Retiree discuss their journey from a Commodore station-wagon to custom road cases

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Retiree discuss their journey from a Commodore station-wagon to custom road cases

We caught up with local electronic-pop four piece Retiree ahead of their ‘This Place’ national tour, which kicks off tonight at Goodgod Small Club in Sydney, and discussed their humble beginnings, artwork and the intense nature of their more intimate gigs.

Your sound has that undeniably infectious feel to it, with the dreamy synth and percussion, as well as that quintessential bass work taking me to a secluded beach in the Mediterranean, or on a long-winded pine tree-riddled adventure down the south-west coast. Where does your music take you when producing and then reflecting on it? And how would you visually describe your sound?

Most songs start as an individual’s shell, then it is brought to the rest of the band. It can then change quite significantly, as everyone adds their coat of paint. Sure, the melodies and progression have a certain warmth or groove to them, but they are definitely not all about the sun shining and the birds chirping. Maybe certain feelings could better describe the sound of this record. Hopefully those could be different feelings for every listener.

I cant help but be reminded of Toro Y Moi when I listen to your music, but with that extra unique Australian nonchalant stress-free vibe in there. Which artists have you guys drawn inspiration from?

Across the four of us it’s pretty broad. We draw our influences from Mac DeMarco to Harry Hosono, from Dick Diver to Devo, Bruce Goold to The Go-Betweens, New Order to Ned Doheny. A lot of ideas come from old oddball songs in DJ mixes too.

From the music videos you have released I get the sense that you are avid admirers of the natural beauty on offer, with Gundagai being an example. Do you feel that your work is best consumed in a tranquil forest, or where do you see the ideal setting to listen to your music is?

Scenery. It goes with any music. The same music can sound different each time you hear it to new scenery. Sort of like how cologne can smell different with each person’s pheromones.

Retiree Press Pic 2015 1

You guys are commencing your national tour tomorrow for your This PlaceEP, how are you guys feeling about the tour and how do tours consisting of more intimate shows compare to your festival gigs at Splendour in the Grass and Outside In, in terms of the personal experience?

The energy in an intimate gig can be very intense and concentrated. It can make you tremble with a strange kind of focus as you gather the energy coming from the audience and throw it back out like a hadouken. At a festival, that energy is less intense because everybody is spread out. But it’s so good to hear our songs so loud, we can tremble from that too.

 You guys have worked with Plastic World, with your debut 12 releasing on the imprint in 2013, as well as Rhythm Section on your latest EP. How have you found working with Bradley Zero and how do you feel you have evolved as a band since that debut release?

Bradley’s passionate support has only snowballed since he first emailed us. It was very unexpected, saying something like, “Found your first EP through Andras, truly the best shit I’ve heard in a long time, send me anything new, I’d love to hear it!”. The emails became more and more excited, bouncing between Sydney and London as we worked towards the EP that became This Place.

As a band our greatest evolution has been our live setup. We’ve gone from a commodore station-wagon full of loose bits and pieces, to having custom road cases we can open up and plug straight in. Sound guys don’t hate us anymore!

I really admire the artwork for your latest release, and Ive also noticed you guys are selling limited-run artwork celebrating your tour on the web store. Are any of you in particular into your art? If so, how so?

Mikaela’s art is something we thought fits perfectly with the feeling of the record. After it was confirmed to be used as the album art, we played with the idea of translating it to a printed tee, but we couldn’t all agree on one design. So having a tee at the merch stand became something that no longer excited us. Hopefully these prints can be a far more special piece of band merch for those 10 people.

Retiree Press Pic 2015 3

 I usually ask for a top three with these, but since there are 4 of you Ill ask for a favourite from each of you. Firstly, whats the best act youve seen live?


Marco: Caribou at The Metro, Sydney, 2011

Matt: Kirin J Callinan at NGV, 2014

Ryan: Ken Davis supporting Client Liaison at Goodgod, 2013.

Tori: Dick Diver at Meredith 2013 (in particular the choreographed dancing for “Head Back”, where Al Montfort took to a masked head of Gina Rinehart with the sole of his boot).


Whats your favourite track at the moment?

Marco: B.J. Smith – Hold Onto It (Johnny Nash Remix)

Matt: Tears for Fears – Pharoahs

Ryan: Hiroshi Sato – Blue & Moody Music (Wendy’s Version)

Tori: Oxhead Woods – Mutombo

‘This Place’ National Tour Dates:

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