BROODS, You’ve Got It Going On

Chicago – Chances are by now you’ve heard “Bridges,” by New Zealand sibling duo BROODS. Caleb Nott and his younger sister Georgia took a hold of everyone in the music biz and blogosphere with their irresistible electro-pop single before they even released their self-titled EP, which was produced by Joel Little (Lorde). You can say everything just sort of snowballed for BROODS after “Bridges” was put up on Soundcloud in October of 2013: they signed with Capital and Polydor, toured with Haim, started work on a full-length, and topped radio charts worldwide. So much has happened so fast, in so little time. I mean, the two still don’t even have an official website, yet they’re about to embark on a headlining tour. Although, given their laidback attitudes, I don’t think that matters much to the two. Speaking of laidback, I shared plenty of laughs with Caleb as we casually chatted about music new and old, sibling love, childhood memories, and Flight of the Conchords.

Sarah Hess: You’ve described your music as “layered synth-pop.” What has influenced your sound?

Caleb Nott: Umm, that’s hard… I’m influenced by Thom Yorke and Sloan and anyone who is doing something interesting musicianship wise.

SH: Can you tell me about your songwriting process?

CN: Really, it changes every time we write a song. I mean, sometimes I meet Georgia at home and we get out some melodies, and then we get in the studio and work it out. Sometimes we just write from scratch, whether it’s from a bass line or from a drumbeat or something like that, and Georgia and I just sort of work out the lyrics while we’re in the studio, which is a fun way of doing things.

SH: I know you and Georgia consider yourselves best friends, but as siblings, do you ever butt heads when it comes to songwriting?

CN: Nah, when we write music it’s kind of like you leave it alone in the studio. That’s what we end up doing, anyway. We know how to handle each other very well and we can easily just tell each other to piss off (chuckles) or whatever. We don’t really take it to heart at all.

SH: You come from a musical family. What kind of music did you two listen to growing up?

CN: We listened to quite a weird range of music. (laughs) And my parents listened to quite a weird range. We listened to Neil Diamond, Manhattan Transfer, Shania Twain, KoЯn, The Eagles.

SH: Did you guys play a lot of instruments growing up?

CN: I’ve only even played guitar until this project.

SH: Really?

CN: Really! I only wanted to play guitar because my dad played guitar, and I just wanted to be like my dad. Georgia played a few instruments but not very well. (laughs loudly)

SH: You recently signed with Capital Records, and you’re currently working on a LP. Can you share any details?

CN: I think I’d have to kill you if I told you. (laughs wickedly) Umm, It’s different. It’s definitely a development of the EP and sound wise and production wise it’s changed a little bit but nothing too dramatic. Are the songs in a different emotional place? I guess ‘cause the LP was written in such a confined space of time, so the emotions are quite cohesive, where as the EP emotionally was quite contrasting. So, I guess that music on the LP is contrasting but the emotions are rather cohesive, if that makes sense.

SH: So you recently opened for Haim, and I just read that you’ll soon be supporting Ellie Goulding. What was it like touring with Haim? And what are you looking forward to most on your upcoming tour with Ellie?

CN: Touring with Haim, those were the biggest shows I’ve ever played, so it was quite exciting! And the girls are great. They’re so much fun. It was such a great experience, and we were very grateful to be on tour with them. I’d like to play some shows again with them sometime. That’d be good. And Ellie Goulding, man we don’t even know what to expect. I mean, they’re arena shows, and I can’t even imagine playing in an arena! (chuckles) Shit, we grew up playing in cafes and things, so playing in an arena’s going to be nuts! I think Georgia’s most excited. She’s been a huge fan of Ellie for years!

SH: I heard you’re a fan of James Blake. Is this true?

CN: I am! I am.

SH: What is your favorite song? Can you pick one?

CN: Oh man. Favorite song? (laughs) Shivers!

SH: No Pressure.

CN: The Wilhelm Scream.

SH: Okay, so I’m going to ask some silly questions. Being as you’re from New Zealand, I have to ask if either of you are fans of Flight of the Conchords?

CN: Yeah! We sat next to Bret at The New Zealand Music Awards, so that was pretty great and pretty funny.

SH: What’s your favorite song of theirs?

CN: I think I know Georgia’s. Georgia’s would probably be “Bret, You’ve Got It Going On,” and mine would probably be “Mutha’uckas” or “Too Many Dicks (On the Dance Floor).”

SH: If you had to pick between Bret or Jemaine, whom would you pick?

CN: OH! I don’t know. I saw Jemaine when our New Zealand flight landed in LA a few weeks ago, but I didn’t want to say “hi” ‘cause I was too nervous. Ugh, I don’t know. I find Jemaine’s humor quite funny, but Bret’s just such a cool dude. I don’t think I can make a decision on that one.

SH: I feel you. I’d want to have a beer with both!

CN: Totally.

SH: Okay, I know pretty much everyone thinks of The Lord of the Rings when it comes to movies made in New Zealand, but personally, I think of one of my favorites: Whale Rider. Have you seen that movie?

CN: Have I seen that movie! You really have to watch that movie at least five times during your school years. It’s like part of the curriculum, I think.

SH: Did it make you cry?

CN: I don’t think it did. I think I was quite bored maybe.

SH: Oh, no! You’re breaking my heart here! (laughs)

CN: (laughs with me) I probably had to watch it during Māori class.

Broods will be kicking off their U.S. tour in Chicago on April 26. You can scope out all their upcoming tour dates on their Facebook page.

(Photo credit: Stephen Tilley)

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Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.

You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.