When it comes to why The Jezabels named their third studio album Synthia, the Australian four-piece’s vocalist, Hayley Mary, has a pretty simple explanation: “It just sounded really synthy, so we called it Synthia.”
Of course there’s slightly more to it than that, with long-time producer Lachlan Mitchell suggesting the title for a song (‘If Ya Want Me’), but Hayley realising that in fact the entire album resembled a woman. “It was feeling a bit soft, which is why we went in to write some more tracks, and I said to the guys, “If this album was a woman don’t you think she’d be a bit of a pushover? She needs to be more well-rounded, more aggressive.”” The band were convinced, and with the addition of ‘If Ya Want Me’ (a potential stadium-filler, showcasing that aggressive edge) Synthia was born.
“It is a concept album if you do think of it as a woman, but it wasn’t written as one. The same as Prisoner actually (the band’s debut LP), with the whole idea of it being a letter to a prisoner. I’m a massive post-rationaliser, I just do things quite unconsciously. I’ll create something, put it to the band and then make it make sense later.” Prisoner was released in 2011 following three EPs, with The Jezabels invited to support huge acts including Depeche Mode, Garbage and Imagine Dragons.
Following a move to London, the band recorded 2014’s The Brink, showcasing a more upbeat, dance-driven output compared to their trademark U2-fronted-by-Karen O sound. It was at this time, however, that keyboard-player Heather Shannon was first diagnosed with the cancer that has since meant cancelling Synthia’s planned world tour. “We were all in a terrible place and we weren’t even sure if the band was going to keep going, but we were writing to keep ourselves busy; a sort of group therapy. I think that’s why it’s such a positive record, because we didn’t want to brood and be heavy. And then things became more stable for her and we were all in a much better place when we were writing Synthia; Ironically we were happier so we made sadder music. But then obviously things took a turn for the worse for Heather.”
Just weeks before the planned world tour to promote Synthia, the band (completed by guitarist Sam Lockwood and drummer Nik Kaloper) were forced to issue a statement revealing how Heather’s condition required treatment, meaning that all future touring plans for the band were to be put on hold. “We didn’t use the word postpone, we used the word cancel. Obviously we’re staying very, very positive because I’m sure she’ll be fine and I’m sure she’ll recover – she’s very strong in every other way.” Often citing themselves as a predominantly live band, Hayley’s positive attitude is difficult to ignore: “Looking at the silver lining of the cloud… I’m wondering if when we go on tour people might actually know the whole record and we can play it from start to finish.”
With 4/5 from yours truly (and a commendable 5/5 from The Guardian), Synthia should please fans old and new, still sounding very much like them, but with the obvious emphasis on Heather’s synthesized parts (“We went a bit mad with that. There are guitars in there, but a lot of them sound like synths.”) Following extensive touring for The Brink, there were no plans to immediately record its follow up, and it was this lack of pressure that allowed the band to naturally make their next steps. “It was really fun because no one knew that we was recording, and then Lachlan was available and we thought – you have a studio round the corner, we have songs, let’s make an album.”
Never one to hide her huge, pop-icon influences, Synthia showcases them proudly. The Kate Bush style poetry/vocal acrobatics wash over opener ‘Stand And Deliver’, with the icon’s style assisting Hayley in finding her own voice. “She’s one of the only singers that sings very high, and she’s a guide for how to do it without sounding too American. I want to sound a little bit like myself, or the closest thing I can get without sounding British…” It’s clear when listening to the album that Hayley’s vocal seems more confident than ever, and it’s a view she shares: “I think I have worked out a bit more how to sing as myself on this record, but Kate Bush kind of helped, and anyone who sings dramatic stuff with gusto… I like dramatic stuff.”
As well as Bush, ABBA’s rich synth influence can be heard, with all of the band now on board with the genius of the Swedish legends. “Over the years I have gotten the band to appreciate and quite like ABBA, but that’s taken some time and I think that’s why you won’t hear it so much in our early stuff. But I think as a musician, even if you don’t like them, you know they were pretty good!” The intro to ‘My Love Is My Disease’ and post-chorus interlude of latest single ‘Pleasure Drive’ feature a sound not unlike the early ‘80s releases from ABBA, so would this be Hayley’s favourite period of theirs?
“I’m a song person – if people ask me for my favourite album I’m like, “Greatest Hits” all the time, which is so bad! It’s something to be ashamed of. ABBA Gold was the first album I ever bought, and then More ABBA Gold, so I never really think of them as eras. I like the early stuff like ‘Waterloo’, mid-‘70s ‘Dancing Queen’, but also the later, sadder stuff like ‘The Day Before You Came’ and The Visitors album, where they started getting quite dark. I do really like – like with ‘My Love Is My Disease’ – that futuristic era.” With an influence that big but not too obvious on the band, the discussed ’S.O.S.’ cover Hayley mentions could and should only be a success.
As the band wait on news of Heather’s recovery, Hayley finds herself in London on her own while the other three are back in Australia (“I’m playing guitar, wandering about, writing songs. I don’t know what I’m doing”) and despite their successes so far, including gigs at Sydney Opera House and Glastonbury, the band’s aspirations remain focussed on their reasons for forming the band. “We never really had goals. I had vague aspirations of being in a rock ’n’ roll band. Now my main goal is to tour this record – I think that’ll be a great moment for us all. And I don’t really care where we play; just touring and having some of our fans there, that’s the dream.”
All that’s left to decide when the time comes is which of the older tracks will be forced to leave the set list in place of songs from Synthia, unless they opt for a Springsteen-style four-hour set? “No, that’s a bit much for me. I know he’s amazing but I don’t think I could watch anyone for that long. …Well, maybe ABBA.”
Read the Gigslutz verdict on Synthia here.
If you would like to make a donation to either help awareness or research, follow the link to Ovarian Cancer Australia here.
Dan Bull
@danbull7609
Dan Bull
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