A Quick Chat with Localles
Congratulations on your upcoming single Mercury Prize – can you talk us through the process of making this track?
Thank you! We are all living and working on the Surf Coast of Victoria. As newly self-acclaimed Dad-rockers, it can be challenging to find time for music, but all the more thrilling when we do. Maybe you can hear some of that thrill in this single. Music has always been a release for each of us, whether it’s through Localles, or separate projects we’ve individually taken part in: The Vasco Era, The Exploders and Rat & Co.
We usually jam in Paul’s shed, in Warncoort, surrounded by cows. That’s where we wrote this song.
Ultimately, Mercury Prize is a pub rock ballad, beginning with a droning guitar solo and reflective of an era where words hold weight: “We can talk the talk everyday; be the right kind of righteous, or be the face of change.” Take a listen yourself when it is released this Friday 23 May. We hope you enjoy it.
You’re playing a free headliner at the Tote front bar this Saturday 24 May. What can we expect from the show?
John Waller: “We tested Mercury Prize on a small group of friends. They said it made them feel feelings. We took that as a win. Come feel your own feelings live with us at The Tote. It’s free, unlike therapy.”
Ted O’Neil adds, “This song has everything: guitars, drums, lyrics, probably a chord or two. We’ll play it with passion and minimal rehearsal. 24 May. Tote front bar. Free. Let’s make bad decisions together.”
At the end of the day, we all agree – it’s shaping up to be a proper pub rock afternoon for fans and pub rockers alike. Bring your kids, we don’t mind, we probably will…
You’ve worked with Greg Rietwyk (Press Club, Neighbourhood Youth, The Pretty Littles) again on this single. What did he bring to the process this time around, and how did his input shape the final sound?
This song is the first stone on the bridge of our upcoming EP; but more on that later. We’ve produced these tracks with Greg Rietwyk, who we’ve worked with for previous releases.
Greg has recorded us before and seen us play live a bunch. He really understood the energy and sound we wanted to capture in the studio. He knew how to push us and also had the mad engineering/production skills and knowing ear to achieve this for us.
Andrei Eremin used his internationally renowned ears and mastering skills to add the cherry on top.
We recorded Mercury Prize live, but then forced Johnny to overdub about 20 guitar tracks in the chorus where he does these sick bends that sounded like a heap of cats. Hopefully after the song is released, somebody will jump on TikTok and edit their cats making noises in these bendy parts and we go viral. We don’t have a TikTok to do this ourselves, but maybe we should.
You’re self-acclaimed ‘Dad-Rockers.’ List a Dad-esque style that each band member is known for.
John Waller: old runners paired with every outfit, ever
Ted O’Neil: lawn mowers
Paul Doery: owning a plethora of floral shirts for daily wear
Michael Fitzgerald: a bicycle that’s at least 50cms too small in height (with a helmet, of course)
Finally, what’s in store after this single? Do Localles have any future releases in mind for 2025?
We sure do. We’re going to dish out a couple of singles throughout the next few months, before unveiling our EP later in the year.
The EP, which is called A Virus in the Ti Tree, is about big changes, on personal, societal and political levels. It's about loss, fear and hope. But above all it is about being kind to yourself, kind to others, and living an authentic life.
For now, we’re thrilled for Mercury Prize to be getting a spin. If you can’t make our Tote Show, we’ll be back up the highway for more shows throughout the year. We’ll see you around.