Andrew Yardley, bass player for Melbournes reigning sound merchants "Laura" speaks to undercover about their upcoming tour with "Boris" in MARCH 2012, the reaction to their album "twelve hundred times", the life of a song and how to stay happy and independent after nearly 12 years together as a band.
Twelve years together is no mean feat for any band, but with a sizeable catalogue under
their belts "Laura" are in a very good place at the moment.
SB- You guys have been together for quite a while, which is fantastic for an independent to have had that
kind of longevity. I gather you have had a few line-up changes over the years, but the fact that you are still together and making music with a common focus must be a very nice place for a band to be.
AY- I think right now we all feel really energised and very lucky that we are all on the same page.
Peoples personal lives change, individuals change and group dynamics change. Right now we're just feeling that we've got this renewed energy and that everyone is so focused and aligned. I feel like it's a rare period for a band and I hope it lasts a lot longer. I'm not sure if it's just a rare moment like a solar eclipse or something and before we know it we're all fighting about who's more famous. We're lucky as a group of people that we share the same ideals for the future and what we want is to play music together. People will listen, they will come and go and we're lucky that at the core we (as a band) have the same puruits in common.
The event that precipitated these feelings of goodwill and focus between all band members was
the opportunity to take a break from playing live and concentrate on working on new material.
SB: Obviously it was a lengthy process to record the album "twelve hundred times", so I guess all the layering and headspace that went into the album was definitely intentional. What was the impetus to put it together in such a painstaking way?
AY- I guess it evolved that way and we were writing and wanting to withdraw from playing live a bit so
we could really work on the new material. But, along the way it probably took longer than we wanted because our drummer left and the writing process changed as we played with the new drummer. I think it changed in a really positive way, I think it cemented a change in sound. In the writing process we did start working on some stuff for a documentary which fell through in the end , but that (also) changed our writing style and how we approached each song. Previously we thought "If we write a song it's going to be on the next album." But now we have realised songs don't need to be on an album, they could be used in film or they could have a different life. So, with the album we didn't put every song we recorded on it because they didn't all fit with the vibe that emerged. They're not thrown away, they might emerge on a film score or some kind of other project. We have kind of realised that our songs don't have to have the normal standard life, which is to record it for an album, play live then play the next one.
SB: That's a great outlook for a band to have.
AY: Yes it's been really freeing and I guess it's meant we haven't clung to songs as fiercely as we have
done in the past because of the idea that this is the songs only chance to make it. It's really freed us up.
SB: I guess there is always the problem of holding onto something for the sake of a couple of good
bits of riffage and then being left with a song that has been so overworked it doesn't make the cut anyway.
AY: Yeah, absolutely. We've got to refine a lot because we're pretty perfectionist in our approach.
We do push the songs really hard but I think that one of our skills is in the refinement of our material, but it can also be pushed too far and you've got to know where that line is. I guess it's a bit of instinct that evolves and I think we got that really perfect with this album. Also wanting to learn from regrets of the past has been in the back of our mind too.
SB: Having said that, what has been the reaction to the album "Twelve Hundred Times" since it's release in October 2011?
AY: It's been really, really positive. I always expected this album to be a slow burn album that you don't get into straight away and not really connect with until after a few listens. I was surprised to hear some really immediate feedback from everyone, I guess picking up on things we didn't really pay attention to. Maybe because we were so immersed in it and in our own world with it for so long. By the time we released it the comments were surprising. It could have been a bit brighter, its not a bright record but there has been a hope and optimism there that we hadn't really been feeling. I can see it when people point it out and it's interesting when people can point out interesting things you haven't recognised in your own work, it's really good. We just appreciate people getting it at all, people looking into the different
layers of it all. It's a really nice compliment to have people listening to it on face value.
SB: And in other news, tell us about your tour with Boris in March. How exciting!
AY: Yeah, very exciting.
SB: How did it all come about ?
AY: Just through the magic of booking agents I think. I'm not sure of all the behind the scenes type business. It's exciting to be on the road especially playing with them (Boris). I think they have a very broad appeal, which I like to think we have as well, so hopefully crowd wise it will go really well.
SB: So, was it something BORIS wanted to do with you guys?
AY: I'd love to say they handpicked us and have been dear fans for life, but I'd have to say they are probably quite busy and left it to their booking people. I think it will be a really good fit and we're excited. You know, it will be just great to see them and be along for the ride -
If you want to take a ride with Laura and BORIS (Japan) in March 2012 better git yourselves a ticket toot sweet! You don't wanna miss this awesome lineup.
Sydney - Thursday March 22 - w/Boris & sleepmakeswaves @ the Metro, tix here
Brisbane - Friday March 23 - w/Boris & nikko @ the HiFi, tix here
Melbourne - Saturday March 24 - w/Boris @ Corner Hotel, tix here
For more information on Laura click here http://www.wearemappingyourdreams.com/ for news, recordings, merch and downloads. While you are waiting to enter yer credit card deets for the tour check "this grey earth" taken from Laura's fourth album Twelve Hundred Times.
