A pair of mates with creative arts backgrounds, TENTS is the melding of James Reynold and Lochley Shaddock – who are intent on creating music filled with 'spontaneity and differing artistry'.
Mixing lo-fi, '60s-styled harmonies with rustically intriguing indie rock tones, TENTS' debut single 'Mrs Blue' (released last month) sits somewhere between the artistic charm of Brian Wilson's 'Smile', '90s college radio vibes and dusty trip-hop in the manner of Bon Iver/ Frank Ocean.The Newcastle-Sydney 'studio project' first began after James and Lochley got together and the creative juices began to flow (thanks to a few wines) with a loose set of chord progressions coming together that would turn into 'Mrs Blue'.
"The song is an ode to the excitement of new love and how it brings us out of our sad daydream," shares TENTS.
"It tells of the moment where you realise that, despite love, you are actually beyond saving."
Who is... TENTS is an experiment. James Reynold and Lochley Shaddock began our journey together 14 years prior to when our artistic lives crossed paths.
James having dedicated the greater part of his life to musical exploration through singing, playing guitar, and writing and producing music for himself and others, and Lochley having pursued a career in books, bookselling, writing and publishing.
This new project saw us meet at James' shipping container studio out in the bushland of Pokolbin. Over that day, we sat, shared and a song was written and recorded. From there the project was born.
We sound like... A blend of different influences. For this track at least, Frank Ocean, King Krule and C.W. Stoneking. That being said, we expect our sound to evolve. We draw from broad and at times conflicting influences, which will no doubt influence what we do next.
Our first gig was... We haven't played a show together, but who knows what the future holds. That's definitely a place we want to take the project.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... It all came together unanimously. The name emerged alongside our first song on the evening we wrote it.
In the studio we usually... Divide up a lot of the roles in the process. In terms of singing and narrative/ creative direction, Lochley generally handles that. As far as production and the bulk of the instrumentation, that would be James. However, we do collaborate on elements like the lyrics so we both feel their truth.
If we could tour with anyone... Adrianne Lenker (James) or Billie Eilish (Lochley) – the continuing pull of different inspirations.
Social media is... An unfortunate necessity.
My favourite app at the moment is... Insight Timer or PanoTuner.
To date, our most embarrassing moment was the time... The time we were on a night out in Newtown and when Lochley finally found James lying in an open grave.
Life on the road can be... Great, depending on the road.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Nice beers, nourishing meals.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Probably no one really. Part of being creative is finding your own voice.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Galway for James, Paris for Lochley. Galway seems to possess a sense of community and tradition that resonates well. Paris for the way each street is an embodiment of art as a living, breathing practice. It's kind of moulded by those that live in and share it.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... JPEGMAFIA, Bill Mollison and Paul Thomas Anderson.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Spaghetti meatballs, a fond favourite.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Kate Hill Pinot Noir (Derwent Valley).
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Washing clothes – feels like a never ending cycle.
Do you have any phobias... Probably failure. It's the inescapable reality of making art, and somehow also the driving force. Maybe there's a desire to prove yourself wrong and end up on the other side of the risk you took. But that first step is always the hardest.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Probably the 'Amazing Race' for the excuse of travelling around the world. Plus you work in pairs with the right partner, nothing can stop you.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? Brothers Kebabs Stanmore – they've saved me more than once.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? The protagonist from 'In The Distance'. A man who gets lost in the desert for 30 years and wanders aimlessly as he watches society from the periphery. And he's melodramatic like me (Lochley).
Last show you binge-watched? 'Better Call Saul' and 'The Bear' season 2. 'The Bear' is simply too perfect a drama to be ignored. Watch Ritchie's arc in season 2 and tell me it isn't the perfect metaphor for 'getting back on the horse'.
