A Quick Chat with Neighbours

Congrats on the release of ‘Pretty’! The track captures the whirlwind intensity of a crush, what was the moment or feeling that sparked this song?
Jimmy: “When I joined the band and laid eyes on Jordan for the first time.”
Max: “Yeah pretty much, we owe everything to Jordan, all our songs are about him. For ‘Pretty’ though, I remember it was all brought on by quite a severe crush I was nursing a few years back - since then, I’ve found that its meaning has shifted to being less about a specific person, and more just about the feeling of being absolutely infatuated with someone.”

You’ve described the track as starting off “sparse and vulnerable” before building into something huge. How did that sonic shift come together in the studio?
Harley: “After playing ‘Pretty’ live for a little bit we had a good idea of the sound we wanted to achieve. It was super fun playing around with different sounds and pedals in the studio with our producer Jono Frowd, to come up with an absolutely huge atmosphere that really served the song.”
Jimmy: “In the B section I wanted to add to the confusion and sense of frustration that’s coming from the lyrics. Everything else everyone else wrote for that section was swung & choppy, so I added just simple intervals of the chord changes, but played with straight downstrums against everyone’s else’s swung rhythm. I think that really aids in capturing the confusion in the lyrics.“
Max: “For me, I was just super focused on making sure the song stayed as bare as possible for as long as possible. That meant a lot of trimming fat & pruning layers in the front end of the song, basically just trying to pull out as much as possible until I knew that absolutely everything that you would hear was exactly what needed to be there. That way, I think it made it so the massive drop at the end hits that much harder.”

You’ve held this song close for a while. What made now the right time to release it?
Max: “The release of this one came about super organically. Originally, it wasn’t on our radar to release at all, as I’d already been there & done that releasing an earlier version of this song years ago with another band - shoutout Venner Road. After a while though, I found myself gravitating back to this song, and when Neighbours started gigging more I decided pretty early on to bring this one to the band & see if we could find a new take on it. It quickly became one of our favourite ones to play, and audiences at our gigs seemed to really connect with it too. After that, the rest was history!”

What do you hope people feel when they listen to Pretty for the first time?
Harley: “Relatability, frustration, and a sense of community comes to mind.”
Jimmy: “The sensitivity & longing of being vulnerable enough to acknowledge feelings for someone, plus the pitfalls of navigating the dating world.”
Max: “This one always leaves me with such a strong feeling of nostalgia - I think everyone’s had a pretty debilitating crush at one point or another - I really hope that resonates with people through this song.”

What does being a good neighbour mean to you?
Jimmy: “Being there for each other even when you don’t particularly feel like being called upon, like when Bob from next door drops by at 7am to borrow your mower. You don’t particularly feel like it but you do it anyway. That’s community. That’s being a neighbour.”
Harley: “Not mowing your lawn at 7 in the morning!!! Creating a gentle, warm environment for those that wish to join the neighbourhood!”
Max: “I think Jimmy & Harls have nailed it. Stepping up, being there for your community, and treating others with warmth, love, and respect always is crucial to being a good neighbour.”

You’re proudly Brisbane-based — how has the local music scene shaped your sound and journey?
Jimmy: “Ian Haug. I love Ian Haug.”
Max: “It’s crazy to think about with where we are now, but Harls & I aren’t originally from Brisbane, and there was definitely a time where I think we both felt super apart & disconnected from the local scene. Since then though, it’s really been amazing how much the community has taken us in. I feel like at this point we’ve been welcomed with open arms, and we’re now able to do the same for the next wave of people coming in.”

What are some of your favourite emerging local acts in the Australian music scene?
Harley: “Bean Magazine immediately comes to mind. Ball Park Music are also one of our faves.”
Jimmy: “The Rentons, Clay Pigeons, Catchcry.”
Max: “Love all of these, Ball Park especially has always been a pretty huge north star for us creativity-wise. I would add Felony, Full Flower Moon Band, and Radium Dolls as well.”