An Interview With The Australian Band, PNAU On Their Latest Song, ‘Solid Gold’ and More!

The Australian group PNAU are back with a shimmering single, “Solid Gold” [Arista / The Orchard], a banger built as a soundtrack good times and features the vocal stylings of Kira Divine (Lauryn Hill) and Marques Toliver (TV on the Radio). The song premiered on Triple J (Australia) and Annie Mac / BBC Radio1 (UK). It was added to 8 New Music Friday Spotify playlists plus snagged the Mint and Monster Dance Hits playlist covers, and has racked up over 4M streams globally.

Check out the music video for the song here- PNAU – Stay Gold (Music Video)

PNAU have an impressive career that spans two decades and five albums worth of music, including their cult debut Sambanova and 2007’s beloved self-titled LP. 2017 saw the release of their wildly successful album Changa, which saw the trio go 3X platinum with the single ‘Go Bang’ and a massive 4X platinum with  ‘Chameleon’, both picking up ARIA Awards for Best Dance Release. PNAU have earned #1 US Billboard dance chart, Radio 1 Tune of the Week, Spotify UK Viral Chart, #1 Australian Airplay chart, #1 Shazam AU, #1 Australian Singles Chart, and have 7X platinum certifications. They also collaborated on a remix album with Elton John entitled ‘Good Morning to the Night’ in July 2012.

Learn more about PNAU in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! What is on tap for the rest of your day?

I’m trying to get my computer up and running!

Now that we are into the 7th month of the year, how would you say that 2019 is treating the band so far? What have been some goals this group has had this year? How close are you to reaching them? 

This is a very exciting year for the band as this is the first time we will embark on a tour within the USA.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be in this group together? Was it hard to think of a name that you could agree on? Has anything surprised you about this musical journey so far?

Music is surprising. The life one takes isn’t typical, the opportunities aren’t normal, and everything is a gift. There was never a choice to be in this ensemble it was as natural as taking a bath.

How do you think your hometowns have influenced the sound and how you all carry yourselves in this group? If not, what do you think does influence this group?

The tyranny of distance has been our greatest influence growing up in Australia. It’s a far away land. We filter the cultural offerings of the planet thru radio waves that are distressed by the long distance they’ve travelled. All these thoughts become small against the elliptical horizon of the great southern land.

I always like to ask bands if you all hang out socially apart from the music? In other words, when you aren’t working on music, do you guys enjoy hanging out for fun?

It’s gotten more complicated as we’ve gotten older. What begun as new leaves once light and green without awareness has certainly turned to brown leaves and dropped and rebirthed itself countless times over. One could say infinitely from a psychedelic perspective. We’re dreamers of dreams, rubbing up against the outer edges of this reality and the next one. That’s where we mine our gold. We come back to share it with this dimension and with all of you . Our escapades are not in vain, they’ve changed us but the flowers are still fresh as they come in the spring, but we must remember to help the bees.

Let’s talk about your newest song, “Solid Gold.” What was the inspiration for this track? What was it like having Kira Divine be on it?

Kira is a wonder, Marques is a joy. This song is a special moment created in history. The beauty of written and recorded music is now it’s there for everyone to enjoy. Kira came into our lives like a bolt of blue lightning, straight to our heart centers, dancing all the while. Marques is a violin, a voice, an enigma nothing compares to either of these artists of the highest order.

How would you say that it compares to your previous songs? Can fans expect this kind of new sound from your forthcoming collection?

Style, style. Style throws itself against the wall and comes back flat and then it says hmmm hmmm…It’s the new style but we just move with the times synced by the fine line of the moon.

What was it like making the music video for this song? How creatively involved with the overall process of it were you all?

We have constant collaborators. In this case it was the wonderful Clem. He is the director of many notes. He’s a creative director that crosses the line between fine art, illustration, novelty, and glimpses at atmospheres unseen. He definitely tries to evoke the de-calcification of the 3rd eye.

Generally, how do you go about writing your music? Do you write together or separately?

Every conceivable way. There’s an ordered disordering of functional and dysfunctional attempts. Eventually something resonates with a mirror within us and we move forward.

How has your sound grown or changed over the years? What has remained the same?

Yes. It has changed over the years. Our hands felt things, we’ve done many things, played with many machines, real and fake instruments. We’ve also explored with samples and everything else in between.

Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?

In the forest in a deep mindful trance. The studio is neither love nor hate anymore, it is there for a necessary part of the process. Our joy and inspiration comes from the phone calls to the afterlife.

Where can fans see you perform next? What do you think makes for an ideal show for this group? What has been a favorite show of yours in the past?

Every show is different, every show is the same, and every leaf is different. Come see us find energy in everything.

How has social media impacted this band? How often are you all on your different sites interacting with fans?

We grew up in time before it was a way of life. It is the new way of the grayscale. It isn’t our place to stay or remain. We’ll keep moving to the real place in dreams and stay ready for change.

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how you all think being musicians and in this band still gives you the most joy in life today? Do you find that your music is an escape to all the current events?

Politics and music? Never been our bag. We are here to help you escape. It doesn’t matter the time, place, or language. Come together with us. “Kharm wittt us to thee betta playse.”

What musicians would you love to work with in the future? What artists have really been inspiring this group and your music since day 1?

The strangest ones, the mad ones, the worst ones, and the blurst ones. Any of the outsiders who can’t find a smile. The lookers, the bookish, and the screwed. We offer a joy that’s accessed from the joy that’s within you. Think of artists like Nina Simone, Thomas Heckmann, Don Cherry, Moondog, Sun Ra, Throbbing Gristle, and Ilitch.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

We mean in no uncertain terms to deliver you from evil. We aspire to uplift and take people to a place of effervescent passion.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about this group?

We are huge believers in plant technology and the entheogenic way of life, pass it on……