Graham Reid | | 2 min read
Multi-instrumentalist Darryn Harkness is a man of irrepressible energy and enthusiasms. To Elsewhere's knowledge -- and we are perhaps just scraping the surface here -- he has been in bands such as Braintree, Spacesuit, Serafin (in London) and Loud Ghost, has played in From Scratch for many years, publishes his own poetry and artwork, has a studio space on Queen St in Auckland, was a key figure in Fagan and the People . . .
And his long-running recent incarnation is his band New Telepathics who play the forthcoming Splore festival (details below).
Elsewhere has reviewed somne of Harnkess' bands and projects (see here) and he previously answered one of our questiuonnaires.
But because he moves on fast we thought it timely to flick him one again and see what he made of it . . . and his answers are now mostly different. Of course.
The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .
Probably the Buddy Rich and Animal drum battle on the Muppets.
Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .
Split Enz, The Mockers, Crosby Stills Nash & Young…
Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?
Captain Beefheart.
If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .
Part of the secret space program, probably an astronaut on a TR3B.
The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .
‘My first piss on the new library building’ - Foisemaster.
‘We got a date’ - Hasil Adkins
‘You Do Right’ - Can
Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home...
A copy of one of Sun Ra’s Saturn label records with hand typed and cello-taped info I have is probably worth something, otherwise just weird shit from my own career like a lighter from Palmerston North's ‘White Horse Saloon’ from the 90’s.
The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .
I would definitely recommend the Miles Davis autobiography to any artist no matter what they are into.
If you could get on stage with anyone it would be?
Jimi Hendrix.
The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .
Unacknowledged. A Joyful Noise. Cowspiracy,
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include…)
A $2.00 CD compilation of Ella Fitzgerald from a market in Paeroa, the last vinyl I bought was a 10” re-issue of Sun Ra’s Nuclear War…I still don't download music or films! Though I streamed my friends band ’Water’ the other day.
One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .
I Want to be Sedated.
The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .
I have a great piece of artwork from Jamie Price on my wall that I would be more than happy to die next to.
You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .
A cow.
David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where and doing what?
With my friends and family in New Zealand, writing songs, recording, making art, eating well, treating all beings well and smoking good marijuana.
And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”
The End Of War by New Telepathics is my best album so far because of the humans on it and the amount of fun we had making it was just off the wall, will forever be full of great memories to me.
For details on the Splore Festival including the line-up and ticketing go to their website here.
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