Brisbane pop-rock outfit The Idle Minds have today dropped their awaited debut single “Sideways”, a melancholy singalong for the broken-hearted who haven’t lost faith in their happy ending.
It has everything you could want from a groovy ballad: haunting piano, warm guitars, shimmering pads, and a tasty rhythm section. The only thing that’s missing is the voices of the crowd, which this track was clearly made for. Listen for yourself, add it to your playlist and tell a friend (or your friend’s mum).
We caught up with frontman Kody Roby and guitarist Pace Proctor to talk about the new song, romantic art and more.
Your debut single “Sideways” just dropped and it’s a bloody banger. How does it feel to have a new song out that you’ve held onto for so long?
Kody: This has been a labour of love and then some. We were hell bent on upping our game across not only the songwriting, but the production and overall quality of what we know our listeners deserve. And I’d argue we got a top 40 hit on our hands, if the Aussie disc jockey gods will allow.
Pace: It’s an interesting combination of relief and trepidation! I think it might be the closest thing to letting your kids go off to uni/college. You hope you’ve done your best to prepare this thing for the world, and you hope it goes on to do great things. I’m really proud to say we finally got this thing out though.
After playing live for years and pulling The Homesick EP from streaming services, how did you decide that now is the right time for an official rebrand?
Kody: Pace and I have always held this firm opinion that you should only perform and write when you have something to say. My writing background is the harsh realities of absolutely sucking at this thing called existence but persevering and aiming higher. Our goal with this rebrand is to be a beacon of hope for the guys sitting in middle and perhaps, if I may be so bold, I hope our music is helping shove the dark clouds out of the way and bring some joy and hope back into people’s lives in the little ways that only music can.
Pace: I think as songwriters we are evolving, and with that always comes some sacrifice. Of course. We’ve never really been a “mantra” band, but with so much going on in the world that we are unqualified to speak to, we know one thing is for certain: a good song can only make it better, right? So going ahead with “radical positivity” and trying to find what that means to us and channelling it either consciously or unconsciously, it felt like now was the time we could do that authentically.
“Sideways” is an unconventional love song about loving people as they are, which includes loving them at their worst. What inspired the lyrics, and how did the song come together?
Kody: I perceive myself as an inherently unlikeable house cat type personality, so the song acts mostly as a very selfish wish list of my own making. The hopeful proclamation that maybe someone could see me at my worst and still decide I’m worth loving.
Pace: “Sideways” is very much an “unconventional” love song, in that it really says “I’m going to suck. You’re going to suck. This life is going to suck. But probably not forever. You in?”. And I believe that’s a lot closer to the truth than love being perfect all the time.
Kody had a much bigger part in the writing of this one, and he has a great knack for writing things that appear simple but I find so much depth in. It’s sometimes hard to be frank and direct without being slightly unimaginative, and even more difficult to be both verbose and poetic but struggle to cut to the point. I think we’ve walked the fine line on this one and found the middle ground.
What’s each of your secrets to a successful relationship?
Kody: Be honest. It’s gonna hurt but the ones who matter can take it and growth can only happen in that iron sharpening iron place.
Pace: Make sure you like each other’s music, movies and choice in menus!
You call yourselves a pop-rock band, but it sounds like you’ve got a range of stylistic elements in the mix. What are some of your biggest musical influences, both individually and collectively?
Kody: I go looking exclusively for artists who are yanking their battered and bruised hearts out of their chests and letting every listener have a good look at all their flaws and beliefs. Blue October is the GOAT of whatever genre you would call that.
Pace: I have such an uncomfortably random assortment of influences, it’s really quite bizarre. I’ll take Etta James and Al Green with my Northlane and Garth Brooks. I think that’s why I tend to find myself so in awe of the songwriting process. Genres change, but strong songwriting is the throughline. It might sound pretentious to say “everything”, but I’ve found myself in deep wells searching for the wellspring of funk, jazz, blues, rap, and heavy metal bangers. I’ve never walked away empty handed.
Your live shows are always a fun experience, with supports that often wildly differ from each other. What do you think makes a gig worth getting out and showing up for?
Kody: You should only go to a show where the band cares more about you having an incredible time than you do. ‘Cause if they don’t work to the bone to give you the best show of your life every time you see them, it ain’t worth it. I know The Idle Minds have that quality ‘cause Pace and I are audience focused first and foremost with every choice.
Pace: Great songs, and a band that is totally audience focused. I’m not particularly interested or impressed by virtuosity for virtuosity’s sake. Save that for the circus. Synergy between a band and the audience is the self-sustaining, nuclear fission-like lifeforce that keeps a show moving without your hand reaching into your pocket to check the time. When a band cares about you having just as good of a time as they are, you’re onto something. I think great music often speaks for itself, but a great band speaks for others.
You’re also both big film buffs and avid readers. What’s a movie and a book that you would each recommend to somebody who hasn’t seen or read anything?
Kody: As for film, I am an overt lover of romantic comedies through and through. Give me a plucky girl in the city working hard and a stubborn guy who just can’t get out of his own way. I’m sold every time. As for books, I would suggest a book called Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. A brutal exhibit of harsh truth and radical action in the face of hardship and failure.
Pace: Like a good outfit, certain books and movies are made for certain seasons of our life. If my suggestions fall flat, just wait for the weather to change. Movies are a tough one, but my best advice is to just go where Jimmy Stewart goes. You’ll find something great in there. And if that fails, Kill Bill.
Now, there’s a lot of talk about “The Great American Novel”, but we can close the case on that because it has been written: that would be East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Not only an incredible examination of good vs evil, but the quintessential evaluation of the American soul, westward expansion and human nature ever written. Just remember, you shouldn’t wear Croc’s in winter and a wool trench is no good in summer!
In your opinion, what makes a good love story?
Kody: Being loved when you deserve it the least.
Pace: I like a bit of reality, so a little truth and struggle wins me over. But I can be swayed by sentimentality and cheese, too. I believe a good love story makes you feel that despite whatever’s coming over the horizon, we’re in this together. I defer to the crown prince of New Jersey, Mr Jon Bon Jovi who wrote: It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not. We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love.
Follow The Idle Minds on Facebook and Instagram to for regular updates and catch them at a show near you.
