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Long-time collaborators Winter McQuinn (Sunfruits) and Acacia Pip (Pinch Points) have shared with us their new single "Working On Me," the lead track to their forthcoming split EP Recently I've Been Missing The Colour Green, out November 15th on Third Eye Stimuli Records (Arbes, Hot Apple Band, Gimmy). Recorded primarily on 2" tape in their home studio, the tape is a collection of six songs the pair has been working on over the past few years that epitomizes their folksy pop smarts and sunny, ragged charm. We recently spoke with McQuinn and Pip and here's what they had to say about the new EP and how their witty lyricism touches upon themes of existentialism.
First tell me what you've been up to lately? What have you been listening to, reading, watching, or spending a lot of time doing?
Winter McQuinn: I've been listening to the new Luke Temple record, pretty obsessed to be honest [laughs]. I've also been listening to the new Allegra Krieger record, Way Dynamic discography, The Clean's Getaway album and just writing and recording a lot of music and working at a rehearsal room here in Melbourne/Naarm. It's been a nice switch up as opposed to the start of the year which had a fair bit of touring and not a lot of home time.
Acacia Pip: I've been enjoying Melbourne spring and spend a bunch of my time working for music venues. Recently I've been thrashing Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman, Toro y Moi's EP Sandhills, and the latest Fontaines D.C and Armlock albums. I'm reading the new Sally Rooney book, 'cause we love some millennial yearning.
I know you from your respected bands, Sunfruits and Pinch Points, but when did you two meet and decide to start making music together?
AP: We met playing on the same small venue lineups in old bands we played in, back around 2018. Winnie saved my arse when I forgot to bring a pick to a show we both played, and found me one before my set. Then we were both in Sunfruits when it started, and some of those early songs were our first time making music together.
What insight can you share about your forthcoming split EP Recently I've Been Missing The Colour Green and how exactly these six songs came together over the past few years?
WM: We've been sitting on these tracks for a few years and just never got round to actually releasing them. We wrote and recorded most of it during 2021, I think? It was so fun experimenting and learning how to use my Fostex R8 tape machine which I had just bought off of a friend. I feel like it was also the first time me and Acacia had really had time to sit down and just play and write together in a more freeform and "not rehearsing for a gig" context. I find Acacia's approach to writing lyrics really enlightening and she has a great knack for conveying big feelings with witty and down to earth quips. I think the combo of our writing styles compliment each other well and the six songs on the EP showcases both of our writing styles, lyrically and instrumentally.
Today, you're sharing the EP's lead single "Working On Me." How did this one come about and what were the inspirations behind it?
AP: I came up with the verse chord progression and first verse lyrics, but it was faster and punkier initially. I showed Winnie and he had the idea to slow it down, play it with a capo and more open chords, and adjust the strumming pattern to what it is now. It was a really cool gelling of ideas into something that was our own duo style. We found the first phone voice memo of it the other day and had a laugh. The inspiration came out of anxieties about what I was doing with my days and my life during the long Melbourne Covid lockdowns, and trying to challenge capitalist ideas about how you need to spend your time, which we're brainwashed into.
WM: I really enjoyed adding the lead guitar line and I think it was just a couple takes in to playing around with a then new Univox guitar with a whammy bar (which I was trying to sneak onto everything and anything). I was trying to go for a Cut Worms / Rolling Stonesy country vibe. Loose but tight?
Which song from the record means the most to you (and why) or you're most excited for fans to hear?
WM: They all have some meaning to me and are exciting to share but maybe my favorite one is "Passenger Seat." We wrote it after a really peaceful weekend trip down in Apollo Bay/Gadubanud Country at this off-grid cabin. I feel like we really encapsulated the feelings of Winter down that way and the kind of cosmic energy those old forests have.
AP: "Working On Me" means the most to me because I really back the messages (even if I could do better at taking my own advice there). I'm excited for folks to hear "Crack The Plates" 'cause it feels quite different to anything I've released before, and we were really chuffed when we wrote it.
What's the meaning behind the name for the tape?
WM: It's a lyric taken from the song "Summer Rain" and I think it's a good encompassing line that fits with what we were both feeling at the time. We were living in the city during a particularly brutal time of lockdowns and limited movements, lots of concrete time, not enough green time. More broadly, I think it also encapsulates the general theme of wanting to slow down and break free (as best we can) from the capitalist mindset / grindset of everyday life. Taking time for the little things, appreciating the natural world and giving yourself and others grace as a human being.
What further insight can you share about the split EP ahead of its release next month? Any memories from the sessions you'd like to share?
WM: I have pretty foggy memories of that time, but I have fond memories of tryna configure the tape machine and realizing how good acoustic guitars sound on tape. I can remember all the songs coming together kind of sporadically and not in the same session but all feeling quite cohesive when we did make time to write together.
AP: Agree, that time is quite fuzzy in my memory, but I remember the project being a grounding thing to work on in strange times.
Winnie, one of our favorites records that came out this year was your sophomore solo album, Move To The Trees. What can you share about how that album came together in the studio and also what are your thoughts looking back at it as we're nearing the end of the year.
WM: Ah that's so nice to hear! Looking back at it now, it's probably my favorite recording and release experience I've had yet. In terms of how it came together, it was the first time I’d really had a refined idea and approach to making a solo record and I knew I wanted to do it outside of my home setup and with other people. I got together with my friends Jack [Kinder] and Lew [Mosley] from Hot Apple Band, Ele [Jones] from Sunfruits, and Jaspar [Robinson] over one weekend at Jesse Williams (Leah Senior, Grace Cummings, Traffik Island) studio down in Anglesea and cut all the basic tracks live to tape. Then we just overdubbed vocals and other lead lines that same weekend. Everything came together very seamlessly. I was really lucky to have had a great support network of friends who were involved in the creation of that record.
Aside from the new tape, what else is on the horizon for the both of you?
WM: I've got another solo album brewing and have been working on a few records with other people that are hopefully out soon enough! There's a few shows and tours in the works too.
AP: I'm slowly working on writing some solo songs. Hoping to build up enough for an EP or album eventually.
Thank you for taking your time. Any advice or last words you'd like to share with our readers?
Thanks for reading and listening, remember: don't get caught up rushin' like a hamster in a wheel (™).
Recently I've Been Missing The Colour Green is out November 15th on Third Eye Stimuli Records.