Fresh off the release of their EP maybe, we caught up with Polly's Will to talk about the stories behind the record, navigating the uncertainty of growing up, and how the band's sound evolved throughout the recording process. From the journey of 'Forget You' to bringing the new songs to life on stage, here's what he had to say.
Futuremag: First of all, congratulations on the release of maybe. Before the EP came out, 'Forget You' was the third single and gave fans another taste of what was to come. Now that the full record is out, how do you think that song fits into the bigger picture?
Will: 'Forget You' is a fun track. It's probably the most mellow song on the five-track EP, but I think it's a really good example of how we experimented with different instruments, sounds and effects across the record. Lyrically, it's also really symbolic of the themes that run throughout the EP. It's about growing up, being a kid, and experiencing different emotions for the first time. I think it's a pretty good insight into what the whole EP is about.
Futuremag: Growing up comes with so much uncertainty, and the EP is called maybe. Was that title chosen to explore that feeling of not really knowing where life is heading?
Will: Yeah, absolutely. The EP is really about uncertainty, feeling things for the first time and not always knowing how to respond or act. The word "maybe" also came from experiences in a relationship where it kept coming up. It felt like the perfect title because it summed up a lot of the feelings and conversations that inspired the songs.
Futuremag: Was there a song on the EP that surprised you the most during recording or took on a life of its own?
Will: I think 'Forget You' was probably the biggest surprise. We went into it thinking it would be a much bigger, more energetic track instrumentally, but it ended up being the last song we recorded. As we worked on it, the effects changed, it became more mellow and developed this slower build. Watching that evolve was really interesting, and honestly it was probably one of our favourite studio experiences from the whole EP because it went through so many different versions before landing where it did.
Futuremag: Being the last song you recorded, how do you know when a song, or even an entire project, is finished?
Will: That's a great question. Going into that last song, we knew we wanted something that felt a little different from the rest of the EP. When you're a smaller band, you've also got limited recording time and a budget to work within, so there was definitely a time crunch. But I actually think we thrive under that kind of pressure. It forces us to lock in, trust our instincts and get the job done. Looking back, I think working within those limits really helped.
Futuremag Music: The EP explores uncertainty. Do you hope listeners find comfort or direction in these songs, or is it more about sitting with those uncertain feelings?
Will: Probably both. We tried not to get too specific or make the songs about one exact experience. We wanted them to feel relatable so that a lot of young people could connect with them. The uncertainty that comes with adolescence is something so many people experience, and that was one of the biggest goals while writing this EP—to capture feelings that people could genuinely see themselves in.
Futuremag: You've also received support from triple j as a band. As you've reached bigger audiences, has your approach to making music changed at all?
Will: I don't think so. I think we're definitely learning how to do things better the more we write and record. It still feels like early days for us, but I don't think our sound has really changed because of growing our audience. We're just getting better at writing songs and improving as musicians. We're learning how to hone our skills a bit more.
Futuremag: To celebrate the release, you've been hitting the road with shows and BIGSOUND. How have you been preparing for the live shows?
Will: We actually started rehearsing yesterday. It was the first time we'd all played together in quite a while. We realised it was also the first time we'd played some of these songs together as a full band because when we recorded them back in January, we'd all tracked our parts separately as the songs evolved.
It was pretty funny to realise that, but we're really excited. We're also playing lots of new music, including a song that'll be released in the next couple of months, so we're definitely not slowing down. Hopefully we can put on a great show, and we're really excited to play in some new places.
