Good VIBES

Brendon Thomas The Vibes. Photo/supplied

Rendon Thomas & The Vibes play at The Brew Bar tonight, performing material from their new EP, Wrap You In The Sun.

The Vibes were already a seasoned outfit before last year's appearance on X Factor NZ, but Thomas says the show was good for the band as they became tighter.

"Although we were not playing our own original music, it grew us because we could still put our own influence and style on other people's music. It was bootcamp for learning about the industry because I had no clue about that side of things."

The band was picked up by Sony after the show and Thomas says initial nervousness about Sony's plans for the band were unfounded.

"After X-Factor we thought Sony would want us to be one sound. But they heard all the other songs we had written and wanted to utilise all that we have to give. "That's the beautiful part - they are not limiting us by saying we have to be one thing."

He says fans will find the new EP unexpected and fresh. "We want people to come along to the show and make their own connection to the music.

"There's rock, blues, pop. I have written so many songs that are different from what we did on X-Factor."

The band has worked with a number of people to grow their experience. Split Enz's Eddie Rayner was signed up to produce the EP.

"He has been working with me to make four-minute songs out of 10-minute jams. I just have a lot of ideas and sometimes it's hard to condense the ideas. But working with Avalanche City and Benny Tipene, I have realised I'm thinking too much about songs. It's simpler than what I think."

Over the past year, the band has completed a number of tours. "We have learnt that it's not all about the music, but also how we are portrayed - how we put on a show for the fans, and how to handle social media. It has been a complete learning curve."

the fine print
What: Brendon Thomas The Vibes
Where: Brew Bar
When: August 11, 8.30pm. R18