Bridging the gap after a crazy year

Georgia and Caleb Nott (aka Broods) have had a whirlwind ride since their first live gig in 2013.

Broods have played all the best fests. Now it’s our turn, says Paula Yeoman

It's fitting that Georgia and Caleb Nott should round off 2014 at home in New Zealand, headlining at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park with Ladi6 before playing the country's premier New Year festival, Rhythm and Vines.

It is after all, the exact same festival where, in 2013, the siblings played their first live gig as Broods. If it's difficult for fans to get their heads around just how much has happened for the synth-pop duo in the short space of 12 months, imagine how the Notts feel.

"This is the first chance we've had to kind of reflect on anything," says Caleb, who spoke to Living when back in New Zealand on a rare few weeks off before jetting to Australia for a series of shows. "It's pretty surreal to think that this time last year we'd just released our first song. It's been a crazy year."

It sure has. That "first song" Caleb's referring to is Bridges: the game-changing Joel Little-produced tune that went viral online and saw Broods sign with Capitol Records in the US and Polydor in the UK. The duo followed it with an EP and then their debut album, Evergreen, touring in support of acts like Haim, Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith, and headlining dozens of their own shows across the globe.

Broods also played a handful of major festivals, including Splendour in the Grass and Austin City Limits. But it's their return to Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne that understandably means the most.

"It's kind of cool that we get to go again. It was our first ever show that we played in front of the public, so that makes it even more special," says Caleb, who then comically recalls last year's performance. "We pretty much played every song wrong last time. We were s***ing ourselves. No one in the crowd even knew who we were until we started playing Bridges and then a whole lot of people started running from all directions to the stage," he laughs. "People who were standing quite far back were like 'S***, I've been listening to that band the whole time. F***, I've gotta get closer'."

Not that anyone will have noticed Broods' imperfections a year ago, but Caleb is promising a tighter set this time around. "We'll play the songs right for a start," he says, laughing.

"We've got a lot better. Expect way bigger things, that's for sure."

• Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park is on Saturday, December 13 in Auckland Domain. Rhythm and Vines runs December 29-31. Other acts include Bastille, Danny Baker, Chet Faker and Zane Lowe.