The Jungle Giants: Welcome To the Jungle
The jungle giants have been indie-pop-rock royalty for the better part of a decade, known for their genre-defying songs that get you to groove. We chat to frontman Sam Hales about the band’s sound evolution, their new music and what to expect from their set at Laneway Festival.
Words by Zara Richards
Image via @thejunglegiants (Facebook)
When The Jungle Giants sold out The Gov in 2013, frontman Sam Hales couldn’t believe his luck. Playing at the Hindmarsh music institution was a dream for the indie-pop-rock band: Sam had developed an infatuation with crowd surfing and says the height of The Gov’s stage was perfect to dive into a pit of punters.
Eight years later, the Brisbane-born four-piece are the poster kids for triple j’s indie music scene, playing gigs across the globe and generating more than half a billion streams on Spotify. Right now, The Jungle Giants are at the top of their game. “We’re at peak-level enjoyment,” the singer says. “I feel like we’re on a really good roll.”
Chatting with Sam feels like catching up with an old friend – despite the fact we only met moments ago over the phone. His easy-going attitude is infectious as he invites us into the Jungles’ world for a sweet 45 minutes. “I just wrapped day three of recording...we’re smashing out new songs here in Queensland.”
It’s an exciting admission, given we haven’t heard new music from the band since Love Signs dropped in 2021.“ Being in the studio feels like exactly where I need to be right now,” he continues. “I love making albums. It changes your life.”
The Jungle Giants are music mavericks as well as a band that has continued to evolve its sound since the release of their jangly self-titled EP in 2011. Over the last decade, they’ve shifted from being the indie-pop-rock purists on their debut album, Learn to Exist (2013), to producing 90s-inspired, electronic dance tracks on their album, Love Signs (2021).
“I grab onto things obsessively. I’m a big believer that you make the music you’re into at the time. You don’t have to repeat yourself,” Sam says. “During Love Signs, I discovered and fortified a love for R&B. I’m always going to love R&B now. I’m obsessed with SZA currently.”
Sam’s mention of new music means we’re happily bracing for the next era of The Jungle Giants’ sound. When we ask what we can expect from the fifth album, he pauses. “It’s a secret,” he says. “I really want these songs to fuck people up.”
“I’m making these pop songs with these really interesting drums and crazy beautiful orchestral sounds”. A string section joined the band in the studio the day before our conversation, and Sam decided the bass needed to be matched by some timpani. Lyrically, he says the songs lean into self-love. “It’s focusing on what you want and need and celebrating that. [Loving yourself] can seem selfish, but I think there’s a really polite way to be yourself and celebrate who you are.”
While each record marks a new sound for The Jungle Giants, Sam’s commitment to the band’s song remains the same. Punchy lyrics and developed pre-choruses stamped with a happy-go-lucky beat mean the band routinely release songs made for sweaty nights on the dance floor. There’s just something about The JungleGiants’ music that makes you want to groove.
How we experience each track is at the forefront of Sam’s music development process. When making a song, he imagines what it’ll be like to listen to it live in a festival crowd. Closing his eyes, he’ll sway and dance around the room. When the chorus hits and the sound is right, he’ll lose himself in a studio-contained boogie. “I’ll continue working on a song until I get that dance-y feeling,” he says. “I’m a music lover as much as I’m a music maker. I want the song to hit me like it would the listener.”
The Jungle Giants’ ability to produce genre-defying hit after hit means they’ve attracted an ever-growing, loyal fan base. At Splendour In The Grass, a 30,000-person thick mosh of muddy people grooved and sang in sync to songs like ‘Heavy Hearted’, ‘Used To Be In Love’ and ‘She’s a Riot’. And despite it being a 3.30pm set, festival-goers flocked to the amphitheatre stage like they were seeing the headline act.
“That was one of the best moments of my life,” Sam says.
The four-piece hopes to match the high-octane performance at Laneway. “Ever since Splendour, people have come to expect a headline energy show when they see us,” the singer says. “Laneway really matches our style, so it feels like the punters are built-in.” They’re also keen to jam with an Adelaide audience again. “Adelaide [crowds] just have fun. They’re here to sing songs, jump around and have a good time – which I love because I relate to that.”
As we continue talking about the festival, Sam takes a beat. “I just realised we might have a new song out before Laneway,” he says. “Man, if we’re playing a new song, that’d be so cool.” The new sound comes as the tenth anniversary of their first album, Learn to Exist, rolls around. The four Jungles members – Cesira Aitken (lead guitar), Andrew Dooris (bass), Keelan Bijker (drums), and Sam – have been playing together since high school, growing closer as a band as they tackle the Australian music scene. It’s an impressive achievement, considering the band began touring when they were only 18.
“We were friends at school, so we could always tell who we were as people – [The Jungle Giants] didn’t accidentally happen. We chose each other. We’re the happiest family in the world. And we’re so in tune with each other. We probably look weird to other bands, but I think other bands are weird.“
“Our sound is progressing, and we’re growing as people – but all our music tastes are moving together. Now, we’re playing these shows where we feel like it’s the best, coolest music we could be playing. We love it. Like, The JungleGiants is our favourite band.”
