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Rum Jungle’s debut album, Recency Bias, is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a reflection of the band’s evolution, creativity, and the inevitable pull of recent experiences that shape every artist. As lead singer Benny explains, Recency Bias was born out of the band's realisation that their newest creations always seemed to overshadow the older ones—a phenomenon every songwriter knows all too well. "Each new song we create becomes our new favourite," Benny shares. "We almost forget about the ones that came before, even though, at one point, they were fresh and treasured."
This cycle of falling in love with the newest material while grappling with the legacy of earlier tracks shaped the band's journey while crafting Recency Bias. “By the time we were finishing up, we were debating whether the first songs we recorded should even make the final cut. It was just recency bias.” Benny adds. The album’s title perfectly encapsulates this emotional rollercoaster, which began with the whirlwind recording of the first two tracks, ‘Chauffeur’ and ‘What’s It Like’.
Recency Bias is an eclectic fusion of diverse influences, experiences, and sounds that the band has collected over time. “Some of these songs have been sitting in our minds for years, while others came to us just days or hours before hitting the studio,” Benny recalls. Rum Jungle has been together for years, releasing EPs along the way, but Recency Bias marks a pivotal moment for the band. “This is the first project where all four of us came out the other side completely loving the end result,” he says.
Recorded with Simon at Lakehouse Audio on the Central Coast of Australia, the album was born from weeks of experimentation and refinement. “Our mantra was to fully explore every idea before deciding if it worked or not. It gave us freedom and allowed each song to evolve naturally,” Benny notes. The band even balanced their recording sessions with their ongoing tour, an experience Benny describes as “living our dream." On weekends, they played gigs across Australia, and during the week, they honed their sound in the studio. “We’d listen to rough mixes while on tour, which helped us come back to the studio with fresh ideas.”
The laid-back vibe at Simon’s studio, nestled in the peaceful surroundings of his home, also made an impact. “The studio felt so homely and relaxed, with Simon’s family, chickens, and even a black cat named Pinky around. It was the perfect atmosphere after the chaos of touring,” Benny says.
Rum Jungle set out to push their boundaries with Recency Bias, and the album reflects their desire to showcase their range. “While people might put us into a certain genre box, we’ve never been a band that sticks to one sound,” Benny explains. The album is a mix of 2000s indie guitars, slow ballads, punk energy, hyper-pop production, and even some 60s-inspired elements. “There’s a lot to be said and heard in each tune, and we’re excited to see how people resonate with it.”
At its core, Recency Bias is an album that captures the essence of four musicians, each with their own influences, coming together to create something they are truly proud of. As Benny puts it, “What’s special to us is that we’ve come out the other end with something we each love and are extremely proud of.”
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