Photos by Elise Abotomey

Styling by NIQUE

On a rainy Sydney summer afternoon we were lucky enough to sit down with the wonderful Cowboy Malfoy before they embarked on their headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Cowboy Malfoy’s single ‘How I’d Kill’ has seen audiences around the world captivated by their angelic sound and honest songwriting, which has further been encapsulated in their new single ‘Head Start’. We talked all things tour, new music and future plans!

`Cowboy Malfoy wears the Graphite Check Wool Adie Shirt, Graphite Check Wool Adie Pants & White Cian Tank`

How are you feeling about being back in Australia AND touring?

Coming back to Australia is always a very funny feeling. I moved to NYC two and a half years ago so I guess I have object permanence to a degree and I get totally sucked into wherever I’m at. Then I come back to Australia and I get so absorbed in my friends and family, all these relationships get rekindled. It's a bittersweet feeling- all these people I wish I got to know better. I see little bite pieces of their life.

Coming back to play a show is obviously incredibly exciting. It's something we have put together in such a short period of time- it was a race against the clock because I’ve been so busy prepping for the show and writing songs for this show alone. It’s really exciting for the people listening, the majority of the show is new songs. This is my first show ever and I’m just so so excited and what we’ve put together is incredible and I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.

`Wearing Ecru Bedford Cotton Shirt & Khaki Osakie GenderU Linen Pants`

How have you prepared for this tour?

Writing and producing but I’ve been working with Astrid, the production manager. We’ve been working together to build my vision and she’s been absolutely incredible, there’s no way I could have done any of this without her.

How are you feeling about playing in Sydney- The Lansdowne which is quite iconic.

Okay actually I had never been to the Lansdowne until I did a rehearsal there about a week ago. Honestly being in that space was so so exciting- I can already see everyone in the crowd, it's extremely exciting.

Let’s talk about the new song ‘Head Start’- it's so honest and vulnerable. Do you find that quite easy in your writing?

It's something I’m finding easier over time as I'm starting to realise just being candid or forthright not having to shroud everything in metaphors makes things much easier to connect with. I guess there’s this aura around music that it's some kind of high art and you can see it like that but really it's just a way to engage and connect with people. I’ve kind of been dissolving those ideas in. My head and I think it's really healthy practice.

Thinking about my idols, I love Radiohead and Jeff Buckley who write in a very romantic style conjuring really thoughtful imagery but I think there is a real skill in being able to convey things very simply and having the confidence to express yourself without covering or hiding anything.

Cowboy Malfoy wears Sakuru Linen Blend Jacket & Pants

You’ve lived in so many different places: France, Vietnam and now the US. How do you think that influences you or inspires you?

It's definitely laid the foundation for things I want to pursue in my career, my mind is racing with ideas for projects and where it could be shot, where it could be recorded and what part of my history and cultural identity I can incorporate into my music, especially Vietnam. I grew up most of life in Vietnam and its something I want to engage with more and kind of renew my connection. It’s not weaved into my music as much as you’d think. Growing up in the age of the internet (I’m just going to say what everyone already knows) I listened to so much music, I went on my own journey with YouTube and what my brother was listening to. Music is such an international thing, I was never really honed in on one type of music.

Do you find inspiration in Australia?

I feel like the place doesn’t affect me too much but the environment and situations kind of follow me around, my relationships with friends, rekindling those relationships. Most of my music practices are quite introspective so obviously being back in Australia I’ve been able to write in the sun as opposed to being in the cold and the dark, which I suppose has a psychological difference but there’s no tangible lyrical deviation from where I’m at.

`Wearing Ecru Flow + GenderU Shirt & Pale Khaki Agora Utility Pants`

We have a fan favourite question for you- If you could write the soundtrack for any movie which would it be?

That’s a big question! I’m super invested in instrumental music. The first thing that comes to mind is a Studio Ghibli film because the music is so romantic and it's such a beautiful world building. I wouldn’t sing on it, I’d just write the score.

Is that a future plan?

I’ve already scored for a lot of my friend’s film projects so it's definitely on the horizon.