Lunar Lagoon
Bring Suburban Surrealism to Life on ‘KTF’
Naarm/Melbourne's Lunar Lagoon are carving out a distinctive lane where post-punk, trip-hop and alternative electronica collide. On their latest single, ‘KTF’, the duo blend hazy textures, deep baritone vocals and hypnotic rhythms into a sound that feels both intimate and cinematic. Accompanied by a striking video featuring choreographed dance routines in empty sports grandstands and around stationary Volvos, the release continues the band's fascination with the surreal hidden within suburban life. We caught up with Lunar Lagoon to talk about the influences behind ‘KTF’, finding confidence in a unique vocal style, the creative energy of Melbourne's underground scene and the artists they're tipping to watch next.
‘KTF’ sits in a really interesting space sonically. There are traces of trip-hop and experimental hip-hop in the production that feel reminiscent of Tyler, the Creator and Portishead. How did those influences shape the final sound of the track?
It really started with the music I listened to as a kid, which just stuck with me as I got older. The sound we’ve built is pretty unique because it’s a total mix of what Luke brings to the table and what I bring, but the DNA of the music is always going to be moody and introspective.
The music video feels deeply intentional in its strange suburban imagery, from the choreography in front of Volvos to the empty sports grandstands and Laura Palmer-inspired styling. What conversations or ideas shaped the visual language of the clip?
We worked with Bella Smith and Ariel Reyes, who directed and shot the clip, and they honestly did most of the heavy lifting with the visuals and locations. They absolutely killed it bringing the whole thing together, and we're so stoked with the result. The main thing I brought to them was this idea of including some Northern Soul-style dancing, and they just took that concept and absolutely ran with it.
Naarm/Melbourne has such a rich underground music culture, especially around post-punk, experimental and alternative music right now. How has being part of that community influenced Lunar Lagoon creatively?
We feel very privileged to be surrounded by such a diverse & thriving music scene here in Naarm/Melbourne. We have some great friends doing some really incredible things, and their drive and dedication is admirable. It takes a village to bring something like this to life so we are very lucky to have such great surroundings.
Your baritone vocal delivery gives the music a distinctive emotional weight, especially against the electronic textures and loose rhythmic feel. How did you develop confidence in leaning into that voice stylistically?
It took a lot of time to be honest, and Luke helped me develop this a lot. The inspiration comes a lot from artists like Dean Blunt, Florence Shaw (Dry Cleaning), Archy Marshall & Mark William Lewis. Not only did I feel anxiety as it’s quite a vulnerable way to sing, it feels sometimes more pressurised to create really important lyrics. After time, and building confidence, I realised the best form of expression is just writing what makes sense to you, and we have so far gone from there.
Lunar Lagoon’s work often feels cinematic, almost like scenes unfolding rather than straightforward songs. Are there particular films, directors or visual artists that influence the pacing and emotional world of the project?
Honestly, the visual credit goes to the crew, but conceptually I’m obsessed with that raw, British cinema look—think This Is England or Kes, where the locations feel really harsh and real. Music-video-wise, we’re huge fans of how artists like Shame, Iceage, and King Krule handle their visuals. That collective mood definitely gave us a solid blueprint to work from.
There’s so much exciting music emerging from Naarm/Melbourne at the moment. Who are a few local artists you think deserve more attention right now, and what is it about their music that stands out to you?
It’s hard to really select just a few, but my favourite artists currently would be Daisypicker, Hannie Day & Indigo King. They all have incredible songwriting abilities, and mesmerising vocals, and all bring something a little different to the table also.