Image by Tim Baker //
BIG TIME keep the DIY energy up in debut clip.
In these crazy times, we’ve seen tonnes of artists release new tracks, come up with new ways to perform live, and fine new systems for making money. One thing we haven’t seen is brand new bands/artists emerge, which is what happened last week when brothers Johnny and Matty Took unleashed their side project BIG TIME along with debut single ‘It’s You’ on to the world. Well… kinda.…
The duo, who both write tunes for their main projects (DMA’S and PLANET), have been working away at the project for a number of months, so you can’t quite call it a band born in isolation, but it’s close enough. Marrying ‘80s US rock and roll with British shoegaze, the tune is a little too nicely written to be that spontaneous anyway, with walls of verbed-out guitars and the driving rhythm playing second fiddle only to Johnny’s vocals. It’s a hooky three minutes, with the track instantly feeling familiar (or maybe that’s the natural response to listening to it on repeat since it dropped).
Today, they also share the visuals for ‘It’s You’ which match the DIY vibes of the project perfectly. Directed by Tyson Perkins and shot by Sam Brumby, the one-shot video follows a freshly showered Johnny as he wanders through a Sydney flat before connecting with Matty and a beloved mirrorball. There’s making out, guitars, and some cute Took to the power of two moments. Also, just saying, this may have been way ahead of the curve in terms of making videos at home in isolation….
But why now for BIG TIME? Are there any shows coming up? Which brother would win in an arm wrestle? Check out our interview below for all these answers and more:
You guys are both pretty busy with DMA’S and PLANET, when did you find the time to write ‘It’s You’?
Matty: We wrote this one ages ago, Johnny came up with the main parts of the tune and I pieced together the riffs. As we’re both primary songwriters, we have a lot of songs that might not necessarily fit that well as DMA’S or PLANET’s tunes – it’s good to have this as a buffer to release some fun, different sounding stuff.
Johnny: I feel we both never stop writing so there are plenty kicking ‘round.
Is the track part of an EP/LP or just a one-off?
Matty: I reckon will be part of an Album or EP eventually, but for the time being I think we are gonna start releasing a couple of singles a year to keep things interesting.
You’ve been playing music together since you were kids, why is now the right time for BIG TIME? What is your motivation/ambition?
Matty: I think that in these weird-arse times, this is personally keeping me sane. A good way to stay motivated and ‘to keep on keeping on’ is a good way to deal with this situation. It also gives me a good excuse to stay at home.
Johnny: We’d been wanting to launch it for a bit but between PLANET and DMA’S we couldn’t really find an appropriate moment. I guess having this extra time at home you start thinking about what you have in the tank to give people – also after you release your first track it’s finally taken out of the ‘concept’ realm and becomes ‘real’.
How was the writing/recording process? Did you ever butt heads, the way brothers often do?
Matty: ‘It’s You’ was recorded above the Lady Hampshire (Camperdown) when DMA’S had a studio up there. We are pretty chill to one another. I reckon we butt heads as much as every other band member butts heads. If you don’t take the head butting personally, you will only get better and strongerJohnny: We both love recording so we’re always pretty happy when we’re in there.
Is there a treasure trove of Tooky demos on a hard drive somewhere?
Matty: Hell yeah! I think collectively in the triple digits.
I’m hearing a mix of US power-pop like Springsteen and Petty, but also some My Bloody Valentine and Jesus And Mary Chain stuff going on in ‘It’s You’. What/who informed the sound?
Matty: I love all these artists! I think Johnny was listening to a lot of The Raveonettes when we tracked this.
Johnny: Haha yeah you kinda nailed it.
The tune feels like a bit of a love letter, what was the inspo behind the lyrics?
Johnny: ‘It’s You’ is kind of a tug-o-war love letter between two people who think they want each other but whose relationship is kinda just fuelled by drugs and sex.
Do you guys have a similar taste in music or did you each bring a few new flavours to the studio?
Matty: I reckon we do have a pretty similar taste in music. Will be fuzzy + pop with hints of country/folk.
Johnny: We do indeed – recently I’ve been messing around with more electronic and pop production and now trying to fuse them with the noise guitars I’ve always loved. BIG TIME is a completely DIY project between us so there are no rules which is exciting!
Tell us about the clip, what’s the concept?
Matty: One-shot party scene, Directed by Tyson Perkins and shot by Sam Brumby. It was filmed next to the Lord Gladstone where Johnny was living for a bit. Happy to have all our mates in the clip who wanted to take part in the party.
Johnny: Mason (DMA’S), Hayley Mary and I had been living next to the pub for a while so I’d been thinking of different ways to use the space as best as possible. I came up with using the one-shot take idea with incorporating the lyrics into actions as the clip progresses We’ve used our apartments for so many clips in the past and It’s nice to look back at them in future years and remember your time there.
How many takes before you nailed it?
Matty: Haha, I think actually not that many! Five at most I reckon.
Johnny: Yeh we weren’t too meticulous. Liam Hoskins (DMA’S drummer) nailed it in only a couple on the drums too!
Post lockdown are we gonna be seeing any BIG TIME shows popping up?
Matty: I reckon, so much time to make up for! Need to brush off the lead guitar chops.
Johnny: If we can find time to rehearse!!
