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In late 2008, two girls and one guy started experimenting with dark electronic soundscapes, male-female vocals and tribal drums. The very excellent end result was These Patterns, a Melbourne band famous for their sombre brand of electronic music that has plenty of nightmarish textures, Peter Murphy-style vocals and live drums to distinguish them from the slew of electro jam bands out there. It might also help that all three of them are actually classically trained in their instrument of choice...
The trio is also slowly becoming known for its hardcore DIY approach - as part of the new breed of bands on the streets, these smart cookies realise that throwing money at an entourage of "help" isn't going to necessarily work anymore. Perhaps these three talented kids are just control freaks, but everything from management, booking and the artistic direction of their videos are all done within the band. These Patterns are so dedicated to their DIY cause that they have even started up a production house for their music video escapades. Hell, if Paper-Deer had asked them to write this blurb, they probably would have.
These Patterns are currently slaving away at the recording studo to work on their upcoming EP, so things will be a bit quiet on the gig front until the EP launch in November. But there's no need to worry if you're starting to have awesome-band-withdrawals - Paper-Deer was lucky enough to catch all three Patternites on their way to the studio. Paul Satur, Jess Njoo and Samantha Arthur give us the three different sides to the story.
What pattern is your name “These Patterns” referring to?
Paul: One thing that I have found to be really cool about what we are doing is that we all have different interpretations, encounters and reactions of our name. The name for me is about the fact that I have come from an overly developed suburban area and one thing I have struggled with over the years about such an environment is the monotony of everything, and how so many people just seem to accept that. They eat, go out and where the same things, they live in the same looking houses, doing the same things every week. Just like patterns (see what I’ve done there!), so I suppose these patterns is a reflection of my frustrations with that sort of thing.
Sam: Yeah, I guess we didn’t really have a meaning behind the two words, together they just kind of fit. For me it refers to patterns in life, art, music, nature… everything seems to have a pattern.
Jess: But really our name means whatever you want it to be.
These Patterns is an excellent do-it-yourself type of band and has started your own production company Ludwig Van. Why do you guys love doing things yourself as opposed to kicking back and hiring minions to do the dirty work?
Sam: Doing everything ourselves is a major priority for us. We like to be in control of every aspect of our music, from our designs to our music videos. I think for a band to take control of every part of their music reflects how important it is to us and how it gives us a great sense of euphoria.
Jess: I guess we can’t help it. We love being way too involved in everything. I don’t think we ever thought to get someone else to make us a video, or to help with anything else really. It just seemed like that’s what we should do. A lot of the other bands we like and admire are really DIY and I think that it’s a really important aspect of being passionate about something you are a part of.
The Loui video that These Patterns/Ludwig Van made is really excellent. Is it easier (because you have total creative control) or harder (because you have to do everything yourself) to create your own video?
Sam: We had a lot of fun doing Loui because it was challenging to try and make it as good but also as cheap as possible. We used all our sneaky little resources to make it almost a like a family event, everyone knew each other. We were all feeding off each other’s ideas. With areas like costume, make up and hair we let the artists listen to our music and contribute their own creative ideas and influences. Jess was the brains behind the entire piece, having just finished a degree in film and TV. She organised everything, Paul and I just tagged along and helped out where we could.
What do each of you bring to These Patterns in terms of personality, energy and talent?
Jess: Hmm, hopefully all of the above! Although Sam and Paul seem to disagree, I think I have a killer sense of humour, however incredibly lame at times. I like to use a lot of catch phrases that have died out over the years - I think they help with band bonding.
Paul: For a long time we have always compared ourselves to animals. Our animals tend to change on a monthly basis, but right now I’m a baby giraffe, Jess is a gold fish, and Sam is a three toed sloth... make of it what you will.
Sam: I totally disagree with the three toad sloth comment, but musically we all have really absurdly different tastes. I come from a jazz background, Jess likes folk, Paul likes punk, but strangely when we start writing music these influences intertwine and we are left with a morphed music love child which is These Patterns.
You’re about to lock yourselves into the recording studio. If you can bring only three things with you, what will they be?
Sam: Three thousand pairs of drum sticks. I hit too hard, like a giant ape man.
Paul : Honey, green tea, and a can-do attitude....yay!
Jess: Yes, green tea! But also my camera and a pack of muesli bars.
What can we expect from your upcoming studio trip?
Sam: The sound is going to be more current to our new stuff, somewhere between post punk, experimental, electronic, a lot of tribal sounds strange noises and experimental lapses. We really want to explore every inch of our instruments and stay true to our live sound but also add more layers than we can physically do on stage.
Any embarrassing secrets about These Patterns that you’d like to share with Paper-Deer?
Sam: Alright, biggest embarrassing moment of my musical life was when we played at the John Curtin Hotel and I was carrying my bass drum down the stairs, slipped, did a somersault over it and somehow it landed on top of me. I stood up, looked up to see a bunch of people staring at me, dusted off my knees and hobbled to the car.
Jess: I’m generally pretty embarrassing and make a lot of lame comments which has led to me being denied an on stage microphone, so I guess no one will ever hear my hilarious jokes or embarrassing stories.
Any last things to say to your adoring fans before you leave us for the sound booth?
Sam: Paul will miss stage diving on small girls and spraying beer on expensive cameras.
Jess: Please convince Sam and Paul to let me have a microphone.
Paul: Turn off your TV.....cheers, big ears!
Still having withdrawals? Check out These Patterns rad video for Loui.
'LOUI'-These Patterns from LUDWIG VAN on Vimeo.
DATES:
- Friday September 10: The Tote
- Friday October 8: 1000 Pound Bend [Gallery opening]
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