Compromising of Jack Dawson and Will Cruger, Abroad have been working together for some years now, creating a rich and frothy electro sound that guarantees chilled Sunday Session vibes. Based in London for the past few years, the Aussie duo is set to tour their home country starting this Friday, with a series of select gigs.
Hot on the heels of their upcoming tour, Abroad have released their new single Coffee. It’s produced and mixed by Kruger, with mastering courtesy of Dale Becker (Rüfüs Du Sol, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez). Coffee, intended as an analogy for that exciting time when everything is fresh and new, is Abroad’s first single of 2022. It follows on from their huge single Waves (lifted from their “Sydney” EP) which has amassed over 1.1 million streams on Spotify alone. FIB got a chance to catch up with Will ahead of their upcoming tour.
Check out “Coffee” here:
FIB: Thanks your time Will! Could you give me a brief backstory on where you both grew up and how you met?
WILL: Thanks for having us! Jack and I both grew up in regional NSW – in the South Coast and Southern Highlands, respectively, our paths crossing in Wollongong, where we both attended uni. I was recording Jack’s band at a friend’s share house, and we had an instant creative connection. A couple of years later we were both living in London, simultaneously looking for a new music project, so it seemed like a no-brainer.
FIB: I love the chill easy beats from Abroad. Could you tell me some of your early-teenage music influences?
WILL: I listened to EVERYTHING, I couldn’t get enough of music. I would listen to The Cure, Queen, Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie, Fat Boy Slim, Karnivool, the list goes on! Even now, my taste in music is really broad.
FIB: In light of your upcoming tour, how does the music scene in Australia compare to the UK for you?
WILL: London has a cool vibe and plenty of amazing artists and venues, but we were just starting out playing shows when we lived there. Our first show was at a house party with 80-odd people packed in like sardines. We were always playing tiny venues and having a blast.
Since we’ve been back in Australia, we’ve started noticing people coming out to support us that weren’t our friends and family – just people who were into our music. I think that’s the biggest thing I’m excited about for our upcoming shows, we get to show people what we’ve been working so hard on for the last year!
FIB: Describe the general mood while working on your music during Pandemic times?
WILL: We had planned on working with other people for this album, and of course COVID changed everything. So, we focused on getting everything done ourselves, taking the extra time to really hone in on what we wanted Abroad to be.
FIB: What inspired your latest single, “Coffee”:
WILL: Coffee, like most of our songs, is really about love. It’s an analogy for that person that fuels your creativity and keeps you energized. Coffee has a literal connection too, as I’ve always worked in speciality coffee while working on music.
FIB: What is your production process? Do you work in studio or do you have a home set up?
WILL: I’ve spent the last few years putting together a home studio that I’m really proud of. We like to take our time and capture the sound as close to finished as possible, so most of what you hear is straight out of my Prophet 6 or my Moog Grandmother. There’s something about the tactile feel of analogue synths that I find inspiring.
FIB: Tell me about your most memorable gig?
WILL: Our first big show back in Australia was supporting Boo Seeka at the Beach Road Hotel in Bondi. The room was full from the moment the doors opened, the vibe was incredible, and the whole crowd was into it.
FIB: Who are you listening to at the moment?
WILL: Lately, I’ve been watching a tonne of Elderbrook’s live performances on Youtube. He has such a cool blend of live performance and DJing that I really admire, not to mention he has quite a few bangers up his sleeve.
What are the biggest challenges facing the music industry in 2022?
WILL: The music industry has had it so tough in the last 2 years. Countless festivals, tours and gigs have had to be rescheduled, or worse, cancelled. That being said, I think everyone (us included) is dying to go to gigs and festivals to experience live music again. So get out there, support artists and have a blast!
The guys are also set to hit the road in NSW for a run of three shows, details below:
FRI 29 APRIL | PARK HOUSE, MONA VALE NSW | 18+ (free)
FRI 6 MAY | BEACH ROAD HOTEL, BONDI NSW | 18+ (free)
THUR 19TH MAY | LA LA LA’S, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+ Tickets available from moshtix
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