“Big swings and drastic changes are what I find exciting and it’s these kinds of changes in volume and attitude that I am fundamentally influenced by when writing and producing.”
In a world longing for a Pixies-esque rock revival, Regional Vic four-piece Paraquay swoop in to satisfy our cravings with their monster debut album, “Here For Your Pleasure.”
Their infectious blend of alternative rock, pop, and grunge takes us on a spirited journey through the annals of music history, paying homage to their influences while carving out their own unique sound.
From the get-go, Paraquay showcases an energy previously unmatched, with an amalgamation of classic rock, alternative ’90s vibes, and an unapologetic playfulness that permeates every moment of the album. The opening track, “The Cowboys Are Coming,” immediately sets the tone, teasing us with expertly executed guitar lines and a cohesiveness that can only come from a band in sync.
One cannot help but be drawn into the palpable enjoyment and connection the band members share, evident in each dynamic shift throughout the album. “The Cowboys Are Coming” is predictably unpredictable, delivering a constantly exciting listening experience that never shape-shifts just for the sake of it.
Clocking in at thirteen tracks, Paraquay expertly maintains the album’s momentum, never losing steam. “Regret” showcases their ability to traverse new territory with an almost shoegaze-inspired moment. And as a fitting finale, “Maybe I’ll” delivers a ruminating, punk-grunge introspection that begs to be experienced on the stage.
One of the standout features of “Here For Your Pleasure” is the impeccable drumming. Consistently challenging yet seamlessly playing off the rest of the band, the rhythm section, composed of Jade McKentish and Jett Willey, forms a steady backbone that every band should aspire to have.
Paraquay, Melbourne’s promising gem, delivers their debut album with a flair that combines pop sensibility with raucous presentation. Their sleek live shows, headlining venues like the Gasometer and Retreat Hotel, prove time and time again that their infectious chemistry is a force to be reckoned with.
As they embark on their journey in 2023, supporting notable acts like Beans, Bones, and Jones, Good Sniff, and Sunfruits, Paraquay is set to conquer the music scene with their irresistible blend of heat, sass, and unadulterated fun.
A cocktail of humble noodling and unprecedented times, Here For Your Pleasure is the kind of album that stands strong as a testament to the enduring spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.
Paraquay sat down with us and offered up some insight into the development of the album, as well as some happy accidents to listen out for.
Happy: What are you up to today?
Gus: I’ve spent the morning working on some demos that we tracked a couple of weeks ago, working out some lyrics and texture. Planning on doing some study in the arvo and then off to work tonight.
Jett: Having a go at some mixing for some demos we recorded a few weeks back, will probably practice the tubs and listen to a couple of records later as well.
Jade: I’ve been working all day making coffee, teaching guitar and now unwinding by listening to our newest demos!
Happy: Tell us about your suburb, what do you love/not love about where you live?
Gus: We’re all from the Bellarine/Geelong area and it’s pretty ingrained into the band’s personality. Things seem to move slower there which is a blessing and a curse, maybe a hangover from the surfer culture. It feels way easier to be overwhelmed working in the Melbourne music scene, but at the same time it’s a far smaller pond in Geelong with less opportunity to grow. Most of us have relocated to Melbourne now.
Jett: I’m the only member still living in the Geelong region, just up the hill from Leopold. I’m on a bit of land which gives me plenty of space to make a whole lot of noise which is quite lovely, but on the other hand, there’s a bit more travel involved when getting to and from gigs. I’d much rather a country setting than a busy city though, so I’m happy.
Happy: Describe your average work day?
Gus: After reading Jeff Tweedy’s ‘How To Write One Song’, I’ve been trying to get a good work ethic going. I’ll noodle on guitar or keys for a half hour and make voice notes of anything that sticks out. Then I’m either off to Uni or Work so I’ll listen back and start thinking about lyric ideas. For cash, I’m in Hospo.
Jett: Practice drums, do some mixing, maybe attempt to write a song, all depends on the day. I wouldn’t call it work though, more self improvement.
Jade: Honestly, there hasn’t been a consistent average work day for a while, personally! My days are predominantly filled with planning everything around ‘Here For Your Pleasure’. Alongside teaching guitar, mentoring a female soul band and completing an internship at a booking agency, I keep very busy with everything industry related. By day, I’m a hospo girly like Gus and Milo.
Happy: What about your ultimate day?
Gus: Most gig days to be honest. I love playing live, and the 24 hours before a gig are filled with a real nervous/excited energy I thrive off of. They’re normally the days when I write the best songs as well.
Jett: My ultimate day would take place under a sunny, blue sky. I would go between playing music (by myself or with the band), record shopping, and/or visiting some sort of coastal environment.
Happy: Tell us about your creative community. Who are some artists or bands that have inspired you, and how have they influenced your music?
Gus: Coming from Geelong, King Gizz did a number on so many kids our age. We all knew somebody who knew them when, and it really made/makes us believe that a life in music is possible for a coastal kid. Their output is something to aspire to as well. As a teen, I always looked to groups like IV League and Plastic as bands in Melbourne that seemed both accessible and a million miles away. Our mates Good Sniff have been kicking some amazing goals lately, same with Speed Mullet.
Happy: How did the dynamics of Cheap Trick and Nirvana influence the sound of Paraquay’s debut album ‘Here For Your Pleasure’?
Gus: I’m colourblind and as part of that, I’ve always felt that anything artistic I gravitate towards lacks subtlety. Big swings and drastic changes are what I find exciting and it’s these kinds of changes in volume and attitude that I am fundamentally influenced by when writing and producing.
Jade: I think that the style Gus plays into definitely enables the band to fill everything out dynamically, rather than adding unnecessary parts, which is really beautiful.
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Happy: Can you tell us more about the recording process of the album? What was it like working with Jasper Jolley?
Gus: We spent about a month and a half practicing 2-3 times a week over the summer of ‘21-22 just getting the songs tight. The actual recording at the Fridge was done over 4 days, with some light overdubs at home.
Jett: Over the first two days at the farm, we recorded the main instrumental parts for the 14 songs we’d originally planned for. We had enough time after doing these to track an extra 4 songs, before recording vocals, keys, organ, extra guitars and percussion in the last two days.
We decided to record live with the four of us tracking as if we were performing- previous experience with tracking our parts separately didn’t have the same sound at all. I was the only band member with access to headphones with a metronome, so there were times where I had to click my drumsticks to keep the others in time if I wasn’t playing. It worked fine but due to a little spill in the guitar mics, you can faintly hear the clicks in the finished mixes, heard in the intro of ‘Save Face’.
Jade: I personally really like this touch! It genuinely feels like you’re right there in the room whenever you hear the sticks going. Even though they were unintentionally recorded, it adds to the DIY-ness and homeliness of the record a bunch.
Gus: Jasper’s Grade 3 class was my Prep Class’s buddies, and we also attended the same high school. He’s always been the cool older kid who had the time and awesome attitude to talk to the younger kids about their music. Working with him felt very natural, and he’s stocked with some amazing gear.
Happy: The album is described as a testament to the tumultuous shift into adulthood. Could you elaborate on the themes and lyrical content explored in the songs?
Gus: The songs on the record can be cut into three distinct years of my life. The first were written pre-pandemic as a pretty happy go-lucky teen. These songs are mostly fun and sound heavier, like ‘Company Dime’ which I wrote after leaving my job at a prominent fast-food restaurant.
As the pandemic came to a head, I was starting year 12 and had some of my close family members become quite ill. My writing began to reflect these stresses and fear, which is heard in ‘Cripple Me’ and ‘Overstimulated’.
The last section of the album was written while I tried to find my feet at uni, and trying to establish who I am as an adult. ‘Save Face’ and ‘Outside The Lines’ are both a lament to the kid I was, and a view to what I wanted/want to achieve.
Happy: With the success of singles like ‘The Cowboys are Coming’, ‘Oh Leah’, ‘Save Face’, and ‘Outside the Lines’, what can listeners expect from the rest of the album?
Gus: Energy and swaying, tension and release! Intricate pop and dirty, dumb rock and roll!
Jett: Some louder ones, some softer ones, pretty much a whole lot of sweet noise.
Jade: A whole bundle of songs that, in their own way, can soundtrack the ups & downs in life.
Happy: Could you share some details about the live recording session in the orchard cool room turned recording studio? How did the location influence the overall atmosphere of the album?
Gus: Recording at Big Fridge felt like the most genuine space for us to unleash all of our music at it’s fullest. The studio was spacious, very homely, and the faint scent of fruit made it that bit more nostalgic- all perfect to get into that introspective mindset.
Jade: Being able to step outside and being hit with the fresh orchard breeze was the perfect ‘break room’ for our sessions. It felt like you could really hit refresh and gain back some energy, even just a few metres from the studio.
One of my favourite parts though was this sweet dog that would come and greet us whenever we’d step outside; it reminded me of Gus and Jett’s pets that would always do the same. It all felt very connected and aligned with what we were already so comfortable with.
Happy: How would you describe Paraquay’s live shows and the chemistry within the band?
Gus: We’ve all been mates in different scenes since high school, so it feels like we’re basically siblings at this point. The band dynamic between practice and performance doesn’t shift a whole lot, which means that our shows are overall a pretty honest representation of us, as people and as friends.
Jett: Our shows are always very energetic- I think Gus once said that if we don’t get off the stage hot, sweaty, wrecked or even sick, we didn’t do enough. We have all known each other for quite a while, and played with each other for a while as well. It’s always a bit of fun playing with your friends, especially when you make the tiniest mistake or play something a little differently and it results in a couple of sneaky looks and giggles.
Jade: I will be the first to admit that my onstage poker face is practically non-existent, and it’s always a fun time whenever I sneak in a new riff, or Jett plays a slightly different feel. As a rhythm duo, we definitely keep eachother on our toes, but never with a lack of trust.
Happy: Which venues have been the most memorable for Paraquay to headline so far? Any standout moments or performances?
Gus: Bridie, Stokesy and the whole crew at the Barwon Club were so good to us when we first started gigging as a group, and have given us countless opportunities. It’s home for us, even though most of us have moved now, so any of our headliners there are particularly memorable. However, our debut headliner at Wrangler Studios was amazing. We managed to sell it out and had a great time, though it was one of the scarier stage dives of my life.
Jett: It was great cause the crowd had a lot of energy and we were feeding off it. We have a live recording of Slowly Slip from that show on Spotify, which was the first track we properly released. Another great performance was at Lulie’s Tavern supporting Good Sniff, we got a lot of great feedback from it, and it was also the first time we played ‘The Cowboys Are Coming’ live.
Happy: Can you talk about the bands Paraquay has supported, such as Beans, Bones and Jones, Good Sniff, and Sunfruits? How have these experiences contributed to the band’s growth and development?
Gus: Beans & Bones and Jones have always been just out of reach for us; coastal kids a couple years older than us who started making waves. Their work ethic and presence have been so influential, and mapped a course of venues and releases that we use as markers for our next moves. The Good Sniff boys have been friends of mine for 4 or 5 years and playing with them is always a stupidly fun time.
Jade: Being fortunate enough to jump on a lineup with these acts has always been such a thrill, and I’ve constantly been motivated by their ability to command their crowd. There is always so much personality shining through each performance, which I feel like we have all subconsciously grown into over time to make our live shows worth the time.
Happy: What are Paraquay’s plans and aspirations for 2023? Any upcoming tours or festivals that fans can look forward to?
Jade: Well, we just launched ‘Here For Your Pleasure’ at Nighthawks in Collingwood last Friday, which was a blast. We have a bunch of other support gigs in Victoria coming up to really keep our post-album excitement flowing, at venues such as Revolver, Baby Snakes, and a few more that are in the works. We’re looking to play interstate very soon, which is a new venture for us!
Music-wise, we’ve started demoing our second album and may even have a single or two good to go by the end of the year…
Happy: Lastly, what makes you Happy?
Gus: Time with my dogs, parents, girlfriend and besties. Playing with these guys makes me feel a way that can’t be recreated in any other circumstances or environment. I’d be extra happy if ya gave the album a listen <3
Jett: Great people and a really good song.
Jade: Nylon guitars, blasting music in the car, and of course my Paraquay family :)
Check out their gorgeous new album Here For Your Pleasure
