Australia’s rising alt-rockers Veludo have recently released their break out self-titled debut EP and single Stay Young. Owning their epic stadium rock sound, these Melbournians (via Perth) are transforming into one of our most promising upcoming local acts of this year.
We discussed the release of their EP, touring, and growing up in the 90s. Introducing you to Veludo.
1. Hi there, gents. You’ve just released your debut EP – rad! What has the reception been like?
So fare the reception has been extremely positive. We’ve been getting some great reviews in the press as well as some amazing feedback from our fans. It’s really encouraging for us – especially as it is our debut release. It means we’re connecting with people, which is what it’s all about.
2. For those of us not up to speed, where does the name ‘Veludo’ originate?
Veludo is the Portuguese word for “velvet”. Our singer Gabriel is from Brazil (the only Portuguese speaking country in South America) and he suggested the name to describe our textured/layered sound. We wanted a name that could be pronounced by English speaking people but was ambiguous enough so they could decide what the name meant to them after hearing the music.
3. Tell us, what’s the inspiration behind your music and how does it make Veludo unique?
Veludo comprises of four individuals with varying musical tastes, and on top of that we have two members with international backgrounds – our drummer Les (South Africa) and singer Gabriel (Brazil). Immediately, we have this rich melting pot of music lying within our creative consciousness before we even begin writing, so you can imagine when the writing actually begins the inspiration is drawn from a number of places. It might be an African or Brazilian rhythm, or perhaps an interesting electronic sample which our guitarist Jase has created, or even a distorted bass line from our bassist Jared. The inspiration is always there. The real magic lies in creating the space to let it flow.
4. You formed in 2012, how’ve you found the journey so far and how does it compare to previous projects like Gasoline Inc.?
So far the journey has been one of excitement and appreciation. Gasoline Inc. was our previous project and it brought us some success. Amongst other things, we supported rock icons INXS and had our debut music video air on the old “Video Hits”. However, Gasoline Inc served more as an apprenticeship for what was to come. It gave us an opportunity to build a strong network of people who believe in us, and therefore a strong platform from which we were able to launch Veludo. On the surface it may look like we are rising to the top “quickly” but in reality it has been years of dedication and hard-work….building the right team and finding our sound and ourselves. As a result we are all very grateful and appreciative of what we have learnt, the friends we have gained and the journey that lies ahead.
5. If you had to describe your sound to a new listener, what three words would you use and why?
Energetic – because we really have fun doing what we do!
Inclusive- because we love the power of connection and giving people the permission to join us on the journey.
Melodic – the most effective way for us to translate is through melody.
6. There are some high-profile contributors on the EP like producer, Jimi Maroudas (Eskimo Joe, Kimbra) and mix master, Tim Palmer (U2, David Bowie, Pearl Jam). How was it working with them and what influence did they have on the concept?
Working with an ARIA award winning producer in Jimi Maroudas, and a Grammy nominated mixer in Tim Palmer was something very special. Jimi had more influence in that he was providing feedback throughout the demo process and into the pre-production stage of the songs. He really pushed us hard to explore new territories and challenged us right to the very end of the recording. Aside from his vast knowledge of production, Jimi’s strong point is his guidance and the way he communicates. Because of this, we have a very good working relationship and so the process of recording went rather smoothly. Tim’s influence lay more in knowing what standard we wanted our mixes. We wanted a big, internationally accessible sound and you couldn’t go past a guy as talented as Tim with credits like U2, Pearl Jam, The Cure….the list goes on! We were very fortunate to have both Jimi and Tim be part of the team.
7. Former Living End drummer, Travis Demsey also dropped in with percussion expertise, did he share his insights on Australian Rock and Roll?
Trav was great! He had a few funny stories to tell about his time with The Living End but his real influence was in his knowledge of percussion. He was able to provide some amazing insight into how drums “talk” and really helped us in achieving our desired sound.
8. We loved the 90’s throwback video for ‘Stay Young’; were there any Street Fighter showdowns off set?
Hahaha! Our singer Gab and director Matt Holcomb jumped on the Super Nintendo a few times. It was a really surreal trip down memory lane with the props and everything we had accumulated. …it really did feel like the 90’s all over!
9. You’re set to tour the country, what can you promise fans when seeing you live?
First and foremost we pride ourselves on being a live band. The connection with an audience is something we really value and so our live performance is about the inclusivity of the performance. It’s about the experience that offers as opposed to just hearing our music on an iPod. So fans can expect an energetic and up-lifting live performance.
10. 2014 is off to a flying start; can you share the three goals for the group this year?
Sometimes, to share goals is to create expectations can often lead to un-warranted pressure, which in turn can create blocks to achieve those goals in the first place. So whilst we do set goals, we are finding that an equally important factor is to let things take their natural course – to surrender to the universe. As long as we believe in what we do and keep persisting, opportunities will present themselves along the way and when they do we will be ready to take them.
Upcoming shows
April 4 – EP LAUNCH The Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy VIC
April 23 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne VIC
