Tell me about the demo song – The Europeans.
Pachi: For me, the instrumentation is absolutely delightful. The bass line is a song within itself – it dances around and yet holds the song with such solidity. And then there's this songful trumpet lines. I love it – it's so conversational and gives it a great continental street-music feel.
Dom: For me The Europeans has got a sort of Style Council vibe about it. Particularly with all the short horn lines. We really put a lot of work into composing this – a lot of time over at Ric’s place jamming it through. It's not like this by chance or accident – it's been fully crafted.
Pachi: I love the driving force of the staccato strings keeping the tempo pumping along. It's a really up-beat number.
Ric: The Europeans came about in the middle of a period when we’d actually given up on guitarists. We weren’t having much luck finding someone who was reliable.
Dom: Yeh, but necessity is the mother of invention, so we decided to play to our strengths.
Ric: With the absence of a guitar sound we started working in the ambient acid groove – sort of futuristic – sound space. The Europeans came out of this experimentation – out of the feel and style that we were creating together.
Dom: That’s why there’s all the horn line riffs in song. Normally a lot of these would be taken up by the guitar.
And the vocals?
Pachi: Yeh, I'd love some Motown backing vocals shaping this. This recording was just a demo to get it down. I recently unearthed it on an old cassette tape at the back of my undies draw (laughs). No, really, it was a bit like that. Anyway, it has a powerful message – one that I feel should be encouraged, especially in these times.
So, tell me about the lyrics.
Pachi: When I emigrated to Australia from the UK around the time of "the recession we had to have," it was an eye opening experience – all be it a 'mild' migration. My new friends would tell me stories of their Greek and Italian born parents' migration in the nineteen fifties – it was very inspiring, how they faced their challenges and the sacrifices they made. Even though I could relate personally, I realised that my experience had been one of privilege in comparison. Anyway, suffice to say that as soon as the chorus line of The Europeans found it's home, the subject of the song became obvious and personal to me.
Ric: Yeh, this song looks prejudice right in the eye – it calls it out nakedly.
Any ideas for the video?
Pachi: I can visualise the video being a big street party in Sydney's multi-cultural community and everyone bringing their own unique character to the celebration. I think this message of harmony, community, and humanity is well worth celebrating.