Last year was a pretty big year for Melbourne band, British India. The guys put the finishing touches on their fifth album, played one of the biggest shows of their career to date opening for The Rolling Stones and released their debut single from upcoming album Wrong Direction, which landed number 83 spot in this year’s Hottest 100. I spoke with lead singer and guitarist Declan Melia about the upcoming release and the busy year ahead.
“We kind of dared ourselves to believe it would be okay, I think we wouldn’t have been surprised if it hadn’t worked out. So it was a nice start to the year, it kind of bodes well for what we’re trying to do this year,” he smiles.
“I don’t want to brag or anything but I added it up and it’s our seventh one in the Hottest 100.”
He is right, the guys have managed seven entries in seven years, having previously produced hits such as ‘Tie Up My Hands’, ‘I Said I’m Sorry’, ‘Vanilla’ and ‘I Can Make You Love Me’ to name just a few. The band released the second single from the upcoming album, ‘Suddenly’ a fortnight ago and Declan says so far the response has been quite positive.
“The response has been really good, it’s kind of hard to gauge. It’s like trying to read animal entrails and bird flight patterns with things like Twitter and Facebook and what people say on the radio about it and what friends say about it. But it’s all been really positive – the real zest of the song will be when we get to start playing it live,” he says.
The new album, titled Nothing Touches Me is due for release on March 13 and was partly recorded in Berlin and partly in Melbourne and according to Declan, the change of scenery was vital to the success of the recording.
“We really loved it, someone pointed out that it really felt like, between the four of us, that we were exactly where we needed to be at the right time. In a way that kind of hadn’t happened since our first record in Sydney,” Declan says.
“It was just a really cool experience, I’d been to Berlin before but only really briefly. We were all getting along, all locked in the same kind of headspace, it’s a really cool city and conducive to rock and roll!”
The band will be in Geelong for the annual Pako Festa after party for the Bannockburn Football and Netball Club’s fundraiser at Geelong West Town Hall on Pakington Street on Saturday February 28.
“We’ll be there from the start I think and playing towards the end, so we’ll be there hanging out and getting a feel for the place before we play, no doubt,” he says.
“It’s just going to be really well timed, because I think by then, ‘Suddenly’ would have sunk in a bit more and we will really be chomping at the bit to play a bunch of new songs, so it will be a really good showcase for the new record and there’s songs we never get tired of playing so they’ll be in as well. But as usual with any British India show, it’s not really about playing a showcase in perfect virtuosity, it’s about letting your hair down and having a party, getting sweaty and going crazy!”
Following the album release the band will kick off a big national tour in April, taking with them Adelaide rock outfit – who were recent Triple J feature album stars – Grenadiers as well as Perth indie-rockers Tired Lion.
When&Where: Geelong West Town Hall – February 28
By Abbey King
