They may have formed in regional Victoria, but rock band The Teskey Brothers (and yes, two of the four of them are actually brothers) have a sound that traverses several countries, generations and genres, including classic soul, blues, rock and gospel. In fact, their songs have such a vintage feel—in the best way—that you’d be forgiven for thinking they were written decades ago. To give us a clearer picture of the artists and sounds that inform their own, the band have hand-picked the tracks on this Influences playlist—with bassist Brendon Love illuminating us on the importance of a handful of them. B.B. King, “How Blue Can You Get” “We grew up playing old blues covers. B.B. plays with nothing but feeling, and this song is a masterclass in how to play dynamically as a band. From the first note B.B. plays, you just get it immediately.” Miles Davis, “Blue in Green” “This song always paints such visceral images every time I listen to it. It’s so understated and simple. There is a level of musicianship on this track that goes well beyond technical ability and musical theory. Just pure expression.” D’Angelo, “Send It On” “This album was a huge influence to me. It really set the blueprint for modern soul music. It’s raw and has so much attitude and feeling. You can hear the personalities of the musicians in the music. It taught me that the rhythm section can play with just as much inflection, articulation and attitude as the melodic instruments.” Sam Cooke, “A Change Is Gonna Come” “A great song is timeless and can exist in any era, but also has the power to transport us to a moment in time and connect us with history. I first heard this song when I was seven. I knew nothing of American history or the civil rights movement and the struggle that inspired this song. Even though I had no comprehension of the political and cultural landscape at the time, I could still identify the heartache and hope in Sam’s voice.” Nina Simone, “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” “Nina Simone’s music has the unique ability to make you feel joyous and melancholy all at the same time. Musically, this song is so bubbly and uplifting, yet the vocals are devastatingly heartbreaking. I feel an uneasy sense of isolation and despair when I listen to it.”