Graham Reid | | 2 min read
In the middle of this month -- June 21st touchdown, June 25th a concert at Auckland's Town Hall -- the Beatles made direct contact with New Zealand.
The reception here 50 years ago was much like everywhere in '64, the height of Beatlemania: huge crowds, screaming, shows that people saw but barely heard . . .
It was a turning point in New Zealand popular culture and to mark the occasion the Play It Strange Trust -- CEO Mike Chunn -- has arranged concerts of Beatles' songs at the Auckland Town Hall on June 24 and 25 featuring a veritable galaxy of local stars (Tim Finn, SJD, Graham Brazier, Fiona McDonald, Jordan Luck and more) for A Strange Day's Night.
But the trust's mandate is to spotlight young songwriters through an annual secondary songwriting competition and to also put them in concert with established musicians.
So a Strange Day's Night will see a number of them sharing the stage with stars and over the next week or so we will spotlight some of the performers young and established . . .
We introduce you to Zane Hawkins from Monty and the Hawks who is playing Taxman with Grace Brebner and In My Life/Drive My Car with Hello Sailor . . .
The first song which really affected you was . . .
Seven Nation Army by White Stripes, first song i learnt on bass
Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were .. . .
Cliff Burton, Flea
The one songwriter you will always listen to, even if they disappointed you previously, is?
Red Hot Chili Peppers, (John Frusciante and Flea)
As songwriters: Lennon-McCartney or
Jagger-Richards; kd lang or Katy Perry; Madonna or Michael Jackson;
Prince or Pink?
Lennon-McCartney
Never heard of KD Lang, strongly dislike Katy Perry
Michael Jackson
Prince
The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear because they are well crafted are . . ..
Man or Mouse by Monty and the Hawks
Bear by The Antlers
Thuggin by Freddie Gibbs
Melody first? Words or phrase first? Simultaneous?
Melody first
The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .
Jimmy Page's biography
If you could co-write with anyone it would be . . ..
Jeff Mangum
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
CD - Asymmetry by Karnivool
Vinyl - An Awesome Wave by Alt-J
Download - To Be Kind by Swans
One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you would be .. . .
Obstacle 1 by Interpol
One line (or couplet) from a song -- yours or someone else's -- which you think is just a stone cold winner is . . .
"And if everyone belongs here it will hold us all together.
If you’re afraid to die, then so am I."
From 'Getting Sodas' by The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die
Songwriting: what's the ratio of inspiration/perspiration?
60/40
Ever had a song come to you fully-formed like it dropped into your lap?
Nope
And finally, finish this couplet in any way you like: “Standing at the airport with an empty suitcase at my feet . . .” (You are NOT allowed to rhyme that with “meet” however)
I hope I do not miss my flight, that would not be a treat
For more on the Play It Strange Trust go here.
For tickets to A Strange Day's Night go here.
.
post a comment