Electrifying shot at popularity

Lovers Electric are trendsetters. The duo recently signed a record deal with Sony BMG and are now hoping to add their signature ’80s-influenced electric pop combo to the rock-heavy industry.

Last year the Sydney duo -” David Turley and Eden Boucher -” toured Europe supporting Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, an unusual achievement for an unsigned act.

And although the ’80s are yet to reassert their presence on Australia’s airwaves, the pair is poised to be at the forefront of the resurgence when it finally happens.

In England the ’80s have come back and lived on and our song is quiet similar, Turley told Sydney Star Observer.

I never think of us as trying to sound like that genre. I know the 80s thing is the bandwagon at the moment, but we like it.

So what’s the difference between good ’80s and bad ’80s?

Electronics in the ’80s were trying to emulate things, and they did a bad job of it, Boucher said.
It’s all about the arpeggios in the keyboard and the snare sound.

The cool thing about the ’80s is, even though it was all really electronic and some of the production was fairly pathetic, the songwriting was so fantastic. For example The Smiths’ production was really light and the lyrics were amazing.

Our music is quite commercial as well and it can appeal to a lot of people. We enjoy certain scenes but we hope people enjoy our music. It’s bizarre and it always surprises me -“ I love how wide our fan base is.

And while the pair may seem like strangers to their hometown crowd, on the international circuit they have developed a cult following, thanks largely to their featuring on the MTV show The Hills.

Lovers Electric’s self-titled debut album was recorded in England about two years ago. It can be described as a colourful musical palette of alternative dance pop.

The way we work best in the studio is when everyone has left and it’s just the two of us left in the room to muck around with gear, Turley said.

It’s really a creative time -¦ when it’s the two of us it’s really relaxed and we work on the ideas. That’s the best time in the studio.

Boucher added: We also tend to engineer our own vocal sessions rather than use someone else. We record each other singing. It’s easier to keep it simple.

info: Lovers Electric will play Will and Toby’s on 26 August and the Burdekin on 28 August. Details: www.loverselectric.com.