A Quick Chat with Left Lane

Since your last release, how has Left Lane evolved both musically and as a band? Can you share any memorable moments or achievements from your recent tours around NSW?

Our last release brought us together as a band, as that was the first tour we did as our new lineup. One of our guitarists left, and we gained sax and keys with backing vocals. We got up to some sillies on the tour and definitely become closer, as well as musically more in touch with each other. I also think it’s awesome having another girl in the band, since previously it was just me. Our voices work well together and we’re also just good homies. There’s usually less women than men around in the local music scene, so I always love women supporting women.

Now that we’re releasing another song, we’ve had a bit more time to flesh out our sound, and we’ve started exploring different approaches to making music. We really try to envision what a new song will be about, what we’re trying to tell our audience, and how people will feel from it. I think of every song as entering a little world, where you experience emotion and plot, and you come out of it different to how you went in. I think our songs really show these little worlds, and I at least feel like i’m in one when I play them live.

What inspired 'Paper Planes'? The story about the plane interrupting Avril's recording session is fascinating. How did that moment shape the overall theme and lyrics of the song?

This song is kind of me having a big sook at the world. It started when I was on a train wishing I had a pen and paper and being frustrated at myself. Then the song really developed when I was sitting in my little Newtown town house trying to record a voice memo of the first verse when a plane rudely flew over my head, destroying my recording and my train of thought. As it did so, I added in a lyric ‘Fuck that plane that just went over my head’, and that lyric stuck.

It was sort of meant to be in a way, because the planes flying over my head all the time became a metaphor in the song for a few things. Firstly, that I wasn’t on a plane and I was stuck in my house doing my life of uni and work. Secondly, that some things don’t go over my head like hurtful words or wrongness in the world, but I almost wish they did. Thirdly, that I have pressure and worry over my head about making my music dream work and about being a good person and friend.

I was a little tired of being underestimated and perceived as weak, especially after a rough patch mentally. I was angry at myself for letting my own mental problems get in the way of relationships and my creativity.

I think this song speaks to a lot of young people in their 20’s, where they feel like the world should be at their fingertips yet they feel like they’re stuck working or trying to afford to live or studying, and the reality of the real world has kicked in. You’re not a teenager anymore and you have to actually do things for yourself, because no one else will. And while this is all happening, you’re trying to figure out who the hell you are and who the hell your people are and how to make your big teenage dreams come true. Where you discover and un-discover yourself hundreds of times.

Paper Planes is getting angry at all this. I’m telling the world I want more.

How does 'Paper Planes' fit into your broader musical journey and discography? Does it represent a new direction for Left Lane or build on the foundations you've previously laid?

Paper Planes is the third of a four-song series, marking a more explorative sound for us than the rest of our discography. It also marks the start of our edgier sound and thematic content. In the past we’ve have had a range of sounds, but something that’s really stuck is our ability to get mad, sad, or existential about stuff, and it really shows in our best songs.

Paper Planes is the start of our shift to embracing this edgier, grungier vibe, with ethereal feels. Since our lineup change last year, we’ve been working on an altered vibe that caters to the added sax and keys.

This vibe is gritty and unapologetic. We have sounds that people on either side of the rock spectrum will like. This will be displayed more in our shows and releases. I’m really excited to be embracing this style since it feels more like us, and when you be yourself things always come more naturally.

If Left Lane's music could be the soundtrack to any film or TV series, which one would you choose and why? How do you think your sound would complement the visual storytelling?

Honestly, kind of left field but I think our song ‘Butterfly’ would go so well on Bridgerton cause they play modern songs in a classical style. I just think it would sound really pretty and it’s a song about love which is the main focus of Bridgerton - perfect for a scene where they finally kiss or something.

If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why? How do you think these conversations would influence your music or outlook on life?

For me, Ellie Roswell! - she’s the singer of Wolf Alice and my idol. Hearing her music industry experience would really inspire me, but I also just really want to know what her life was like growing up and what its like now being a successful musician.

I’ll give Ethan our drummer a vote, since his absolute idol is Taylor Hawkins, the recently passed Foo Fighters drummer. He loves FooFighters so much, they’re basically all he listens too, he’s in their top 0.001% of listeners based on Spotify wrapped, he has every item of clothing in Foo Fighters merch form, and he’s been approached many times by people saying he drums like Taylor Hawkins. So that one’s pretty self explanatory.

Next Tas would have dinner with Elliott smith, in her words ‘just to chat to the man since people say he was a really nice guy and I was born too late to hang out with him’. Pretty valid.

When you’re not making music, what might we find you doing? Are there any hobbies or interests that you pursue outside of your musical careers that help you unwind or find inspiration?

Personally, I love art and design, i’m no master at it but I love making little creative things in my art book or on the computer. I make all the Left Lane designs so it’s fun to have some use out of it! I think anything creative, weather its thinking or creating, usually complements the other things in your life that you do. I personally think humans are inherently creative beings and we all need some form of creative outlet.

I also need a physical outlet otherwise I start going a bit crazy - three of us in the band actually rock climb a bit (Darby, Liam and myself), which is, in my opinion, the most fun sport. I run, and its like SO much more boring than climbing on a wall of rocks. All of us are pretty out-doorsy too, love a good nature day or bush-walk.

Ethan, Liam and I are on the uni grind at the moment, and then Darby and Tas pretty much work full time, making schedules a little difficult.

What can fans expect from Left Lane in 2024? Are there any upcoming live shows, new releases, or projects that you're particularly excited about?

2024 should have at least one more release. Without giving much away, this next song is definitely a little out there, at least lyrically… We’re hoping to work with a local videographer to get together a music video for it that will likely be pretty creative.

I think the main thing for us is honing in our new sound since our lineup change with writing new material and experimenting with what we’re capable of.