Welcome to the world of Pamela. The Sydney-based duo are ready to introduce themselves with their debut single, Chain Reaction. The project of Sarah Ellen and Josh Kempen came to life after meeting as housemates, sharing a love of Pink Floyd, and exploring making music themselves. In the last couple of years, the duo have been perfecting their sound and live performance, playing around Australia and on tour supporting Dope Lemon. Ahead of their slot at Lost Paradise on December 30th, we spoke to the band to discuss their recently released single and the epic video that accompanies it, shot in Death Valley, California:

Congratulations on the release of Chain Reaction. Why did this feel like the right song to begin with?

Thanks! Chain Reaction felt like a perfect intersection between our musical influences, so it made sense as a first release. We also hadn't written anything that sounded quite like it before. It marked an evolution of our sound that we were really excited about.

Where did you write this track? Is your environment important to writing?

Honestly, chemistry is everything. We've written in loads of different rooms and the one common thread is that a great session is all about the company.

Speaking of, what is your writing process like between the two of you? Have you found a rhythm to it?

We've spent years writing together, so I guess you could say we've found a rhythm to it. There's no specific formula to writing a song—otherwise we'd all be filthy rich. However, our only rule in the studio is that we all be as open-minded as possible.

In terms of production and engineering, who have you invited into the world of Pamela to help shape your sound? What have you learnt from them?

Chris Collins is someone we've worked with extensively. He taught us that the greatest songs are often the most simple, and that restraint can be much harder than making a song with a hundred different elements. It means that every sound must be carefully considered and has to earn its place.

And through the making of this music, what have you learnt from each other?

If you wanna go fast, go alone. If you wanna go far, go together.

How do you think living in and being from Australia is infused in your sound and vibe?

Growing up around Aussie festivals like Bluesfest and Splendour in the Grass, you can't help but fall in love with live music. When we're in the studio, we're always considering how it's going to translate to a live audience—it's a very important part of the songwriting process for us.

Tell us about the name Pamela. Why did you choose it and do you remember when you decided on it?

We honestly wish there was a deeper answer to this question, besides the fact that we just thought it rolled off the tongue nicely.

The video is impressive. Tell us about the inspiration behind it and the making of it?

Chain Reaction is a song about an emotionally avoidant man and a woman challenging him to open up and lean into love. We wanted to tell that story in a surreal way. Making this video was a leap of faith and a labour of love. We had a tiny crew and an ambitious vision, so we're really chuffed that we managed to pull it off.

Which other rising artists are you excited about?

We're pretty excited to see Fcukers pop off at the moment. We'll be heading straight to their set after ours at Lost Paradise.

What's next?

Much, much more music.

Listen to Pamela HERE.

@worldofpamela