The Australian-born, Berlin-based band Parcels has announced their upcoming new album Loved, set for release on September 12. Intimate, collective, free, and vibrant, Loved is a reflection of the group’s creative spirit. Following a tour across Latin America and two standout performances at Coachella, the band entered a bold new phase. Loved was born from a much-needed break at the start of 2023 and was composed while on the move. From Berlin to Byron Bay, Sydney, Oaxaca, and Mexico City, Parcels embraced a freer, more spontaneous approach, anchored in their greatest strength: performing live. With over one billion streams, 600,000 albums sold, and sold-out tours around the globe, Parcels continues to captivate audiences worldwide. We caught up with them in Paris to learn more about their new album.

What was the mood like when you started creating this new record, especially after having toured the previous one for quite a while?

I think the approach to this new album was quite different. The previous one was a concept album about duality, and we spent two months in the studio recording both parts back to back. With Loved, we didn’t have a clear plan or concept from the start. It was more about creating songs organically until it felt like we had a cohesive collection that could form an album. We recorded in Mexico, Australia, and Berlin, so the process felt very instinctive and natural.

Was travelling and discovering new cultures important in making this album?

Probably more than we realized at the time. The environment we were in definitely influenced the creative process. In Mexico, for example, we were sleeping in the studio, and creativity became part of our daily routine. We had two shows there, spaced a month apart, so we decided to stay and start recording. You can hear it in the music, not in a spiritual way, but I would say there’s a certain brightness or lightness to it.

As a band, is it still easy to create and stay harmonious in the studio?

When we’re in the studio, we function very much as a band. We usually record live together once a song is written. So what you hear on the record is often the five of us playing as one. It’s interesting because we know each other so well, it’s a very natural and organic way to make music. It feels like an ongoing conversation between the five of us.

Besides making music, do you still spend time together? I know you’re often together in the studio or on stage.

These days, most of the time we spend together is in the studio, since we don’t all live in the same country anymore. But we’ve known each other for so long that it doesn’t really matter. Even if we haven’t seen each other for a while, the vibe is always the same. We pick up right where we left off, making music and enjoying each other’s company.

How would you best describe this new album, Loved?

A lovely album!