Australian indie-funk quartet Approachable Members Of Your Local Community prepare to release their insatiably addictive debut EP Love Thy Neighbour on February 14, 2020 via AntiFragile.
Not one to be pigeonholed, Approachable Members Of Your Local Community combine elements of indie, electro, funk and disco throughout the EP to create a sound that is unapologetically fun-filled. Catchy hooks soar above bright, pulsating chords and 80s funk-infused synths, resulting in spirited indie-pop soundscapes akin to the likes of Vampire Weekend and Metronomy. Upcoming single Small Change is no exception, as its hook-laden melodies take centre stage, blistering with energy throughout. The single’s meaning is also incredibly poignant and more important that ever in the light of the ongoing Australian bushfire tragedies. “This summer has been challenging for so many we know and love, and especially for many whose experiences have been unimaginably traumatic and devastating,” Micky Fisher (bass) explains. “In the face of a national crisis, the country has galvanised to take back tomorrow. With an outpouring of support for our firefighters and affected communities, it’s clear that small change can have a big impact.”
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Approachable Members Of Your Local Community about the new project, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
We are currently focused on creating synth-driven indie pop songs. This style of music is something really connected to our live performances, we seek to bring big energy to every show we play, with big groove and singalongs. Two things probably created this result. 1. Coldplay stadium shows (who doesn’t like crying from music with 70,000 others?). 2. Groove (we grew up on funky jams of Steely Dan, Sade and Stevie Wonder)
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
On and off, we have all been playing music together for some years now. In 2017, we decided to first take our ideas to the studio and recorded our first few songs. We were super chilled about it, thinking it would be hilarious and fun. And then we just kind of kept doing it. At some point it pivoted and we realized we had a platform to keep making more music, and to push our sound, so we started crafting ideas and working hard on our songwriting and production. We aim to create music that brings people together and hopefully puts a smile on your face. The more we create, the more we can connect with our listeners and hopefully force the spread of more smiles across the globe.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Our tastes have most certainly changed over time. Over the last couple of years we have had the incredible pleasure of playing many shows and festivals across Australia, which we have been exposed to a lot of new and diverse music. We have found that we are constantly influenced and inspired as we listen to more and more music, and meet new artists and creatives, but also listeners and fans. It is the places, people and sounds that we come across that make us want to create more and more. Influence may come from the funky sounds of Stevie Wonder one day, or the pop hooks of Carly Rae Jepsen another, but the main driving force is the idea of working together and with others. It is the process and the experiences that drive us and continues to inspire our work.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
A central aim of our project is to truly celebrate community. Yes, community is in our name but it really is in the spirit of this project. It doesn’t take a genius to point out that there is some serious social division and hardship across the world right now. The Community is facing a whole series of challenges that aren’t easy, and aren’t disappearing anytime soon. We really want to encourage people to band together in whatever way possible, and to connect to people, to place and to the environment.
What was the last song you listened to?
‘Sports Car’ by Valley. Please please please, do yourselves a massive favour and check Valley out, give them a good listen, you can not be disappointed!
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Wow, it pains us to say this but we are truly digital sell-outs. In this modern era we find that the MP3 is the way to go. We do really believe that MP3 and digital music files enable so many more listeners to access and celebrate music that wouldn’t otherwise be accessible through traditional listening mediums.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
This is a hard one, mostly because we find ourselves listening between both Spotify and Apple Music. We’re also huge Soundcloud fans, which we stalked for years until paying up on Spotify and Apple – there’s simply no better place for homemade beats. I think we’re DSP-agnostic – we call on all in the Community to back the provider with the interface, the music and peaceful vibes with which they most closely connect.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
This may sounds simple, but we find it a huge challenge to get physically to fans. Being online we can connect with fans from around the world. We think so much of it comes down to playing outrageous shows and connecting with people afterwards. Being based in Melbourne, getting anywhere outside of Australia involves hopping over an entire ocean (or two). We are hoping that in the future we will be able to venture out into the world and meet our listeners, wherever in the globe they may be.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
We truly love our online platforms. Best places to connect with us are through Instagram (@approachablemembers) and through Spotify or your streaming platform of choice!
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
We love to meet new people, so don’t hesitate for a second before reaching out to us online and shooting us a DM through your technological devices!
