The Buckleys – A family band from Australia
Interview conducted on March 23, 2020
by Dan Locke
Performing internationally to crowds of up to 60 000 people and having won 2 American Songwriting Awards, at only 15, 16 and 18 years old, Australian sibling act ‘The Buckleys’ have have co-written songs with numerous GRAMMY Award winning songwriters and have played a phenomenal number of internationally renowned festivals, events and concerts including Music City Roots (Nashville) broadcast on PBS American Public Television – Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, Sydney Carols in the Domain (Australia’s biggest Christmas Concert), Tamworth Country Music Festival (Toyota Park Stage and Capital theatre), Byron Bay Blues Festival, Bluebird Café and Douglas Corner (Iconic Nashville Music Venues), Academy of Country Music Australia, Opened for Brian Cadd and The Bootleg Family Band and many others
Band Members
Sarah Grace Buckley – Vocals / Guitar.
Molly Buckley – Vocals / Mandolin / Fiddle.
Lachlan Buckley – Electric Guitar / Slide Guitar.
Dan Locke: How did you discover music? Was it a family thing to perform music together?
Molly: Music has always been a massive part of our lives. With our dad being a touring Rock n Roll drummer since the 80’s we’ve been brought up in a household where it’s very normal to have instruments at every corner. As kids, it felt so natural to just pick up a guitar or jump on the drums and start playing together. Some families go waterskiing, fishing, biking…we play music!
Sarah and Lachlan- How did you get your first guitar and do you still have it? Do you name your guitars?
Sarah: We always had a couple of guitars lying around the house. But it was my 11th birthday I believe when I got my own first guitar as a present from Mum and Dad as that’s around the time my passion for music really kicked in and I became obsessed (and Mum’s guitar was too big for me to play!). And yes – I still have that guitar! I don’t think I could ever part with it. I think I did a name that one but I actually can’t remember what it was. I should start naming them again!
Lachlan: I got my first guitar 5 years ago when I started playing guitar. It is an “Epiphone Les Paul” which is still my main guitar. I decided to get this guitar after I watched the Black Betty film clip by “Ram Jam” who had a guitarist slinging a crazy looking 70s Les Paul and was absolutely shredding on it!! After that, I fell deep into the rabbit hole of guitar/music!
Molly- Was the fiddle or violin your first instrument? BTW, what’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin. I thought they were different names for the same thing?
Molly: Actually, my first instrument was the Mandolin! I was taught by our neighbor ‘Hillbilly Robby’ who Sarah and I actually wrote our first song about. I was then told, “you know the violin is the same as a mandolin”, which I had no idea about at the time. I’ve always loved picking up new instruments and adding unique layers of sound to the band, so of course, I picked up the Fiddle and learned my song of choice which was ‘Wagon Wheel’.
When I first started learning I always asked the same question “what’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin” … Honestly, I think everyone answered it differently but I’ve come to my own conclusion – it all comes down to style. I guess you could say what I play is fiddle since violin players cater more towards the classical genres.
How did your band get discovered at the Tamworth Country Music Festival? Was that your first time playing the festival or had you played it before?
Molly: In 2011 our whole family went camping at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. We didn’t have any gigs so we went busking because we needed petrol money to get home! Little did we know that getting a busking permit automatically enters you into the busking competition (with around 600 acts competing). We busked a few times and without even knowing we were in a competition, we ended up placing in the top 10 and were invited to perform on the festivals main stage ‘Toyota Park’ the next day – which was the biggest stage we had ever played on at that point to around 1000 people. To be recognized at the festival was a massive accomplishment and eye-opener for us. This is when we all decided to officially form ‘The Buckleys’.
Since you are siblings, is decision-making rather difficult when you add the family element?
Sarah: Well we’re all very passionate people, especially when it comes to music – so yes rehearsals can get heated sometimes! Haha. But it’s probably a good thing because we really can be (often brutally) honest with each other and there are ‘no hard feelings. Other than our ‘heated discussions/debates’ about music, the usual little sibling spats are generally about something ridiculously stupid and blow over super quickly (and often can be resolved with food)! We mostly get along very well and genuinely enjoy each other’s company!
With the current state of the world, has the Coronavirus affected your touring plans?
Molly: Yes, with the world in its current state we have had to postpone some touring plans. We’re all just taking it day by day and trying to find/create a positive in every situation because that’s really all you can do! While we’re all hunkering down, we’re working a lot on new music and also have some exciting social media pieces we’ve been working on that will hopefully bring some entertainment and positivity into everyone’s household and lift the spirits! So, stay tuned.
The band was the first band to be signed to Petrol Records since it was acquired by Universal Music Group. Does that hold any special significance or meaning to you?
Molly: Definitely! Signing to Petrol Records/ Universal Music Group is still so insane to think about. Working closely with the one and only Chris Murphy is something we will never take for granted. Everyone grows up listening to amazing bands/artists (for example INXS) not realizing the strategy put behind their career. Universal is also home to so many artists we love and respect and its honor to work with such a passionate, experienced and inspiring team of people in the Petrol / UMG family.
You have a documentary coming called Meet the Buckleys? Who are the Buckleys?
Sarah: We are a family who loves music. We love writing it, playing it, performing it, listening to it, creating it. And we have been playing it together ever since we were old enough to pick up an instrument. So fast forward to now, we have signed a major label deal with Chris Murphy’s Petrol Records and Universal Music, had our first #1 song last year nominated for an Australian Country Music Association Award and our debut album coming out this year, recorded in Nashville with Chad Carlson at the famous Sound Emporium Studios.
‘Meet The Buckleys’ is a look into our family, the natural progression and journey of turning the thing we love doing most into a career and all of the fascinating people who have stumbled into our world over the years and more recently, and been a part of this crazy ride with us so far. It’s a journey about where we came from, where we are and where we’re going.
Tell me about your latest single “Money”? Is there an interesting origin story to that song?
Sarah: Money is our very first international release, written by myself and my good buddies in Nashville, Phil Barton, and Dwave Thomson. It’s kind of funny/ironic because being musicians it’s not like we’re rolling in it but that was the point – ‘Money’ is really just a double entendre for ‘Fun’ in this song. I was sitting in Nashville with a little change in my pocket and not much more (like the song says), and so from the writing point of view, it’s slightly sarcastic and meant to make you wanna dance and have a ball – regardless of Money!
The video is really fun… Was this the video you envisioned for the song originally?
Lachlan: We more had a vision of the ‘vibe’ we wanted to create and this vision was carried through the writing, production, music video, photos, etc. We knew it was going to be fun, high energy, colorful and the song had this slight 60s surf rock feel which we knew was significant in some way. Fun is definitely the word we would pair with this song. To us, that’s exactly what the song means and is about – having a blast!
It has almost a 60s feel. I think it could be the song of the summer. Have you been told that already?
Lachlan: Thank you! The 60s part – yes … ‘Song of The Summer’ – that sounds like a beautiful thing! Thank you!
Sarah- You have co-written over 100 songs. That’s quite a lot of songs. How many do you imagine will turn into recorded material?
Sarah: I hope a lot of them! I think in order to get great songs you have to write a lot of songs. It’s like exercising any muscle or getting good at anything. The only way to get great is to do it as much as you can so I write all the time whether I’m on my own or co-writing (both are really important for my process). When we were recording our debut album in Nashville it broke my heart having to let songs we really loved go and not be recorded yet, but at the same time, I was thinking “Wow, this is a really great place to be” because it meant that every single song on this album really earned its place and every song has a point and purpose for being there – there is no ‘filler’. We love every song on this record!
How was it to record in Nashville? How was it to attend the Country Music Awards in Nashville?
Lachlan: Recording in Nashville, working and jamming with some of the best musicians in the world and our producer, Chad Carlson, is an amazing experience. Seeing these songs come to life and in the ‘Sound Emporium Studios’ which is such a famous and respected studio, you can feel the musical energy of the place in the walls. It’s an honor and truly a dream come true getting to create music there.
Sarah: The CMA Awards was another incredible moment as that is something, we literally watch on TV every year, so to be there and in the company of so many of my idols who really inspired me to start writing songs and playing music felt pretty surreal.
Is Country music different in Australia than the United States?
Sarah: Yes, there are some differences in the music, stylistically (I think growing up in two different parts of the world/cultures means we experience and are influenced by different things and that filters through into the music and art that is created). Nashville and Tamworth recently became ‘Sister Cities’ and it’s really great to see the two industries crossing borders and working together to grow Country Music around the world!
How did the Bush Fires affect you?
Molly: We were actually in Nashville when all the bush fires started and our house was just out of the danger zone which we are extremely fortunate for, but, 30 minutes down the road is another story. It was so devastating watching these catastrophic events unfold. Many lost their houses and land which is really hard the fathom and the effects of it all are still being felt around the Country. Our hearts also break for the 480 million wildlife animals that lost their lives in our state alone. We’re proud of the Australian community spirit though and how everyone came together to hold out their hands and offer help where possible, brought some light to a very devasting situation.
Lachlan: We did a series of fundraising shows on the East Coast with the CMAA and were very thankful to have been a part of those shows which raised over $20 000 for bush fire relief appeal. Everyone’s doing what they can to help.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Lachlan: Ooo, getting serious! We love both but for us, there’s nothing like physically holding and owning a record, placing on the record player and watching the needle hit. It’s the appreciation and physical experience that makes vinyl so special.
Any plans to tour the U.S?
Molly: Absolutely! We always have an absolute blast when we’re in the US and love to come whenever we can! There will definitely be some U.S tour plans coming up
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Sarah: Thank you for reading! We hope everyone’s staying safe, keeping on smiling and spread the love (…just from a distance for the time being though!)
