Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Heya, yeah we’re Dande and The Lion hailing from Sydney, Australia and Bristol, England. We started together in 2017, we’ve all come from different backgrounds in music so it’s been a journey in itself listening and learning each other’s stories. I guess we just wanted to create and were in the right place at the right time with the people and it kinda just happened. Then one thing led to the next and we think we’re in a good place now in terms of defining our sound.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: A real mix bag! Metric, Metronomy, Wolf Alice, Parcels, Wet Leg, King Stingray, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and some old favs like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Naked and Famous, Bad//Dreems and Delta Riggs.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Dande and The Lion’?
A: Probably The Naked and Famous, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs in both songwriting, style and musicianship.
Tass suggested the band name and we all thought it was a good play on words. As we’ve grown as a band, so too has the meaning for the band name for each of us individually. One of the common themes is Dande and The Lion represents the music from being soft, melodic, and vulnerable, to dark, edgy and fierce. A bit of the Yin Yang in that sense of compatibility between two extremes/opposites.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Harder to Breathe’. Is there a story behind it?
A: We were having a discussion about what Abbey was going through at the time, and shortly after started jamming on the chords. The lyrics flowed very quickly from there and the song just clicked.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Perhaps not in the immediate future, but it’s definitely on the cards. We’re constantly writing so we’re always conscious about releases, EPs and albums.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: As with most artists, we just want to create what flows for us and allow the listeners to take what they want from it and what resonates with them. We’d describe it as dark edge indie with pop sensibilities.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: We’re aiming high, so we’re putting a lot of work into getting our music to the level we have set for ourselves, and so, as we progress, we do get delicious moments of fulfillment, but not complete contentment, which I guess keeps us driven. There’s a lot more work to do, but we’re enjoying every step of the way.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: It’s different with each song. Sometimes one of us will bring a complete song to the band and know exactly what they want and we just tweak it from there. Other times it could start with a riff, or a melody line, or some lyrics, or even just a broad concept or idea and then it’s worked on by the whole band. There’s three songwriters in the band and one of us will usually take ownership in overseeing the song’s creative development, but we all bring ideas and work on them, jamming them out to see what flows and connects.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: Ouuff that’s a good question. Lots of things haha. As an artist we’re kind of having to be open and vulnerable, putting a piece of ourselves out there for the public to judge and critique. It’s that constant battle of pushing through the uncertainty of how it will be received and just doing it anyway.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: We were super stoked to have the opportunity to perform at Airlie Beach festival! We have also had so much fun performing and selling out shows at iconic venues and supporting some really fun bands. I guess connecting with people has been something we see as a success, getting to meet with so many different people. And of course, it’s always nice to get positive feedback from having our songs played on national and international radio. It’s super special when people come up to us and let us know in person that they like our music and had fun at our show or have been moved or affected in positive way.
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