VIDEO - C
THE PREATURES
Friday, November 2
Yours and Owls, Wollongong
Tickets: 1300762545 or www.oztix.com.au
They may have changed their name from The Preachers to The Preatures but, having signed to a major label and with a new EP, Shaking Hands, in record stores, the Sydney band is keener than ever to get out on the road and spread the word.
Singer and guitarist Gideon Bensen says it has taken longer than planned to get the EP released.
‘‘It’s been a long time coming for this EP so we’re excited to finally have it out and to be able to play it to those people who have been waiting,’’ he says.
‘‘The recording process was pretty quick – we went over to LA and recorded it in about two weeks. We came back to Sydney with every ambition to put it out ourselves but then there was some interest from labels, so we were waiting until things settled.’’
The Preatures are unusual in having male and female singers – Bensen’s rich, earthy vocals playing off against the cooler tones of Isabella Manfredi – which allows for some interesting dynamics and interplay both in their music and onstage.
The band’s sound is most often described as a blend of Gothic soul and rock ’n’ roll, but also draws from a variety of other genres.
‘‘Most people have described it – and I sort of agree with them – as ‘Gothic soul’,’’ Bensen says.
‘‘Both Izzi and I have very soulful voices, which lends itself to that soul vibe, but we do look to a lot of ’80s bands for guidance.
‘‘We’re big fans of music from the late ’70s and early ’80s, especially from Australia. So a lot of those guitar sounds have found their way into the band.’’
Bensen adds that The Preatures’ live sound is quite different to what you’ll hear on their recordings.
‘‘It’s a little bit more aggressive, a little bit louder, and there’s a lot more sweat,’’ Bensen says.
‘‘There’s a bit more rock ’n’ roll than you might hear on the record.
‘‘In the studio things are rehearsed and if something’s not quite right then you are able do it again. In a live environment that’s not the case; if something happens you roll with it and make it part of the act.’’
And The Preatures are a band that definitely see themselves as an ‘‘act’’, bringing a performance element to shows. The more energy they put in, Bensen says, the more energy they get back.
‘‘The band is quite theatrical in that sense. When we first started out we were a little bit timid, but we’re past that now,’’ says Bensen.
People responded well when the band was more theatrical, he says.