Photo Credits – Michelle Foran
Following the release of the last single, ‘Shuggah Doom’, rammed to the gunnels nationwide shows and alternative radio chart-topping success, New Zealand’s indie sludge-pop rockers, Soaked Oats are back with new single ‘Driftworld’.
In stark contrast to the melodic, meandering pace and life observing lyrics of ‘Shuggah Doom’; the instrumental ‘Driftworld’ draws the listener in with its whirling cymbal punctuated swirl-scape. A sharp turn of pace whips into the metaphorical twisting and disordered guts of the 34 foot 1980’s R.V. that Soaked Oats called home for their 10 week, 20 thousand mile, D.I.Y U.S. tour.
Drummer, Conor Feehly reminisces, “It often took a couple tries to get Driftworld going. The sudden jolt of initial movement would send everything that wasn’t weighted down flying through the interior of the vehicle, and once moving a choir of rattles coming from unknown sources would start to sing. The first few days were characterised by popped tyres on multi-lane freeways, setting the journey back hours at a time. The need to get to the next gig/city was all that really maintained any semblance of purpose in ‘Driftworld’”.
Vocalist and lyricist, Oscar Mein fondly reflects, “Originally called ‘Driftwood’, the R.V. quickly became known as the ‘Driftworld’ as whoever ended up on board – which reached its peak with 11 people for a couple weeks – lost all sorts of things including wallets, clothes, sense of time, direction, sleep, coherence, motivation, general wellbeing, all sorts. It slept 5 comfortably”.
‘Driftworld’ was recorded in Dunedin at the iconic Chicks Hotel, Port Chalmers by Tom Bell and produced in Auckland at Paquin Studios (The Lab) by Tom Healy (Tiny Ruins, Miss June, Finn Andrews) and Soaked Oats. Accompanied by a music video shot and directed once again by Jake Munro (Avantdale Bowling Club, Marlin’s Dreaming, Yukon Era), who himself headed into ‘Driftworld’ and shot the video as it happened in the U.S. in all its chaos and wonderland madness.
The band is heading to The Great Escape, the UK’s largest showcase for up-and-coming bands held in Brighton May 9-11. Following that Soaked Oats will be playing a London show on Monday, May 13th at the east London venue, Servant Jazz Quarters.
Additional shows to be announced along with playing times at The Great Escape.
Calling all enthusiasts of New Zealand music, travellers, or fans of Soaked Oats abroad. Come and enjoy Soaked Oat’s penchant for joyous songwriting and high energy shows.
Tickets available here
Soaked Oats are a young four-piece band hailing from Dunedin, New Zealand who have been described as “a southern stew of Kevin Morby and LCD Soundsystem with a good shake of Mac DeMarco“.
Their last single ‘Shuggah Doom’ stormed to the top of Alternative Radio Charts in New Zealand, picked up by the astute RRR, FBi, Tone Deaf, Rage and MTV in Australia alongside student radio across New Zealand and RNZ.
After a solid 18 months touring NZ, Australia and the U.S, Soaked Oats are making their inaugural trip to the motherland in May to perform at the UK’s well-established music festival, The Great Escape.
Since forming in early 2017, the band have come to notoriety for writing songs about stone fruit (‘Avocado Aficionado’, ‘I’m a Peach’). As well as touring prolifically, the band has released three EPs in their short existence. Tour Supports have included: Tiny Ruins (NZ) and Hockey Dad (AU).
The band is made up of lead vocalist Oscar Mein who scribes the smart, witty and thoughtful observations on life. And fruit. Guitarist, Henry Francis and his amazing pedal-board are on the noble path to tone mastery making the instrument sound like it was made by unicorns. Rhythm section Max Holmes (bass) and Conor Feehly (drums) provide the backbone, the funk and keep the party going.
“There’s something infectious about their sound;
it’s happy, it’s relaxed and a little bit cheeky.” – Pilerats
“If you said it sounded like Mac DeMarco cruising around
the South Island and playing loose pop in the back
of a Britz camper you wouldn’t be far off.” – Vice Noisey
“Bold colours and dancing beats cut nicely through t
he grizzly cold of the NZ winter, warming the bones with
relevant words and pop/rock’n’roll rhythms.” – NZ Musician
Check out Soaked Oats on:
Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
