French for Rabbits | Interview | New Album, ‘The Overflow’
New Zealand dream-pop luminaries French for Rabbits have dedicated nearly a decade to creating warmly detailed and expansive music together. The band recently released their prophetic third album, ‘The Overflow’.
The LP arrives via AAA Records (NZ/AUS), Reckless Yes (UK) and A Modest Proposal (Italy) and is out in digital formats, CD, and on limited-edition vinyl. The album follows on from their elegantly stated second LP ‘The Weight of Melted Snow’ and their 2014 break-out ‘Spirits’.
With hints of psychedelia and folk – the five-piece offer masterful musicality, gossamer vocals and storytelling across the ten tracks which celebrates the introverts’ spirit, and expresses nostalgia in climate grief – with understated strength and breathtaking fragility.
“My vision of being beautiful, accessible, subtle and complex”
So my guess is that you like rabbits?
Brooke Singer: I do like rabbits, but then again I’m fairly fond of most animals. In New Zealand they are a problem for fragile ecosystems though, so I’d prefer if we had a few less rabbits. The band name had little to do with my love of France or rabbits. It was actually just a secret code-name, because I didn’t want people to know the music was made by me at first.
Would you like to talk a bit about your background?
I’m based in Wellington, New Zealand but I first lived in a small village called Brooklands by a river, and two doors down from a goat called Nelly. The suburb is actually gone now, as it was damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes. After living there I grew up in the countryside and next to the beach, so I’ve always been surrounded by nature. Those places had a big influence on the sound of the music we make. My father is a surfer and my mother is an artist – they ran their own business and I believe that gave me the motivation for hard work, and the tenacity to follow my own path as a musician. My childhood was adventurous and imaginative. I loved making up stories, riding horses, playing the piano and creating art.
How did you get together to form the group?
French for Rabbits was formed naturally over several years. We started out as a duo with myself on guitar and vocals, and John on electric guitar before we were joined by Ben Lemi, followed by Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa and Penelope Esplin. We have a long shared history now.
Would you like to share some words about your latest album, ‘The Overflow’ and how would you compare it to previous releases?
‘The Overflow’ is an album I am so proud of. As a songwriter, co-producer and as part of a band. I really grew as an artist while making it, I feel like it is true to my vision of being beautiful, accessible, subtle and complex. ‘Money or the Bag’ is about decision making, dreams and feminism, ‘Nothing in my Hands’ is about intangable nature of climate change, ‘The Dark Arts’ is about sentimentality and objects.
The album also digs into anxiety and introversion at times. As a listener, I love albums. I’m not much of a playlist girl. I love to hear collections of songs put together as intended by the artist. I feel like this album is our most cohesive record. Our last album ‘The Weight of Melted Snow’ is a bit gloomier…and our first album ‘Spirits’ feels fresh and young, still a little rough around the edges. I suppose ‘The Overflow’ feels like the album we’ve been trying to make.
How has the pandemic influenced your creative process? Did it feel freeing, overwhelming, anxious?
Lately, I’ve been finding joy in working on other people’s music. I’ve been recording and mixing a couple of folk records for other Wellington-based artists, and really loving this process. Being in the studio is fun – and much more suited to pandemic life than touring is. It’s also an area where I feel I have lots to learn and to offer too. I’ve been excited about learning new skills lately…
With our album just out, we’d really love to tour but all the uncertainty and restrictions has made it very difficult – I don’t find it overwhelming anymore, but it did give me a lot of anxiety for a while. It is helpful not to hang all my hopes and dreams in one place, so now I am just grateful for anyone who enjoys our music. I am excited to return to writing new music soon.
How do you usually approach music making?
I like to keep things fresh – so for each album, I normally change the approach somehow. The first EP was written mostly on the guitar which I was learning at the time. On our first album, I returned to the piano…’The Overflow’ was informed by co-writing and incorporating pop production. Recently I purchased a Dave Smith Tempest drum machine, and also an upright piano – I have a feeling these will be influential on whatever I do next.
How pleased were you with the sound of the album?
Very pleased! I think we sound like “us”.
What’s next for the band?
When Covid allows, we’ll be doing a New Zealand tour for the album. We also have a couple of songs we’d love to record and release. We won’t be touring internationally this year but who knows what the future will bring!
Are any of you involved in any other bands or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?
Totally! Ben has a fantastic project called Dawn Diver, which Hikurangi also performs in. They will be releasing new music this year. Penelope released a gorgeous record with her band Grawlixes last year. We all play in other bands, and I’m working on a solo record too.
Let’s end this interview with some of your favorite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?
That is a great question. I’ve been really enjoying the new Hand Habits album ‘Funhouse’ the last few months and Faye Webster’s ‘I Know I’m Funny Haha’. Another New Zealand artist, Mousey has a new album out soon which I’m excited about. Right now, I’m listening to the new Beach House – I have a real soft spot for them.
Klemen Breznikar
Headline photo: Lily Paris West
French for Rabbits Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube
AAA Records Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp
Reckless Yes Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp
A Modest Proposal Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp
