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Exploring Science, Spirit, and ‘Fission’ With the Brilliant Human Intrusion

Exploring Science, Spirit, and ‘Fission’ With the Brilliant Human Intrusion

Melbourne-based duo Human Intrusion, made up of Lewis O’Brien and Penny Walker-Keefe, have emerged from lockdown with their most ambitious and conceptually rich work yet. Their latest EP, ‘Fission’, is a bold experiment that delves into the duality of science and spirit, the mechanical and the emotional. Released on 19th September and available on a special limited-edition floppy disk, the EP is a testament to the band’s unique sound, which is heavily influenced by 80s post-punk and new wave but also boldly forward-thinking.

Born out of the hazy days of Melbourne’s 2020 lockdowns, Human Intrusion has blossomed into an organic and honest project. The duo’s new music is rooted in science, drawing inspiration from everything from physics textbooks to kitsch sci-fi films. However, an ethereal and spiritual thread also weaves itself throughout the songs, creating a fascinating contrast between the synthetic and the human. We caught up with Penny and Lewis to chat about the new EP, their creative process, and what it’s like to be nerds writing about science.

Hello, Penny and Lewis, from Human Intrusion! Thanks for taking the time to answer some of our questions. When did you first start making music? Where did it all begin, and what inspired you?

"Hi Broken 8! Thanks so much for inviting us to chat. We started working on music together in the lockdowns of 2020 when previous bands ground to a halt, yet a creative outlet was desperately needed! It was a slow start with a new way of working for us both, but we have persevered it into the project it is today."

"In our first few years of being a band, we played as a three-piece with an excellent drummer. Eventually, she got really busy with other projects, and so we embraced drum machines, which has now become a signature part of our sound, and developed into a two-piece."

"So whilst we both have a strong affinity for live and loud rock 'n’ roll and love being part of the Melbourne music landscape, we’ve developed a more nuanced and considered approach to our own music – which has accumulated into this new EP."

Can you tell us a bit about this latest EP, ‘Fission’? What does it mean to you?

"We wanted to craft a body of work that’s one cohesive piece to listen to from start to finish. We love the idea of a 'concept album' where listening to the whole thing provides a much richer experience than the songs in isolation. We also wanted an ongoing theme of science and how it interweaves with art and our lives - so we started the project from scratch with these two intentions, taking influence from everything from physics textbooks to kitsch science fiction movies."

"Given this was very much a DIY project, a 20-minute EP was about our limit! But I’d encourage anyone to put some time aside to listen to the whole thing."

Were there any artists, moments, or experiences that especially influenced you when creating the project?

"Our influences are probably plain to see – Depeche Mode, The Cure, Kate Bush, Curve, and we spent a lot of time listening to whole albums to try and discover what drew your attention into the stories they were weaving, as well as their sonic textures we were keen to borrow from."

"We also used a lot of equipment from the 80s and 90s in the production – usually unloved and inexpensive drum machines and effects units that were otherwise collecting dust somewhere. The limitations of these things often influence the way you take a song and its production, but also learning how to push and break them a little bit can have genuinely unique results."

What is your songwriting process as a duo? How does it all come together?

"There’s no specific way to do this – sometimes songs originate from short instrumental ideas created by Lewis, other times from the lyrics provided by Penny. But once we recognise something as being good, either in its own right or within the context of other songs, we bounce it back and forward until it’s forged into something we can confidently call a song. The production is also woven into the songwriting process, so a pulsating synth pattern or the reverb on a snare can play just as important a part as a guitar line or vocal melody in sparking ideas."

What’s the most important thing when you’re writing a song?

"That’s a good question and tricky to answer. I suppose it’s whether you’re enjoying the process or not. For every completed song we have, there are a dozen that never materialise, and the consistent element of the unsuccessful ones is that it felt arduous to squeeze what we wanted out of the initial idea. If we are trying to write a new song and it’s not proving to be an enjoyable experience, it’s often time to move onto something potentially more rewarding."

How would you describe your sound? Would you say there has been a change or evolution in style since you first began?

"There has definitely been an evolution! Initially, we always worked with the assumptions of being in a band— distinct instrument roles in order to play the songs live as a priority. We have now very much let go of this way of thinking, and it allows us to do whatever we want with the songs in the studio without restrictions.

"Unfortunately, this can make it tricky to translate them onto the stage—I suppose we will find out how well it works at the upcoming launch night!"

"And to attempt to describe the sound: Fission is industrial drums mixed with atmospheric guitars, driving bass, a sprinkling of synth, and layered vocals, awash with reverb and delay."

Is there a central message or theme you were trying to convey in your latest release? Is there a moment in the release that really captures that idea?

"We wrote most of the songs around themes borrowed from science, both accurate and sometimes with a little artistic licence! There’s a song about the Large Hadron Collider, and another about the sun’s radiation. The end track, 'See-Through', references the spectral, but really it’s just about having a drop in blood pressure and nearly fainting. At heart, we are just nerds writing about stuff we find interesting."

What has been your best moment as a musician or band so far?

"Playing our favourite venue, Northcote Social Club, to a packed room, and hearing our songs on community radio warms our cockles." 

Is there anything you would like to say to our audience?

"Have a good time, all the time. And, we hope to see you at The Grace Darling on Friday, 10th Oct for our EP launch with esteemed associates No Statues and Cold Regards!"

Alongside the new EP, the band have also recently shared their new video for 'See-Through'. The video was conceived and created by the band's good friends Sam Black and Michael Fox – a duo of local musicians who have stepped into the world of creating music videos for other local artists.

Speaking more about the video, Lewis shared, "Although maybe not the first choice for a single, we picked 'See-Through' as there was something about it that lent towards cinematic potential. Sam suggested that it sounded 'subterranean' and convinced us to follow him into a labyrinth of dark storm drains to shoot."

With 'Fission’, Human Intrusion have shown that scientific inspiration and musical creativity are not mutually exclusive. By seamlessly blending themes of science with an emotive, often ethereal sound, the duo has created a project that is both intellectually stimulating and deeply engaging. This DIY approach, along with their willingness to embrace limitations and experiment with vintage gear, results in a sound that is entirely their own. It’s clear that Lewis and Penny are not just making music—they’re building a world, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

For more from the band, be sure to follow them today on BandcampInstagram, and Facebook.

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