FRESH from the wildest week of their career, where Hoops captured the No.1 spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100, frontman Sam Margin has signalled his ambition for the Rubens to become an “iconic” Australian band.
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Not since Powderfinger and Silverchair disbanded in 2010 and 2011 respectively has a group stepped forth to claim the brass ring as Australia’s top band. Perth’s Tame Impala are undoubtedly Australia’s biggest musical export, but many would argue they’re not a real band given frontman Kevin Parker writes and records their albums alone.
Powderfinger famously reached No.1 in the Hottest 100 twice with These Days (1999) and My Happiness (2000) and Silverchair’s Straight Lines was controversially pipped by Muse’s Knights of Cydonia in 2007.
Traditionally being openly ambitious is frowned on in indie circles, but Margin makes no bones about his aspirations for the Rubens.
“I’d love to end up an iconic Australian band, that would be amazing and ridiculous,” Margin said. “I’d like to have international success too.
“This year we’re going to be juggling both. We’re going to go overseas for a few months after Groovin The Moo and then we’ll keep chipping away at the Australian market and getting success overseas as well.”
The opening leg of the Groovin The Moo festival at the Maitland Showground on April 23 will be the first chance for Hunter fans to catch the Menangle boys since they climbed the summit of the Triple J Hottest 100 above firm favourite, King Kunta by American rapper Kendrick Lamar.
Margin said the week since the Australia Day announcement had been wild.
“It’s been bit of a party, but really good though,” he said. “We’re taking it easy now and recovering after the news. It was probably one of the best ever weeks we’ve had as a band. The best week of our lives.”
The Hottest 100 has also created a fair share of controversy for the Rubens. Respected Sydney Morning Herald music journalist Bernard Zuel criticised the countdown for being “unsurprising and safe” and Steve Kilbey from legendary Australian band, The Church, said the Rubens “do not rock” and Hoops had “no oomph or grunt”.
“I’ve definitely noticed a lot more attention, whether it’s good or bad,” Margin said. “Anyone that wins the Hottest 100, especially if they’re not the favourite, there’s going to be controversy or haters out there for sure. “Generally it’s been positive and it feels like a step up for us. We weren’t being talked about like this a week ago, so hopefully the Groovin Tour will be huge for us.”
Anyone who saw the Rubens’ sold-out Bar on the Hill show in November knew the band were about to break through big time. The crowd was euphoric and Hoops received the greatest reaction of the entire set. When asked why Hoops had cut through with Australian audiences, Margin said: “I guess it’s kind of different for us. It’s simple, but I find it interesting. I’m still trying to work it out.
“It definitely has that catchy vibe, along with the R&B rhythm and soul, which is obviously really popular these days. It’s more than the R&B-style singing, it’s got a more of a hip hop vibe with the beats too. Maybe that’s more current than some of our other songs, which can be more rock’n’roll.”
The R&B melody in Hoops did not arrive by accident. Margin is life-long fan of the genre.
“I grew up listening to it, but didn’t think I could do it,” he said. “I was listening to Bill Withers, Al Green and later on Tracy Chapman. I felt it was just too hard, then I started trying it and realised it must be because I’ve always listened to it that I found those melodies easier to sing and write.”
Margin said album No.3 would continue the R&B stylings of Hoops and work would begin on the follow-up once the Rubens tour Europe and the US later this year.
