Pnau are a pair of self-confessed Sydney kids who love the beach. Peter Mayes, on the phone from Sydney, is loving the heat… even if where he’s staying has no air conditioning. It makes a change from the cold stark English recording studios where Mayes and partner-in-crime Nick Littlemore have been holed up, recording their fourth studio album (ok, ok, so they did do final mixes in LA, adding a little warmth to it all).
Their return is a blistering triumph, particularly since they bring with them lead single The Truth. Scorching itself into the collective Australian heart as an epic anthem of heart break and confrontation. And with them set to tear apart Big Day Out this weekend, it’s fair to say… Pnau are back baby, and how!
What can you tell us about the new single, The Truth, and the new album? If we did the same thing we’d be really bored. This record is really more about the songs and less about the nightclub. We don’t even really delve into the nightclub at all. It’s much more classic songs. You can still dance to this music and it has a great energy live. Nick’s done all of the tracks and his vocals are the centrepiece of the record. And so as a result of this it’s all about the songs.
How does your live act differ this time? It’s much more performative this time. There’s like three of us up the front singing. There’s a lot more natural energy. You’re not so focussed on the costumes. It’s much more of a visceral raw experience. Very direct and upfront.
What’s a festival highlight you can share with our readers? The last time we did Big Day Out in Melbourne, that was an incredible show. The audience were so with us and so there in the palm of our hand and Nick at one stage made them all sit down in a breakdown. I’ve never seen anything like that. A synergy like that just makes you do a better show.
Festival horror story? Well apart from just mud, for me personally I just got really really drunk and abused everybody. That’s a festival I’d like to forget. I just made a fool of myself that day. And that’s being really honest. That’s about as horrific as it gets. I promise I won’t do that again. I’ll come to Perth and be your best friend.
Big Day Out happens Sunday Feb 6 at Claremont Showgrounds. Tickets are still available from outlets. For the full line up go to www.bigdayout.com/perth.php. Pnau’s The Truth is out now through EtcEtc, Ministry of Sound and Universal Music.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
