It's well-known that Australia is home to some of our favorite musicians. Currently, Naarm / Melbourne is a vibrant hotspot and a center for creativity in the arts; it’s a place where it seems like everyone is involved in multiple bands and holds down a DJ residency as well. Close Counters – Finn Rees and Allan McConnell – embody this fluid cultural exchange, blending club influences with analogue elements, and displaying a freedom reminiscent of jazz musicians.
Their new album, ‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’, is exceptional – the songwriting is precisely crafted, the featured artists are outstanding, and the warm sound of the production serves as a comforting remedy for the lengthy winter days (at least in the UK).
Described as “a metaphor for the power of collective energy” by its creators, ‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’ features contributions from Lyric Jones, Tiana Khasi, Allysha Joy, Jace XL, and Shiv, with the production duo serving as the gravitational center.
CLASH spoke with Close Counters on the day of their album release to highlight their impressive new work.
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The new album is fantastic – you must be excited to finally share it?
Thank you! We are indeed excited, and this album is our most ambitious project to date.
It's been a while since ‘SOULACOASTA II’ – did the praise received for that project boost your confidence?
Absolutely, along with the positive feedback from our live performances, which motivated us to integrate more live elements into our productions.
Your sound is distinctive, blending jazz-inspired analogue components with club-ready electronic elements. How do you maintain the balance between these styles? What fuels your creative process?
The key is that all the musicians involved appreciate a broad spectrum of music and strive to understand what resonates with them groove-wise – from Roy Ayers to Stevie Wonder to Kerri Chandler or Masters At Work. If it has the funk, we're interested. As musicians who learned to DJ concurrently, we view our tracks more as songs that can also function as club anthems.
‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’ feels remarkably cohesive; did you have a specific vision when entering the studio? What contributes to this sense of unity?
We approached this record more like a live band than simply a production duo. Like most albums, the concept for ‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’ came together in the latter stages of production.
There are some incredible guest artists featured – what do you think makes a collaboration successful?
All the collaborative tracks on the album were crafted in just a few sessions. The openness and enthusiasm during each session are crucial. Sharing similar values is essential to the collaborative creative process; it helps to set aside any ego.
However, the next critical factor is actually following through to complete each song, which can often be challenging because the initial excitement from the idea can wear off, leading to the more tedious process of refining it before it's sent to mastering.
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Tiana Khasi delivers a stunning performance on ‘ON THE MOVE’ – what inspired that song? How was the vocal recording session?
Writing this song was a lot of fun. It centers around the idea of not wanting to accept a stagnant creative life and the feeling of having ‘home’ within you wherever you go. It addresses the ongoing journey that can feel overwhelming and tiring yet perpetually refreshing. Tiana shares: “As artists, we often lead transient lives that can be both detrimental and beneficial for our mental health and perspective on life.”
We all live in Melbourne/Naarm, having relocated from different cities, but we happened to be in Sydney while working on new material. We borrowed a studio from Toby, aka Butter Bath, and managed to capture most of the vocals in one afternoon. Tiana's melodies are incredibly catchy; the song's upbeat yet melancholic tone captures the conflicting emotions perfectly.
We’re big fans of Allysha Joy, and her contribution on ‘WAITING ALL NIGHT’ really shines – what is she like to collaborate with?
Working on this song was a blast. Allysha is a natural poet, quick to channel lyrics. The track was largely improvised when we entered the studio with Luck Pereira and Matt Hayes a couple of years ago, and it has become a staple in our live sets, so we’re thrilled to include it on the album. Her voice exudes soul.
The creative community in Naarm / Melbourne is quite inspiring – how significant is the city to your music?
It plays a massive role! The wealth of local talent featured on this album speaks for itself. One of the highlights of the record is the vocal group we assembled (including Jace XL, Rara Zulu, Kid Heron, Annalisa Fernandez, Tiaryn, Kee’ahn, and Michaela Jayde) to record several songs. The talent here is extraordinary, and everyone we've collaborated with has made a significant impact. The lifestyle here is conducive to strong creative output.
We’ve received great support from the
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It's well known that Australia is home to many of our favorite musicians. Currently, Naarm / Melbourne is a vibrant hotspot, serving as a center for creativity across the