When it came time to record the vocals for a song, Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull had to go to the bathroom.
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Not because he was nervous about singing, rather his vocals just sounded better while he was standing in the tub.
Or maybe the hangover had something to do with it.
The song in question was The Parts from their last album A Black Mile to the Surface.
The band has their own studio set up in a house in suburban Atlanta, where the four members used to live.
They gutted the inside, brought in a whole load of equipment and now use it to record their albums – as well as just a band hang-out.
One room that was left untouched was the bathroom that has some special acoustics.
“There’s just something about that bathroom and the reverb and natural atmosphere to it,” Hull says.
“It’s really one of my favourite parts of the record, hungover or not.”
- Andy Hull from US band Manchester Orchestra
“I just woke up that morning really hungover and said to the producer, ‘let’s not work on any real loud stuff today, let’s just let me get in the bathroom and set up a mic and record this heartbreaking song about the birth of my daughter.
“It’s really one of my favourite parts of the record, hungover or not.”
While it’s about his daughter’s birth, Hull admits it’s really a “love letter” to his wife – “my daughter makes a guest appearance in the third verse”.
But the kid gets her own song too – track one The Maze is hers.
The band is heading to Australia for a short tour, which includes a stop at Wollongong.
Hull reckons it’s the seventh time the band has played in Australia.
“We played the Laneway Festival in 2007 and did a couple of side shows,” he says.
“We came back a year or so later and we had this really lovely thriving fanbase.
“Every show we’ve played there has just gotten bigger. If there were 500 people last time, there are 700 people this time.
“We’re really grateful to people who support our band so if there are people who want to hear us and it makes sense financially to go over there, it matters to us to play for those people.”
Manchester Orchestra play at the UOW Unibar on Sunday, February 4.
Visit Moshtix for ticketing information.