Some members of Silk Cut are a lifetime into a busy career in music, but not necessarily beyond their separate projects and employers. Mid-winter 2024 the band released their self-titled second album, including recent indie pop single Turning The Whole World On which featured on NZ On Air Music‘s NewTracks compilation this September.
Both Justin and I [Andrew] completed the SAE Diploma In Music Production which has helped in crafting our sound.
Aidan was in The Bads. Justin is also in The Roulettes and Another Life. He also was in the first line-up of Andrew Brough‘s Bike. Jayden plays for NZ’s most successful cover band, Hands Off. Andrew has played guitar for Bic Runga, Dave Dobbyn, Tim Finn, Jan Hellriegel, Carly Binding and Greg Fleming as well as his own projects Splitter and Calico Brothers.
Aidan and I worked on some tunes over the internet, in the time that shall not be mentioned, when we couldn’t leave the house. When we escaped, we recorded them at The Lab, then the opportunity to support The Hoodoo Gurus popped up so we thought we’d better put a band together. The rest is… happening.
What once was banging things out on an acoustic guitar, taking it to a band and spending hours working things out in a tinnitus-inducing room is now getting things into shape by working in Logic or ProTools and swapping files, then working up pretty sophisticated demos, so the pre-production is done that way.
The initial seed of an idea still comes from a phrase or a riff worked out on a guitar or keyboard in the time-honoured fashion though.
We were all cigarette smokers at one stage. Silk Cut is a brand from the ’80s and has the vintage English vibe we hope translates to what we’re doing musically.
We had a great time supporting Happy Mondays last year at Powerstation. They were a lot of fun and sounded great.
I love a good jangle and this has layers of 12-string acoustic and electric guitars, stacked harmonies and a catchy chorus. The version on the New Tracks compilation is an edited 3:40 version of the 4 minute album track.
It’s a sunny breezy melody but touches on depression, contemplating taking the ultimate step and the ridiculous thought of how you might be remembered. Dark material wrapped in candy.
My beautiful daughter Tessa sings backing vocals on the song. She has the voice of an angel. I also like the way the chorus turns around on itself making the last word also the first word and there’s a couple of naughty chords in there to spice things up.
I wrote the song on an acoustic 12-string, strumming away trying to summon the ghost of Tom Petty. We recorded it at The Lab with myself producing. Keyboard player extraordinaire Mark Steven put down some beautiful Hammond B3 through a 1960’s Leslie cabinet on the track as final fairy dust.
A strong melody you can sing along to. Some great playing by the band and a pop song that isn’t all fluff.
It’s a consensus in the band. A catchy chorus and being under 4 minutes certainly helps too.
We’re a cottage industry (although none of us has ever been cottaging) and do most things ourselves. We do have the good fortune of having Plus1 as our booking agent. They’ve been instrumental in helping us with live shows and advice.
We’re building a live profile and each gig seems to get better, louder and more attended, so we’re certainly heading in the right direction. We’ve become a great little combo. Tight but loose.
Certainly we haven’t been successful with every application. If at first you don’t succeed . . . try something else.
I usually enjoy the Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt podcast and Rick Beato on YouTube. The Critical Drinker is also a fun listen as he excoriates most modern movies and TV shows.
Have fun. Turn it up. Don’t use guitar amp modellers. Sing ’til you’re a Shetland pony.
