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Auguste consists of Skye Lockwood and Beth Keough, two step sisters from Adelaide who have been making music together for several years. Upon first listen, that much is evident immediately. Formed only in August last year, Auguste are open about their potential for sentimentality, “The month of August also has some sentimental significance for our family so that makes it kinda special”.
Originally acoustic songwriters, the duo turned their focus towards electro-pop last year after deciding to create Auguste. It’s a new direction for them, but one that they seem to have undertaken with absolute finesse.
No need to speed things up, sister duo Auguste take things nice and easy on Slow Motion, their vocals a harmonious force to be reckoned with.
Speaking about their songwriting process, Auguste admit it’s been a case of trial and error. “We’ve been loving fumbling around in some production programs and finding new creative ways to write tunes and experiment with our vocal sounds.” With influences ranging from London Grammar to SBTRK, the lifeblood of Auguste lies within electronica. “There are also a few older songwriters we look to, [like] Fleetwood Mac.” Appropriately so, their harmonies exude the soul of 70s rock, with a Nicks / McVie sapidity seeping through.
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Unsurprisingly, Lockwood and Keogh’s debut release as Auguste, Slow Motion sounds a bit like August; a time when the clouds are clearing, albeit slowly, and whilst the hope of the summer ahead begins to pierce through the gloom, winter doesn’t let go easily. There is ample hope and uplift in the melody of the track, yet there is also a counterbalancing darkness to the synth tones.
Metaphors aside, the undeniable hero of the recording is those voices. Smooth and velvety at every turn, they carry you wistfully through a story of infatuation with ease. And whilst the song clearly benefits from the skills of all-star indie producer Andy Bull, it is not saved by tricky post production effects, it is owned entirely by talented vocals.
This is just the beginning of the journey for Auguste, a band whose instant accessibility make them feel ripe for major festival appearances within the next few years. The immediate future for Auguste, however, will be full of long hours spent in their home studio spent writing and honing their skill sets. “Our near future should look something like an EP release and touring with our new live show – we cannot wait to get out there!” With over 38,000 plays on Soundcloud in less than two weeks, it seems like there’ll be plenty of people for them to play to.
