The second-ever single from Ōtautahi indie four-piece Pool House is a warm-sounding, danceable love song about a girl who is only interested in a “weekend fling”. NZ On Air Music picked Sunday for their NewTracks compilation this February.

What are your names, where are you from and what instruments do you play?

Our band is called Pool House. We’re a four-piece indie-rock band based in Christchurch made up of friends Will Georgeson (guitar/vocals), Harry van der Gulik (lead guitar), Samuel Crisp (bass), and Flynn Fierro (drums).

Was any high school or other music training especially important?

All four of us were involved in music from a young age. Most of us were part of a jazz band at school which we all think really helped with our musicianship. Performing at high school to a crowd of notoriously uninterested boys has made us really appreciate the fun crowds that we have played for.

Any previous projects we might know you from?

Flynn and Harry used to be in a band called Jerry’s Garden a few years back. They released a couple of EPs which they recorded and produced themselves.

What’s the background story of how Pool House came to be? 

Around the end of 2021, a festival in Christchurch called Tea Party got cancelled due to Covid. After some drunken conversations at parties, we decided we’d host a flat party and play a show instead. In the end, we managed to get a few hundred people along and had a pretty good time!

How has your music evolved from your beginnings in songwriting to now?

We used to set up at Harry’s flat and play loud and annoy his flatmates, and we still set up in Harry’s flat and annoy his flatmates. So I guess nothing has changed! We love the ease of all being together and quickly bouncing fresh ideas around the room. An idea never lasts long, so being able to share this creatively and instantly really helps the outcome of the song.

How and when did you come up with the name for the band?

Unfortunately, there’s no extravagant story behind Pool House. Our friends started calling us the Slippery Toes (because it was like Sticky Fingers), so we had to come up with something quick before that stuck. It was the first name we came up with that we didn’t hate, so we’ve just rolled with it.

Aside from this release, what’s been the big highlight to date? 

A massive highlight would have to be opening for Summer Thieves in Christchurch. The venue we were playing at had reached capacity at 1500 people, which was a surreal feeling playing to a crowd of that size.

What makes Sunday stand out for you as a single?

Sunday stands out for us because it’s a fun playful song with heaps of different sounds. It’s a song which goes well with a beer and a sunny afternoon.

What is the story behind Sunday?

The chorus is writing a letter to a ‘Sunday girl’ who you would do anything for. While she’s not interested in anything more than a weekend fling she is constantly on your mind.

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the single?

It has to be the breakdown. We had heaps of fun slowing down the vocals, which leads perfectly into a guitar solo.

Who did you record/produce the single with and where?

We had recorded a song at Loho Studio with Josh Logan the previous day, which we had heaps of fun doing. We decided to come back the next day and record Sunday which was very bare bones at that point. Most of the song came together that day in the studio, which let us be creative with what we wanted to do with it.

What would you like listeners to take away from hearing it?

The song puts us in a good mood, so we hope it does the same for our listeners.

How do you generally work out what song would make a good single?

Something that gets stuck in your head is very important. We also wanted a single which showed our personalities.

Who else is in your team?

We try to do as much as we can between the four of us. Although, we were really lucky to win a Christchurch competition called Dig The Gig which helped us to promote ourselves in the beginning. We have also had ongoing support from DRM who have helped us with our marketing and release plans.

Are there any other musical endeavours you’re working on that we should keep an eye out for?

We have done a couple more days at Loho Studio so we have a few songs in the bank which we’ll release in the coming months. Our next single Honey will be coming out on March 1. In the build-up to this, we have a gig in Queenstown with the Grogans, one in Dunedin with Hot Sauce Club, and one in Christchurch with Casper.

Can you please name three other local tunes that would fit well on a playlist alongside your song.

• The Knews: Pretty Girl 
• Hot Sauce Club: Out Like A Light
• Casper: Marry Me Jane

Have any previous NZOA applications not gained funding or been included on NewTracks? Got any advice for others?

We were lucky enough to get it on our first try. The advice we have gotten from a lot of people is just to apply for everything, because even if you don’t get it the important thing is getting your name out to the right people.

Are there any musical blogs, Youtube channels or podcasts you’re super into?

We love to watch Triple J’s ‘Like A Version’. It’s awesome how creative artists are with other people’s songs.

Any last words?

Thank you to NZ Musician for giving us an opportunity to share a bit about us and Sunday. We have heaps of exciting things happening this year so keep an eye out and we hope you guys enjoy it!