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Written by Shahlin Graves
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Sunday, 22 August 2010 17:29 |
How does one go about getting to OWL CITY exactly? - I ask of one Mister ADAM YOUNG. He replies with the instructions of: "Second star to the LEFT and straight on 'till morning. It's sorta like Neverland, but cooler." Right on. It's this whimsical world-view and endearing phrasing of Young's, that has charmed hearts all over, and pinned them firmly to owl-loving sleeves.
As the only child in an immediate family of no musicians, it wasn't until a fateful weekend in June of 2007 when his parents were away that Adam would write the songs that make up his debut self-released digital EP. From a small U.S. town of about twenty-two thousand, Young secreted himself away in his parent's window-less basement writing and recording, attracting 40 million Myspace plays in just over a year from word-of-mouth. Adam himself, went from one-man keyboard wizard “hunched over a computer" with two self-released albums to his nom de plume, to a top-ten charting major-label album debut in his home-land. It seems that 'Fireflies' also helped light the way for the rest of the world to find the path to Owl City, with the UK also sending the single to Number One.
His favourite Disney movie is 'Finding Nemo'. His favourite flavour of pop-tarts is S'mores. He named his piano after Audrey Hepburn... and his favourite kind of candy are "Runts, except for the bananas". Yes, Adam Young can do no wrong. I tell him that fans wonder if video games play an influence on his music - as 'Cave In' apparently has a part that sounds almost exactly like a level on 'Spyro 3' - and the boy is genuinely thrilled. "Really?! I never knew that! I'm influenced a lot by the music on 'Wave Race 64'. I think it's brilliant."
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Written by Sarah Mudgway
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Sunday, 15 August 2010 18:55 |
SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS [SKSK] are about to blast their way through Australia and New Zealand for what should be their final shows EVER as a band - and Coup De Main was lucky enough to have not one, but two phone conversations (thanks technology!), with SKSK keyboardist extraordinaire POUYAN AFKARY.
Describing Scary Kids Scaring Kids as "high energy rock and roll" that "bros in a bar wouldn’t get", Pouyan states that while the band have called it quits, they all still remain friends. "We’re all buddies. I went out for drinks with DJ and Steve the other day, and saw Chad yesterday. It's nice, we all started moving on so it’s like a very pleasant and unexpected reunion, revisiting all our old friends."
And while it seems most foreigners seem quick to cite 'Lord Of The Rings' as their go-to film when thinking of New Zealand, Pouyan is not like most. "I hate to say this because I might sound odd, but my biggest impression of NZ is in the film 'Black Sheep'. Oh my god I love it. The B-horror movie, the sheep, the vegan dude who turns into a sheep. It’s genius. Best bad horror movie I’ve ever seen in my life, honestly."
Playing Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland in early September, Pouyan is quick to admit his excitement to finally make it to our shores, as well as being able to get a glimpse at the countryside. "We’ve always wanted to come to New Zealand but unfortunately there never was a promoter that had enough faith in us, but for the first time some-one has said let's do it, and we couldn’t be more stoked... we get to actually move around. I think we’re doing some club events or something at a bar as well, so that will be fun, give us time to drink and interact with NZ."
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Written by Shahlin Graves
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Monday, 09 August 2010 09:45 |
Twenty-two-year old OWEN STRATHERN doesn't know much about New Zealand... but he is plenty excited for his band's first visit to our shores. The frontman of GENERAL FIASCO is currently relying on the word of kiwi journalists that it's "ten times better than Australia", so we had better not disappoint him, considering that NZ is currently his "favourite thing in the future that I'm looking forward to". Strathern can't wait. And neither should we, if his description of their live show is anything to go by:
"It's a little more aggressive, a little more upbeat. There's plenty of energy, and it's just three people on-stage playing guitar, drum and bass, and singing, and screaming, and shouting a bit. We try and play with energy and passion. It generally ends up being a bit of a work-out and we're usually extremely sweaty by the end of it."
So maybe go easy on the post-show hugs then. Sounds like it's going to get messy. The elder Strathern brother - younger sibling Enda Strathern is the band's lead guitarist - is hopeful that fans will feel inspired to dance. "Bring your dancing shoes. We'll try our best to give as much energy as possible and it would be amazing if you guys could get rowed up and just give it loads of energy back. I'm sure we'll have an amazing night!" I point out that the day of the show is Friday the 13th of August - Black Friday - and that it could maybe be fun for attendees to dress up in Halloween costumes? Owen sounds alarmed initially as he tries to understand what I am saying, but once comprehension dawns, he is all on-board. "I'm all for people dressing up, if people want to dress up that sounds good."
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Written by Sarah Mudgway
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Monday, 09 August 2010 01:11 |
Southern Californian band SAOSIN have never had the most stable band-life. From an early change in vocalists, label-changes, an array of producers, and now most recently their second vocalist Cove Reber announcing his departure... it has been a bumpy ride to say the least. However throughout all the changes, one thing has stayed the same - the band has stayed true to their feelings and has not been afraid to risk it all for true personal satisfaction.
We were lucky enough to sit down with guitarist BEAU BURCHELL and bassist CHRIS SORENSON when the band visited New Zealand alongside Blessthefall in June - their second performance in NZ since their 2006 debut at Taste Of Chaos. It’s safe to say that the band were stoked to be back here - "We like doing really touristy stuff. We went up the [Sky Tower] again and tried to get [Blessthefall] to jump off!" - and the enthusiasm witnessed at their show [read our review HERE] never wavered, showcasing a band which really does put their all into performances and the happiness of their fans.
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Written by Shahlin Graves
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Monday, 05 July 2010 21:09 |
PARAMORE are returning to New Zealand this October to thrill fans once more [more details HERE]... Coup De Main was lucky enough to hang out with their official image-capturer BRANDON CHESBRO back in March, when he accompanied the band on Paramore's first ever trip to our shores. "I'm on tour with Paramore and we are playing two shows here. I'm doing all the video work for them and the photography work. We're playing a show here and a show in Christchurch."
Chesbro is an avid 'Lord Of The Rings' fan: "It's one of my favourite things!! In fact, I should've shown you guys my bag. My bag has 'Lord Of The Rings' stuff written on it. I used to be obsessed!" I think it's like our best tourism video ever, I say. Nine hours of just... landscape! Chesbro heartily agrees: "I know! It's almost like watching a nature film... or like Discovery Channel... like History Channel." Or 'National Geographic'? "Exactly."
Last time Chesbro was in the neighbourhood he wanted to go on a 'Lord Of The Rings' set-locations tour, but was sadly told that "now it looks more like a construction site than does like the actual Shire", so opted to keep his daydreams intact. As for the rest of NZ, local pal Rowan Crowe (of The Jury And The Saints) tour guide-d the party to the ocean, but still owes them a mountain-top trip. We ask - how many sheep do you think you've seen so far? Chesbro laughs and says: "I think only about six or seven we saw on the hill side." ...and Hobbits? "Other than Zach?! None!" Final score: SHEEP 6.5 vs. HOBBITS 0.
Despite it being only his second interview ever - "Other than MTV, this is my only interview that I've ever done... so I'm kind of intimidated." - Chesbro is just as at ease talking about his full-time loves and best friends, as he is while capturing the world through the lenses of his assorted cameras. We welcome him to New Zealand and happy giggles ensue all-round...
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