Peach Lane take the day and we love it

Peach Lane aren’t unknown in Canberra’s music scene and they’ve just dropped a beauty that’s sure to expand their reach even further.

Written by Madeleine Parker, Pierre Dao and Hannah Feldman of Peach Lane, and produced by Louis Montgomery, ‘Take This Day’ is a mellow, electro-pop song that is both calming and uplifting.

“We wrote that song in February and since we wrote it we were like, ‘Well, we’ve got to put that into the world,’” Hannah says. “It’s taken this long to get it out so it’s a relief. It’s so nice to have other people listening to it.”

Mads agrees. “We knew immediately that it was a good one …” and Hannah completes the sentence, “… that it was special, to us at least”. I feel like I’m not just hanging out with two music collaborators but two best friends.

Hannah elaborates: “We were down the coast in a little shack in the middle of nowhere, and before we left we downloaded a bunch of stuff and went through, looking at what we were going to work on.”

Reminisces Mads: “We were going through old Ableton files on Pierre’s computer and stumbled across this arpeggiator …”

“It was called ‘Cute Synth’”, adds Hannah, and they laugh while I uncontrollably let out an, “Awww”.

‘Cute Synth’ is what we hear at the start of the piece, while distant forest sounds and dreamy guitars set the scene for Hannah’s gentle but strong vocals and Mads’ hypnotising vocal echoes. It’s the sort of song you want to go on forever.

“It was special because it was the first song we wrote as a three-piece. There are definitely these little bits in it from each of us which is something I really like about it.”

All three members have come from different musical backgrounds, which has allowed each of them to open up musically in ways they hadn’t until working together. With Pierre’s classical piano training, Hannah’s background as a bassist and cellist, and Mads having never even played music with anyone before the band, they all bring their own unique perspectives to Peach Lane.

“I had never felt comfortable playing music before, even in front of my parents,” Mads says, explaining that performing is still a new, scary thing for her. “It took some real nice humans for me to feel okay playing music with people, let alone in front of people. So that is a happy achievement.”

Hannah also hadn’t been in a band like this.

“I’ve never really been so creatively involved in a band. This is different for me to be working more collaboratively with people. And I similarly was terrified of it, until meeting Mads and Pierre who were just so easy to do that with.”

“Pierre was similar,” adds Mads. “He has played in bands but mainly made music in his bedroom by himself, and wouldn’t finish more than a song a year because he didn’t have that external motivation. He wanted to make music with people but similarly didn’t know how.”

The way that all three members came together as quite shy, humble musicians can be reflected in the gentle, welcoming soundscape of this recent single. Hannah elaborates on this thought: “Attention to detail comes in so many different forms. I think there’s a softness to what we play that kind of makes space for that in a way that I really love. In a kind of much more understated, quiet way. And I think it reflects how we were a bit shy about it.”

With the launch of the single coming up soon, I ask what their plans are for the evening. “[The Polish Club] is definitely my favourite indoor venue in Canberra,” says Mads. “It’s such a wholesome vibe, the stage is real legit, so you feel legit. And you can get dumplings beforehand.” The Polish dumplings, pierogi, are truly a cornerstone of Canberra’s dining options.

Hannah gives us a hint about what to expect. “We really wanted this show to be outside, but dates didn’t line up with other venues …” then Mads finishes the sentence, “… and timelines got tighter and tighter. So we’ll be bringing the outdoors inside”.

Who knows what that could mean. Trees inside? A makeshift beach? A simulation of the sun? I guess all we can do is find out what our favourite dreamy pop stars have in store for us on 6 December at the Polish Club, Turner.

Peach Lane’s new single is supported by a grant from the ACT Government.