Why The Hunter Express Recorded With A 'Lazy Tele'

Brad Ellis carved his own notch into the local music scene as a soloist in 2015, but now he's back on the scene as frontman of The Hunter Express.

"I wanted to develop my music, so I began writing and working with a band. That led to the EP project, Bluestone Lane." Ellis says of his new endeavour, "I wanted something fresh and new to release. It's alt-country with a lazy tele' and a lyrical rawness."

Bluestone Lane sprouted from Ellis' early life experiences, before coming together with the full band sound. "I drew a lot from stories my dad had told me," he says. "The EP walks you through five different stories drawn from life mishaps and experiences. Each song also has light and shade to the lyrical content and music." The EP's title track has already gained airplay on triple j.

In the studio, however, the mishaps were all but nonexistent. "We recorded the EP at Newmarket Studios in North Melbourne. I recorded there because I wanted to work with engineer, Callum Barter; he has recorded some great Melbourne artists."

Barter's experience with the likes of British India and Eagle & The Worm was the perfect pairing for Ellis and co. "It's more feeling than perfection. We pretty much recorded it live, only a few overdubs were done. However, we still worked really hard to get a great take," he says. "The studio vibe is fantastic as well as the gear."

However, the EP may not have happened if it weren't for Ellis' fans. "I travelled up the east coast in April 2016 playing the tunes. It encouraged me to go back and record them after hearing people had enjoyed them."