Apollo80 | Interview | “Heavy-riffing exploration in the low frequencies universe”
Apollo80 is a heavy rock trio based in Perth, Western Australia.
After the striking debut in 2019 the Western Australian trio is back with another chapter of heavy-riffing exploration in the low frequencies universe. The main ingredients for the space cake are unchanged, but this work explores a darker space with an extended use of drone atmospheres, groovy tempos and sporadic synth and vocal inserts. ‘Beautiful, Beautiful Desolation’ aims to soak brain in a bath of distorted frequencies. The album was released by Sound Effect Records and Kozmik Artifactz.
Apollo80 are:
Luke L. – Guitars/Effects/Synths/Throat Singing
Brano R. – Bass/Distortions/Voice
Shane B. – Drums
“Half of the fun of being in a band is to catch up and play riffs together”
How’s this last year under lockdown been for you? Have you found the isolation creatively challenging or freeing?
Brano: Here in WA it wasn’t too bad if compared to other parts of the world. We also live in one of the most isolated capital cities of the planet, so I guess we are quite used to be a little isolated. Obviously, for a couple of weeks we had also to withstand lockdowns, but then we just had more time to listen to music and prepare new material that was assembled together once we could meet again. We even tried to record individually and send parts to each other but we are still quite far from being a hi-tech band.
Luke: When COVID-19 kicked off I was actually working on the album cover for ‘Beautiful, Beautiful Desolation’ and I was hoping to finish it off however I found it completely stifled my creativity, so the lads had to wait an extra 6 months to get the art off me, haha. Music wise it was exactly the same, I fully struggled to get in the mood.
“We are definitely gear heads”
I need to ask you first about your equipment, haha. Would you please speak to your guitars and the effects pedals you employ?
Brano: We are definitely gear heads. Both myself (Brano, bass player) and especially Luke (guitar player) have quite a collection of pedals and amps and we love their unique distinctive tones. In the new album, the bass tone is mostly shaped by a Sound City 120 Amp and a Russian Big Muff distortion, while the guitar pays a big tribute to vintage Orange OR120 amp and 4×12 cab. Also our band takes its name from an old Australian Amp, the Apollo80, a powerhouse of loudness made back in the day by Eminar.
Luke: I’m always keen on guitar gear talk! As Brano said, I used an old Orange OR120 with a Orange 4×12 for the album. I also used a Laney AOR Pro Tube 100MV. The two amps really complement each other. For the heavy drone parts and general vibrations I used an old Eminar amp. As for pedals, the main fuzz sound came from the BAT Pharaoh fuzz and the Emanating Fist Dope Priest fuzz. Guitar wise I used my trusty Epiphone Les Paul with Bare Knuckle War Pig pickups and a BC Rich Mockingbird with Avedissian Night Prowler pickups. Both guitars were in drop A tuning.
Your latest album, ‘Beautiful, Beautiful Desolation’ is even heavier than your previous one. How did you manage to do that?
Brano: We simply released the drummer from his cage, hahaha. Not sure how it happened to be honest. While writing these songs we realized at some point that we were going in the heaviness direction and just let it flow. We are all fan of Melvins, Toner Low, Acid King, Sons of Otis and I guess that influenced our way of playing. Luke, also is a big fan of drone music and that is probably one of the major factors that forged the heavy part of this album.
Luke: I was definitely keen to take the new songs in a heavier direction however that happened in a very organic way, it was never a forced idea. As Brano said I’m very influenced by drone music in its many forms, but particularly by early Earth, Melvins, Corrupted, Boris, and Sunn O))). I was keen to try and incorporate heaviness but in more of a rock tradition which was better suited to the band.
A peek into your creative process please, digital or analog? Is your approach to laying down music a building block process?
Brano: Definitely analog – even if we wanted to, we wouldn’t be able to create songs through a computer. Also, half of the fun of being in a band is to catch up and play riffs together. There isn’t really a formula on how we write songs. Sometimes bass and drums work on a riff and then the guitar adds the atmospheres. Some other times, Luke comes up with a drone and we follow his dynamics.
Luke: I basically play around with a few ideas on the acoustic guitar and then take it to the electric guitar when I think I have a decent riff or idea. I’m ok with coming up with the riffs but putting those riffs into actual songs isn’t my greatest strength and that’s where Brano and Shane come into play, turning the ideas into a loose structure.
When and how did you start playing music?
Brano: I was in school, around 16-17 years old in a grindcore band. Napalm Death is still one of my favorite bands ever.
Luke: I’ve been tinkering on the guitar most of my life. I started out playing ‘Wipe Out’ for about 10 years before graduating to soundscapes and ambient guitar.
If you could work with any other artist from the past (dead or alive) who would it be?
Brano: Ugh…really too many to mention. Ideally would love to spend a night drinking with Mark Lanegan, King Buzzo, Dylan Carson and Frank Kozik. And the morning after hit the studio and lay down some riffs. Not sure if anything decent would come out of this, but for sure it would be a memorable night.
Luke: Tough question. I’d certainly be keen on working with Dylan Carlson and I’d love to work with Wata from Boris, they are both constant inspirations for me.
Can you share some further details how your latest album ‘Beautiful, Beautiful Desolation’ was recorded?
Brano: We recorded it with our friend Alien Smith of Bergerk Studios. He is the man behind the sound of also our first EP. The songs were recorded live in the same room with some minor overdubs of guitar, synths and voice of course.
Luke: Yes we got to record with the very cool Al Smith again. Al has recorded some of the finest local releases of all time and some of my favourite albums so it’s an honour to have him onboard. Once the nerves subsided we managed to get everything we wanted laid down in two days.
How pleased were you with the sound of the album?
Brano: Very pleased. The sounds, tones, distortions are an important component of our songs and we put all our efforts and attention while setting our instruments and working on them.
Luke: I think the sound came out awesome, we put a lot of effort in and the hard work did pay off. There are a couple of minor things I would change on my behalf but having said I believe you can over think the music or guitar tones and loose the spontaneity.
How do you usually approach music making?
Brano: Plug the bass in and start playing, usually after listening to an album or a song that I love. Typically, what comes out has nothing to do with the song I was listening but if it sound cool then I take it to the jam room with the rest of the band.
Luke: I have no set approach to making music. Sometimes I’ll try learn a scale but I usually get bored within a few minutes. Occasionally from within the scale a note will stand out so I’ll try jam something with that. Sometimes I’ll try learn a song but get bored so I’ll just jam random positions on the guitar neck until I like the sound of something. I’ve basically got no idea what I’m doing, haha. I’ll often listen to a band to try and inspire a certain vibe I’m channeling. I also love alternate tunings to get myself in the zone to make some noise
How would you compare it to ‘Lizard! Lizard! Lizard!’?
Brano: Probably ‘Lizard! Lizard! Lizard!’ is a more instinctive album. Riffs came in mind, were locked down with heavy drums and spacey guitars and recorded as they are. This is exactly what the EP wants to be: a snapshot of a band playing instinctively and going with the (space) flow. ‘Beautiful, Beautiful Desolation’, even if it still has all the instinctive elements, is more articulated with the introduction of drones, synth and sporadic vocal parts. Consider also that some of the songs recorded for the new album have been in the works even before we recorded the previous EP.
Luke: They are quite different albums but there is definitely cross over, such as the heavy fuzz and distortions. The ‘Lizard! Lizard! Lizard!’ rhythm sections were basically laid down before I joined the band. After putting Hawkwind and Sons of Otis on heavy rotation I came up with the vibe I wanted to add to ‘Lizard! Lizard! Lizard!’. With ‘Beautiful, Beautiful Desolation’ it was more of the whole band collaborating and gathering ideas and putting the puzzle together. We also worked heavily on dynamics without letting the structure get in the way.
How important is improvisation for you?
Brano: It is an essential part of our songs. The improvised parts are what makes the atmospheres of the songs unique and create that language and energy between us and that we hope to convey also to the people listening to our songs.
Luke: For me improvisation is very important to me and a big part of the songs. Personally if I was asked to keep to a ridged structure I suspect I would struggle. When I first joined the band I was very happy when the lads gave me a license to make noise or add effects and lock into the riff when needed. I’m a big fan of trying to leave space between the notes, and when we play live or jam I’m constantly leaving out random notes to suit the vibe at the time.
Are any of you involved in any other bands or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?
Brano: No we are not – family, life, work seem to take all the free time we have.
Luke: Not at this stage, but when my life frees up a bit with family commitments I’m keen to get something off the ground. When we are up and running as a band we can only jam fortnightly so I’m hoping to fill the void with something casual to keep my skills up in the off weeks from Apollo80.
Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?
Brano: In the last year I’ve been listening a lot to Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter. Many will know her only as the voice behind the Sinking Belle in the Sunn O))) / Boris album, but her first record ‘Reckless Burning’ is simply amazing and showcases her beautiful and hunting voice. Staying more in the genre, the latest Lord Buffalo is a gem. I bought it a couple of months ago and it’s been constantly on the turntable since then.
Luke: Favourite albums is always a hard thing to think of, a few off the top of my head would be Melvins – ‘Houdini’, Colour Haze – ‘Periscope’, Beaver – ‘Lodge’, Jed Whitey – ‘Super Fuzz Big Muff’. High rotation for the last year has been Hum, Junior Kimborough, Reverend Bizarre, Wovenhand, Lord Buffalo, Barn Owl, My Bloody Valentine, Dylan Carson and Earth always (solo).
Thank you. Last word is yours.
Brano: Thank you for this opportunity. Stay Psychedelic, Baby!
Luke: Thanks for the support! Rock on.
Apollo80 Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp
Sound Effect Records Official Website / Facebook
Kozmik Artifactz Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Headline photo: Six Strings Photography
