Adelaide’s iconic Lowrider are a testament to the fact that the most integral part of being a successful band is making good music. With no gimmicks, special effects or record label backing, this foursome managed to build a reputation as one of the country’s most incredible bands without so much as an EP to their name. Two lauded albums and hundreds of live shows later, Lowrider are undoubtedly one of the most critically acclaimed acts to emerge from Australia over the past decade.
With impossibly smooth, effortless vocals juxtaposed with an honest, gritty ensemble of beats, bass and keys, Lowrider create an immaculate fusion of soul, funk and contemporary pop music which truly transcends time. Lowrider are a collective, a real band and an indication that musicians still get in a room and jam even in the digital era.
Forming around the middle of the past decade after meeting through Adelaide’s tight knit music community, the foursome (comprising of brothers Paul and John Bartlett, Scott Duncan and Joe Braithwaite) organically created a distinct sound, drawing influence from the likes of icons Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield through to modern contemporaries John Legend, Portishead and Erykah Badu.
Word began to spread and before long, Lowrider were selling out intimate shows across the country and moving thousands of units of their highly acclaimed debut EP from word of mouth alone. In 2008, they followed this up with one of the most lauded Australian releases of the era, Diamond Amongst the Thieves, introducing them to a brand new fanbase and providing an exciting transition from intimate venues to sold-out headline shows and coveted support slots on national tours for Alicia Keys, Lupe Fiasco and John Legend.
Their 2010 LP, Round the World, was a sublime step in their signature sound, seeing the band embrace some of their more classic influences. Mixed by Grammy Award-winner Jason Goldstein (The Roots, Mary J Blige, Beyonce), the album garnered an overwhelmingly positive response, including their first ARIA nomination, and saw them land on the national Big Day Out, Bluesfest and Pyramid Rock festivals.
Now, after spending the majority of 2011 on the touring circuit, Lowrider have knuckled down in the studio in preparation for a huge 2012. Beginning the year with a special live release which captures the energy of their famed live shows, the band then head to the US for a whirlwind tour (including appearances at SXSW) before putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated third studio album.