From buskers on the street peddling original, folk tunes to Australia’s latest synth-pop revelation, the sonic evolution of Melbourne trio Woodlock continues with the release of their newest single, ‘Something Broke That Day’.
“We wrote the song maybe four months ago,” guitarist/ vocalist Ezekiel ‘Eze’ Walters says. “It was sort of based around a comic book we were reading called ‘The Sandman’ while we were in China. It’s very different to our other style of music, but we’re absolutely loving the sort of sound on it and we’re looking forward to writing more songs around that style.”
‘Something Broke That Day’ is the latest in a string of single and EP releases for Woodlock since they began in 2011.
The new track shows a young band unafraid to develop and expand beyond their acoustic-folk roots.
Woodlock were last on tour in July last year; this January they hit the road on a grander scale, getting to play more shows in both metropolitan and regional areas, joined by Canadian band The Franklin Electric. “I think for them they want to try a little bit of everywhere,” Eze says.
“So we’re playing some places we’ve never played before as well which will be interesting to see and see what people we can bring out in those areas.
“The cool thing about doing some regional shows is we’re going to try and sneak out a little bit of busking and playing in more areas of the streets to see if we can bring some other people in.”
Eze says the new sound Woodlock are working with on ‘Something Broke That Day’ comes from an extensive period of fine-tuning their songcraft and compositional skills during co-writing sessions with other musicians. “Even ‘The Only Ones’ still has a lot of that strong synth-pop and heavy production, which is not what we’re used to but we like trying new things and we’re not sure on what our sound is, so it’s nice to feel that stuff,” he says.
“To create ‘Something Broke That Day’, which is so different to our other style is so rewarding. It’s my favourite song right now just in the way it is its own; it doesn’t sound like our own songs, it’s just in its own, little area.”
While Woodlock are moving forward and charting new, sonic terrain for themselves, they haven’t forgotten their roots in busking. “That’s how we honed our craft and it’s quite a legitimate craft,” Eze says.
“The thing that’s good about busking is that it teaches you how to play with a crowd and how to contact and talk to them. It also teaches you your craft in the guitar if you’re busking three of four times a week, which allows you to build up that skill and get better.
“If you’re going to try and do the cities though, you want to be more confident in yourself,” he warns. “The thing about busking on the street is that it’s very cutthroat and if people don’t like you, they’re definitely willing to let you know.”
Woodlock Shows
Thu Jan 19 - The Workers Club (Geelong)Fri Jan 20 - Jive Bar (Adelaide)
Sat Jan 21 - Howler (Melbourne)
Sun Jan 22 - Sub (Hawthorn) (Melbourne) - u/18 event
Fri Jan 27 - Beach Hotel (Byron Bay)
Sat Jan 28 - Woolly Mammoth (Brisbane)
Thu Feb 2 - Brass Monkey (Sydney)
Fri Feb 3 - Newtown Social Club (Sydney)
Sat Feb 4 - Small Ballroom (Newcastle)
Sun Feb 5 - Rad Bar (Wollongong) - u/18 event
Sun Feb 5 - Rad Bar (Wollongong)
