Introducing Lazy Haze: Boorloo’s Newest Indie Rock Group

Born just shy of two years ago, Lazy Haze have quickly claimed their place on the couch of some of Perth’s most well-loved indie-rocks acts like Old Mervs and Great Gable.

Formed in early 2023, the band started when guitarist and vocalist Devin Pullyblank and lead guitarist Kirwan Mactaggart bonded over music at a beach party. Joined by brother Ashton Pullyblank on drums and Ethan Wallis on bass, Lazy Haze quickly solidified their lineup and slid easily into the scene with their blend of grungy guitar riffs, breezy reverb and laid-back vocals. 

After teasing the date “29.11.24” to their Instagram two weeks ago, the four-piece quickly followed up with their debut EP, Without You, containing hits such as the 71k-strong Spotify streamed Old Town and newest single Personal. Ahead of their first official EP spin at the Indian Ocean Hotel this weekend and an abundance of holiday shows, we caught up with Lazy Haze to discuss their journey, creative process, and what’s next. 

Thanks for joining us, Lazy Haze! What have you guys been up to lately?

Thank you so much for having us! The last year has been an absolute whirlwind. From playing gigs with our idols to releasing our own projects, we could not be more proud to be part of the Australian music scene.

Lazy Haze formed after Devin and Kirwan met at a beach party. How did that initial connection shape the band? Also, how did Ashton and Ethan get recruited to the band?

Kirwan and I had the initial intention to jam and just “see where it goes”; (it was) super in the moment and, really, a drunk conversation. After we wrote a few songs in our first session, we knew straight away that we had a special chemistry that just felt right! Its not everyday that you stumble on something magic by accident, we are both super grateful looking back that we took that leap as strangers.

As for our drummer, Ashton, he came on board after we had booked a show without a drummer or a bassist. For some reason, I just didn't register that my brother had been practising his butt off and had actually gotten better than I thought. I asked him to jump in a jam just to fill in, and he blew us away.

Sounds crazy now when I hear myself say this... come on, he's my brother, I live with him... but it was a moment when the lights came on, and we all looked at each other, knowing we had hit the jackpot. We all just gelled straight away. Ethan came along about three months later after we had to part ways with our original bassist. To be honest, he's the best muso in the West, bringing all of us to another level! We honestly would be in such a different position without him.

Your debut EP, Without You, has just been released. What themes or experiences inspired its tracks?

I guess when it comes down to it, it's about relationships and how we deal with the people we love and have to let go of. Dev went through a breakup a month before the band started, so instead of going to therapy, he wrote a lot about his own thoughts and feelings on the matter. It's funny how something like a breakup, even if there's no hatred towards one another, can still hurt so much. Music has been such a saviour to all of us. The EP goes through many different mindsets. 

Old Town is a song about realising your significant other is over you. Stick Around is about realising that the person you once were with isn't as perfect as you once thought. Personal is about the backlash you receive post-breakup from everyone in the friend group/ relationship. 

Not The Same is about trying to move on with other people and realising you don’t feel that same spark as you did with your ex. 

Without You is realising you’re okay, things will be fine, and time heals all wounds. All the boys in the band have gone through this in one way or another and it doesn't necessarily have to be with a girlfriend. It can sometimes be with family members, mates, work colleagues etc.

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What music inspired the band’s sound?

We are inspired by a bunch of bands and eras. We come from a range of different backgrounds, and to be honest, we are so lucky our parents drilled into all of us at a young age what REAL music is. People like Paul Kelly, Crowded House, Silverchair, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, The Strokes... to name a few.

The main thing all these bands bring to the table in our journey is their ability to tell a story. All we want to do is tell stories that resonate with our listeners, sometimes its melody, sometimes its lyrics. All we know is that whatever we release, we want our audience to walk away feeling understood.

You’ve been absolutely killing the live shows this year! Was it hard to enter into the local gigging scene, and did you have a tactic for getting on lineups?

For us, it's all about supporting the local music community. I think when you get around other people and are enthusiastic about other people and their passions, that comes back to you. We celebrate the little things and hope others do the same for us. To date, it's been true.

Perth's music scene is second to none; The Indi Bar is the best spot in Australia for this, in our opinion. Thursday night open mics have made so many bands go BIG! Our only advice would be to go to as many gigs as you possibly can, send bulk emails and DMs to local bands, and just be present in the community.

You also state that you play the Wheatbelt pretty regularly. How did those opportunities come about?

Kirwin is from the country, and those ties have meant we get invited to local shindigs. It's always fun... There is usually a rowdy crew with heaps of energy, and we feed off that. Koorda, a small town in the Wheatbelt of WA, has been amazing. We’ve been up there four times, and every time, they always get super into it.

The rural towns in Australia should be ventured to more often, so many kids in those communities have not yet realised or noticed their love of music. Sometimes, all it takes is a band to go out there, and then (the locals can) realise their love for music. As we get bigger we want to go to rural towns as much as we can, not only is it special to Kirwan as he grew up in the rural community, but its so fun being on the road, and also who doesn't love FREE BEERS.

Where do you see Lazy Haze heading in the next few years? Any dream collaborations or milestones you’d like to achieve?

Our plan next year is to tour down south, gig heaps, and support a well-known band or two around Australia/Overseas to start with - we put on a massively energetic show, so I think we'd crank on any support slot we can get.

Then, we'd like to be at a point where we could launch a headline tour either late 2025 or early 2026. That would be incredible ... we'll keep the momentum up and see if this comes off. If we keep our heads down, stay humble and work our asses off... why not?! I don’t think it's out of the question. At the end of the day, we just love creative music that people can hear.

What’s one thing about being a Western Australian band that you’re most proud of?

The community that seems to really support each other. I think that's unique; if one or two bands get out of the local scene and are recognised nationally or internationally, that has benefits for everyone in the local scene. There's enough cake to share around. No one needs to go hungry. Being closed and unapproachable helps no one. We will always remember where we come from and can’t wait to put Perth on the map Internationally!

And lastly, you’ve got some fantastic gigs coming up soon, including your EP launch party at the Indian Ocean Hotel on the weekend and some gigs over the Christmas period. What can fans expect from these upcoming shows?

We’d like to think that we have one of the most fun, energetic, and amazing live shows going on. I think you're lying if you don't back yourself, especially in such a competitive industry. We really think everyone who comes to a live show leaves with a different outlook on Lazy Haze. Our mantra is “Give people an experience they will never forget”, and we take this seriously! We've been putting a lot of our time into our live shows, and the last shows of the year will be extremely unforgettable, we assure you! 

Lazy Haze will be playing Indian Ocean Hotel on December 7th and 14th. Their final gigs of the year will take place on Christmas Eve alongside Old Mervs at East Fremantle’s The Left Bank and Boxing Day at Pollen x Out & About with The Grogans, Ra Ra Viper, and more. Tickets for upcoming shows are available here.

The band’s debut EP, Without You, is available now on all major streaming platforms.