Indonesian band Elephant Kind’s new album “More Time” highlights their candid and intentional approach. The trio — with members vocalist-guitarist Bam Mastro, bassist Bayu Adisapoetra, and drummer Kevin Septanto — is behind the tracks “True Love,” “Better Days,” and “I Believe in You.”
Elephant Kind’s third studio album, “More Time,” consists of 12 songs, produced by Mastro, with a few tracks co-produced with Iain Berryman.
The members, who had worked on the album for two years, fondly reminisced about finding the album’s sound and direction at Abbey Road Studios. “That moment shaped everything; we carried that direction all the way through.”
Further recalling the experience in an interview with Music Geek, they added, “To top it off, I saw Thom Yorke in the hallway, and we made eye contact, which was pretty surreal.”
However, what they found challenging was deciding which songs suited the album. As forward-looking creatives who are not attached to past work, narrowing the tracklist proved difficult, with only a few songs fitting their intended narrative. They also struggled to determine when a song is truly complete.
“There’s always more you could change or refine. But for me, the real challenge is knowing when to stop. Anyone can start a project, but deciding it’s complete enough to let go of it shows experience and confidence in your instincts,” they shared.
In the title track “More Time,” they leaned into candidness and intentionality, no longer hiding behind vague lyrics. Moreover, they highlighted the line, “I don’t need to live forever, I just want more time,” adding, “That’s something I truly believe in. It feels more real to me, at the end of the day, we all want a little more time.”
When asked which song particularly stands out, they named “Plan,” explaining that they didn’t originally plan to include a drum and bass breakdown, but it naturally happened throughout the process.
“That moment represents how we trust our instincts as a band.”
Through the album, Elephant Kind aims to deliver a rollercoaster experience, filled with diverse emotions and moments. They encourage listeners to experience the album in full on first listen.
If they were to collaborate with another artist in the future, they would choose hip-hop icon Kanye West. “I do believe in separating the art from the artist. If I had the chance, I’d definitely take it,” they added.
After working on their latest project, the members reconnected with their individual strengths, a shift that ultimately strengthened the band’s overall dynamic. “Having full control over our art is incredibly important to us. In four months, we released a single with a music video, followed by four tracks with live videos, and then a conceptual listening party, all independently.”
Additionally, they revealed that the process behind “More Time” demanded both agility and discipline from the band.
To this day, the band couldn’t exactly define their sound, as it’s constantly evolving. Despite listeners perceiving their sound as mature, the band attributes this to a stronger sense of intention, shaped by a clear vision and a defined approach to their craft. “It’s less about changing who we are, and more about becoming clearer in expressing it.”
When asked which artist they’ve collectively listened to recently, they mentioned watching the dance-punk band LCD Soundsystem, which left a strong impression on the members.
“But at the same time, we all listen to different kinds of music individually, and that’s what shapes our sound. It’s that mix of influences that makes us who we are,” they added.
Furthermore, they recalled memorable concerts in their career, one in Liverpool, where a crowd unfamiliar with their music eventually started dancing after hearing their songs. In addition, they mentioned their show in Jakarta, “Selling more than a couple of thousand tickets for our first show in five years, that was just as memorable. You could feel how hungry people were for Elephant Kind.”
When asked if their Filipino fans can expect a concert in the country soon, the band expressed appreciation and revealed that some of their closest friends are Filipinos. They also observed similarities with the Filipinos, noting their love for music, specifically singing and dancing, and teased that fans can anticipate news soon. Ultimately, they look forward to touring as they prepare for their upcoming live shows.
