Feature: Wanderers – Penny
In a triumphant return from Wanderers, the band shares their new single, Penny. The first taste of their forthcoming EP from the Adelaide staples, also seeing them return to the touring circuit. Penny is a homage to Kate Hudson’s character in the coming of age film ‘Almost Famous’ – Dusty Lee, singer, and songwriter of Wanderers tells of how one evening after an afternoon festival set the band retreated to their 60’s inspired cabin, and the surroundings brought about the song quickly. “There was something in the air that night, what initially started as a jam, became a nearly fully fleshed out song in about an hour. Told from the perspective of the young journalist in the film and the impact the character Penny had on him”.
Wanderers might be familiar to those of you who regularly attend festivals, they create a sound that’s almost yacht rock in places, late 70s verging on the disco era but never quite crossing the line. They tend to take it to another gear, making them different, pulling it into a realm where it’s obvious it’s really just a band diggin’ into some hard grooves in a room together.
Having planned to record their debut album in LA last year. They were all set to head over to Studio 606, Foo Fighters HQ, home of the famous SoundCity desk, responsible for capturing many of their favourite records; set amongst the backdrop of the California coastline, a setting so fitting for their music and a dream coming true for the band. With those plans on ice, for now, this EP was captured across a collection of Adelaide studios – Wildflower, Wundenbergs, The Orchard; and the band have said we’ll be getting the extended player a little later in the year.
Creating music that takes direction from Anderson .Paak, Benny Sings and Tame Impala, blended with long-standing favourites such as Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac; giving them a unique take that sees them escape traditional genre pigeonholing, pushing to evolve with each new release and sit outside the common release expectations. And this song is no exception – while they couldn’t make it to the US, they enlisted ex-pat Keith Jefferys (Atlas Genius) to mix the track for them, bringing his years of Californian experience to the table. Mastered at Sterling Sound on the US East Coast, by multiple grammy award-winning engineer Joe LaPorta (David Bowie, Solange, Leon Bridges).
Known around the country for their ability to create a dancefloor at festivals regardless of the time of day, a formidable live band who have graced stages all across the world they create a sound with a distinct throwback feel and groove that sits current while feeling vaguely familiar.
Penny is out now through Big Oak Records.
