Words by Theo Thompson
Photos by Lorcan Berg
There’s something about the moment a band tells you their story that connects the dots between their music and the energy they exude on stage. Ahead of their sell-out show at London’s Village Underground on September 25th, I sat down with the four spirited members of Australian indie band Rum Jungle to dive deep into their journey, experiences and what we can expect from their upcoming album, Recency Bias, set to release February 21st. Benny McIntyre (vocals and guitar), Josh Giles (guitar), Frazer McDonald (drums) and Michael Kolmajer – Maje (bass) shared their story with all the ease and charm that spills over into their music.
From Newcastle Balcony Jams to Global Stages
It all started modestly on a balcony in Newcastle. Benny had just moved out of his parents’ house, and what began as casual acoustic jams between himself, Maje and Josh soon snowballed into something bigger. “We weren’t even proper mates then,” Maje recalls, “But I thought, why not start a band?” When the trio realised they needed a drummer, Frazer, who Benny knew from his day job flipping burgers, joined the fold. His entrance wasn’t exactly conventional, but it’s this offbeat formation that gives Rum Jungle their quirky chemistry.
Over time, each member’s diverse influences and collaborative process, have shaped their eclectic sound. As Josh puts it, “We all have different tastes, but when we write, we pull each song in multiple directions, and it somehow lands in this sweet spot.”
Recency Bias: The Sound of Something New
Their upcoming album, Recency Bias, captures this eclectic spirit in full force. “None of the songs sound the same,” Benny teases, “but they all feel like us.” The album’s name reflects the band’s playful self-awareness of the bias toward what’s fresh. With tracks like Chauffeur, an introspective number that brings a more mellow yet bouncy vibe, and Weather’s Better, an indie earworm with slacker melodies and breezy harmonies, Rum Jungle is showcasing their genre-defying sound.
“We didn’t want to just stick to surf rock or what’s expected of us,” says Benny, hinting at the range of influences on the new record. “Especially with tracks like the hyper-pop inspired opener (Hi Hello),” he adds, revealing that the original demo didn’t quite capture the energy, but the final recording became one of the band’s favourite collaborative pieces. It’s clear that this album is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a statement about the freedom of experimentation and the band’s refusal to be pigeonholed.
The Stage: Where the Magic Happens
That sense of freedom is felt most keenly when the band takes the stage. At Village Underground, they didn’t just perform; they owned the room. The chemistry between the four was palpable as they fed off each other’s energy, bouncing around the stage with an electric connection that had the floor and crowd shaking. Benny stood on stage with the kind of effortless swagger that could make Alex Turner blush, exuding a magnetic coolness as if commanding the crowd was second nature, guitar in hand and charm dialled to eleven. Maje pogo-jumped across the stage, gripping his bass with a mix of playfulness and sentimentality, while Josh, clad in an England football shirt, legs apart guitar thrust to the sky shredding in full rock-star mode resembled an Eiffel Tower shape. Even from behind his drum kit, Frazer stayed in the fold, swapping to guitar for the finale, a move that felt both unfamiliar and perfect.
The show’s intensity was such that security had to bring in extra backup to handle the dynamic crowd, a testament to the band’s growing UK following. I hadn’t seen this kind of fan energy in a long time, as Maje coolly embraced this rock ‘n’ roll moment.
What’s Next? A Journey Beyond Earth?
When I asked the band what the future holds, the answers were equal parts earnest and tongue-in-cheek. “We want to play on every continent,” Benny grins. “Even Antarctica?” I ask. “Oh, definitely,” Josh replies, “That would go off. Penguins in a mosh pit, anyone?” They’re even entertaining the idea of playing in space, inspired by an offer from a South by Southwest promoter who had space-bound plans for live music.
In the meantime, they’ll settle for Earth’s stages, one sold-out venue at a time, spreading their infectious blend of vibes, and proving that sometimes, a few friends jamming on a Newcastle balcony can lead to something out of this world.
Pre-save Rum Jungles upcoming album Recency Bias here.
