A lot has happened to us since TJ decided we were starting a band in 2004…
- We recorded a demo at TJ’s home studio using a couple of hundred bucks worth of recording equipment
- We played our first gig at the National Hotel, Geelong in May 2004
- We recorded some more demos
- We broke into the tough and cultured Melbourne music scene
- We recorded some more demos
- We played a heap of gigs
- We signed with Rubber Records in June 2005
- We played more gigs
- We released the demos in album form in November 2005 to a lot of favourable attention from Triple J radio, street press and other music media all over the country
- We played even more gigs including some massive festivals, such as Falls, Come Together and Splendour in the Grass

Needless to say, the first two years of the groups existence has been a bizarre experience, especially seeing we had no expectations and literally no knowledge of the music industry that stood before us when we began.

Fast-forward to mid-2006 where the prospect of album number 2 was becoming a reality. As some overseas interest was shown in the group, from producers and labels alike, it was agreed that an overseas trip would be quite beneficial for the band.

After much deliberation we found the man we where to record with and had arranged some showcase gigs in the hope of snagging a US deal. It was a big move for the group. For one, it saw the first time we spent time in a studio with a producer, the first time in America for the whole band and the first time two members of the group had been overseas… two passports needed sorting, sharpish.

As album one was an album of demos, we treated this album as if it was our first. We planned to record a selection from the older demos, the heavily increasing new material and a lot of ground in between. We had only 3 weeks to complete the tracking for this part of the album – needless to say the pressure was on. There were adversities along the way, such as week one being sleepless due to the Texas heat, an almost curse like sensation that made guitars impossible to tune by any who dared try, and constant illness thrown in for good measure. Stepping out the other side of that we found ourselves holding the foundations of a solid album.

Oh yeah, and the showcases went well… we secured the debut album’s US release while we were there…

Some of us dealt with the new pressures bestowed upon the band better than others. On return we literally walked off a plane and onto a national tour. A session drummer was found to complete this tour and we pushed on again, gigging heavily for the remainder of the year. Unfortunately Matt did not return to the group.

Upon returning from the states, somehow new material was developed and the chance to work with up and coming Australian producer Dave Parkin presented itself, and was taken. This new material complemented and completed the foundation laid in the states.

The result is ‘Easy and the Sun’, a psychedelic electric country and rock ‘n’ roll record, which represents another interesting chapter in our story.

Listen to it Loud please…

Paul and TJ,
The Exploders.