The Royal Jellies have just released their debut polished gem of pop hooks and earworm melodies, Burrows St, Poolside. Recorded by Marty Brown (Clare Bowditch, Art Of Fighting) in the summer of 2013, this consummate eight-piece Melbourne band delivers a sound that is brash, brassy and infectious; neo-vintage, modern-dapper songs textured with horns, Hammond, banjo and stride piano. Having just toured with Clare Bowditch, the band have hit the road to launch the album with shows left in Adelaide, Castlemaine and Melbourne.
We caught up with Raph to chat about being in an eight-piece band, touring with Clare Bowditch and highlights on the album tour thus far.
You’re currently in the middle of a national tour. How have the shows been so far? Any highlights?
We are currently in the middle of our first national tour and we’ve been having a ball! So far, the highlight has been playing a last minute, open mic night at The Townie in Newtown, Sydney. (Is this what the band scene in Sydney was like in the 80’s?!) We caught the audience by surprise and they were pumped, dancing on the verge of what’s socially acceptable. Very fun.
The tour is in support of your shiny debut album, Burrows St. Poolside. Could you tell me what the album is about, and what the main inspirations were behind it?
Our shiny new album is called Burrows St. Poolside. It’s named after a place in Melbourne where some of the material was written during summer. It’s also a homage to the band’s collective love of trad-jazz tunes – there’s nearly always a place name in the titles, like Basin St. Blues for example. Obviously trad-jazz (Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, etc) is an inspiration, but it moves beyond that, drawing on the masters such as Bowie, Brian Wilson, Tom Waits, The Beatles, Damon Albarn, Neil Finn, etc.
What was the recording process like for the album? How long did it take to come to complete fruition?
Love The Beatles?
Get the latest The Beatles news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
We recorded the album with Marty Brown in a beautiful, light filled studio out the back of his house. A lovely experience for everyone, with all the comforts of home and a gorgeous sounding room It took about 2-3 weeks to complete – some of the songs had been floating around for a couple of years and were well established, some were super new and were brought to life really quickly.
Your sound gets likened to the classic style of New Orleans. How do you describe it yourself when someone asks you what The Royal Jellies sound like?
When someone asks what the Jellies sounds like I say this: “A brassy, brash, infectious, neo-vintage stew of modern-dapper tunes, full of pop hooks and ear-worm melodies” Does that make any sense?
The Jellies definitely have a very specific visual aesthetic, too. Is the visual element of the package almost as important as the sound?
The visual element of the band is super important for me. I think as a performer you have to look (and sound!) your best every time you play, whether “your best” means looking like Iggy Pop or Cab Calloway. There is definitely an inherent sense of occasion when musicians perform, and audiences deserve more then just looking at a bunch of people playing in street clothes. Have you seen the new Arcade Fire promo film for their new record? You’ll see what I mean.
What’s it like being in an eight-piece band? What’s the group dynamic like?
Playing as an 8 piece band is a logistical challenge BUT, there’s so much FUN to be had in such a large group – and when you have all those people vibing on stage at the same time it’s such a GOOD feeling. As we all studied at TAFE together, we know how to make each other laugh a lot. You should hear the ridiculous conversations and such that goes on in the tour van.
What was it like touring with the lovely Clare Bowditch across Australia last year?
We toured with Clare Bowditch last year around the country. Basically I was taking mental notes every step of the way – she show us how to do things right. Such professionalism, and a first class entertainer.
How would you describe your live show? What’s the typical vibe like?
Our live show is fun, heavy and stomping – kind of what I imagine a 1920’s speakeasy to be like, but with more guts (and a modern pop sensibility of course).
What kind of artists are you listening to at the moment?
At the moment I’m listening to the Roland S. Howard “Pop Crimes” record that came out a few years ago, Coleman Hawkins’ album “Body and Soul”, and early Split Enz.
I read that you knew you wanted to be a musician ever since you were in kindergarten. Where do you think this love of music came from?
I think my love of music came from my parents and my older brothers – there was always something playing in the house.
Can you remember the first album you bought, and the first show you went to?
The first album I bought was a cassette of the Blues Brothers soundtrack. I loved the horns… And James Brown’s intensity. The first live concert I bought tickets to was REM in 1995 at the Myer Music Bowl.
What’s been the highlight of your year so far, and how do you plan on topping it in 2014?
This year’s highlight has definitely been making the record! Sure, it was hard work, but I’ve never felt so good about making music before – and with such a talent and amicable bunch of people. 2014 is going to be massive! I’m having a baby with my partner Harriet. Did I say massive? Massive.
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them?
You can buy the new album (MP3, CD, Limited Edition Vinyl) Burrows St. Poolside at our website: theroyaljellies.com
Burrows St. Poolside is out now through Brass Jelly Records Distributed in Australia and New Zealand by MGM
The Royal Jellies Tour Dates:
Friday 4th October – Adelaide: Edinburgh Castle
Thursday 10th October – Castlemaine: The Bridge Hotel VIC
Sunday 20th October – Melbourne: Northcote Social Club
Listen to ‘Play In My Head’ here
