Posted on November 4, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Crayon Fields Forever

The Crayon Fields are running on the ground of Australian indie-pop since 2002, still it’s only four years after that they managed to fashinate listeners and press thanks to their intimate and evocative debut, that is “Animal Bells”. Years passed, and The Crayon Fields managed to conquer a special place in the heart of many twee and lo-fi listeners. Here we are chatting Geoff O’Connor about the band and its music.

Mark Zonda: The Crayon Fields: how and when your adventure began and what’s behind the name of the band?

Geoff: The Crayon Fields adventure began in 2001, when we were a 3 piece high school band of underage idiot kids performing at all sorts of weird and wonderful community events. The Crayon Fields as we know it began in 2005 when Brett (bass) and I invited our friends Neil (drums) and Chris (guitar/synth) to join after our drummer Jarrad had left for the beach to become a lumberjack/cartoonist (true). The band is originally named after our first song ‘Crayon Fields’, a rather overlong mid-tempo hippy pop ballad we wrote in high school.

Mark Zonda: What the “Crayon Fields” song was about?
Geoff: The ‘Crayon Fields’ song told a bizarre story about being guided to the fields of crayon by a rich crayon-yellow light.

Mark Zonda: No one can walk out alive from the ’80s. How this period influenced your music?

Geoff: I’d say the confident, rhythmically assertive nature of pop music around that time has been an influence on us, especially with our new album. ‘Let’s Dance’ era David Bowie, Felt and Gary Numan are favourites.

Mark Zonda: Australia is filled with so many good indie bands. What’s the secret? And which new ones should we check?

Geoff: For sure. I’ve always felt that Australia is an easy and affordable, yet exciting place to live. In this way it can be the perfect environment for obsessive types to make interesting music, especially as we have a lot of spare time on our hands down here. I’d check out Guy Blackman, Fatti Francis, Darren Sylvester, Sir and Fabulous Diamonds.

Mark Zonda: Between Ben E. King and Stuart Murdok “Mirror Ball” is such a cleaver masterpiece. How this track was born? Are we dealing with pure fiction or is it based on a real experience?

Geoff: Thank you! I don’t quite understand the Stuart Murdoch comparisons, though they seem to come up a lot and I do like his music. All of our songs are based on real experience. ‘Mirror Ball’ is simply a love song about someone whose intense romantic allure makes you feel like you’ve never made love before.
Mark Zonda:  Wow! Does that person knows that the song is about her?

Geoff: Of course! A number of people ‘know’ Mirror Ball is about them.

Mark Zonda: LOL! 5 November is an important day for your band, as you will show your new album to the World. What should we espect from your new work?

Geoff: Certainly is. Expect a lush, detailed orchestral pop album fronted by a honey-voiced smoothie.

The Crayon Fields - “Impossible Things”

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