Meet Castaway, your new favourite Ōtautahi-based band
Castaway was born in a UC Hall. Image: Tom Grut / Jared Yeoward.
Are you a fan of Kings of Leon? Or Arctic Monkeys’ alternative style and energetic performances? Yes? Then I’ve got a treat for you. Founded back in 2018, Castaway is the musical lovechild of UC’s Rochester and Rutherford Hall Rec Room. Fun fact: their name is derived from all the boys staying in the same House. Yes, you may have guessed it already: Wilson House.
Castaway has played thrice at the iconic Tea Party, released their debut EP Chaos & Order in 2021, and came out with stream-worthy single “Supernova” in early February of this year. Their music is available on Spotify, and they’re regularly seen jamming it up at Fat Eddie’s on the weekends.
I had the pleasure of getting in contact with them – Jackson, Joe, Jack, Rhys and Austen – just recently, and received a range of fresh and articulate answers to a bunch of questions I posed surrounding music, cohort and individual challenges, and life in Ōtautahi.
Let’s get into it!
Olivia: First off, why create a band together? What is the history of Castaway?
Castaway: Like many students in Ōtautahi, we come far and wide from across Aotearoa. A crazy stroke of fate landed us all in the same hall of residence. Bedroom jams turned into gigs in the local student and bar scene, and armed with a dedicated fanbase of mates from our hall, we continued honing our craft and connection as a band.
Written in the freezing living rooms and bedrooms of our early flats, [Chaos & Order] explored the themes of identity and isolation in a time of transition to adulthood; a pretty authentic and cathartic body of work for a group of young men. When we aren’t chasing each other up for not unloading the dishwasher or sharing a delicious meal at the dinner table, we’re hard at work on our sophomore EP, “Nondual”, which is due to come out in November 2024.
Castaway can often be spotted performing at Fat Eddie’s. Image: Tom Grut / Jared Yeoward.
Olivia: Who are your biggest musical/personal inspirations and why?
Jackson [vocals, guitar]: Coldplay has been a big inspiration of mine. With Fall Out Boy, “Infinity on High” was my go-to childhood album and will always hold a place in my heart. It’s a true masterclass and an album that I’ll always come back to when struggling to find a creative spark.
Joe [vocals, drums]: The 1975 for their beautiful soundscapes, The Killers for great energy. Both of these bands really capture the emotion of what they’re singing about.
Jack [saxophone, keys]: Leonard Cohen, the master of lyricism and storytelling, and Coldplay.
Rhys [backing vocals, guitar]: Pink Floyd. Maybe it’s because I grew up with these guys being blasted on dad’s record player with mum shouting to turn it down. Favourite album, “Wish You Were Here”. Others include John Mayer, The War on Drugs, and Sem Fender.
Austen [bass]: Alex Turner; his song-writing and lyrics are really a bar above the rest, and he has never shield away from being true to his artistry. He always knows how to put an interesting spin on something universally experienced. One of my favourite lyrics of his is, “the knife twists at the thought that I should fall short of the mark”.
Olivia: As artists, what advice would you give to other budding Kiwi musicians?
Castaway: To be truly honest, we’re no experts and we’re figuring it all out ourselves failure by failure, success by success. However, if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the last few years, it’s that the Aotearoa music industry is pretty damn intimate.
Being a good human is so important to being a successful musician, so put yourself out there and meet people the way you want to be met. Also, a huge shoutout to SOLE Music Academy who have provided us with invaluable connections, lessons and support. And, if you’re in a band – be nice to your bass player. Just do it.
Olivia: How has growing up in Ōtautahi shaped you as musicians and individuals. What’s your favourite thing about this city? Any challenges?
Castaway: Ōtautahi holds a special place in our hearts because it is the melting pot that brought us all together. In this city that none of us calls home, we’ve found ourselves a family of sorts, and have surrounded ourselves with an amazing community of supporters and mates. It’s not the biggest city in Aotearoa, but it punches above its weight in terms of university culture and appreciation for live music. The Southern half of Aotearoa is a mecca for indie and rock music.
Olivia: Who is your go-to band or artist to cover?
Castaway: The Killers, ABBA, Jet, Blondie – we love taking those classic tunes and infusing them with a youthful, energetic feel. We’ve also got a special place in our heart for those infectiously groovy songs; the ‘stank face’ is a sign that we’re really enjoying ourselves, even if it doesn’t look like it!
Olivia: If you had to encompass the Ōtautahi music scene in one word each, what would it be?
Castaway: Electric, growing, rockin’, juicy, and sublime!
Olivia: Loved your newest single “Supernova” – how did that song come to fruition?
Castaway: Hey, cheers mate! “Supernova” was created off the back of another demo called “Higher Place”. There were some cool moments in the original demo, but it was missing that pop-rock grit and youthful energy that we wanted to capture. Jackson played “Higher Place” a bit faster than the original version, and there was a collective ‘oh damn, that’s another level’ moment. The song then fell together after some (very) late nights in the garage.
We started with the chords and melody, slowly pieced in the drums and bass, followed by some little sparkles of production. The last piece of the puzzle was the lyrics, which we all had a hand in creating. It feels like there’s a bit of each of the band members in the song, which is something we place a lot of importance on. The opportunity to fly up to Auckland and record in The Lab Studio was super special. Our producer Greg Haver has produced a track with a Spice Girl, so him and his team did an unreal job on the track.
Olivia: Are there any Kiwi artists that you recommend?
Castaway: Check out The Butlers, Double Parked, Mako Road, and NO CIGAR if you’re into indie rock. Lunar Intruder are one of Ōtautahi’s best. There’s A Tuesday and PARK RD are unreal. L.A.B. are also heroes of ours!
Olivia: What should we be expecting from you in the future?
Castaway: We’re treating fans to a stellar line-up of releases this year – five songs released as singles, and a sixth that will culminate in the EP Nondual. It is set to be a high-energy, pop-rock journey that takes the listener through what it means to be connected to all things, and aims to inspire feelings of hope and positivity through a collection of tunes that are as catchy as they are profound.
Olivia: Sounds great. Anything you’d like to say to your listeners and supporters?
Castaway: We're just so grateful for the experiences we had at university - students at UC have such a unique opportunity to make mates, get involved, and even start a band. They were the best years of our lives, and we’ve made so many memories and mates that will last a lifetime! If you’re new to us, welcome to the Castaway community, it’s a pleasure to have you on board!
Castaway show themselves to be a very promising, supportive Ōtautahi band, formed through a love of music and the power of brotherhood and collaborative efforts. Remember to keep an eye on their socials and current work, and look out for Castaway’s next EP Nondual. I sense a hit.