Bangers: now pouring.
Whether you're staying home or just staying sanitary... we're keeping the tunes flowing with a fresh addition to our Cabin Fever Mixtape series. As a proud supporter of Support Act, this series is our platform to connect with our favourite artists and raise awareness for the artists, crew and music workers affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
With states rolling back limits and schooners starting to flow, we couldn't pick a better time to be joined by school of Barney Cools alumni and Sydney based drummer and producer Commandeur for a punchy poolside mix to set the tone as we slowly but surely emerge from our isolation hibernation.
We'd describe Tim as probably our most humble mate in the music biz. With 14 years at the forefront of the global music scene since launching his career in Aria-award winning band Operator Please (we all remember that song about ping pong), Tim has performed alongside the likes of PNAU, Tkay Maidza, Dua Lipa and consequently completed a few hot laps around the festival circuit.
Now taking the solo route, Commandeur has been getting busy throughout isolation in the studio and most most recently released his brand new tune 'Feel The Love' featuring KLP, stream it here.
Peep the full mixtape and what's been happening in Tim's world since shit hit the fan below.
1) What's been happening in Commandeur's world since the outbreak?
All the things! Once the outbreak hit and everything closed, my partner and I decided to relocate to her parents place in northern NSW. While I love living in Sydney's Inner West, with everything shut, it lost its vibrancy so getting out of Sydney for the meantime felt like the right move.
I brought all my studio gear and drums up with me so aside from not touring, it’s been business as usual - plugging away at upcoming releases and developing myself in the studio. I recently spent a day at Rockinghorse Studios out the back of Byron Bay recording drums for a few Commandeur tracks so have been loving playing around with the recordings and bringing in that live element instead of programming drums.
I’ve also been doing a fair bit of co-writing on Zoom which I’m really enjoying! I’d never done a remote session and wasn’t sure how it would pan out but turns out it can be just as fun and productive.
2) Congrats on an epic new release Feel The Love - what have you been doing to stay sane and keep feeling the love over the last couple of months?
Thanks! I'm really proud of what Kristy and I came out with. We were feeling pretty uncertain about the world when we went into the studio and wanted to flip that feeling on it's head to see us through it all by creating a positive message. We've had such a great response to it so far so we're definitely feeling the love.
I feel like for most people this forced reset has been the biggest silver lining and we're all rediscovering old passions. For me that old passion is surfing! I grew up on the Gold Coast and started surfing from a really young age (Currumbin Alley was my local) but when I moved to Sydney it went on the backburner because I couldn't hack the driving. Luckily in this relocation I'm right on the beach at Casuarina so not only is there no distance to drive, there's also no people in the water! I've been going out morning and afternoon when it's on and it's really changed my state of mind for the better - definitely doing regular weekend trips down the south coast when I'm back.
Aside from surfing i'm cooking as much as I can and getting into more boards games. Rummikub, Monopoly Deal and Compatibility are my regulars.
3) What are you missing the most about live music and touring?
I miss everything about touring... aside from the super early lobby calls.
Most of all I miss the atmosphere in the middle of a set. Once everyone's locked in to the mosh and you're feeling comfortable on stage there's a back and forth of energy and excitement that builds and climaxes multiple times throughout the night - there's nothing that can replace that adrenaline rush.
I was pretty bummed to miss out on Splendour this year! I was really excited to catch Flume, YYY's, Duke Dumont (Live?!), Mura Masa, King Princess, Benee, Sofi Tucker and pretty much the whole line up. It's such a magical weekend, I can't wait till we can get back to that place in music again.
4) Describe your perfect post-pandemic party!
Ooo if I could throw a dream party it would be an all day event. Maybe up at The Spit on the Gold Coast (they used to have Good Vibrations there) so the artists could be ferried across to South Stradbroke island for a wave and I'd probably have Phoenix, Tame Impala, Chemical Brothers headline and 2ManyDJ's kick on from midnight.
Cools is calling upon our all our music loving mates across the globe to support the industry appeal where possible. With your help, we'll be able to support our music workers through this difficult period and help them be in a position to bounce back louder and throw a post-pandemic party for the ages. You can do your bit by donating directly to the Support Act COVID19 Emergency Appeal below.
