Global Designs

When Scene connects to Architecture In Helsinki’s Cameron Bird he’s in Los Angeles. It’s appropriate, given the history of success the Melburnians have in the United States.

It’s the band’s second visit to the US in just six months, but that’s not necessarily due to demand. Indeed, the extended period AIH took to release their latest album, ‘Moment Bends’, saw them slip from public view to a certain extent, and now they’re feverishly working to reintroduce themselves to Stateside audiences. “I think going away for four years wasn’t really great for us here,” Bird laughs. “Four years is almost like a generation now. We definitely went off the radar for a little bit, but we still have a really strong core audience. It’s always awesome playing here; our shows have always been great. I think we were popular in America before we were in Australia, so we definitely feel slightly indebted to Americans.”

Not that it should be interpreted that AIH are slumming it. Bird and his bandmates are natural travellers and seem to coexist peacefully on the road. “We play plenty of shows, and there’s not a lot of darkness on tour. We definitely get along and I think you just learn how to cope with being away so much and travelling so much. It’s probably meant that we’ve all aged prematurely, but we definitely still have fun touring. We really enjoy that connection you make with the audience – it’s a good thing.”

The band have notched up 100 shows this year, and are now looking forward to getting back to Australia in a month for some well-earned rest before the summer festival season kicks off proper with the Big Day Out. “I grew up driving from country New South Wales down to Melbourne to go to the Big Day Out with my friends,” Bird explains. “So for us to play, it is totally a dream come true. We’re definitely already thinking about how we can make it a good tour for us and what we’re going to do differently and what new things we can try. We look upon playing this tour as a big deal or bigger deal than any festival show in Australia. We’re super excited to be doing it, for sure.”

ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI PLAY THE BIG DAY OUT, GOLD COAST PARKLANDS, JANUARY 22. BIGDAYOUT.COM