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Alt-pop duo The Brinks on the success of their debut EP (Includes interview)

Out now on Louder Than Life/Sony Music, Temporary Love was executive produced by Salaam Remi, known for his work with the likes of Amy Winehouse and Alicia Keys. Amazingly, Friedman and Mellis only began recording demos together in 2015, finding an early supporter in the form of Pharrell Williams, who tweeted about the band to his eight million followers.

The Brinks have already chalked up a number of impressive accolades, with their debut single – the title track of the EP – receiving 10 million plays on Spotify. The song also peaked at number three on Hype Machine‘s Popular Chart and has also received airplay on Jason Kramer’s KCRW show and Pharell’s Beats 1 radio show. I spoke to the pair.

How are you? What have you been doing recently?

Scott (S): “Great thanks! We’ve been mostly working on the live show and getting prepared to play our stuff out live.”

Please tell me about your debut EP, Temporary Love. Where did the title come from? How long did it take to write and record?

S: “The EP is named after the title track. It was about six months of hanging out at Matt’s apartment writing and recording all the songs.”

How did you end up working with Salaam Remi and what did he bring to the table?

Matt (M): “Pusha T made that connection. He was initially into the music and forwarded it on to Salaam. Salaam is now our A&R person.”

I gather the title track is doing rather well on Spotify? What’s it about?

M: “Yeah, it keeps getting added to great playlists and then sticking around… It’s been really fun to watch.”

S: “The song is about searching for something and questioning whether it’s a reality.”

You’ve also been championed by Pharrell Williams. What is it about your music that appears to have struck a chord with listeners?

S: “I’m not really sure exactly… He retweeted us and then we got to meet him and he said he dug the music – which was crazy!”

Which of the songs on the EP particularly stand out for you? Do you plan to release a full-length album at some stage?

S: “‘Limit of the Deadline’ and ‘Temporary Love.’ Yes at some stage, but the next release will likely be an EP.”

What themes do you address on the EP? What do you like to write about in general?

S: “We like to keep it pretty general and focus on the human condition and universal subjects. We also like lyrics that conjure up visual imagery, but we try to find a balance between being that and being too abstract.”

How would you define your sound? Who are your biggest musical influences?

S/M: “Pop music disguised in a blanket of autumn leaves. So many influences from Prince, The Cure, Portishead, PIL, George Clinton, The Bee Gees…”

How did the two of you first meet? Where did the name ‘The Brinks’ come from? What do you like most about working together?

M: “We met through mutual friends and realised quickly that we liked working together. We both have very different musical perspectives and that’s what keeps it interesting for us. The name has a concept to it, but it was more like sound designing a word that felt like our music to us.”

What ambitions do you hope to fulfill?

S: “Our ambitions are to write the best songs we can and create something a little different.”

Temporary Love is available on iTunes.

For more on The Brinks, visit their official Facebook page.

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