In Conversation With #214 - Little Quirks
Family band Little Quirks have just released their new EP ‘Call To Unknowns’ via Glassnote Records.
Predominantly recorded in their backyard in New South Wales, Australia, Call To Unknowns combines tales of myth and magic with effortless folk-pop songwriting that unashamedly brings catchy melodies and pounding rhythms to the fore.
They took a moment to talk to us about how it came together.
Hey there Little Quirks - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
I’m very well, thank you for asking It feels absolutely amazing! We’ve been counting down the days.
It is called ‘Call To Unknowns’ - what is the meaning behind that?
Picking the title of our EP was very tough this time round! ‘Call To Unknowns’ is a lyric from one of our favourite songs ‘The Rain’. Since we were very young, we have always loved all things magical and creatures of the unknown. We used to sit outside for hours searching for beings that we couldn’t see. We sometimes went too far in these adventures - like putting honey on door handles and salt all around the house to protect us from the evil spirits. Our parents were not happy…so we thought this was a very fitting title for this collection of songs and a fun little nod to our favourite thing we did together as children.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
‘Call To Unknowns’ was recorded at the Grove studios & our backyard studio at home in Australia. One of my favourite days recording was when we tracked the big group chants. We got everyone involved in a big room to sing, clap and stomp in many of the songs. I also loved the intimate & creative parts of recording my vocals alongside my amazing Dad in our home studio. We always turn all the lights off, dance & get in the zone, it’s always my favourite part of recording.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
The key theme of this EP for me is storytelling. We loved the idea of creating a collection of characters and tales that could all fit together in the same world. From the wild, female character of ‘Maybelle’ to our first love song ‘Someone To Hold’. There are certainly mystical and magical elements to this EP.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
What a great question! I got stuck on this one so I asked my younger sister, the drummer in Little Quirks, Mia. She said ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’. She said it’s because the movie is inspired on finding beautiful places in ordinary things and that’s what comes to mind with this collection of songs.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
That’s a very tough choice but I’d have to say a line in our first single off the EP, ‘Florence’s Town’. ‘The Holy Ground, no you won’t hear a sound. It speaks when you’ve been heard’. I love this line as I think it brought a sense of life to the place of Florence’s Town, as well as an underlying feeling of the town being forbidden to many.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
We have so many exciting things to come. We’re touring from September onwards including a return visit to the UK in October! We have missed being on stage so much so it feels great to be doing it more often. We also started writing and recording our first album. This has been a huge goal of ours since the beginning to make an album, so we are over the moon to have the opportunity to make it happen. We can’t wait to share some of our favourite songs yet with everyone.
