The heart of Melbourne's inner north pulsates with the vibrant energy of Le Bonje, a dynamic duo anchored in the city's punk and pub rock scene.
United by a friendship forged in the early 2000s, Le Bonje combines their musical talents to create an authentic sound that reflects the passion and deep friendship they share.
Fresh off the release of their self-titled debut EP, we caught up with the duo to discuss a future full of endless possibilities as they continue to captivate audiences with their unique blend of punk and DIY spirit.
Happy: Hey, what are you doing today?
Le Bonje: We are currently working on new material for our next release.
Happy: Tell us a little about where you live, what the scene is like, and what you like about it.
Le Bonje: We are from Melbourne's inner north. Scenes have been thriving here for some time, and punk/pub rock is no exception.
Venues like Tote and Old Bar keep that fire burning and show no signs of slowing down.
Happy: As long-time friends and bandmates since the early 2000s, how has your dynamic evolved over the years, and how does that camaraderie contribute to your creative process?
Le Bonje: In the early days, we both played in separate bands, but we both liked what the other was doing, so we always played gigs together.
The time we spent that year has now solidified our process and we know that what others produce/create is only of high quality.
Happy: What attracted you to punk as a genre? How do you think Le Bonje contributes to the broader punk music scene?
Le Bonje: I think punk, despite its vulgar jacket, is very honest, simple and yet complex. There's a reason why it doesn't go away!
It's that integrity that keeps us going, and seeing a great punk band in a sweaty band room, whether it's an incarnation of the word punk, an ethos, a style, or something. Even if it's some kind of weird sub-band, it's priceless. Category.
Happy: Can you tell us about some of the key influences, musical or otherwise, that have shaped Le Bonje's identity?
Le Bonje: Well, everything, but Melbourne as a whole. From radio shows like PBS's “Fang It,” to a local band that draws 800 people to one show, to a local band that draws eight people to his one show, the scene and the people. always shapes our activities.
After spending almost five years away from Melbourne recently, coming back and reconnecting with Melbourne culture has been an absolute breath of fresh air, always providing ideas and nourishing the soul.
Happy: The pandemic has been a difficult time for many. How did you overcome the challenges of the past few years and how did that influence the themes you explored on your debut EP?
Le Bonje: The pandemic has been very productive for us creatively, giving both of us the opportunity to step away from our busy lifestyles and decide why we want to do what we do.
The benefit of modern technology is that you don't need to be in the same room to create, record, and communicate project ideas in the field.
Happy: What role does the DIY ethos play in your approach to creating and presenting music as Le Bongé?
Le Bonje: Part of the idea was exactly that, we wanted to create something in-house, and it gave us a great excuse to buy new equipment for recording.
We also wanted to make sure it sounded like that. I don't need a flash studio anymore to make music sound good, but I wanted to lean into DIY sound. Dirt was important.
Happy: The EP features an eclectic mix of sounds, from harsh vocals to pop-punk elements. How do you approach genre fusion and what do you think it adds to the overall listening experience?
Le Bonje: The type of genre heard on the EP was not a conscious decision. We wrote a lot of songs, but those were the ones we both liked the most.
I think it probably has a little bit to do with the music we grew up with, we still listen to so many different types of music, but there's a lot of conscious effort in approaching the genres heard in music. No decisions made.
Happy: As a punk band, you have incorporated political and socio-economic commentary into your music. How important is it to Le Bonje to address these issues through art?
Le Bonje: Until I was asked this question, I didn't really realize how much social commentary music contained.
But the process is very simple for us: we talk about things we find ridiculous or annoying, and we draw humor out of them. No matter how frustrating life can be, there is always something cheerful in it.
Happy: What challenges did you face in realizing your vision, especially with your debut EP, and how did you overcome them?
Le Bonje: Wooft, the recording and production was the tough part, but also the most fun and rewarding part. We spent a lot of time re-recording as we were both learning how to do this properly.
It's happened more times than I'd like to admit that I've listened to something for a week because I thought it was good, and then completely scrapped it.
Happy: Looking to the future, what are Le Bongé’s goals and aspirations as a band, both musically and in terms of reaching audiences?
Le Bonje: We're just happy to be able to continue writing and recording music that brings smiles to our faces. If we can make others happy in the process, we embrace it too!!
Happy: Finally, what makes you happy?
Le Bonje: As described above! !