'More Comfortable Writing About Bleaker Times': A Deep Dive Into Paradise Club's Debut LP

Our debut album began in 2016 as 30 something demos that turned into 15 recordable songs. Those initial 15 songs were recorded in our producer/drummer Jack Newlyn’s childhood bedroom at the start of 2017. Creating an album is easy, you just need a bunch of songs. But making an album that you’re satisfied with is another story. That’s why it took like almost four years - we just kept disliking our old stuff.

It’s hard to define my approach to songwriting because it comes in many forms. Sometimes I sit down at the computer, put down a four to the floor kick which turns into a house banger. Other times I’ll pull out the acoustic guitar and write a country song. But occasionally it’ll all come together to be a song that is Paradise Club.

We have vastly different influences but when we choose what songs to work on, ultimately we are influenced by each other and what feels right for the band. There have been many demos that each of us have liked individually and for different reasons we aren’t always able to see eye to eye on each other’s decisions, but being united on choosing what to work toward is the most important thing. For the most part, I write alone but occasionally we’ll hang, jam and see what we can make - that’s how 2R and Project 6 were born.

As we went, Jack’s engineering got better, my songwriting improved and we matured as people. But with Jack moving to Melbourne we found ourselves having to adapt the recording process to our situation. I’d send all my demos to the guys and we’d pick a few to expand on and record.

Jack had recorded other bands at the studio in the Dandenong Ranges (called Beveridge Road) and mentioned that you could stay on site. We jumped at the idea 'cause that’s like a dream come true and we ended up staying a week at the end of 2018. We loved it so much we went back at the end of 2019 for more. The studio was set on a huge sloping meadow so between recording and sleeping we would soak up the rays in the field.

Our guitarist, Casey Adcock, is a pizza chef and there was a pizza stone, so we ate a lot of pizza. There is virtually no reception at the studio, so being detached from society among such professional equipment allowed us to immerse ourselves and put all of our energy into the process.

Usually I write lyrics as I go - I put the thoughts and feelings into a nice melody and change it up later. When I do reflect, I realise I’m more comfortable writing about the bleaker times. It’s not that I haven’t tried to write with a positive meaning, and a couple songs on the album are maybe a bit happier, but I just find myself being less engaged and satisfied with what I’m doing. Maybe I feel like I owe these darker moments in my life some sort of justice. I’m often consciously trying to be more positive in my songwriting, and maybe that comes out in the music more than lyrics.

It probably stems from what I’ve always listened to. Any positive songs I’ve listened to have been dance tracks or something, and that doesn't work for Paradise Club right now. You need a groove, a reason to sing with positive lyrics and it is something I hope is to come in the future.

The album artwork was chosen in 2017 when we first recorded, originally meant to be Japanese painter Hiroshi Nagai artwork, which ended up being used as the Above Me single art. We had taken bits of it for the singles up until we would eventually release it as the album, like a puzzle, but in the end wanted the album to have something more personal. My parents have had a big bird of paradise in the front yard my entire life. I learnt how to ride a bicycle, end a relationship, have my photo taken on my first day of school all next to that flower. I’m sure it’s the one thing I’ll take with me into dementia. My partner (Shaye Duong) is a visual artist and was more than happy to capture my emotional connection to this flower using oil paint on canvas.

For the release of the album, we decided to do more with our skillset for the release. We have barely any music out and wanted to give more. To show a side that wasn’t on the album, something more personal, a gift to the people, a VHS tape with 25+ minutes of our lives as PC paired with some hectic old ripped VHS footage is included in the pre-order bundle. It’s something that will be unique and special for old and new fans who may have just discovered us, or have been with PC this whole time.

People ought to know that this album is just the start. We have much more to give and hope that the album’s sound and message resonate with people enough for them to be interested in and like everything else we do after this.