Australian brother duo Cosmo's Midnight wants you to Stop Thinking Start Feeling on their funky new album.
Consisting of twin brothers Cosmo and Patrick, the band just released their third studio album with features from Tkay Maidza, Forest Claudette, KUÄŒKA, and Franc Moody, and they talked with Out just ahead of the release of their latest music video, "Eating Heartache" featuring spill tab.
The beautifully shot short film features lush choreography to show how we can use music to get over a heartache. It "captured all the moods of the song, longing, mourning, nostalgia but wrapped in a fun playful idea," the band explains.
Heavily inspired by disco, funk, and dance music of yesteryear, the brothers discussed their breezy new album, influences and inspirations, how Patrick's queerness manifests in the music, and more. They also recently released a groovy cover of Tyla's hit song "Water" which is certainly worth your time.
RCA Records
Out: What's the meaning behind your album name Stop Thinking Start Feeling? It feels like a cool mantra for such a fun album.
Basically, we were trying to be more intentional with our writing process. To leave our critical minds on the shelf and become absorbed in the music-making process. It's so easy to get lost in the sauce thinking about what you want a song to do rather than just responding to the sounds and feelings. Stop thinking about the music, feel it!
Where did your love of disco and funk come from?
I'd say it stems from our parents although we ended up rediscovering it later in life. Our parents played a lot of disco growing up so we were introduced to artists like Sister Sledge, Donna Summer, Boney M., and Chaka Khan really early. But we didn’t really think much of it as we were into some of the more modern stuff at the time. It was only as we started listening to French house like Daft Punk that we came back and found it again for ourselves this time, completely solidifying our obsession with the genres.
Pat, I'm told "Two Kinds" and "Telephone" are about your relationships with your partner. What are the stories behind them?
"Two Kinds" is really about celebrating your differences in a relationship rather than looking at them as a downfall or dooming. The idea that being different strengthens and helps you grow despite the inevitable tensions they bring. "Telephone" came to be as we were touring the U.S., away from our loved ones, saddened by the lack of real connection and conversation spent through a screen. It's about wanting the real thing and not a relationship through a phone.
Why did you want to explore those themes in your music now?
I think it's fun and cathartic to explore your life through music, seeing how the words make you feel and how the music can respond to it. Even though some of the concepts on the album are quite melancholy we try to contrast it with exciting or uplifting music. We might write sadder themes, but we always try to keep the mood up, we write how we want to feel, not how we are feeling in that moment.
Did either of you ever feel apprehensive about making songs too personal or exposing?
Somewhat, it's already scary putting music out into the world, it's exposing something that is ready to be judged or dismissed. Adding life experience into the lyrics just ups the stakes a little more, I feel that people will always respond to lyrics well if the song compliments or carries the personal/heavier themes.
The Los Angeles show was so fun! You have to come a long way to make these shows happen, what did this headlining slot mean to you?
Playing in the U.S. is so surreal, coming from such a remote place as Australia it's always remarkable that we get to tour overseas and have fans across the ocean. Everyone was so supportive on our U.S. tour and we're so grateful to have the opportunity, LA was such an amazing show we can't wait to come back!
The music video for "Eating Heartache" just dropped! What was the inspiration behind it?
So, our film clip for "Eating Heartache" was made by the amazing, passionate and generous team over at SUIKA. We initially asked them to make a video for us, but they were so excited to put it together it started snowballing into a massive project. We wanted to make a clip that captured all the moods of the song, longing, mourning, nostalgia but wrapped in a fun playful idea. When we finally sat down and watched the video we were so moved by the effort and energy that SUIKA had put into the project, it's the best piece of media that's ever been made for us and we're so grateful to have worked them!
Watch the new music video below.
