Credit Where it's Due

Ahead of the release of the duo’s debut album, Cosmo’s Midnight’s Patrick Liney sits down with Cyclone to talk Pharrell samples, Tove Styrke guests and first flights.

Cosmo’s Midnight — twin brothers Patrick and Cosmo Liney — have charmed the R&B and hip hop icon Pharrell Williams with their glitchy synth-funk. He allowed them to sample N*E*R*D’s 2008 single Spaz for the track Montego off their debut album What Comes Next — dispensing with the red publishing tape.

The Sydney musicians were cutting it fine when, two months before release, they submitted their clearance request to Williams’ team. “We literally just did it because we were like, ‘What have we got to lose, other than not being able to even have this song on the album?’” says Patrick, stepping out of a local pub, leaving Cosmo inside. Cosmo’s Midnight received an expeditious response. “Pharrell just wanted to be credited as a writer. He didn’t ask for any money or anything. He just wanted it to be out there.” Pat was “stoked” — a word he uses often today.

The easygoing Lineys are accustomed to questions about their “twin synergy” as creatives. But as Patrick stresses, fraternity is the key. “The fact that we can basically be very blunt about anything is great.” The siblings each have distinct skills — with Patrick performing vocals and keys, and Cosmo guitar and bass. As composers, Cosmo is adept at initiating tracks and Patrick completing them. “I don’t know how to write music by myself, to be honest!” Patrick quips.

Hailing from Petersham in Sydney’s west, the Lineys were constantly exposed to music in their childhood. Their parents caned a huge vinyl collection — spanning gospel, jazz, soul, psych and disco. “I ignored it then, but it definitely rubbed off on both of us in the long run.” The brothers began experimenting with production as high schoolers. Both studied Film Music at university — trailing their composer mum. Meanwhile, they conceived Cosmo’s Midnight. In 2013 the pair introduced their hybrid urban dance with Phantasm — showcasing another newcomer in Nicole Millar. “If I had to summarise our music, which is always really hard, I feel like it kinda fits in the intersection of house, [low-] slung house, and hip hop, really.” Increasingly, they’ve referenced those legacy artists — such as Boney M. “I just love being able to draw on the past and put a futuristic, not futuristic, but our own spin on these things.”

Now aligned with RCA Records, Cosmo’s Midnight spent three years labouring on What Comes Next — the title conveying their growing optimism. The LP has already generated hits like the triple j fave History and Get To Know (with Winston Surfshirt). Cosmo’s Midnight have curated unusual vocalists — ranging from Townsville singer Woodes to Boogie, an MC co-signed by Eminem. The single Lowkey, evoking A Tribe Called Quest vibe, is a collab with Compton rapper Buddy (from Williams’ i am OTHER stable) and East London’s Jay Prince. The Lineys persuaded Swedish pop star Tove Styrke to feature on the groovy Talk To Me — written with History songwriter Sarah Aarons. “We’d been listening to Tove’s Say My Name single — and she was about to drop her album. So we went and saw her play at Oxford Art [Factory]. We were just blown away and ended up meeting up after the show — we hung out, had a few drinks — and then we ended up going to Melbourne a few days later and recording Talk To Me.” Patrick himself sings lead on the chilled Polarised.

Cosmo’s Midnight recently premiered an ambitious live set at Groovin’ The Moo and, from July, they’re touring it as headliners. “We basically have gone all-out and it’s more like a band sort of vibe.” Patrick is on drums.

Cosmo’s Midnight have successfully visited the US. This year, they’ll embark on their first European dates. Ironically, when in 2013 the Lineys were booked to support TOKiMONSTA in Adelaide, they’d never flown — let alone travelled beyond New South Wales. “We were both terrified!” Patrick laughs. In fact, he didn’t envisage their success, given the industry’s precariousness. “It was like a pipe-dream... Everyone tells you just to do what you want and follow your dreams and stuff, but it’s really hard to stay motivated and all that. But, when you start seeing the fruits of all your efforts, it’s so damn satisfying. So I’m really happy that we stuck with it.”

What Comes Next (RCA/Sony) is out now. Cosmo’s Midnight tour from 6 Jul.