Crooning and grooving their way to commercial vitality and critical acclaim, Auckland’s LEISURE have a mastery to their sound that is rare to find. The soul-electronic collective are a musical breath of fresh air, offering rich palettes with measured splashes of colour immersing the listener within their sonic universe.
Thee band are back with their fourth studio album, Leisurevision, released via Nettwerk. Unlike many modern artists who see huge hype surrounding their first LP or two before being somewhat looked over or forgotten later down the line, LESIURE have been their fanbase slowly and surely, with this body of work undoubtedly their most anticipated to date.
The album in question delivers on all fronts. Smooth, sleek, kaleidoscopic and playful, it’s the work of a supremely confident act that knows their sound, and each othe, inside-out. Warm production, intricate instrumentation and elusively provoking songwriting guide the album assuredly to its satisfying climax, with key singles like the Muroki-featuring “Summer Season” and LP opener “Always” proving to be standout moments.
We caught up with the collective to discuss their origins, shaping their sound, Leisurevision creative process, and the meaning behind the new album.
Listen to the album…
Read the interview…
What inspires you in your writing and creating?
Coming together with friends, listening to music, talking about our lives and families. Travel and finding new places to create is also big for us, we’re often a product of our environment, seaside, sunsets, hill tops, places for reflection and connection.
How did you form as a band?
We hired an Airbnb at Muriwai on the west coast of New Zealand to hang and jam as friends, what we created lead us on a journey that we never expected or intended. One of the best weeks of our musical lives.
The sonic palette in which you create in is particular and unique to you, how did you shape your sound?
It came from each member feeling confident to be able to put their best ideas forward and us creating an environment free of ego in an attempt to operate as one entity. The sound came organically through capturing a feeling and vibe that we all connected with.
How would you define the essence of your sound?
Relaxed and non intrusive, created with a positive energy! Music for the soul.
How has your outlook on the industry and artistry evolved since the group’s inception?
We try to make decisions based on our own interests and goals and build plans around that, we’ve always felt when we’re the most true to ourselves and the music that’s what people who follower and discover us feel the most connected.
Talk us through the creative process for the new album?
We were in a good place after Sunsetter, we were really happy with that record and enjoyed the process so we were confident and open to exploring where we could go next. We managed to create more than usual via the internet and sharing ideas which helped us keep moment between all getting together which I think has made for a more eclectic album.
Where did the name Leisurevision stem from?
It was born from us getting together and discussing where we’d like the band to go in the future, coming up with ideas that excited us, seeing the world and trying to push things forward in a positive way. A vision for the future through the Leisure lense.
How has the experience differed from your previous bodies of work?
We’ve grown a lot as people, have started families and grown stronger as a group which I think comes through. I like to think as we move through each album we continue to defirne our own sound and identity.
It feels like your most ambitious project to date, did you put more thought int shaping it conceptually and musically?
I think that just comes from us feeling comfortable and confident within ourselves to try new things and evolve. We always try to make music that excites us as a group and pushing things forward into new spaces is part of that.
What are you trying to convey across the project thematically?
We weren’t really trying to convey anything, we just begin writing about what is happening in our lives and what’s important to us in those moments, this usually comes out in the form of our relationships and processing our day to day lives. We let the music take the lead and bring out what ever floats to the surface.
What do you want listeners to take away from the LP?
I hope that people feel a connection with the music and they can experience it in the places and moments in their lives that the music reflects.
What’s next for you?
We’re excited to do our first US / Canadian tour!