I Just Wanna Know is out now!
Image: The Splints.
Brisbane act The Splints have dropped their new single, I Just Wanna Know. We caught up with the four-piece to chat about the release, their Aussie take on Brit-rock and so much more!
Following up their debut single Come & Get It, the bands latest offering delves deeper into their Brit-pop influences, fuelled by an Australian indie-rock undertone that captures a magnetic energy. Built atop sing-a-long melodies, driving percussion and engaging guitar work, the exhilarating cut explores the complexities of a relationship and recalling on a former flame.
Tell us a bit about The Splints’ origin story and how the band came to be…
The Splints are a band that’s been around since 2022. We all met playing in other bands and running into each other at venues. We came together to create this project. We’re 4 larrikins that just enjoy having a good time and are hopeful we can pass that energy off to people listening to our music. We like having good times and want to pass the good times and energy onto everyone else.
Your new single I Just Wanna Know has arrived! What inspired the song and how did it come to life?
In 2018-19 I was studying audio engineering and I was DEEP in an indie rock phase. Searching for the twangiest, catchiest songs all over the internet. I found a band called Satellite Stories from Finland, and listened to old Arctic Monkeys and The Wombats on repeat. There was something missing from it though, there was music I wanted to hear that just didn’t exist, so as an exercise to practice recording I’d sit down and write the music I was looking for. I Just Wanna Know is a product of that. Exactly the song I wanted to hear, then it sat in my google drive for 4 years and I showed the lads all my demos and this one stood out as a contender for The Splints.
The track continues your infectious brand of Brit-pop with a distinct Australian indie-rock undertone. How did you arrive at the sonic realm the song exists within?
The song is a direct product of an Aussie Brit-rock fan trying his best to emulate that twangy melodic sound of the 2000s English guitar rock sound. Although the last minute of the song was something we came up with after playing it about 400 times at live shows and wanting to involve the crowd, for a minute we wanted the whole ROOM to be The Splints. That part of the song is very special to us for that reason. It’s no longer a 4 piece band of lads on stage, it’s a 100 piece band all having a good time. The crowd is as much a performer as we are in that instance. Which is also why we brought in friends to record that part, we produced it ourselves and it gave us the freedom to plan a session specifically just to make the end of this song. I could’ve just as easily recorded my own voice 100 times and called it a day, but the whole idea of that part needed to be realised both live and in the studio to be true to the whole notion of inclusivity.
Is there a particular line, lyric or musical motif from the song that you find gets stuck in your head, or one that you’re most proud of?
[James] For the other boys it’s probably the LAs at the end because it’s just a huge culmination of work as best mates feeling out the song and evolving it as a band, but for me my favourite line is Oh Darling. because while I was studying at Uni there was a facilitator who said “hey James, meet me in the studio after class, I got something to show you” and when I showed up he told me he went to Abbey Road a couple of decades ago and managed to get his hands on some genuine Beatles multi tracks. Sat me down and we listened through all these iconic songs as raw as they were when they were recorded, and it was surreal, it felt like I got a glimpse at music history. We got to “Oh Darling” and isolated Paul’s vocals on that iconic line. The facilitator turned to me and said “listen to how he sings that line. Anyone else doing it could never sing it like that” and that just stuck with me. It wasn’t the writing, or the lyrics, it was the uniqueness of the individual’s sound that made that special. So I wrote a chorus that started with “Oh Darling” as a bit of a tongue in cheek reference to that, it could never be as good as Paul’s but injecting my own uniqueness to the line was what made it so appealing to include.
What messages do you hope listeners take away from the track?
It’s okay to fall out of touch with people and question whether it’s a good or bad thing. But as long as you’re always moving forward. All members in the band have a completely different interpretation of the song, and we hope listeners hear it and can make what they want of it. Whether it’s a love song to you, a break up song or just about a couple of friends going their separate ways.
When it comes to writing and creating, walk us through your collaborative creative process?
The songs we’re releasing currently are songs James wrote very basically with midi drums and bad guitar tones at his home studio that we’ve selected from a huge list of rough demos he’s got. Then we jam it at rehearsal and add our own unique flare to it. We have about 6 more of those and once they’re out of the way we plan to do a huge writing session together and use what we’ve learnt to evolve the sound we’ve become so familiar with. I think we’re all very excited for that
You’ve just hosted a single launch show for the track. How important is live music to you as a vehicle to showcase your art and make a connection with your audience?
Live music is HUGE when it comes to being a band. We found there’s two different types of songs. Studio songs and live songs. Live songs will be good in the studio, but studio songs never translate right live. For a band it’s important for us to make sure these songs make people dance, have a good time, and most importantly walk home with a bit of it stuck in their head
What can audiences expect from your live show?
ENERGY. Hot sweaty goodness.
What is in-store for The Splints for the rest of 2023?
Lots of releases, live shows and good times with friends.
GET TO KNOW THE SPLINTS
Biggest influences?
Death Cat,
The Strokes,
Satellite Stories,
Rage against the Machine
Dream collaboration?
Jack from the Pretty Littles,
Jack Shepard
Jack Black
Jack Stratton from Vulfpec
Album that has had the most impact on you?
Tourist History
Skeleton Run
Proper by Into It Over It
How do you define your musical style in 3 words?
Aussie Brit Rock
If you could create the soundtrack for any film, which one would it be?
Sub Marine
Fast & The Furious 29
Perks Of Being A Wall Flower
Yu-Gi-Ho! The Movie Pyramid Of Light
Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus?
Hannah Montana
What was the first song you loved to sing?
Killing In The Name
The Nips Are Getting Bigger
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head
A song you would love to cover on tour?
Don’t Change - INXS
Album you would listen to on repeat on a road trip?
Grace – Jeff Buckley,
The Wall - Pink Floyd
Every Kingdom - Ben Howard
Skeleton Run - The Pretty Littles
First concert you went to?
Westlife
The Wiggles
Jebediah
Hooley Dooleys
Best concert you have been to?
Josh: Catfish & the Bottlemen at the Sugar Mill in Stoke.
Cob: Violent Soho – Riverstage
James: Beddy Rays – The Tivoli
Jack: Stick to your guns & Knocked Loose at a community hall.
First album you ever bought?
James: August burns red home
Cob: Artic Monkeys – Whatever people say I am, that’s what I’m not
Josh: Busted - A Present for everyone
Jack: Busted - Self title
An artist you would love to see cover one of your songs?
Fatboy Slim or The Prodigy
Would you rather be a Spice Girl or a Backstreet Boy?
Spice Girl
If you were a Spice Girl, what would your spice nickname be?
Josh – Spicy Spice
Cob- Dicey Spice
Jack- Mild Spice
James- Spice Rack
Most memorable show you’ve ever performed?
Both single launches.
An artist you think has had the most influence on the music industry.
The Beatles.
What advice would your current self, give your future self, for a year from now?
If it’s not working fuck it off.
The moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?
Josh- Watching my Dads band play gigs around England.
James- When my friends were rehearsing for a talent show in grade 5 they got time out of class to practice, so I took up guitar to join them and skip class.
Jack- I wanted to play guitar when my Dad told me they gave you free beers at the pub if you’d go down and play for them.
Cob- Putting on a dancing show in a nappy at age 3.
I Just Wanna Know is out now!
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