Surprise Chef: Dig In

Interviews
Written By The Note
 

Surprise Chef returns to SA this month for the inaugural Porch & Recreation festival. Here, the cinematic soul journeyman chew the fat on spontaneity, their Superb LP and getting sampled by Wu-Tang’s Ghostface.

Interview Zara Richards // Image supplied

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You’re returning to Adelaide for Porch & Recreation! What will you be cooking up?

The Surprise Chef live set is a non-stop journey through the catalogue. We weave tunes together with transitions so the music keeps flowing throughout the show, linking new material with old and trying to pace out the moods dynamically. We try to present the full spectrum of colours and dynamics found in our music – the energetic moments are balanced by delicate, intimate scenes throughout.

Your new album, Superb, drops a fortnight before this show. You’ve said the LP helped you return to the ‘unbridled joy’ of making music – how so?

On Superb, we just tried to move intuitively through the process of writing, arranging and recording the music without placing too much emphasis on scrutinising creative decisions.

Spontaneity and playfulness are key ingredients of Superb. How did letting go of previous processes change how you connected as a band?

The specific ways in which we changed the process, which could be broadly characterised as ‘taking it easy’, made it easier for everyone to just enjoy making music together. We care really deeply about the thing we’re making when we’re in the studio, but Superb taught us that we can be less intense in the pursuit of perfection and get a record that feels lighter overall.

How does being based in Australia shape your identity as artists? Is our isolation a source of clarity or friction?

We’ve come to respect our cultural and geographical isolation from the places of origin of the music we’re influenced by for its singular ability to differentiate our perspective on the music. Coming from suburban Australia, our interpretation will naturally [differ from] someone from America or Europe, where soul and jazz have deeper histories. It places great onus on us to do our homework and ensure we’re approaching music from a place that’s informed and respectful.

Music has brought some incredible collaborations, remixes and opportunities for Surprise Chef. What are the biggest pinch-me moments from this journey so far?

Hearing Ghostface rapping on our cut ‘Spiky Boi’ was the craziest. Their music has had such an impact on Surprise Chef. Hearing Ghost drop a ‘WU-TANG!’ on a Surprise Chef instrumental is still a trip.

Sizzle Round

An act you’re most excited to see at Porch & Recreation is… Emma Donovan. Australia’s greatest soul singer.

Most underrated soul record of the ’70s is… Lamont Dozier – Out Here On My Own.

The meal that best represents Surprise Chef is… Turducken.

If Superb was an identity, it would be… Our cat, The Fabulous Baby Huey. He’s highly superb.

You keep returning to Adelaide because… Sharni & The Porch crew, super friendly and enthusiastic punters, dope venues!

See Surprise Chef at Porch & Recreation this May 31 alongside Emma Donovan, Ella Thompson and more. Tickets on sale now via porchrecords.com.au.

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