There's an old music industry adage that suggests you've got your whole life to write your first record (and then two months to write the second). And while The Verses might not technically be Ella and Jesse Hooper's first effort, it's been a long time in the making.
In fact, The Verses is such a confident and convincing opening salvo that it's easy to forget that this is the same brother-sister songwriting duo who first charmed us with their youthful verve close to ten years ago. For Jesse, The Verses represents a process of artistic rediscovery that reached its crescendo when he and Ella began writing together once more. "When Killing Heidi came to an end, it felt like the natural passing of a phase; it went for a long time and it was so much fun in a lot of ways, but then we thought, 'What do we want to do?'" he recalls.
"So we took some time off; we didn't see each other very much, and when we did we'd have a strum and then gradually realised we had some good material and thought, maybe it would be good to put something together."
But as the pair continued to explore their new material, they found that time spent both apart from each other and away from any preconceived notions of what "their" sound should be afforded them a greater appreciation for the songs and styles that built their career. They immersed themselves in something that had previously been such a luxury that they couldn't afford it: time. Ella recalls a rewarding process of gradual realisation: "We're country kids - we like things to go at a nice, slow pace - and we gave ourselves time: time to write, time to get inspired, time to try different things musically. We were taking a holiday from the three-minute pop song, although funnily enough we've found ourselves coming back to that."
"We're starting from the start, and - personally, from a songwriting perspective - as an adult," Ella says. "I feel so happy and inspired. This doesn't feel like an evolution, it feels like a new beginning."...
Clem Bastow
hey it says on ur page that ur playing at melb zoo on the 5th of feb but they dont have any record of it if u are playing there where i can i but tickets xox
Hey guys, discovered you guys by accident through Beat Magazine (though am a big fan of KH), loved the stuff on myspace. Caught you at the Dream Festival which was awesome and looking forward to seeing you again this weekend with BARNSEY!!!! Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the good times and precious memories @ a day in the paddock at Rutherglen! Can't wait for the Album..... in the words of true aussie slang "pull ya finger out!!"
Hello there Verses!! Congrats on playing with Fleetwood Mac! Please please please come play some gigs in Sydney some time soon guys! I've been waiting to see you live for so long!! Loving the new song! Very catchy indeed. When are we gonna see an album?!! -Estelle
HeY GroOvErs! Livin up in the red dirt of Broome with the lovely Taja. Lovin ya new track. Just uploaded some of our new stuff from our debut CUMULO EP if you get a chance.. CHeCk it OuT!! Catch ya in vic sometime.
