In a world preoccupied with instant gratification and overnight success, LEISURE is taking the scenic route. LEISURE consistently delivers a steady stream of good vibes to soundtrack your lazy Sundays.The genre-defying 5-piece will release Sunsetter (a title that perfectly mirrors their musical paradigm).

Sunsetter is laid-back grooves and understated vibes thoughtfully focused on a singular style. In true LEISURE fashion, the album weaves in and out of hyphens: electro-funk, psych-pop, and alt-r&b. Sunsetter will be LEISURE’s third studio album, concluding their 2020/2021 EP series Side A and Side B. As the world has provided its challenges these past years, the group decided to release the record in phases, “we wanted to release a collection of records that reflected how we were feeling as we were creating it; we wanted to release music in real-time. This last chapter closes out what has been an incredible and complicated journey.”

The five members – and mates – came together on a spontaneous trip to New Zealand’s rugged west coast. At that stage, they’d independently spent years churning through the music machine’s tight jaws as award-winning songwriters, producers, and creatives. Collectively, they’ve gone on to release two studio albums and charmed fans around the world. Their catalog has amassed hundreds of millions of streams, and they’ve gained a loyal live following, selling out shows in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, including a debut double performance at UK’s The Great Escape.

What inspired’ Sunsetter’?

I think the biggest influence was the changing of our own lives. Being forced to stay in one spot and shrink personal universes has allowed us some time to reflect upon what’s essential in terms of the band trajectory and our family lives and who we each want to be inside of those roles.

Do you get inspired by other art forms?

I think visual stimuli are very important! It’s all the same, really, and I suppose our senses translate things into different forms.

Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing this?

We made “Dipping and Diving” on the same trip as “Mesmerised” and “Take You Higher.” It was around 1 or 2 AM. We had been working on this vibe for a while. We had a few vocal sections recorded, but nothing that felt like a chorus yet. I remember Jaden and Jordan kept repeating this joke vocal part, which had us all in stitches. After a wee while, we started to look at each other like, “wait, that’s actually great, let’s put that in,” and it became the “dipping and diving” chorus.

What’s your favorite place or environment to write?

Anywhere near the water with a good sunset.

What’s a record that shaped your creativity?

I can only really speak for myself here, but one of my favorite and influential records (apart from all the obvious stuff like The Beatles and Radiohead) is still Primary Colours by The Horrors. That record blows my mind. It’s the perfect blend of chaos and order or something.

Who is an artist or band you look up to today?

Considering I’m watching the new Peter Jackson Beatles doco as I write this, it would be rude not to say The Beatles. I know it’s considered a cop-out, but they are just great. Watching the footage of them in the studio recording and messing around, trying to work things out, brings me so much joy. It makes me miss my friends and want to get back into the studio with them and just fuck around (we’ve been in lockdown for around half the year in NZ).

What excites you the most about what you do?

When I get messages from people about how they really connect with something, or it emotionally resonates and helps them process something. That’s a great feeling and reminds you that this creative business isn’t just about you, the person making it.

What is your view on genres and music styles since you mix a lot of them in your music?

Everything’s vital and important and bounces off everything else.

What do music and art mean to you?

I guess art is just style, so really, it’s in everything you do. The way you dress, the way you make a cup of tea, the way you conduct yourself in a room of strangers.

How would you describe the LEISURE collective in one word?

Warm