Sun City impressed me recently with their feelgood new single “Set Alight.” So I was thrilled to catch up with one half of the band, Tobias John, to chat about the song, the EP of the same name, and their upcoming tour.
You’ve just released your new EP Set Alight. What can you tell me about it?
Well …we spent the better part of eight months earlier this yeah holed up in our little studio putting it all together. It was a lot of fun! This EP is all about summer; it’s good fun, upbeat electro pop. It also features a remix from our pal Shazam (Modular).
As a child of the 80s I was really into the synth-heavy sounds and positivity of the title track. Were you influenced by that decade at all?
Absolutely. The whole record is laced with 80s electronica influence. To state the obvious, we are huge fans of running analogue bass lines and exaggerated electronic tom drum samples. We’re also both 80s babies (but only just!).
Your EP also features a remix of your song “High.” What’s it like to create a song and then see what another act can do with it?
It was a really interesting process with Shazam. We’re a huge fan of his and his skill and attention to detail as producer is amazing. It’s all about interpretation and what Shazam was able to do with the track was awesome. He actually took the existing vocal samples and built a synth out of it! Did we mention the big hitting 80s tom drums?
Conversely you’ve also put your spin on tracks from Miami Horror and Bag Raiders. What’s that process like?
Yeah good fun! The remixes are totally bootleg and instead of using the existing vocals, we recorded in our own voices and chopped everything up. After our performance at Stereosonic Perth last year we got chatting with the guys from Bag Raiders and showed them our remix of “Shooting Stars.” They really dug it and we were chuffed!
Do you prefer creating original music or remixing the work of others?
Definitely creating our own at the moment.
Set Alight is your second EP. How do you think you’ve grown as artists between the making of your first recording and this?
Well in terms of production, the first EP was a huge learning curve for us. There’s a lot more attention to detail and consistency on the Set Alight EP. In terms of influence and inspiration, following the release of our first EP we’ve had quite a lot happen in a short period of time. Life has changed pretty dramatically for the both of us and there’s been so many influential moments over the past 12 months that inspired the whole Set Alight EP.
You’re kicking off your first national tour soon. Are you getting excited?
We are! However, a very fortunate (and slightly random) series of events has actually resulted in us doing our first international tour before our first national tour. We’re currently sitting at the airport in Dubai on our way home from playing a couple of epic festivals in Africa, which has been an absolutely mind blowing experience! Another 10 hour flight home and we can catch a few hours sleep before heading off to our first stop on the Set Alight tour at the Beresford Hotel in Sydney (Friday 14th Dec) followed by Alhambra Lounge in Brisbane the next night (with The Jungle Giants and Millions). We’re excited!
You’re playing festivals and headlining your own club dates. Do you have a preference?
Not at all, as long as there is a good bunch of people having a sing, dance and good time to our music!
Dance music isn’t as recognised in this country as a live experience in the same way seeing a rock band in a pub is. Why should people get out and see you play?
Our live show consists of about four synths, a guitar, electronic drums and a sampler … between the two of us … and we both sing. Hopefully that’s more interesting than watching a DJ and more upbeat and danceable than a watching a pub band!
After this tour wraps up, what’s next on the agenda?
Sleep. Then right back into producing some more tunes and hopefully getting to do this all over again!
Here are all the places you can see Sun City play their Set Alight shows:
14 December 2012 – The Beresford Hotel, Sydney
15 December 2012 – Alhambra, Brisbane
1 January 2013 – Cuban Club, Perth
6 January 2013 – Summadayze, Perth
11 January 2013 – Discovery @ Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
12 January 2013 – The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
25 January 2013 – Can’t Say @ Vault 8, Melbourne
Image used with permission from Positive Feedback
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