Brisbane indie group, The Cairos, have released their debut, independent single and are excited about their venture into unknown territory.
Guitarist and lead vocalist Alistar Richardson explains a lot has changed since the band formed in high school. “We have definitely changed a bit in that few years. We were signed pretty young to a major label and I guess I thought we had an idea of what we wanted but lost that vision.”
As a band they decided to take things into their own hands with 'Love Don't Feel Right', delivered by the band alone. “I think getting off a major label and creating our own identity and recording everything and releasing everything ourselves, I think that's what we really want to do, is just be completely integral to ourselves,” Alistar says.
It has been a whirlwind of opportunities for the band, having played with bands such as Powderfinger, Jet, Custard and You Am I.
But being told which direction to go in and not feeling connected to the music they were producing, took its toll on the group. “We want to recreate what happens when you first start making music when you are young. Just getting back to that original creation. That feeling of being original and having that purpose,” Alistar says.
The band recently lost their bass player but have not skipped a beat. “We are just going to have the three of us. So with different songs, whoever has come up with that original idea, [they] will play whatever instrument suits. Like in the latest single, the drummer plays bass in it because he came up with the bassline and we really liked it. We can all switch around and then when we play live we will get someone else,” Alistar says.
The new single really encapsulates the free spirit and direction in which the band is headed. “We write so many different styles of songs, but I think when we decided we were going to be independent, there was a real emphasis on just capturing whatever we were coming up with at the time,” Alistar says.
The single features electronic drums and there is a long jam in the middle of the song. “All of us are such fans of such different music and I think we like adapting, we like capturing that certain mood. So I think it's going to be a very eb and flowing, up and down, all over the place kind of album,” Alistar says.
The band is excited about the opportunity to share their new music with audiences and there is no better way than at the upcoming Jungle Love Festival. “Apparently it's a good chance to get really intimate with the crowd and I guess we are going to be testing out all these new songs and this new way of playing. We have got a different style. A different way we want to connect with the audience. So guess it will be more us and more intimate,” Alistar says.
So what can we expect from a Cairos show? “I think it just depends where you are playing and who you are playing to. Sometimes if it's the right environment and the right atmosphere you just want to cause shit, and be loose, and sort of connect to people in that way, but you want to be switched on and prove you can do it.
"We never have a certain set logged in at all times. We always change it up and we always want to keep it interesting,” Alistar says.
The Cairos Tour Dates
Fri 20 Nov - Australian Music Week 2015 (Sydney)27-28 Nov - Jungle Love Festival - Borumba Deer Park (Sunshine Coast)
Sat 5 Dec - Bay Blowout 2015 (Byron Bay)
Thu 21 Jan - Shebeen (Melbourne)
Fri 22 Jan - Brighton Up Bar (Sydney)
Sat 23 Jan - The Foundry (Brisbane)
Fri 29 Jan - The Paddock @ Nightquarter (Gold Coast)
