Uncle-niece duo Willow Beats arrived on the local, indie-electronic music landscape last year with their self-released 'Alchemy' EP.
The feather-weight sounds of hit single 'Blue' shot Willow Beats from Australia's curious electronic anomaly, to one of the new year's brightest sparks that was highlighted last month with a national support of Tkay Maidza.
Willow Beats twist and blend their tribal rhythms with lyrics of hope and light, creating a delicate, enveloping sound, that has resonated with new ears all around the globe.
Ahead of their performance at SpringFlare this weekend, we chat with singer Kalyani Mumtaz.
Last month's Tkay Maidza tour… how much fun was that experience?
Yeah it was fun. Lot's of fun. Tkay is my friend now. Porsches are funny guys. Really fun.
Plans this summer… what is scheduled for Willow Beats?
We're working on an album and playing a couple of festivals.
Without looking to far ahead, what do you want to achieve with Willow Beats in 2016?
I want to finish this album. That's as far ahead as I'm looking. Living in the present.
You posted to Facebook in August re: writing new material. When can we expect another Willow Beats release?
Hopefully early-ish [sic] next year. Still living in the present.
Are the new tunes a progression of the 'Alchemy' EP?
Well, we've already progressed from the 'Alchemy' EP with our 'Water' EP that we released last year. So yes I hope we continue to progress.
Comparisons to Flume… they must be nice, but do you look to avoid such distractions?
It's not so distracting being compared to someone on the internet. Also, I don't have the internet.
Willow Beats in the studio… how do you guys work?
It differs depending on the track. A lot of our new work has been born from mixing-up the creative process. Narayana moved back to the Northern Rivers from Melbourne. So we're writing music in a really collaborative way. Usually we work on parts of tracks separately, but this year we have been working together on everything. I watch Narayana produce and contribute my ideas while he helps with harmony and melodies. Narayana has been laying down guitar chords and flute so there's more organic instrumentation in the new work.
The perfect Willow Beats summer day… can you describe it?
Every day is a perfect Willow Beats summer day. We really like swimming in the creek.
Willow Beats will be joined by The Delta Riggs, Jackie Onassis and Paces at SpringFlare The Festival Of Colours at UQ St Lucia 10 October, from 12.30pm.
