Strange Talk

It's fair to say Strange Talk is passionate about pop, right down to the lyrics tattooed across the forearms of singer Stephen Docker. You can hear this passion and precision in their debut single 'Climbing Walls', a song that took them from a bedroom studio in Melbourne to shooting a film clip on an over-sized chess board in the middle of the Mojave desert.

Strange Talk is Stephen Docker, a former classical violinist from the Australian Youth Orchestra, and Gerard Sidhu, a DJ/Producer. At a house party in Melbourne, drunken bonding over pop heroes Michael Jackson and Queen – as well as new production outfits like Justice and Starsmith – inspired them to combine their musical abilities towards a sound that was classic in its approach but forward thinking in its production. The spark that flew was the track 'Climbing Walls'. This revved up dance pop track delivers what Neon Gold calls "an unwavering refusal to settle for mediocrity… with vocal chops that will set hearts on fire" – being the first melody ever written by Stephen, and his debut singing behind a microphone!

'Climbing Walls' hit No.1 on the Billboard's Uncharted Charts, No.1 most popular on Hype Machine, airplay on Radio 1, Triple J and Nova (as well as being Unearthed by Triple J), and receiving over half a million views on YouTube.

Directly after releasing 'Climbing Walls', Strange Talk set a target of sixty shows around Australia in three months. This led to sold-out national tours, support slots for the likes of The Rapture, Marina and The Diamonds, Neon Indian, Kele, Art vs Science, and Foster the People, and festival sets at Parklife, Playground Weekender, Good Vibrations and Falls Festivals.

The band has also lent their hand to remixing; with their most recent effort ('I Would Do Anything For You' for Foster the People ) shooting to No.1 most popular on Hype Machine within 24 hours. Other remixes for The Naked & Famous, Muscles, Art Vs Science and Black Eyed Peas have all created a huge stir online and suggest that their production abilities will flourish in tandem with their work as Strange Talk.

Off the back of killer singles like "Climbing Walls," "Eskimo Boy" and "Sexual Lifestyle," Strange Talk frontman Stephen Docker, producer/DJ/bassist Gerard Sidhu, Travis Constable (drums) and Gillan Gregory (guitar) have already made their mark, both in Australia and beyond. They've joined the line-ups of such festivals as Parklife, Stereosonic, Future Music, Soundscape and Falls; opened for the Rapture, Neon Indian and Marina and The Diamonds; hit the #1 spot on Billboard's Uncharted chart in the United States; and wowed New York City at 2011 and 2012's CMJ Music Marathon. Now Strange Talk will make their U.S. debut with Cast Away this August.

In October 2011 Strange Talk decamped to a friend's farm in Castlemaine, Victoria, 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne. In between breaking to play headline gigs across the country, they wrote and layed down tracks. "The farm was amazing," remembers Stephen. "It had moose heads on the wall, an amazing veranda which overlooked a huge field with cows, a big lake, a gym so we could keep fit (laughs)... After a while it was sad to come back to Melbourne, because when you're being creative like that it's hard to leave it behind." There was, says Stephen, "mood talk" about the direction of each new song, "For example, should it be a big club banging tune, or even a ballad, which is something completely out of our realm." The singer took heed of advice given by the Presets' Julian Hamilton. "He'd said to me, 'If you're onto an idea, roll with it – whatever comes out you'll most likely stick to.'"

After the Christmas break in February 2012 Strange Talk headed for the coast, Gerard's sister lending them her beach house in Victoria's Mount Martha. Here, the second half of Cast Away fell into place. On the recommendation of pals Van She, Strange Talk had fallen in love with the gritty, digital workhorse sounds of synth – the Dave Smith Poly Evolver. Six songs in, they replaced older beds with their new favorite toy. By April, the record was complete. Enter mixer Tony Hoffer (M83, Phoenix, Beck).

"Tony was the perfect man for the job, he brightened everything up," enthuses Stephen. "We record and produce everything ourselves, so over that whole process we really learned what works for us and what doesn't. The thing that sold us on Tony was what he did with M83's 'Midnight City,' I haven't heard a song with such glitz, but at the same time such gritty sound."

On Cast Away Strange Talk have widened their scope, reaching back into influences past and present to create a whole new sound. Basslines are deeper; melodies even more euphoric. "For the first EP we were heavily into M83, Phoenix, Passion Pit and Two Door Cinema Club," Stephen admits, "but growing up, our biggest influences were people like Michael Jackson, the Police and Queen, among others, all of which I think you can hear more of on this record. We've stepped away from the 'indie' thing somewhat; the album's a lot more complex, and really shows how we've progressed as producers and musicians."

A year of shows and Strange Talk has morphed into one of the country's most exciting live acts. It's long way from the bedroom duo Stephen and Gerard envisioned when they met on MySpace almost three years ago. "We all know each other a lot more now," Stephen laughs. "It's weird how it works with such a diverse mix of backgrounds, but I think that does the project justice. 'Climbing Walls' was when the penny dropped for us. Now, we just want people to have fun, lose themselves in the songs. Enjoy the journey, from start to end."