When we look up Parcels, our search engines return mixed results, from the courier to AusPost tracking. In this case, however, we’re talking about Parcels music, the five-man boy-band that started in Byron Bay and hauled to Berlin after finishing high-school in 2015.
Although they’d been creating music since 2014, it wasn’t until they signed on with French label Kitsune and began to truly experience the world of music that they felt like a real band.
From there, our favourite Parcels hits were born. Progressive, electronic and meaningful, the songs explore emotions and sparks with underlying tropical beats and sugar-sweet vocals. With ‘LightenUp’ reminiscent of classic disco records, ‘WithorWithout’ exploring regret and heartbreak, and ‘YourFault’ reflecting on past pain, there’s plenty of depth to this indie-pop band. The fact that they had limited music education before these tracks makes them especially accomplished – and whilst it’s true that we haven’t received anything new from Parcels in a while, that’s set to change soon!
“We are writing at the moment, we’re coming together as a band, every day practicing and studying music again,” reveals keyboardist Patrick Hetherington. “Feels like we’ve gone back to school here, trying to learn as much as we can before we start recording.”
Parcels has been in the music world since 2014 and they’ve been self-producing a majority of their music. This allows them to produce tunes that are truly their own, focusing on grooving exciting instrumentals and band development. So why the wait for new music?
It’s simple: “We’ve played all over Europe, we were in America, it feels like we’ve been touring for the last year or two.”
Now they’re on their way to grace us with their presence at one of our favourite music festivals ever: Falls Festival. With a talented line-up and stunning natural Australian outdoor beauty, Falls always leaves us with amazing memories.
This year Parcels will be joining the line-up and returning to Australia for the first time in a long time. They’re excited to come and see the festival, and we’re excited to hear their lyrical sentiments and modern pop. Whilst they may be in Berlin “in a little basement, well, a studio really, not a basement” for the time being, soon they’ll be donning their iconic outfits and giving us the opportunity to dance.
Their requests for fans seeing them at Falls?
“I would like to see everybody standing very still, turning away for the entire set… And then dancing, with nobody looking at us.” Why? “It would be cool – and there would be more focus on the music and the vibe, you know?”
So put together a Falls outfit, grab your friends – and remember not to look at Parcels when they perform.
Falls Festival tickets are still available for the Lorne leg so grab your New Years passes at fallsfestival.com
Written by Daniela Koulikov
Photo by Antoine Henault