A Quick Chat with Powder Blue

What are the origins of Powder Blue? Where did it start?
Powder Blue started as a recording project out of a home studio in Melbourne's leafy east. It slowly grew when Rohan connected with the two boys through a mutual friend. Alex was discovered through an ad he put up after moving to Melbourne, and Louis was recruited from a local gig in Fitzroy.

Rohan: Since I moved to Melbourne, I had been keen to get back into playing live music. I mentioned this to a mate at work who used to jam with Powder Blue, and he told me they were looking for a bassist. I went there for a jam and let’s just say I’m glad I stuck around.

Alex: I made the move from rural NSW to Melbourne to chase my passion for drumming. I threw up a Facebook ad looking for some session gigs, and Rama hit me up for a jam. After that, I joined the band as a full-time member.

Rama: As a teenager, I would write and record songs and then run to the other room to show my brother Narada what I had made. We had the dream of eventually starting a band, releasing music and playing shows; however we didn't yet have any bandmates and I always struggled to feel like something was good enough to be released. After a few years of this and casually jamming with mates we set out to put a band together. Rohan came as a plus-one to a jam one day and we never let him leave, Alex posted on a Melbourne musicians Facebook group that he was new in town and looking for a band and Louis we met out at a gig recently.

Tell us a bit about the new EP. What does it mean to you?
The new EP represents an exciting new chapter in Powder Blue’s musical journey. For all of us, it’s a deeply personal project fuelled by genuine passion for the music we create. We’re really excited to finally share it with the world and can’t wait to start playing more shows across Australia—and hopefully beyond.
This EP is a true reflection of our combined experiences and diverse musical backgrounds. We blend our mutual love for classic Australian indie with flavours of jazz, funk, RnB, and reggae to create something fresh and unique. Thematically, Reaching Towards the Sun explores ideas of light, connection, and growth, capturing a heartfelt search for meaning and fulfilment through friendship, love, and a shared passion for music.

Rama: To me this EP is a bit of a time capsule of who I was when I first started writing these songs and what I was feeling at the time. The EP includes some of my earliest demo songs, some of which were started close to 5 years ago when I was still very much growing into myself and searching for a sense of purpose and connection.

Are there any inspirations you look to beyond music when writing or performing?
Rohan: When I’m writing my parts, I really try to figure out what kinda vibe I’m getting from the song, beyond the music itself. It can be a feeling or something visual and I try my best to translate this into my playing.

Rama: I think beyond musical influences, music and art is very much just inspired by life and you generally create things based on what you are feeling at that moment in time. This can come out subconsciously in lyrics and also just in the energy of the music which changes depending on your mood and what you are feeling during the writing process.

Louis: In terms of inspiration outside of music, I often look for it in the visual arts. From interesting photos and paintings, to printmaking, these spark a creative side of me when I am performing.

Name the five songs that have informed the band’s songwriting more than any others.
Breathe (In the Air) – Pink Floyd
Overgrown – Ocean Alley
I Feel It – South Summit
Get Up – TOI
Funky Monks – Red Hot Chili Peppers

What Australian artists are you listening to at the moment?
Ocean Alley, South Summit, Vanilla Gorilla, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Paper Kites, Druid Fluids, The Cat Empire

Shoutout NZ artists: Mako Road, TOI, Fat Freddy’s Drop, NO CIGAR

How do you hope your music might impact listeners?
We like to think our music can provide nostalgia, mellow vibes, and inspiration for our listeners. It’s the kind of sound that makes you want to bop your head and sink into a groove. Our goal is to make our audience feel like they’re part of a shared moment—something unspoken but deeply felt, where rhythm and emotion bring everyone together.