EP Focus: Casinodreams

Normally seen out front of Mandurah band The Cabarets, Harrison Read has a new project in the form of Casinodreams. Their self-titled debut EP launches at Jimmy's Den on Saturday, September 12, with support from Indigo, Odlaw, Skygazer and Curtis McEntee, so it's high time we had a word.

What prompted a side project like Casinodreams? 

I suppose it was more the realisation that the Cabarets were approaching a bit of a standstill as everyone was getting busy with other things. It was a pretty disappointing time as I wanted to keep going with music, so I just kept writing tunes at home. Essentially Casinodreams just started as a bedroom project because nothing else musically was really happening for me.

Who are your working with on this one?

The line-up has changed quite a bit over the last few years, but I've only managed to just find a pretty consistent lineup in the last 6 or so months. We've got Ronan Chapple on keys, Royce Mack on drums, and a few lads from The Silent World with Jack McKenzie on bass and Jonathan McKay on guitar. I had worked quite extensively with a close friend of mine, Lukas Murphy (from Tracksuit), with some of the writing process as well, as he was great to bounce ideas off and help with any problems.

Tell us about the EP.

Well it's pretty much a selection of tunes I wrote over the last year or so that I really just wanted to put together. I had recorded a few singles before, but decided to dive in and do more of a substantial release. It's a weird one because each song is quite different to the last, I suppose a big reason for that is because the songs were written over a stretch of time. Because of that reason there's no real overriding theme to the EP, each song was written with a different frame of mind and I think I prefer it that way. There's both a ride range of genre influences as well emotions, so I hope it turns out to be an interesting listen.

Where did you record?

The EP was recorded at Debaser Studio with Andy Lawson apart from the drums, which were recorded at Blackbird Studio, and one track which was recorded at Electric City Studios. Andy has been great to work with, he's a super talented guy with fantastic ideas. He's the only producer I have really worked with but we've developed a really good relationship, which I find is really important. The EP was the first project Andy had recorded in his new studio out the back of his place in the hills which was a pretty fun experience, and the location was perfect for being creative.

What's up next for you?

The plan is to pretty much get back into writing some new material and getting back into the studio ASAP. I'm also hoping we start getting a little busier with the live shows as well, so we can start getting more amongst it and have heaps of fun with it.

Originally published in X-Press Magazine