It’s been three years since Belle & Sebastian last visited Australia, but they now return with a trio of EPs titled ‘How To Solve Our Human Problems’ (part 1, part 2 & part 3), a compilation of bright and witty indie pop they’re keen to share with fans.
The indie heroes are releasing the EPs in rapid-fire succession. “I guess [in] 2015 we were playing all the time and then in 2016 we started writing and recording,” lead guitarist Stevie Jackson says.
“And then in 2017 we were also playing shows as well and just working. Nothing to exciting happened. I didn’t get married or anything. I guess we’ve just been working. It’s been good. Happy to be working.”
The three EPs constitute a double album worth of material, which the band will perform when they tour Australia in May. Stevie says the EPs were a long-time coming. “We were working on an EP for a while and we wanted to make a record, but we had heaps of distractions and we just needed to get down to it.
“We felt like recording in Glasgow and then we were making music in an ad-hoc fashion recording songs. So, we worked on our projects and that’s kind of what happened. I'm glad we did the EPs.
“I got the first EP back, I turned it on and then I took it back off again. It was quite nice because it’s small. People like records. I like records. People go and buy them. We released our first EPs 20 years ago and they were really fun to do. The world was different then. But you’ve got to do what you feel, you know? It’s just a feeling.”
With two decades of material, one might imagine the creative process may die after awhile. But Stevie says Belle & Sebastian is still alive and kicking. “I mean, because you’re in a band the good thing about having a lot of members is that you’ve got a lot of people who contribute.
“We’re still discovering things. It doesn’t feel like we’re pushing ourselves. We just kind of evolved, just like other people evolve. We’ve definitely got more songs. It’s never a dull moment.”
The new trio of EPs cement Belle & Sebastian as a figurehead of indie music. But it’s not just music that sets the band apart. They are looking at new, creative projects in the future outside of recording. “We have a few projects we are thinking about doing. Short films and things like that. I don’t know what we’re going to do.
“I think we’re just going to keep working, keep moving. I guess we’re working musicians as well – we have to make a living.”
Stevie says the band will continue to record and tour, beyond promoting their new EPs. “I feel like there’s a music cycle. You do an album and then you tour and usually that takes two or three years, so that’s kind of what happens. So, I think we’re just going to keep going. Work, take a break, then keep going.”
The ‘How To Solve Our Human Problems’ EPs are available now.
Belle & Sebastian Australia Tour 2018
Wed 2 May - Astor Theatre (Perth)Fri 4 May - Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
Sat 5 May - Sydney Opera House
Mon 7 May - The Tivoli Theatre(Brisbane)
