Introducing #166 - October and the Eyes
Let us introduce you to New Zealand born, London based singer-songwriter October and The Eyes, who has just released her track ‘All My Love’ - a song about an unfortunate love. This single comes with the announcement of her debut EP, which is due on the 20th November, she took a moment to talk us about her music.
Hey there, so how does it feel to be putting out music in this troubled time for the creative industry?
It’s weird as hell. I was hoping to play a bunch of shows to promote the EP - the live experience really is irreplaceable and live streams don’t really cut it for me. Perhaps it’ll force artists to be a little more creative in the way they present their work. But in a way, it’s never been a better time to release music. Art and Artists are really here to distract us from our sour realities, and if my music brings about any form of solace to anyone, then great! Job done.
Your new track ‘All My Love’ is out now - can you tell us what the track is about?
In a nutshell … I wrote this this song pre-breakup and released it post-breakup. So it’s become weirdly prophetic and taken on a new meaning for me.I hate the idea of writing love songs and now I feel I’ve really jinxed myself ha. The song is about that hot n heavy feeling of lusting for someone. I want people to make sweet sweet love to my song ;)
It is part of your new EP ‘Dogs and Gods’ - when can we expect to hear that?
Dogs and Gods is an accumulation of material I’ve written over the space of 3 or so years. I guess for me it was a personal experiment involving exploring the different sounds and sonic landscapes I could traverse using the guitar as a base instrument. I think it’s quite a defiant sound? A little bit sexy? A little bit hot n raw?
You have recently signed to KRO Records - how did that partnership come about?
I befriended Yves Tumor through a weird series of fateful events, and sent him some of my scratchy demos which he ended up sending over to his producers Justin Raisen and Yves Rothman. They were starting a new label and were into what they heard! The rest is history
Even though you are London based, you were born in New Zealand - what led to that change of location?
I love NZ, beautiful and peaceful country that will always be home. But the creative industries are small and I wanted a change of scenery. I’m half English so it made sense to move to London. I liked the idea of how daunting it was. Always up for a challenge. London feels like home now and I don’t see myself leaving any time soon
You come from quite the musical family - what are your earliest memories of this?
My upbringing was LOUD. Music being playing from every room all the time. My mum is a classically trained pianist, my dad is a big music fan, and my two older brothers have been in hundreds of different bands since they were teens. It’s almost like the prospect of pursuing music was inescapable. I have early memories of going on road trips with my family - my mum would put on a piece of Mozart or Bach and quiz us tiny kids about what the time signature was or whether it was a minor or major key and what different instruments we could hear. And dad would take me out driving as give me 30 to guess what rock song he was playing on the stereo. I guess because of this, music has always been this innate thing in me.
From the age of twelve, you learned to record your own music and still follow this process when it comes to your music. Do you prefer it this way compared to a big studio setup?
I’ve had a taster of the pop machine - awkward and unnatural writing sessions that I ended up loathing. I’m not interested in that. Theres absolutely no joy involved in writing a clinical pop song with a stranger. I get a great deal of pleasure out of holing up by myself in my room and writing music for hours on end - the process of watching cause and effect happen in real time. I guess it’s a form of playtime for me in a weird sort of way.
What are your key musical influences as an artist?
I feel like this changes all the time, but at the moment I’m really into Iggy Pop, Suicide, Link Wray, The Velvet Underground, Anika, The Make-up, Yves Tumor to name a few. I’m also listening to a bunch of 60’s/ 70’s afro beat music like William Onyeabor, Fela Kuti, Dur Dur Band. Can’t get enough of those poly rhythms!