CONTINUED INTERVIEWS…
PS: Do you think that comes from being more of a visual person? AMH: Possibly. I do like writing letters and I like reading. I think it might just take time because I can’t bear the idea of writing stuff that everyone else writes. I was listening to Ian Dury and the Blockheads the other day, who I think are great and I like the idea of writing nonsense. Everyone else thinks about all the important stuff like love and telling people how to do things. PS: At a time when hightech digital technology and production are often favoured in the music industry, do you see The Woolshed Sessions as a fresh return to strippedback and collaborative music making? AMH: I think my attitude towards that and anything creative is that I don’t care how it’s made or what the photo’s taken on. Show me a photograph; if I like it, I like it. If I don’t, I don’t. I think technology is great. It’s good and bad and there was good and bad stuff in the old days too. It’s the end product that matters. I feel really strongly about that. I think people can get preoccupied with the technology. You can have all the technology in the world, or you can be Taika and do an amazing short film [shot in camera across one day of filming] in the 48-hour film fest, and it’s brilliant. It could have been off Blue Peter or something. It was just great, it won and I’m not surprised. www.myspace.com/ wellingtoninternationalukuleleorchestra
just be contributing to the feel of the music. Calm yet focused … not sure how else to describe that. I guess all else just falls away… I found myself staring at Pete’s amp for ages. JN: I know for me, music provides an element of uplifting therapy. Do you have your own form of musical therapy? BS: Ever since I can remember, music has had a positive effect on me. I gain so much from playing music and listening to music. In a way it’s therapeutic as it takes me away from my analytical mind. I remember as a child thinking that music gave me powers! I would get so into the album that I would think of myself as some kind of superhero! The first album I got was a KISS album and I can still remember air guitaring to the whole album in our living room. JN: Haha, times have changed since our childhood dreams of being superheroes! All media – photography, film and music, face the same dilemma. What are your thoughts – analogue or digital? BS: What about coexistence?! I’ve recently pulled out my Lomo (camera) again and am getting such great images from that. I can’t imagine giving that up! I’m into using digital images for sure… I shoot lots of video/digi because the workflow is easier but if I had to choose any format it would be Polaroid! Creating a film from millions of Polaroid’s? It must happen. You keen to help Jase? JN: True … Let’s hook up! I’m free Friday. www.myspace.com/brett_skinner
GC: What would it play? LP: Well, I’m thinking drums actually. GC: So a Labrador? Oops, that’s me pushing my dog! What sort of dog would you want on drums? LP: I wouldn’t be too fussy actually. It would be down to me meeting them as opposed to looking for a special type of dog. GC: But a Chihuahua, visually, for fans might look a bit odd… LP: Yeah, you see it would have to be a reasonably sized dog with a big tail cos I think the tail could hit the kick drum and then the dog could use the four limbs to do the rest of it. JF: I’ve noticed you might have some squirrel-like tendencies… LP: Yeah, I’m a hoarder and my dad was a hoarder. I used to think if I just got this one more microphone that’d be me set. But I’ve realised that you can never have enough! It’s a never-ending addiction and there’s no cure. GC: … and you’re okay with that? It’s not a problem is it? LP: I’ve come to grips with it, and so have the people around me. [laughs] www.surgerystudios.co.nz
PS: Does that busyness mean you are able to make a living doing music in New Zealand? AF: It’s definitely possible to make a modest living from music in New Zealand, even though we have a small population and the opportunities for touring are limited. I think there are probably only a small number of people doing this from just playing music though. Most people I know playing music full-time also have another source of income such as teaching music or some sort of day job, so they end up working harder than your average nine-to-fiver. This is what I’ve opted for by working part-time at the Wellington Public Library, which then gives me the time (and money) at the end of the day to get into my workshop or music studio and to be a bit more picky about what gigs I play (no more covers band!) Having limited time to spend on my passions means I am more focused when I’m carving or making music and I really try to make the most of my time and not mess around too much. PS: With fatherhood fast approaching, how is your headspace? AF: My head is good. I think I’m the happiest I’ve ever been actually. Fatherhood is gonna be a crazy ride and I’m feeling well up for it. Bring it on, I say. www.myspace.com/alistairfraser