The countdown has begun for British India’s 32-leg national tour kicking off at the Astor this month.
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The news was announced at the beginning of August, around the same time the Melbourne-based indie rock band confirmed a sixth studio album, Forgetting The Future, would be out on September 22.
British India is one of the few Australian veterans for the Indie Rock genre.
Forming in 2004, the band comprises of Declan Melia (lead vocalist and guitarist), Nic Wilson (guitarist), Will Drummond (bassist) and Matt O’Gorman (drummer). They rode wave of alternative rock, which filled up the airwaves during the second half of the 2000’s.
Outside 109 was the first single and vinyl they recorded.
Guitarist Nic Wilson admits the band has come a long way from what he described as their “little indie rock attempt.”
“We’re not 18 writing songs about stealing your girlfriend anymore. We’re older, life has kicked in a lot more,” he said.
“We’re starting to realise how quickly life can change. It’s not always the way it is, everything is always on the edge of disaster.”
The album cover is a bold yellowish-orange, with a ceramic St Mary’s idol and three sparks of light facing into the heavens. Bold colours is a prevalent theme, first trickling into the scene for their video clips for the song ‘Precious’ earlier this year.
The definitive, bright colours ironically contrasted the inception of their album, as the band was in a creative rut.
“Complacency is the enemy of creativity,” Wilson said of the time.
About 18 months ago the group moved to a new studio in South Yarra and five definitive songs were recorded in the studio. This was the first time the band had followed this process of work.
“When we were recording, we wrote to the sounds of the album,” he said.
“We’re really proud of it. It’s a lot heavier, I think our fans like it when we’re heavy, we’re not exactly pop divas but more ferocious and nasty.”
He said it was an insult to the country when bands led national tours only in major cities.
“How many people don’t live in the city?” he said. “We always love going out to the country towns, it’s the bread and butter.”
“I know some people think the new songs are time to go to the bar and get a beer, but it’s really to hear the album and learn the words ” he said, with the new songs having a major play on the tour.
British India will perform on September 22 at 8pm. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased online.
