Melbourne-based funk band Cookin’ On 3 Burners rose to international fame because of a French teenage DJ.
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Their soulful song This Girl was remixed by DJ Kungs who was barely out of high school when he found the original track online, seven years after its release.
Cookin’ On 3 Burners has been together for 20 years and never seen such a high level of mainstream success. The track also featured veteran soul vocalist, Kylie Auldist.
Since the remix the track has topped European charts, gone platinum in Australia and was the world’s most Shazamed dance track in 2016.
“This version has elements of a soul sound. It’s retro but also sounds like pop music so it’s a blend of both worlds I guess,” Hammond organist Jake Mason said.
The band describes their sound as joining the dots between Deep Funk, Raw Soul, Organ Jazz & Boogaloo.
The name of the group was thought up by the original members when they were at university together in Melbourne and Mason said it just stuck.
It is a nod to the 60’s jazz slang term, ‘what’s cookin’’ and ‘3 burners’ refers to the three members of the group.
Mason said it is also a metaphor for cooking up cool things together in a musical way. Now Cookin’ On 3 Burners is back with their sixth album.
Named Lab Experiments Vol 1: Mixin’ the new album is a mix of sweet soul and dirty dance music and has a heavy sixties and seventies influence.
“It was a period of general freedom in the world of sexuality, ideas, everything,” Mason said. “The music has a real alluring quality to it. That’s why we love it.”
However, Mason said he is aware of the dangers of being stuck in a particular period of time and tries to keep an eye on the modern world.
This desire to continue evolving has also lead to several collaborations on the album including the song Real Life Baby with UK singer songwriter, Emmi.
She is known as the jazz singing goblin from JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Cookin’ On 3 Burners also have a passion for producing vinyl records.
Mason said although streaming and downloading music is easy and convenient, their fans love to have something they can physically hold and the sound quality is superior.
The trio are set to play in Ballarat, where Mason was once a lodger at Clarendon College, this month.
He said they rarely get opportunities to play in regional cities.
“We love playing regional places because people from outside of cities seem to have a wider vision on things. They’re more receptive and open.”
Cookin’ On 3 Burners will play at Karova Lounge on June 30. Tickets are $25. Book at karovalounge.com