A Quick Chat With Garagee

Garagee, a Naarm/Melbourne-based artist, crafts a cinematic, dub-laced soundscape with his new single 'Blood' featuring Steve Kilbey of The Church. Active for 16 years, Garagee has an impressive discography with releases through Tempest Recordings. 'Blood', the lead single from his upcoming third album 'Garagee 3,' pairs ethereal guitar loops and lush pads with Kilbey's nostalgic vocals, creating an intimate, reflective experience. We caught up with Garagee to find out more about his music, this release and more.

Can you tell us what this track means to you and what you want people to take away from it?

I like to name an instrumental piece first, so I have a context to lean into with the performance. In naming this piece 'Blood', the headspace was always to represent a flow of reflective mournfulness that we all identify with at one time or another. I had Steve in mind when I wrote this, and the lyrics and vocal performance which he brought to the song instantly connected with it’s themes in expanding ways.

I love reflective, melancholy music and how you can really marinate in it and roll thoughts around. I hope this song gives folks something to ponder.

It’s been an honour getting to work with Steve on this.

Who are some of the band's influences, and why?

I’m a big fan of Grails. They’re an instrumental band who incorporate world instrumentation and create some of both the heaviest and most tranquil ambient post rock I’ve heard.

I’d have to say Bonobo is another influence. Not necessarily sonically, but I greatly admire an act who can subvert being pigeonholed into one genre. Their music can be jazzy trip hop one second, driving electronica the next, and hard dance the next.

What's the creative process for the band, from writing through to recording?

I try to record scratch parts for all the instruments pretty quickly at home when writing. If I’ve needed acoustic drums, I’ve passed the tracks on to Tim (Burnham) and he’s recorded drums in his space. I’ll then get the parts back from Tim, listen to where everything’s sitting, and add or re-record any instruments that need it. If it’s a track with vocals, I’ll then forward the tracks to the vocalist, or get them in to record.

The final vocals guide any additional arrangements and I might take out or add parts according to what’s needed.

What do you think makes a great song?

I think a great song should make you feel something, either familiar or imagined, and have a strong enough groove to pick you up and carry you there.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

Musically, it would be Nils Frahm. I feel, stylistically, we would complement each other, and I think I would be pushed into different and exciting places.

Creatively, a collaboration with someone like Brian Eno, I imagine, would completely blow the doors off any pre-conceived approaches, and I feel would produce some exciting results.

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?

I’ve always dappled in photography, though I don’t have the chops or patience for a cool analogue setup. I enjoy manipulating pics with mixed mediums, and was the graphics coordinator at Tempest Recordings for almost 10 years.

Who are some local bands we should check out?

Willebrant

Jane McArthur

Party Pest

Pink Tights

Winter or summer and why?

I love both, but as an introvert, Winter suits me fine. I enjoy hiking, and cold weather usually keeps the crowds away… ;)

What else do you have planned for 2024?

I have another new single planned, followed by an album, and potentially an EP of album remixes.

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