A tangy, tantalizing metallic flavor cut itself from its indie predecessors' cloth. The Great Emu War Casualties have provided what their fans demand and have embodied everything they can be with their new single, "Modern Indie Spacecats."
The song "Modern Indie Spacecats" is an indie song that is about a person who is struggling with their mental health. The song is sung from the perspective of someone observing the person working.
"Modern Indie Spacecats" is a mix of emotions, and it is clear that the person singing is fed up with the person they are observing. The song has a lot of emotion and is relatable to anyone who has dealt with mental health issues. In a time where mental health awareness is at its peak, The Great Emu War Casualties bring solace and comfort in a time of need.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, The Great Emu War Casualties have carried listeners through journeys of soul searching, longing, and loss, releasing hit after hit for the past four years, earning their 10,000 hours, and inspiring the masses.
Welcome to Buzz Music, The Great Emu War Casualties. Can you start by telling our readers what the meaning is behind the song "Modern Indie Spacecats?"
Joe: It's not written with anyone meaning in mind. It's more of a broad stroke with one eye on the immediate past and one on the immediate future. I have an image of my own that plays in my mind when I sing the chorus, but I'd hope that you can find your own meaning in the song.
Could you expand on your songwriting process for Modern Indie Spacecats? Do you face any problematic moments when writing such vulnerable and emotional lyrics?
Saskia: I wrote the music bed for Spacecats on Garageband whilst going crazy in hotel quarantine (remember those days?) Then it sat there for months doing nothing. Then once I had forgotten about its existence, all of a sudden, Joe came back with this awesome vocal on it. So we sent it to Bibek to put some proper drums on, and it came back with these stupid space disco sounds, which were amazing, so we left them there. Then I asked Joe to do a guitar solo at the end of it, and he hates guitar solos, so he purposefully recorded something super OTT and ridiculous, and it was perfect, so we left it there. You should ask Joe about the lyrics.
Joe: My life is increasingly becoming a rapid succession of problematic and emotional moments. The writing really gets done in these long stretches of personal crisis. I'm not putting a lot down on the page, but I'm jamming with ideas and thinking a lot. I'm busy a lot. The pace of life feels nonstop and relentless. Then one day, something clicks, and I end up picking up the guitar at 9 am and putting it down at 3 am, and there has been this huge outpouring of stuff. I mean, like, that can take a long time to happen. Months go by with nothing, then suddenly 12 proper ideas form. And then, really, the writing is in editing this downpour of bits into a few key hooks and themes and wrestling it into some songs. It works, and it doesn't work. Modern Indie Spacecats just happened one day over a period of 2 years.
What was the most rewarding part about creating Modern Indie Spacecats? What did you appreciate most about making the single?
Saskia: Being able to properly re-record the drums in a proper studio on Fender’s money. We can get away with quite a bit with home recording because Cal is an amazing mixing dude, but there’s just something about real drums that can’t really be replicated. We didn’t actually go into the studio with the intention of doing it, but Bibek knocked it over in about five minutes because he’s a machine. So that was a nice surprise.
Joe: I only fall in love with the material when I'm looking back on it. It was really enjoyable returning to production work with Cal Barter, who did some earlier records of ours, and we were privileged to have been able to record the drums for this on Fender’s money. I love working on music with Bibek and Saskia – collaborating with the band is something I do my best to appreciate even when the glass is half empty. Speaking of glasses and volume, did you know that Cadbury glass and a half-style purple color is copyrighted? Probably just for chocolate, isn't it? I used to live by a Cadbury factory back home in the UK. When I was in school, they shut the place down and unemployed half the parents. Might release a purple-colored record next.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry?
Saskia: The word ‘myopic’ springs to mind. Pop is officially eating itself. It’s sad because there are loads of interesting artists out there still making great music. But labels don’t want to (or can’t) take a punt on artists that don’t already sell, even the indie ones. And I honestly don’t think many people even really listen to music anymore unless it’s stuff they already know. I think even established artists are struggling atm. I keep asking everyone if they’ve heard the new Arcade Fire album, and it’s like, ‘oh… are they still a thing…?’ But maybe that’s just me. There actually seems to be a pretty cool indie rock scene in the states atm, though!
What's next for you?
Saskia: Another single and an EP! That’s it, really. Until the one after that. And then the one after that. If you look at our discography, you’ll get a sense of what’s next.
Joe: I think I'm going to go home and play video games and go to bed and try again tomorrow.
