Wellington’s Debt Club is a six-piece outfit mixing sax lines, guitar melodies, and compelling songwriting. With their debut EP Taste for Stout fresh out and their first Auckland show locked in at Whammy Bar on October 24, the band’s ready to show a wider crowd what they’ve got. We caught up with them for a chat about influences, inspiration, and what’s next.
You’ve been playing together since high school. Tell us how you went from mates jamming to the sound you’ve built now. Who have been your influences along the way?
Our guitarist, Flinn, and I (River) started playing together when we were about 15, bonding over bands like The Cure and U2. Over time our tastes grew alongside each other, and by mid 2023 we’d pulled together a bunch of songs inspired by bands like Pinegrove and The Beths that became the foundation for Debt Club. We brought in Maxime on drums and Rose on bass to help realise the sound we had in our heads, though it quickly evolved into something quite different from what we first imagined. From there the lineup expanded to include Alex on saxophone and Elina on keys, and more recently Darcy stepped in on bass after Rose moved overseas.
What makes Debt Club exciting for us is how diverse everyone’s musical backgrounds are. Darcy, Elina, and Alex studied jazz in Wellington, Maxime grew up in Manchester with a completely different musical upbringing, and Flinn and I carry that shared history from our high school years. All of those influences mix together into something bigger than the sum of its parts, which is really what gives Debt Club its sound.
MusicNZ says Debt Club is known for “evocative storytelling and innovative composition.” Where does your songwriting inspiration come from? And how do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?
For me, songwriting almost always begins with the lyrics. When I started really analysing the songs I love the most, songs like “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem and “Lost In The Supermarket” by The Clash, I realised I was drawn to that bittersweet feeling. It's like being glad something happened but grieving that it’s over. That tension creates a kind of euphoria, where your head and heart don’t quite know how to react. Sometimes that contrast comes through in the words themselves, and other times it’s the pairing of darker, heavier lyrics with brighter, more upbeat music. A lot of the inspiration for that approach comes from storytellers like Bruce Springsteen or Rodriguez, writers who can channel different voices and experiences. I often try to do the same, telling stories from perspectives other than my own, partly because I don’t think my everyday life is all that interesting haha. What I hope is that people listening can tap into that same layered feeling, that mix of joy and sadness that feels real, human, and a bit transcendent.
Your debut EP “Taste for Stout” is out in the world — what was the release party like, and how would you describe your live shows in general?
The release show was so much fun, everyone was so enthusiastic and receptive, which is really all you can hope for. It was also our first proper headline gig so getting to put together a full, longer length setlist was a real great time. With our live shows in general, we aim for dynamics, balancing softer, more intimate moments with loud, anthemic ones. The goal is always for people to leave feeling like they’ve experienced something they couldn’t find anywhere else.
Most memorable moment on-stage so far?
Playing Cubadupa has definitely been the standout so far. We went into it thinking it would just be another cool gig, but stepping out to a completely packed Glover Park was surreal, both intimidating and amazing at the same time.
October 24, Whammy Bar — your first Auckland show. What’s running through your heads? Big city nerves, excitement to play for a fresh crowd?
We’re really excited, it’s a huge honour to be playing alongside fantastic Auckland bands like Phoebe Rings and Shooless. Right now we’re caught up in the logistics of promoting and travel, so it probably won’t sink in until we’re actually on stage. It’s going to be great playing to a room of new faces and seeing how the music connects with a different crowd.
What else is in the pipeline for Debt Club?
At the moment we have all our attention turned to finishing our debut album and hopefully putting out the first single before the end of the year - if everything goes to plan.
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