Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Frances Carter
We got to chat with New Zealand-based music-duo Foley about their EP Vacation and artists that inspired them growing up.
Growing up in New Zealand. What music did you listen to that got you both interested in creating music of your own?
Ash: I grew up listening to a whole range of bands with my parents – Fleetwood Mac, Groove Armada, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Primal Scream, as well as some really incredible Kiwi women like Brooke Fraser, Bic Runga and Anika Moa. Those women really impacted me because they made me feel like music was actually an option as a career. Fleetwood Mac was my first true love though… Stevie Nicks is my religion.
Gabe: I feel like our New Zealand influences were about the same, Brooke Fraser and Bic Runga were everywhere when we were growing up, alongside bands like The Mint Chicks. There was a lot of DIY pop music here in NZ and an alternative/punk scene in the late 2000s that was quite punky and simple. It helped give me the idea that I could write music even if I thought I wasn’t that good when I was younger!
Tell us about your single “Better Than Love.” What inspired the lyrics?
Ash: “Better Than Love” is about self sabotage when you’re starting a new relationship. I was in a place where I had been knocked down so many times dating and getting my hopes up, only to be let down if the person wasn’t who I thought they were. When we wrote “Better Than Love” I was feeling really cautious heading into a new relationship and trying to make sure I didn’t get hurt again if my expectations couldn’t be met. I think that’s really common though – to not fully let ourselves be vulnerable because it might not work out. Dating is hard!
After collaborating with each other on your first EP has the songwriting and song creation process become easier?
Our collaborative relationship is always changing because we bring on new influences and collaborators every time. It’s never really been hard to be honest! Mostly we scrap like siblings when we don’t agree and that’s always going to be the case. On this EP we had come deeper into our sound simply from writing so much music together so in a sense it was easier to land somewhere cohesive. We also definitely spent a lot longer on the sonics of this EP, really getting the instrumentation right so that it conveyed the right emotions alongside the lyrics which we’re super proud of.
Your EP Vacation is fun, upbeat and what’s needed during these weird times. When you were working on the songs what inspired the sound and the feel of the EP?
YAY! That’s the whole energy! Take a vacation in whatever form you need it! Mental or physical. We wrote a little in lockdown in New Zealand but mostly we wrote these songs after lockdown when we were in the joyous ‘I’m so glad I’m out of the house’ zone. “Anything Before You” was actually written a year or so ago in Los Angeles with some awesome co-writers we love, and because we were essentially on ‘vacation’ at the time, it has the same energy to it. The EP as a whole is less linear than our first, but that whole vacation ethos really runs through it. Everyone has their ideal vacation or getaway spot, or ideal of who they’re trying to be. It’s aspirational, and this EP is us just trying to be our best selves.
Do you have a favorite song off of the EP?
Ash: That’s like picking a favourite child! I think “Better Than Love” was really therapeutic for me to write so that’s the closest to my heart.
Gabe: Impossible to definitively choose but “Keep Me On My Toes” is just such a fun song that came together super quick and is awesome to play live!
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
Be patient! It’s so important to remember that things don’t happen overnight, so keep reaching out to fans and other artists and growing your audience. Enjoy the ride – it’s really easy to focus on the end goal, but if you want to keep having music as your passion and joy, you have to make sure you make the most of every moment.
