So much for artists just baring their souls. Local singer-songwriter Jake Cropley is taking things a step further with his comedy band Naked Head, releasing a re-mastered version of the group’s 2018 EP ‘Feetosaur’ in anticipation of their upcoming debut full-length album ‘NAKED NATION!’
The quirky Burleigh foursome consists of a Dad, an Uncle and two friends, coming together to write songs that could make anyone laugh.
Utilising a dizzying mix of rap, rock, folk, pop, electronica and anything else they’re feeling like on any particular day, the Naked Head guys are basically living out all their wildest musical fantasies in one place, and making us cackle to boot.
We had so many questions for Jake.
First of all, tell us about how all the band members are connected?
Zane and I started dating sisters around the same time a few years ago. We found out their dad, Michael loved music so to impress him I pulled out my music gear to make a song. This happened to be a night when Mat, Michael’s brother, was in town so we all sang it together. After one night we had a finished song and Naked Head was born.
What prompted the band’s hiatus and why did you decide to get back together?
The truth is we didn’t know we were actually a band until we had an album. Mat lives in Adelaide so we only wrote songs on family holidays. After enough trips we had a bunch of songs and decided to make the band happen for real.
Talk me though the band’s song concept and writing process. Who drives it, and is any idea ever too silly?
Every song is a little different but they usually start with Mat or Michael bringing an idea and if it makes everyone laugh enough, I’ll record a track and write a chorus. Then we all sit down and write the verses together which is always hilarious. Then Zane wraps everything up at the end with a crazy rap. Something we didn’t know he could do until we started the band. No idea is too silly but we work really hard to make sure everyone listening gets the joke too!
Why a comedy band?
At the start, we were only having laugh together and making funny videos, and now it’s become something we can share with everyone. I think these songs were giving us so much joy that we wanted others to feel the same, especially in a time where it’s been so tough on everyone.
Do you have a fave track on ‘NAKED NATION!’? If so, what is it and why?
On the album, our favourite song is ‘Video Game’. It was the last song we recorded and it took us all by surprise how fun and nostalgic it feels. Performing live, our favourite song is ‘I’m A Fish’, because we’ve spent so much money on fish costumes and it’s a whale of a time (*wink, wink*)!
You seemed to have included some fairly heavy industrial electronica sounds on the new album. Do you remember making that musical choice?
When making a track, I always try to match the sounds with the lyrics if I can. For the song ‘Conspiracy’, I wanted to make a ‘sci-fi’ inspired track to match the lyrics about space and the heavy electronic sounds really captured that feeling. On the track ‘I’m The Captain’, I took the same idea and used sounds to make the song feel like the soundtrack to a pirate movie. I think it helps the jokes too when the story and music match because it takes you to the world we’re singing about.
Check out the vid for the second single 'Naked Generation' below:
Is the Queen really a lizard?
According to our source of a fuzzy, pixelated YouTube video uploaded ten years ago - yes.
I have to ask – is anyone in the band a Monty Python fan? There’s a classic cheese sketch in MP that feels related to ‘Cheesy Cheese’ from the first album.
Zane and I haven’t seen much Monty Python, but Michael and Mat were raised on it. Their dad played those movies for them when they were growing up so I bet there’s definitely some inspiration in there!
‘I’m in Love With An Alien’ gives me classic 90s earnest boy band vibes. Please tell me there are moves that go with it.
Zane is a professional dancer and choreographer outside of the band so it’s his job to hook us up with the freshest dance moves. So, yes! There are moves for ‘I’m In Love With An Alien’, but the rest of us are far from dancers! But just because we’re ‘Justin Timber-Late’ on the moves, it doesn’t stop us from giving it a good go in the music videos and live show!
Anything else you want people to know ahead of the launch?
We’ve got so many surprises in store! Costumes, lights, projections, illusions, props, jokes - everything! If that sounds like fun to you, come and party with us on 18 August at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Naked Head style!
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Naked Head are set to release their debut album ‘NAKED NATION!’ with a launch show at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse on Thursday 18 August. In the meantime, you can grab a listen to ‘Feetosaur’ over at Bandcamp.