A house party you’re all invited to…
It’s that time of year again: the nights are drawing in, your summer savings are finally gone, and your friends are cancelling all of your plans in favour of midterms. Everything seems bland, boring, and a little bit rainy.
But wait! Can you see that in the distance? A glow is emitting from one of the houses on Ocean View road. It’s supernatural, almost, superfreaky…
Finding myself in this exact position, I walked towards the glow, down the dark path shrouded in palm trees, and was greeted at the door. The sequin-clad figure showed me to a leopard-print bean bag, and it was time for my interrogation of the five-piece band to begin.
I managed to summon four out of five of the members: we have Zach, frontman, singer and longtime ‘ideas guy’, his brother Finn on the drums, Iain on guitar, new recruit Jamie on bass, and elusive sax man Sam. The five-piece are recent graduates trying to do music their way, and I’m intrigued by their absolutely bonkers vision.
According to Jamie, who attended many a gig before joining the band, a Superfreaks gig is an entire experience.
“It’s a connection, an experience with the people fully in front of you. We’ve gone so digital as a world, but the Superfreaks remain a truly digital-less, unreplicable moment.”
The band has taken their in-the-moment vibe so far as not to formally release any music, although I am reassured that an EP is in the works for the group.
Zach echoes what his mate says, telling me that the band is trying to be everything for someone, not something for everyone.
“When you come to our show, it’s a synergy, it’s an energy flow from the audience to us and back. We aren’t looking for perfection, we aren’t looking for fame, we’re literally just trying to immerse ourselves and our audience in what we all love—the music, the sets, the lights, literally all of it. It’s one huge passion project.”
The passion is palpable in the room, although that also might be the wine I was served on entry.
I decide at this point that Iain and Finn have been far too quiet, and I want to know more about what led them to the SuperFreaks and why they’ve stayed. I sense a strong younger-brother vibe from Finn, so am curious about what it’s like being in a band with your big brother. He tells me that their Dad instilled music and creativity into them and helps the band out too. I hear about the real family affair that it is, with Grace, Zach’s girlfriend, doing all of the art and dad Ash hopping in on keys when needed.
A musician myself, I’m too aware that sometimes it’s hardest to get started when you’re obsessed with perfection. Iain assures me that the band is happy with imperfections, seeking instead to capture a moment in time rather than a theoretically perfect performance.
“It’s not about people turning up and getting what they expected. It’s about the ability to turn up alone, or with your mates, or stumble through the door unexpectedly. We’ve tried to create an experience that all of those people can enjoy and connect with. It’s a DnB mosh-hype you can sing along to and a house party that everyone is invited to.”
I’m informed of SuperFreaks gigs of old, with the band living in demolition-listed houses purely so they could throw gigs in the backyard then move out. The band also once performed at the top of a mountain at the infamous UASC lodge. Despite knowing nothing about the band, I’m proud of them for growing so fast into new venues. How could I not be—they’re relatable, they’re fun and funky, and I can see how much it means to them.
By far the most unorthodox interview I’ve ever conducted, I’m left musing on how the interview was, of itself, an experience that, just like Jamie said, is unreplicable. I left satisfied, but disappointingly, I did forget to ask them to play at my birthday party next weekend. Knowing that some of the band live together, I try to weasel a scandal out of them to catch a headline, but, sadly, nothing. Perhaps I’ll interview them over a few beers next time…
Catch the SuperFreaks experience at the Tuning Fork on the 12th of May.
