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Good Morning, a Melbourne duo, has gained recognition for their simple and relatable songs about the small details of romance and daily existence. While they may have initially been a hidden gem in Australia, their talent has been acknowledged through surprising endorsements.
Initially, Tyler, the Creator posted a new single called “Warned You” to his Instagram story. Later, A$AP Rocky used a sample from the same track in 2018, which was referred to as an unexpected turn of events at the time. As the pandemic began, “Warned You” went viral on TikTok, becoming a popular song choice to express the stress and worry of being in lockdown.
It’s been over a decade since high school friends Stefan Blair and Liam Parsons first started making music as Good Morning. Now they have a swathe of international fans and have moved from the home town that made them underground mainstays. Blair spent the last year in Los Angeles, while Parsons now lives in London – but working together still feels like home.
They only recently began playing with and producing for other artists separately. The experience has been “eye-opening”, says Blair: “I do, a lot of the time, feel more constricted [working with others]. Even just opening that world and realising how hard it can be makes it nice to come back home.”
When we gather, they have returned to Melbourne to advertise their seventh album, fittingly titled Good Morning Seven. The album was written, recorded, and made at a personalized studio in Preston, and it is their longest and most ambitious piece to date. It includes a variety of samples and interpolations, ranging from Liz Phair to obscure bargain-bin records, as well as vocal harmonies and instrumentation using strings and wind instruments to create layers and complexity.
Compared to previous albums, the songwriting process for this album produced over 70 tracks, out of which 40 were chosen before being narrowed down to the final 17. According to Parsons, the dynamic between the band members allows for a lack of inhibitions when it comes to trying new things and being experimental.
The record gives off a sense of starting fresh following a busy period. In 2021, Good Morning joined forces with Polyvinyl, a well-respected independent label associated with acts like Alvvays and American Football. They have spent the majority of the last six months touring across the United States. During their trip to Melbourne, they only had one hometown performance at a local record store, which will be their only show in Australia for the foreseeable future.
Although it can be challenging for musicians in Australia to gain a large fan base, there are advantages to being part of a smaller artistic community. Blair notes that without government grants, they likely wouldn’t have the opportunity to tour internationally. Comparing to friends in America, they mention the lack of such support. However, America’s larger population and the ability for musicians to tour as a career is not something that exists in Australia.
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Parsons concurs. “Although we currently reside abroad, it’s not due to band-related reasons – the local community and the feeling of being somewhat secluded is surprisingly conducive to creativity,” he admits. “In America, everything feels like a cutthroat competition, and I don’t believe that would be advantageous – at least not for me.”
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Good Morning and Melbourne share a strong connection, with both citing the local band Dick Diver as a major influence. Parsons recounts a recent morning run where he listened to Dick Diver, taking in the smell of gum trees and singing along with tears and screams. The band’s spirited attitude is reflected in Good Morning, with a focus on not taking themselves too seriously and maintaining a sense of lightness. This relaxed and nonchalant approach, rather than striving for coolness or popularity, aligns with the laid-back culture of Melbourne and has benefitted the band.
The concept behind Good Morning Seven is to explore the future and how to maintain a creative lifestyle through various songs. It could be seen as an existential dilemma or simply a natural process of getting older.
“As I approach my 30th birthday, I can’t help but wonder what lies ahead once I stop pursuing music,” ponders Blair. “As I age, I become less and less qualified for any other career. What on Earth will I do?”
Parsons explains that this is a commonly heard phrase from parents: “Be sure to have a contingency plan.” However, in his case, he admits to not having one. At the age of 30, he lacks any marketable skills and would be in a tough spot if his current pursuit does not succeed.
Waiting for something negative to happen, expecting things to go wrong. Each day that passes without any trouble, I feel relieved and grateful.
Inspirational Songs for Starting the Day
Every month, we request our Headline Act to reveal the songs that have been with them through love, life, desire and mortality.
The top year for musical releases.
In 2009, Liam had “My Girls” by Animal Collective, “Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear, “Stillness is the Move” by Dirty Projectors, and “1901” by Phoenix.
Stefan commented, “You have an impressive memory to recall all of that.” He estimates that the songs from Nelly Furtado were popular around the early 2000s when FutureSex/LoveSounds was released. He cannot be certain of the exact years, but some popular tracks from 2006 may have been “My Love,” “Promiscuous,” and “Say It Right.”
The opening credits of my biopic
Stefan: Promiscuous.
Liam: That won’t work for the opening credits. It would be more suitable for the end. I am skeptical about having you as the music supervisor for my biopic.
The melody that I regret composing.
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Stefan: I will share any of the Good Morning songs I wrote before Basketball Breakups. You can choose any of them, I am not particular.
Liam expressed his indifference towards a particular song, stating that he probably feels the same way. He acknowledged the importance of the song in terms of financial stability, but admitted to having a strong dislike for it.
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Stefan did not like the song and suggested to lock it in.
Liam: Confirm it!
is “Bohemian Rhapsody”
The song I always choose for karaoke is “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Liam recommended “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart.
Stefan’s favorite song is “Believe” by Cher.
The song I can never listen to again
Liam: Warned You.
Stefan exclaimed, “Lock it in!”
Liam: It would truly be my own music.
Stefan is having difficulty with “Hey Jude” lately. He feels like he’s heard it too many times, although he doesn’t think it’s a bad song. He finds it a bit drawn out.
The classic song that should be stripped of its title
Stefan thinks “Livin’ on a Prayer” is a terrible song.
Liam says that his initial response would have been “Summer of ’69,” but after hearing the song recently, he feels like he has grown into the era it represents. Perhaps it is due to nostalgia. As one gets older, they tend to reflect on how summer days used to seemingly last forever.
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The song that captured my teenage heart.
Stefan: Alice by Dick Diver.
Liam expressed that he was very emotional over the song “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem, and he was fixated on it. He realized that it was probably similar to how adults might feel about the song “Summer of ’69” and acknowledged that he may have annoyed others by talking about it so much. Ultimately, he admitted that he should have kept his love for “All My Friends” to himself.
The ultimate tune for intercourse
Stefan thinks that instead of a song, it could be a mix, possibly an NTS mix with little talking. He does not want to limit himself to just music.
“I’ve never been a fan of listening to music; I prefer to keep it separate … It’s uncomfortable for me when people mention having had sex while playing our music. I find it distasteful.”
Last week, I was told by someone that they listen to records during sex and flip them over. I had a discussion with an old friend about this and I find it bizarre.
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The answers have been edited and shortened to make them more concise.
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Good Morning’s seventh album, titled “Good Morning Seven,” will be released on March 22nd.
Source: theguardian.com
