I think I’ve expanded the project musically and there’s less expectation of the dark sound that made up Alchemy. Getting into collaboration has allowed me to find new sonic worlds to work in, working with vocalists, writing more ambient stuff has also opened up doors with co-writing/producing and film score work.

Nah, not really. I work in a way of just constantly starting/working on ideas and when something grabs, I go for it, but usually, I’m working on multiple projects at once in as many different environments as possible. It keeps it fresh. I worked on them between my house in Melbourne and studios in Sydney, and I was in the UK about a year ago and at Shangri La in California in September last year. I get restless when I’m in the same place for too long. I also always have to go outside every morning before I get into it. Before I moved to Melbourne, I’d swim at the beach every morning, but a run through the bush is the closest I’ve got here.

I think the biggest step forward has been my production. I made Alchemy very early into learning to make music, which in some ways was a blessing because I was much less critical of the production and just trying to write good songs. Lustre came from experiments seeing where else I could take the project sonically outside of what was already established with Alchemy. I think I took a less is more approach into Lustre as well, when I was writing Alchemy I’d try to shove as many ideas and elements in there as possible, but over time, I’ve learnt that the best ideas are usually simple and stacking a song full of ideas usually means the existing idea isn’t very strong itself. Obviously, working with vocalists is a big change as well. Alchemy also taught me that no song is ever unfinishable – after going through thirty versions with Dour Nights, I never get too stressed when I'm stuck.

It’s just what comes out, I don't think about arrangement. When I’m writing, it’s all feeling and instinct-based. But yeah, I’m definitely drawn to expansion and growth within music and I think that translates to my own stuff.

Two very unique voices I wanted to work with since the early days. It came about very naturally both times. As soon as I made both individual ideas, I heard them on each and thankfully they were into them and they absolutely nailed it. I’m drawn to the uniqueness of their voices.

Yeah, the plan after this is my debut album. I do like the long EP format, but it was never a conscious thought. Those tracks on Alchemy are the ones that made sense together, and same again with Lustre.

Yeah, that’s all we can do. I’m just trying to stay busy working on music and keeping healthy.