Queensland indie pop, alternative group Eliza & The Delusionals will release their debut album, 'Now And Then', this Friday (20 May).
A record that began to take shape after the tumultuous events of 2020 that saw the band abandon their plans to live in America for a year – touring, playing festivals and slotting in recording sessions had been on the agenda – with band members forced to move back in with their own families.The band's songwriters, Eliza Klatt and Kurt Skuse, made the most of their lost opportunities by building a studio in the house they were living in together.
Add some studio magic dust from wunderkind producer Kon Kersting who recorded parts of the album at Brisbane's Airlock Studios as well as his own studio alongside pre-pandemic writing sessions with songwriters/ producers: Sarah Aarons (Zedd, The Rubens, Childish Gambino), John Hill (Cage The Elephant, Charli XCX, Lykke Li) and Keith Harris (Madonna, The Black Eyed Peas) and 'Now And Then' is the result of the band making the most of a disastrous situation.
Here, Kurt and Eliza delve into some of their favourite movies to originate in the 1990s.
'She's All That' (1999)
Kurt: This is one of those movies that I have such a soft spot for and feel super nostalgic about! I just think the cast is so classic for a '90s rom-com, and I find this movie and films similar to it super comforting to watch.Eliza: I agree with Kurt with this movie; it's so fun to watch and such a comforting nostalgic film. Who doesn't love Freddie Prinze Jr though; am I right?
'Scream' (1996)
Kurt: Honestly, this is easily my favourite slasher franchise of all time. The entire aesthetic of these films are untouchable and I'm happy to die on this hill.Again the cast is perfect, and I think it's just such a classic slasher film that even people who don't love horror movies (like Eliza, she's not into horror but loves watching 'Scream') can enjoy it.
'Clueless' (1995)
Kurt: Collectively as a band, we love this movie. We actually had a sample from when Dionne and Cher are in the car talking that we had in the start of 'Give You Everything', which we end up deciding to not use.Eliza: I loved this film the moment that I saw it. The styling and outfits are just iconic and era defining, and Cher is one of the best lead female roles in any '90s movie in my opinion. I've always taken so much inspiration from the aesthetic of this film, as I know many other girls have.
'Happy Gilmore' (1996)
Kurt: I really believe this is the most quoted movie of our generation, possibly of all time! I don't think I have ever gone a day without hearing some form of reference to this film and I'm not complaining. I think I used to put it on when I was younger most nights as I was going to sleep.Eliza: This is one of my favourite Adam Sandler movies for sure. Whenever I feel like watching something lighthearted from that era, I love putting this movie on. Kurt and I watch this movie all the time, and we always make jokes about it and reference quotes from it.
