Takin' a Walk: Music History on Foot with Paper Kites Frontman Sam Bentley

Podcast: Takin’ a Walk
Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Sam Bentley (Frontman, The Paper Kites)
Episode Date: November 9, 2025

Overview

This episode of "Takin' a Walk" features an in-depth and intimate conversation between host Buzz Knight and Sam Bentley, the lead singer and songwriter of indie folk band The Paper Kites. Centered around the release of their seventh studio album, If You Go There, I Hope You Find It, the dialogue weaves through the band's creative process, the evolution of their sound, and the enduring importance of authenticity, atmosphere, and human imperfection in music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Value of Slow-Burning Success (00:01, 09:34)

• Sam Bentley shares his preference for a gradual, "organic" musical journey rather than chasing rapid commercial trajectories.
  • Quote: “We're not trying to chase any momentum, you know, the fans that come to our shows are really just music lovers and they've kind of been brought into what we do and it's a really nice place to be.” (00:01, repeated at 11:51)
  • The Paper Kites built their following from “humble beginnings busking on the streets of Melbourne” to a globally admired indie act.

2. Friendship and Family as Band Foundations (09:34)

• The longevity of The Paper Kites, now over a decade old, is attributed to close personal relationships and an emphasis on friendship:
  • Quote: “We've been friends for longer than we've been a band and I think that has been kind of the foundation of what has made this work.” (09:34)
• The band's approach ensures space for personal and family growth alongside their creative work, avoiding exhaustion and burnout.

3. Describing The Paper Kites’ Sound (07:44)

• Sam emphasizes “honesty” and “hopefulness” as defining qualities, drawing from classic singer-songwriters and a folk tradition:
  • “I don't know if you can describe a sound as kind of honest. That's always what we've tried to do… My mom always says that your music is very hopeful, and I've always kind of liked that.” (07:44)

4. Cinematic & Visual Songwriting (12:45)

• The band’s music is frequently described as “cinematic” and atmospheric. Sam’s writing process involves painting visual scenes and drawing inspiration from film and art.
  • He describes composing music in a studio while projecting films, composing to the images: “...I just kind of mute the sound and compose to scenes… trying to capture, as you say, moods and atmospheres.” (13:09)
  • Album art and visual elements are as deliberately constructed as the music itself: “The visual element to me is probably really the driving force of the song, other than the feeling.” (13:39)

5. Evolving as Songwriters—and Embracing Imperfection (20:28, 26:51)

• Early Days: The band's first EP, Woodland, was "simple" and "safe," showcasing basic songwriting instincts as the group searched for its identity.
  • Sam confides about early insecurities regarding his singing voice and their use of “the indie double” (layering vocals to cover imperfections).
• Growth: Over time, the band has intentionally abandoned perfectionism, choosing instead to foreground emotional honesty and unique character:
  • “The songwriter I am now and the songwriter I was then… it’s one of the professions that you really do kind of get better at as you get older…. Can I show that [longing, soul, yearning] through what I do?” (20:28)
  • “I'm interested in like voices that are full of character and I'm, I'm starting to love like terrible singers on paper. That's, that's kind of where my interest seems to go.” (25:12)
• Sam believes genuine, lived-in vocals distinguish music from AI-generated songs: “That's one of the defining things we can grasp onto—is like our imperfections. It's the soul that's in a song…” (26:51)

6. Making If You Go There, I Hope You Find It (27:54)

• The album’s creation was unplanned: after the previous album (At the Roadhouse), Sam brought new material to the band, but the group felt that work wasn't right for their next step.
  • Quote: “This record wasn't supposed to be made. When it was made… there was another record that I'd kind of finished and I presented it to the band and said, this is what I'd like to do. What do you think? And it was kind of met with 'We really like this, but we're not quite ready to move on to this.'” (27:54)
• Sam found inspiration (and a writing space) on a friend’s farm in Victoria’s Yarra Valley—a site that became deeply layered in the album's atmosphere and cover art.
  • The album title was inspired when band member Christina wrote it on the side of an old bus on the farm, eventually used for the album cover.
    • “That little phrase was suggested and Christina went and wrote it on the window of this bus. And it just kind of stayed there for months. …That's the cover that you see there.” (29:20)
• The recording process focused on returning to the band's roots as a five-piece, making music together live in the studio, focusing on feel rather than technical perfection:
  • “The conversation was always like, how does it feel? Does the song feel good? Not, is it correct?” (33:47)
  • Songs like "Deep In the Plans We Made" were tracked live in a single take, capturing the fragility, spontaneity, and emotional honesty of the moment.

7. The Joy and Necessity of Collaboration (35:11)

• Buzz Knight sums up the album as “exploring the joyous nature of collaboration,” a sentiment Sam fully echoes: “You need a space to do that. And we've managed to… navigate quite a few records there now.” (35:18)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On musical honesty:
  • “I think I would much prefer this slow way of doing things as opposed to any kind of very, very quick form of success.” — Sam Bentley (11:51)
• On visual inspiration:
  • “The visual element… is probably really the driving force of the song, other than the feeling.” — Sam Bentley (13:39)
• On songwriting growth:
  • “As I look back on those songs…I am amazed at the simplicity. And I think that can be a beautiful thing.” — Sam Bentley (22:20)
• On embracing imperfections:
  • “I'm interested in voices that are full of character and I'm starting to love terrible singers on paper.” — Sam Bentley (25:12)
• On the new album’s origin:
  • “This record kind of feels like a band remembering the things that made them fall in love with playing together in the first place.” — Sam Bentley (33:02)
• On creative space:
  • “The farm has become an important backdrop to this record, but also an important space for us as a band. We've really grown in that space…” — Sam Bentley (34:52)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:01: Sam Bentley on slow-building success and Paper Kites' journey
• 05:38: Sam shares personal connection story about Warren Ellis (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
• 07:44: Describing the band's sound and essence
• 09:34: Maintaining band unity and overcoming industry pressures
• 12:45: The visual and cinematic dimensions of songwriting
• 20:28: Evolution of songwriting from Woodland to present
• 26:51: Emphasis on imperfection and authenticity versus AI in music
• 27:54: Origins and collaborative creation of If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
• 33:47: Studio recording approach—live takes over technical perfection
• 35:11: Buzz and Sam reflect on creative joy and the band’s future

The Episode’s Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is thoughtful, gentle, and deeply reflective—a perfect parallel to The Paper Kites’ evocative sound. Sam Bentley’s openness about creative insecurity, pride in steady musical evolution, and belief in authenticity radiate throughout. The episode offers an inside look into an artist who values slow growth, imperfection, and true musical collaboration, underscoring why The Paper Kites’ music “crafts entire atmospheres” and continues to resonate with fans longing for music with soul.