A Quick Chat With Big Orange

A Quick Chat With Big Orange

Perth's alt-rock outfit, Big Orange, are on a roll this year and have just dropped another single on Friday, 'Mum Says I'm Okay'. Delivering their third release of the year behind beloved alt-rock singles ‘Love's Not Enough’ and ‘By The Dozen’, it is clear that Big Orange are refusing to take their foot off the accelerator as they've dished up another exhilarating rock rover. We had a quick chat with frontman Daniel Davis to find out more about the track, his influences and the band's creative process.

Can you tell us a bit about what this new track is about?
Having a passion and desires and the self loathing that comes along with it.

What are some of your influences when it comes to music and why?
David Bowie, for his ability to keep reimagining his art and style. Being a great songwriter who was able to innovate and push artistic boundaries that also appealed and connected to a wide variety of people. Alex Turner, he is always reinventing himself and has a rock n roll lean. He has a classic approach to songwriting.I like the styles he explores both musically and visually and he’s got great fashion sense.

What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
I work in my music room every day and play until something comes out of nowhere and then I go to work on that. I usually try to make sure the framework and structure of the song is in place i.e. arrangement, melody, lyrics before I start work on the production side. Though sometimes I'm a little eager to see what it'll sound like with bells and whistles. (I put bells and whistles on all my songs). Depending on the song I’ll take it into a studio with an engineer that knows what they are doing more than I do and get the best out of the song. Sometimes I’ll take other members of the band in, other times I will do the recording myself, by this stage the track is pretty much done.

What do you think makes a great song?
A great song is hard to define. They come all different ways. Great lyrics and a unique and good melody is most important. You have to make the listener feel something. Even if it polarizes people.

What do you love most about being a musician?
Being able to create songs and worlds to exist in. Having the ability to play a range of instruments really helps with the arrangements. And just the pure joy and beauty of playing.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
There are many and the reasons are varied. Alex Turner, Danger Mouse, Lana Del Rey, Butch Vig, Brian Wilson, Rick Rubin, could go on.

When not working on music, what other creative outlet do you have?
Film and TV - Tarantino films, Scorsese Films, Coen brothers films, and comedies.

Who are some local bands we should check out?
If we’re talking Perth based then New Talk, The Wilds, The Floors, Odlaw

Winter or summer and why?
Winter. Because writing songs and playing music in the heat sucks, also the fashion.

What else do you have planned for the year?
Working on an album. All the songs are there so just finding the time and money to finalize them in the studio. Then I guess all the things that come along with releasing music, like interviews.

australianmusicscene7 June 2022