When did you decide that a career in music was for you?

Music has been a big part of my life all through my childhood. I grew up playing music, and I knew as a teenager it was going to be my career path.

 

Who are your musical inspirations and why?

My parents! My Mum’s CD collection was a huge part of my musical education, and is still one of the best to this day! Singing country music with Dad in the car on long car rides was a core inspiration too.

 

Can you tell me 3 things about yourself that people might not already know?

I love riding motorbikes, have recently fallen back in love with running, and am a massive fan of Toto (have even got the tattoo to prove it!)

 

What song of yours best describes you and why?

It would probably be ‘Take It Away’. It’s a track that shows the influence that guitar-driven blues/rock has for us, but also combines with the funk / reggae feel that L.A.B brings to the table. It’s one of those songs that came together really naturally and quickly in the studio, and it felt effortless.

 

What has been the best gig you have done to date and why?

Paradiso in Amsterdam last year. It was our first ever show in Europe, and that room has such an incredible history. We really weren’t sure what to expect, but the crowd was so welcoming and up for a great night, it was a really special evening for all of us.

 

If you could perform a gig at any venue where would it be and why?

Glastonbury would be a real bucket list festival to be able to play. We’re a band that loves playing festival stages and on big stages, so to be able to play there would be incredible.

 

What has been your best achievement to date and what would you like to achieve in the future?

The past few years we’ve started to get a bit of international recognition, which is really humbling. It’s an amazing feeling to think that something we make in a small studio in Wellington is loved by people on the other side of the world. Being able to continue touring internationally and growing overseas is a definite goal for us going forward with this new album. 

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What do you like best about being a musician and why?

The feeling of being up on stage and connecting with people through song is something that can’t be beat. To be able to do that with someone from a completely different walk of life or from another country is something that is still crazy to us.

 

If you were not in the job you are now what would you be doing?

I’d be teaching. I taught music for years, and only gave it up a few years ago. I’m still close with a few of my students. 

 

What has been the best gig you have been too as a fan and can you tell us about it?

I saw Foo Fighters for the first time last month and it just blew my mind. Seeing an epic rock show on that scale was really inspiring, and the catalogue that they have is just incredible.

 

What would your ideal festival line up be and why?

At the moment, three acts would be Michael Kiwanuka, Tedeschi Trucks Band & Donnie Hathaway.

 

What things do you like to do when you are away from music?

We’re really lucky to live in a beautiful part of New Zealand called Papamoa. I love to get out in nature and hang out with my wife and dog. The beaches are stunning there, so we spend most of our weekends there. 

 

Do you think social media and the internet are a good thing in the music industry?

I do because it helps us discover new music. It’s a big way how people across the world have discovered our music, and it helps us discover music personally too.

 

Can you tell us about any tattoos you have and the significance of them to you?

I’ve basically got two themed sleeves. One is a musical sleeve dedicated to my love of playing guitar, the other is a fantasy based one with heaps of aliens and stuff like that.

 

What would your ideal day consist of?

Would kick it off with a 5km run, followed by a coffee at my local. Have a jam with the boys, followed by more coffee & food. Finish off the day with a massive dinner with the family, and drinks and jams into the night. 

 

If you could say one thing to your fans what would it be and why?

Thanks for the support so far! We wouldn’t be where we are today without their support and love, we’re nothing without our fans.

 

How would you answer the question "Who are L.A.B" and what are the differences between you as a music artist and you away from music ?

We’re a band that just really enjoys playing music. We’ve tried for our whole career to not to make music to fit into one box, and just to make music that we enjoy playing. Overall we just to be authentic, and hopefully it’s something that comes across in our music.

 

What was the first record or song you purchased and why?

AC/DC - ‘Back In Black’. Angus Young has gone on to become one of my favourite guitarists, and it’s such a killer album top to bottom. 

 

What would say to someone thinking about becoming a musician and getting into the music industry?

Commit! When we started out, we would spend all day practicing one song, over and over again. If people are wanting to be a musician, you really have to go all in if you want to make it happen.

 

If you could collaborate with any other band/singer or musician who would you choose and why?

Michael Kiwanuka. He’s someone that we’ve listened to quite a bit for the past few years. His songwriting style has been an inspiration and we think his style would fit well with the L.A.B sound.

 

What has the rest of the year got in store for you?

We’re going to be touring the new album across the globe. We’ve got a few trips to the USA, playing a few shows in Hawaii & Las Vegas before a bigger run of shows in May. We’re heading to some spots in the USA that we’ve never been too, and we can’t wait to come back to Cali Roots Festival in Monterey.