In 2012 Brisbane outfit, The Jungle Giants, embarked on their first national tour in support of the indie folk five-piece Boy & Bear, and half a decade later their infectious energy and fresh sound has catapulted them to become one of Australia’s most exciting live acts. “I remember that tour,” smiles front man Sam Hales. “We would read every review and think ‘Oh my God! Are we doing OK?’ It was an amazing time.”
While reminiscing about his band’s early days, Hales recalls the sound advice he received from Boy & Bear that influenced the making of their third and most recent album, Quiet Ferocity. “While we were on the road the guys from Boy & Bear told me about a record they had just finished. They said that they worked on it in a studio near where they lived so they could go home every night after the recording,” Hales says. “They said that was the best way to do it because you can relax, see your family and friends and then go back to the studio the next day.”
So this time around that’s exactly what the four-piece did. “This record was by far the most enjoyable to make. When we made Learn to Exist [2013] we recorded it in a big studio with a producer, and we were living at the studio as well. Then with Speakerzoid [2015] we rented a big house in cattle country, really far out, and spent five weeks living and recording out there.
“But for Quiet Ferocity we found a studio close to home [Empire Studios, Brisbane] and treated it like a job, clocking on and off everyday, and because I was producing it as well everything was quicker – there was no middle man,” he adds. “There was a certain flow to it, it’s like we found our tempo, the particular speed we like to work at.”
The Jungle Giants have been a tight knit group since forming the band in high school, despite being in opposing bands at the beginning. “We’ve always had a special and dynamic way of communicating,” and Hales admits he had the full support of his friends when he made the decision to try his hand at producing.
“Over time I’ve become more and more of a production nerd,” he jokes. “A lot of my influences have changed and after researching different artists I like I realised I was missing a key point of the song writing process by leaving the production part to someone else. It was scary at first, but soon I found I grew to really enjoy it.”
The album’s lead singles ‘On Your Way Down’ and ‘Feel the Way I Do’ were debuted at this year’s Groovin the Moo, much to the delight of their thousands of fans. However , it wasn’t until they played the entire album to a room full of punters that they realised Quiet Ferocity was a force to be reckoned with.
“We were so excited to get this record out because we’d been sitting on it for a couple of months,” Hales says, “so we threw some parties on the weekend of the release. The one we did at Yah Yah’s in Melbourne was the coolest thing ever. The crowd just went nuts for the entirety of the record.”
Although, it wasn’t all smooth sailing as Hales reveals his favourite song almost didn’t make the final edit. “’Bad Dream’ is probably my favourite. It’s Cesira’s [Aitken, lead guitar] favourite too. I found myself playing this game – ‘What is there too much of? What is there not enough of?’ I thought the song was missing a certain flavour. Until one night we were having a party at our house, with a bunch of friends, and I played it for her and she was like ‘This has to be on the record’. That’s when I knew this album could sound the way I wanted, and I didn’t have to be afraid.
“Now I feel like I’ve kicked open a door in my own head. This shit is totally possible now. I feel like everything is at arm’s reach.”
Release: Quiet Ferocity out now.
When & Where: Croxton Hotel, Melbourne – August 26 & 27
Written by Natalie Rogers
