You have to give it to the members of Broncho to stay afloat as a band even if they haven’t released an album in seven years. But today, all of this changes. Please welcome Natural Pleasure, the four-piece’s brad new twelve-track record where they talk about growing up in a religious environment but also relationships, love, and pleasures. To celebrate their new release, we sit down with them to discuss touring, the algorithm, having kids, and guilt.
Hey guys, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. Could you please introduce yourselves briefly for those who might not know you yet?
I’m Ryan.
Hi I’m Penny.
My name is Nathan.
You can call me Ben.
Hi I’m Penny.
My name is Nathan.
You can call me Ben.
It’s been seven years since your last album, Bad Behaviour. In the meantime, you’ve released a couple of singles (Friends and It’s Confidential) and a remix EP. What else have you been up to?
Had a couple kids, watched groceries get more expensive. Surprisingly, realised toys are not very expensive. Honed and harnessed sleep deprivation. And probably a lot more, but those are the first things that come to mind!
After all these years, you’re back with Natural Pleasure, your new LP. How long has it been in the making? What’s the process been like?
There’s a couple songs that have been around for a long time, but for the most part, the process started in the spring of 2020. Having a seemingly unlimited amount of time was a big part of being able to relax in this world we were creating. And let things happen as naturally as possible.
The title suggests some sort of hedonism, of carpe diem. Am I very far off?
Yes, I’m sure those things are a part of it. We let our subconscious do most of the work. In a few years, the real meanings and agendas behind this record will come out in.
As a band, I guess you all share ideas to put songs and records together, from lyrics to melodies and concepts. What does that look like?
Most of the time, it’s the melody’s bouncing around in our heads until we get a chance to record it. There’s a lot of that evidence in my voice memos, which thankfully doesn’t take up a lot of space on my phone. At some point we end up in a studio or garage and start recording.
The album cover features a very blurry bee. Is there an underlining message for environmental consciousness or climate change?
Yes. I’ve for a long time been aware of the importance of bees and consider myself a friend of all pollinators. The image itself was taken in my backyard. I saw a bee having a good time and so, naturally, I started snapping pics.
Original Guilt references your upbringing in a strongly religious (Christian) environment. Would you say putting that into music is somewhat liberating, even cathartic?
Guilt is something that can be ingrained around here. It’s one of the senses. The seventh sense I guess, if you also believe in the sixth sense. Or if you only believe in the five senses, then guilt is the sixth sense. It lets you know if there’s something that needs forgiving. Or, maybe, it’s an old sensor light on your dashboard that’s always on and you know that it doesn’t actually matter because it’s been driving ‘fine’ for years.
What role would you say religion or spirituality play in your music? I feel just the process of music-making connects you to an ulterior force, whatever that ‘force’ might be to each artist.
I’m not sure where the songs come from. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were being fed to me from the other side of the veil. Interpreting reality is up to each individual. There are definitely times that the spiritual realm feels most like reality to me. Spells can be cast. Magic is real. UFOs too (including UAP and also, but not limited to, NHI).
Compared to previous albums, the sound of Natural Pleasure is more enveloping and atmospheric. It’s also a bit more mysterious and hazy. Was that evolution something premeditated, or it just made sense as you were putting the songs together?
We work on a song by song basis, generally speaking. Whatever each song calls for and wants, we try to provide. And also, at some point, if something like cranking up some verb works on one song, we will most definitely try it on every song.
“There are definitely times that the spiritual realm feels most like reality to me. Spells can be cast. Magic is real. UFOs too.”
From the early 2010s, when you burst into the scene, until now, things have changed drastically in the music industry. What are some of the wildest differences you notice from when you started?
The algorithm changed. In the beginning, you just release anything and it went out in the order it was received to the people who asked for it. Now, it seems a lot of stuff shows up without being asked for, wWhich can also be a great way to discover something you wouldn’t have. So, I guess coming to terms with the way things are is essential to having a peaceful existence. Then fight for the things that need fighting for. Peacefully. Or with appropriate force, of course.
From June to August, you’ll be embarking on a North America tour. That’s exhausting both physically and mentally, but being on stage and in contact with fans must also be energising. How do you prepare for such a thing?
My philosophy is to not think about it. I just get on the river and let it take me.
Also, travelling as a band must be fun because you’re together, but at some point you want your personal space too. How do you manage interpersonal relationships in such an intense experience?
Yes, being together with everyone is one of the best parts of going out. We are all talented at finding our own space and time to get what we need. Being present for each other is an important part of knowing and sensing when one of us might need some space. After being a part of each other’s lives for so long, our bodies naturally sync. Similar to Bluetooth, and with the added benefit of airdrop.
