In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up and coming stars on the planet.    

This time we speak with Tora.

Throughout this year the increasingly popular Australian band Tora have kept us entertained with a slew of eclectic, sample-heavy, upbeat and downtempo tracks that show off their range of talents, influences and love for experimentation. In recent months, we’ve selected our personal favourites ‘Empyrean’, ‘Love Life’ and ‘Blame’ as standout listens featured on the four-piece’s debut album, Take A Rest. From the recording of a washing machine’s spin cycle to the sound of cacti being scraped with garden rakes, there’s no end of surprises on Tora’s premiere release. A tonic for those who never seem to have the time to sit down and chill, this LP will encourage you to depart from those buzzing thoughts and indulge in a moment of serenity.

The project of Byron Bay’s Jo Loewenthal, Jai Piccone, Thorne Davis and Shaun Johnston may have only appeared on our radar as of late, but the well-informed reader will know that this band have been writing, recording and playing live together since 2013. In fact, they’ve been working on Take A Rest these past three years, having already released many singles and an EP titled Eat The Sun, through which we first began to hear their signature electronically-doused sound.

At the moment, Tora are preparing to head off on another Australian and European tour, which promises to be more immersive than ever for audience members. If you happen to be around London on October 9th, then you’ll definitely want to head down to The Lexington to catch these guys in action. For now, we chat to bassist Shaun Johnston about all things Tora.

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TMR: Hello Tora, so who are we talking to from the band? And what have you all been up to in recent months?

Hi, this is Shaun from Tora. Since releasing Take A Rest in June, we have been focusing on our live show and production. During June and July, we completed our Australian tour, this time focusing on the major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and even stretching over to Perth. The shows have been amazing and we’re really excited to bring our new live show to the UK.

TMR: Tell us about your debut album’s title, Take A Rest. How does it relate to your music?

The environment that surrounds us greatly influences the art and music that we create. All Tora members are based in Byron Bay, anyone that knows about this special place on the east coast will understand the laid-back lifestyle. We want the listener to be transported to a place that gives them space, respite and time to take a rest from their busy lives.

TMR: Perhaps you’re also ready to take a rest after the 2-3 years it took to complete the LP. How are you all feeling? Satisfied for now or already itching to move onto further music?

It was a massive undertaking and we have learnt so much from the process of creating the album. As for taking our own rest, we are always creating and making music on a daily basis. Even on the road, touring and travelling, we have time to work on ideas. It’s always best to be one step ahead.

TMR: That lengthy process has resulted in a diverse album, but could you pick one song that sums up these past few years best?

'Amsterdam'. Sums up most of it.



TMR: It’s also noted that the Eat The Sun EP took six months to make, most of the time spent experimenting with sound. Would you say that’s the most enjoyable part of the creation process for you?

We always spend a lot of time experimenting with sounds and samples, most of the samples we use in our tracks are captured with a portable recorder. I would say it’s the most enjoyable element for sure, you never know what you might come across or create - it’s exciting.

TMR: Take A Rest is full of unusual samples, including “the sound of [the band] scraping and hitting cactuses with rakes” as Jo describes, but what has to be your favourite sound on the album and why?

We captured so many interesting sounds while working on the album, so it’s hard to pick just one… One of the most satisfying and creative sounds is placed at the ending of ‘Dope'. It’s the sound that gives the listener a feeling of an aircraft taking off. The original sound was a sample from when I was doing my laundry and heard the washing machine on spin cycle. I quickly grabbed the recorder, sat in front of the machine and waited until it started spinning again. At the time I had no idea what it would be used for, but loved the transformation of texture and sound that it had.

TMR: Do you think your home environment of Byron Bay has influenced your style and/or approach to music?

As an artist, your environment and surroundings have a huge influence on your art and music. The Byron shire has given us all an opportunity to follow what we love, maintaining a grassroots approach to recording our music and creating album art.



TMR: Are there any local, emerging talents that you reckon the rest of the world should be listening to?

First one that comes to mind is Parcels, those guys are killing it. They are now based out of Europe, but it’s always a killer show when they come back to the Bay.

TMR: Of course, you’ll soon be setting your sights further afield as you head off on another Australian and European tour. What’s been your most bizarre or surreal moment while on the road?

One that sticks with me is the time we drove from Paris across to the UK to arrive at Somersault Festival. We took a detour and visited a nearby beach. It was the first time we had seen the ocean in three months, so in the bitter cold wind of the afternoon we had to jump in. I can still remember walking back up to the car and not being able to feel my toes, Toby even jumped in his sleeping bag to try and defrost himself.

TMR: To entice those would-be gig goers, would you describe your live set?

Each time we develop a new set, the aim is to expand and improve not only the production but also the musicianship. This time we will be touring with a new setup, that allows us to give the audience a more immersive experience into our music. A great way to get an idea of our new set is to check out the Australian tour video diaries. Our good friend Aytan came along and documented our adventures.



Take A Rest is out now via Indica Records.

-Hannah Thacker