NZ MUSIC MONTH
Rivals Reunite Taranaki punk boys Rival State played their first shows as a high school band in 2002. Calling it a day five years later led to overseas stints playing in separate bands. Last year, they reunited as Rival State to record their debut album. Guitarist Jo Einarsson tells ANGIE MILLS why the 2007 split was the best thing that could’ve happened to the band.
angie mills
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“We were kids doing so much together and musically we changed – our tastes changed,” says Jo. “It wasn’t a bad thing, because as friends we all kind of knew it was going to come back. It was the best thing we could have done. We were all doing all those things that made what we are doing today better.” Jo says maturing tastes in music and different musical experiences have helped Rival State progress into a more individual outfit.
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Rival State (L-R): Jo Einarsson, Valdi Einarsson, Luke Van Hoof, Stefan Einarsson, Nimal Fernando
Said album took a year to write and produce. At a custom-built studio in New Plymouth, Rival State worked with prolific British producer Matt Hyde, who has produced albums by the likes of Trivium and Slipknot.
He cites Nirvana, Muse and Shihad as key influences, but a collaborative effort from the band members and a strong New Zealand influence is what makes Rival State what it is.
“Matt’s done a lot of recording for the bands we grew up listening to, but he’s a down-to-earth London dude,” says Jo. “He’s the kind of guy who really cares about the music; he doesn’t care about how much money it will make. Matt is more than just a producer, he’s one of our best mates.”
The follow-up single to Rock Chart entrant Sleep Talker is set for release next month; so keep an ear out for Four Leaf Clover. The yet-to-be-named album will hit stores later in the year, and the band has a tour lined up to coincide with its release.
Jo says one of the perks of making the record in their hometown was the ability to work on their own terms, “plus we can have BBQs in New Plymouth, and most studios you book don’t come with BBQs,” he jokes.
Bright new star With her vibrant pink hair, retro stage costumes and distinct sound, Ruby Frost is definitely someone to watch out for in 2012. JEROME SEARS catches up with NZ’s most colourful electro pop icon.
Ruby has always been around music. At age three she was rapping along to her dad’s drum machine; she got her first guitar for Christmas when she was 16. Then, after earning her Communications degree at AUT, she scored a job on The Erin Simpson Show as a music reporter. Her career really kickstarted when she won the MTV 42 Unheard competition in 2009. A recording contract with Universal Music and funding from New Zealand On Air set her on the road to success.
JEROmE SEARS
On her debut album Volition, due for release later this year: In a way, the whole album comes together to be about empowerment, being strong and making deliberate decisions for your life; deciding who you want to be and just being it. On her producer Chris Zane, known for his work with Passion Pit, Friendly Fires and Mumford and Sons: He’s ridiculously talented, just instantly he had such a good perspective on my songs and where we could take them. On New York City, where she worked with Chris on production: It’s so energising over there. People just yell at you on the street and everyone’s theatrical and crazy. On her musical influences, David Bowie, Bjork and Micheal Jackson: Artists like that are cool ‘cause they keep pushing the envelope. It made me realise that I’m allowed to sing however I want, it doesn’t have to be a certain ‘Christina Aguilera’ type of thing. I would love to collaborate with David Bowie, but my ultimate artist was Michael Jackson. I grew up listening to him all the time; he was just such a pioneer.
{14} Tearaway Term 2, 2012
Traill Photo by Chris
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He says the final product is a varied album, but it sticks to its roots: “It’s a very diverse record, but it still sounds like a Rival State record. If we write a good song, we like it, it’s us, we’ll put it out there and we’re proud of it. “Since we were twelve, all we’ve done is music, and analysing our music and analysing ourselves. This is what we do.”
1 of 3 digital copies of both Sleep Talker and Four Leaf Clover. To be in the draw, email competitions@tearaway.co.nz with “RIVAL STATE TERM 2” in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your full name, date of birth and postal address. Entries close June 29. Full terms and conditions on page 35.
On her brand new music video, Water to Ice: [It] is really just a song about overcoming a hard situation and finding triumph where you are. It’s quite like my little anthem song. [The video is] highly influenced by the artist Andy Warhol: there are lots of layers painted back over every shot. It’s basically pretty busy and mental. On the short stories she has written to accompany every song on the album: It’s all very abstract. There’s an evil magician in the story and a giant purple orb of light that follows me around. You can’t exactly tell what’s going on, but it kind of tells my story. On the wack costumes that she performs in: Sometimes I need a break from writing music, so it’s something else creative that I can do. I’ve actually just bought the coolest few jumpsuits that I found online, so I’m really excited about wearing them onstage soon. On recently getting a booking agent in Australia: I’m thinking of moving over there for a few months with my drummer Jimmy Mac, so that will be fun. Hopefully we’ll be getting some good shows over there. But at the moment I’m just trying to keep it together and just going with the flow.
1 of 3 copies of Volition.
To be in the draw, email competitions@tearaway.co.nz with “RUBY FROST TERM 2” in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your full name, date of birth and postal address. Entries close June 29. Full terms and conditions on Photo b page 35. y
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