev and Billie. So that’s how that all happened, I guess.
We wanted to launch somewhere that obviously sounded good but had a bit more of a loose feel too. Cactus room fit the bill perfectly and Dave who runs it is a legend so that was an easy decision.
Finally, who are your favourite local Melb/Naarm bands at the moment and who would you like to see interviewed for Tempo?
Recently, some bands that have blown us away in a live setting have been:
Harpo Wah
Secret Island
Who Cares?
Techno 666
Blue Communications - Debut Album Launch
Secret Island / Nathan Roche + his R’nR Band plus DJ’s Bridget Small + Nick Ure
Cactus Room (Thornbury, VIC)
Friday, 27 March 8pm
