A chat with Lousie of Laneway on their Euro tour

Where you are today and how is the Euro tour going? 

Today we are in Hamburg. It's sunny which we are told is quite a treat. Last night we played in a converted shipping container in the middle of a park & today is the left field song writing festival 'Woody Bash'. Europe is treating us so well.

How long have you been playing together in Australia and what are the main differences between touring on our respective continents?

We've been gigging since 2009. Touring everywhere is full of surprises. But, of course, the road between shows is a lot less here than back home. There's so many more people & venues in Europe and a lot less driving between towns. That's a real treat and audiences are different here too. There's a different culture of gig attendance & also a 'listening culture'. Since we've been here we've played shows to audiences in 700 seater halls and in lounge rooms holding 20 people. Each show has even so well received. It's really encouraging to be so far from home and connecting with people like that.

When and where did you record your second album and what do you think are the major differences to your first record?

We took our time with our second album, piecing it together with sessions in our own home in the rainforest and at a couple of really beautiful studios with some great players. We made our first album in 4 days. So the time makes a difference. There's more space to think about songs & arrangements & sounds.  And also more time to scrutinize the process! Which I think is both important & natural but at times a little gruelling.

Any interest in the Ashes? The Duckworth Lewis Method has now made two records around the sport of Cricket. What sport would your songs be most closely connected to and why?

Paul is a big fan of test cricket. But he generally doesn't like corporatized nature of modern sport.  Apparently there are 2 Ashes series in six months this year. That's a bit of an overkill I think! Some of our tunes were penned throughout epic backgammon games - but lawn bowls is slow and green - a nice match for Laneway.

You recently won the ‘Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship Award’ for song writing. Tell us about the award and has winning it, now opened any new doors?

The fellowship is a great initiative created by Robert Forest & The Go-Betweens with Grant's family. It's such a great program to be developed out of such a sad & sudden loss. We feel really fortunate to have received it this year. The opportunity to live in Berlin & take the gift to time write & explore new things is wonderful. Also the endorsement from artists whose work we admire is really encouraging.

Who is controlling the CD played in the van on this tour and what are the favourite plays?

We take a 'driver chooses' policy on the stereo - unless our son has a request from the back seat. The Sex Pistols is getting a bit of a work out. And The Ramones too - broken up nicely with some Bob Dylan, of course.

What other Australian or NZ bands should we be listening to at the moment?

Get 'Sixteen Lover's Lane' by The Go-Betweens - it's a classic. We are also big fans of roots darlings 'The Yearlings'. And the brother team 'Dog Trumpet'. Our drummer in Australia is about to release a new album with his project 'Vinnie Laduce' which I think might cause some shock waves.

The Australasian music scene is now starting to make more headway into the European and U.S. markets, is that your impression and how do you think that can be further improved? Do many new bands from this side of the pond make much impression back home?

We have a national radio broadcaster who has a great reach across Australia which is hugely supportive of local emerging talent but also a gateway for international acts. Definitely the US & UK present such an influence into popular culture and that's no different for music in Australia. At the moment there are some Australian acts really finding a solid footing in international markets - every city we've been to on this tour is having a festival with Tame Impala on the poster. And that builds on a few of our pioneering acts who made the leap in the 70s like The Saints & The Birthday Party.

What is your favourite radio station at home and why

3RRR is a community radio station based in Melbourne that has an awesome set of presenters & produces supports innovative & creative independent music & has a great influence on the music scene across the country.

What was the first album you brought and what music do you still listen to today from your music collection that inspires you?

Paul bought 'Talking to the Taxman about Poetry' by Billy Bragg. For Louise it was REM’s 'Monster'. We both have heady memories of mix tapes & recording songs off the radio with our siblings. We still love a lot of the albums that we first got into. They're really important to us. We just had a long haul drive through the night from Liverpool to get to Germany. Nothing more exciting & inspiring for the drive than The Band, Paul Simon and the back catalogue of Paul Kelly.

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