SARAH KELLY from THEREDSUNBAND talks about her songwriting techniques and philosophies, and owns JAKEB SMITH in the process – who, you know, was probably asking for it.

theredsunband are a little three-piece from Sydney who, over the last five years, have been churning out gorgeous, fuzzy pop songs. This has culminated in their sophomore album, The Shiralee, which, in heartening pop fashion, doesn't change the formula as much refine it, heavily, so each song is a many faceted gem of indie rock precision.

The chaotic fuzz of Sarah Kelly's guitar growls through clever chord changes, while the intensely ethereal vocal harmonies cascade in layers of her breathy falsetto. The organ bass lines and minimal drums contain subtle changes that really have to be listened for, but create songs that may seem initially alien, yet can be admired endlessly for their hazy beauty.

“I we've always been that kind of band,” Kelly says, down the line from Sydney. “Not very immediate, but you can listen to it for a long time.”

It's funny then, that – structurally – the band's songs are extraordinarily immediate. Like An Arrow, for instance, launches straight into an extraordinarily catchy vocal melody and accompanying guitar riff. The keyboards and drums kick in seven seconds later, and the titular chorus is crooned 20 seconds after that.

“We've always been a bit like that, our songs are very short, we've got at least three songs on the album that are under three minutes. We don't really waste our time with introductions, and we very rarely have guitar solo breaks and things like that. It's pretty punk, maybe that's what it is. I think I really – quite a few years ago – liked the idea of that punk aesthetic, where the songs are really short and you get everything. You get the melody and the chorus and the middle eight and everything. It's got all the parts, it's just that they happen really fast, and it's kind of unpretentious.”

Kelly's lyrical content too, steers away from being overly grandiose, and instead towards stark and poignant images that can be easily related to. There is still depth and intricacy, but it is communicated simply, as with The Shiralee, a song that parallels the burden of a swagman's swag with the burden of love. The swag, while ultimately comforting to sleep in at night, is tiresome and awkward to carry during the day.

“It's this dual image. The book [by D'Arcy Niland], The Shiralee, is about a swagman who also has a daughter, who's following him around and basically being a pain in the butt for him. I guess that image really appealed to me because I used it to explain what it might be like in a relationship where you feel like you are a burden to somebody, and when you feel the burden of a bad relationship for example. I think that's interesting.”

The transposal of The Shiralee to a modern emotional context, is one of the ways Kelly keeps her writing fresh. But I wonder if it doesn't feel defeatist, writing love songs in a world that has been expressing those same feelings in culture for thousands of years.

“It's like being part of history or something isn't it?” She says, bemused. “Or being part of the world, and having something in common with everybody.”

“I guess,” I reply slowly. “I guess I've just always maintained this illusion that my own output – my existence – can somehow, one day, be unique.”

“I think that's a delusion, rather than an illusion ... No offence, there's six billion people on the planet, shit.”

I guess that means it is defeatist, or perhaps just realistic. My guess is both.

THEREDSUNBAND play The Globe, Jul 4. THE SHIRALEE is out now through Enchanted.

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*