Auckland, NZ is very much what we still call 'home', it has shaped us in both the way we conduct ourselves to the way we write songs (both sounds and particularly lyrics) to the way we perform. Without bands NZ bands like So So Modern, the Mint Chicks, This Night Creeps, D!D!D! the Vacants, Teenwolf/brand new math, Shocking Pinks the whipping Cats, etc we could not exist...Since Nova Echo in 2004 we've played and toured stacks up and down the country, these bands mentioned and way more inspiring and pushing us to where we are now.
Our motivation to leave these shores from the beginning was primarily to do with our desire to play as many shows as we possibly could. With only about 10 feasible places (at a pinch) to play in this country it only made sense to head to Australia, and subsequently USA, Europe and the UK. In the latest issue of Idealog, former AUT lecturer Andrew Dubber talks of the pros and cons of NZ musicians abroad and concludes: "we can be rightly proud of COYH for making a mark internationally, but as far as creating NZ music goes its at a loss because they are probably not coming back anytime soon''.
We are a band of New Zealanders who happen to spend most of our time outside of our home country and mostly in the UK. Sure, we have been reluctant to adopt the 100% pure KIWI pride brand- attitude but thats due to the awfully cliched connotations that come hand in hand ie rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrugby and Walkabout bars; things that have nothing to do with who we are as people. We are a young country and quite often it is hard to see past the aforementioned cliche's in affirming an identity as New Zealanders, but I see myself as part of a new generation of New Zealanders forging a whole new distinction of what it means to be from this country. I am proud to be a New Zealander, in the sense that i am proud to be from the same country and culture as heroes such as the Clean, the Chills, The Bats, the Gordons, Bailterspace, Skeptics, Dead C, 3D's, Verlaines, Split Enz, Headless Chickens, the Subliminals, Toy Love, StraightJacket Fits, and all the bands we've played with here.
p.s shame on us we didnt win the breakthrough award last night ;)
10 comments:
It is a shame you didn't win the breakthrough award - it would have been well deserved. I saw you guys put on an amazing show at CMJ in New York, and you're really starting to make a good bit of noise over here in the UK too.
I remember being interviewed for that Idealog article. I was sitting in the train station (Marylebone, if I remember correctly) getting the distinct impression that I wasn't really making myself understood.
The reason I was being asked these questions had to do with the fact that a lot of my research work over here has to do with popular music cultures and regional music industries.
My point was simply that local music industries - and the people who seek good PR in that area (regional funding agencies, trade bodies, etc) make the mistake of thinking (or pretending) that your success is their success.
Cut Off Your Hands being successful in Britain and America is good for New Zealanders (and great for you guys, hopefully), but it's not good for "the New Zealand music industry" or the NZ economy particularly. It doesn't create jobs in New Zealand, invigorate cultural entrepreneurship, bring tourism, or spark regeneration. And you shouldn't be made to feel that it should have to.
There's a difference between 'exporting music' and 'artists going away to be successful'.
A band leaving New Zealand and making a mark on the international scene is absolutely something to celebrate and take great pride in - but the people who think it's good for "the local industry" have missed the point.
The local industry thrives when there are burgeoning scenes: popular venues, independent labels, creative clusters, live performances, street parties, fanzines, video production companies, touring circuits and so on.
Thriving creative locales bring money and development to a region, because it makes those places cool and desirable to live in and around.
So I guess what I'm saying is don't be tricked into mixing those things up. Your identity should be tied to your music, your image, your fans and your scene - as well as, of course, who you are as people (which will obviously include being Aucklanders). It doesn't have any bearing on how healthy the local industry is, because to a large extent, you're no longer involved in the local industry. That's not a bad thing, it's just an observation.
And you're absolutely right: being from New Zealand MEANS something. You don't have to be IN New Zealand, and nor do you have to be stereotypically OF New Zealand (rugby's the one with oval ball, right?). But the New Zealander abroad is a cultural ambassador - particularly when they create art and media.
My point is really just an extension of what I keep coming up against here in Birmingham, in which musical export is a far more regional, city-based thing: "Oh, isn't it AMAZING for the local music industry that The Editors moved to London and became famous?"
Well, good on them - but not especially, no.
Thanks for your comment!
Really good points made, and i should just clarify that i used your quote more as an example of perhaps the perception of us as a band that has abandoned our home country.
I completely agree that local industry thrives from happenings IN New Zealand, and thats why a couple of years ago when we were starting out, the music scene seemed to be fairly inspired. I remember going to mint chicks shows in elbow room (above please please club in durham lane auckland) where there was an excitement buzzing through the crowd as electric as any hot show ive been to abroad.. It really made me feel like something unique and exciting was brewing, something i wanted to be a part of.
Furthermore the tours put on by Blink via A Low Hum a year or so back, created a platform for small independent bands to play to towns all around the country, and i believe was responsible for inspiring a whole group of bands to take music more seriously. (ourselves, the sneaks, pig out, so so modern, collapsing cities, surf city to name a few)
NZ suffers from its lack of size and antipodean location in that we often miss out on the good international shows, and we can be grateful to promoters like mystery girl, Mathew Crawley and John Baker for constantly making an effort to bring quality shows to our shores...Kids are inspired by seeing the best new bands regularly and it's something we desperately to have more of.
We were backing you for the award too! The Ideologues who were there reckoned you & Charlie Ash stole the show.
We certainly didn't see you as bagging Enzed, or trying to escape it, and sorry if it could be read that way. We were intending to make the point that bands like yourselves and So So Modern are doing well offshore without relying on the local industry infrastructure to get there. As Dubber says, nothing wrong with that -- in fact, it's admirable. More power to you.
Matt Cooney
(Editor of Idealog)
haha cool, i really thought it was an insightful article and great to see our friends so so and ladyhawke in the same piece, im sure many publications will be following suit in the coverage of these groups given their talent and ethic of hardwork!
nice!
Agreed, its a shame you didnt win the award. But at least you were in the country for the ceremony, haha.
Album is wicked, really digging it. Cant wait for the SFBH gig !
Hope alls well :)
Who ever is saying mean things about you guys is insane. It's a shame that wonderfully talented and unique bands such as yourselves are often overlooked as being part of kiwi culture in favour of things like rugby. Also, what actually defines 'Kiwi Music'? We have a vast variety of genres, numerous bands from NZ based overseas and artists that are based in NZ but are from other countries- ? *Must stop myself from writing too much* ANYWAY, well written and yay, you did end up coming 'home' =)
P.S The gig last night was amazing, you guys are so awesome live. Hope to see you November 1st -lol you just HAD to play during uni exams =P
Oh it is a shame you lads didn't win the break through artist award, but I suppose the success that you've had illustrates just how well you've done anyway - no one can change that!
Coming from Australia, the people here who know of you (and have much love for you of course), do know you as a talented New Zealand band, regardless of how much time you spend there nowadays.
I think it's a good sign that you boys can venture overseas, tour there, and be so successful from that. And I think the contributors to the article also agree :)
There aren't many bands who are fortunate enough to make music good enough to be able to spread their love to so many countries, and do so well on top of that.
I suppose that the people of NZ just miss you, and what you fellas bring, very dearly (which I could completely understand!)
x peace
I think you have done a really great job with clearing things up about your identity. Sure, you could be a band that only plays gigs in your homeland to show people that you are "nationally proud"..but I think it's important for bands to expand and evolve and 'unfortunately' that means going to other shores and leaving home. But the many experiences you guys have had around the world spreading your music, I bet you wouldn't change for the world. And that has nothing to do with taking away your national identity.
Kudos for reminding people that you are proud to be New Zealanders as I'm sure a few people back home are feeling a bit sore from your absence..but that just means that people like me who live in foreign lands (ie Australia!) get to see your wonderful shows :) Also New Zealanders should be proud of you because you are representing your country in the music industry, I'm sure there are still many people around the world who have no idea what or where New Zealand is.
Well done on making such wonderful music that I have enjoyed since 2006, and as for not winning the breakthrough artist award..you boys have travelled around the world and played great gigs and met wonderful people along the way..one award can't compare to that (I'm trying to be positive haha).
nicely put. I'm still curious as to where in auckland you're from :)
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