The Indie-rock band Shortstraw have just released their new album, Good Morning, Sunshine. Lead singer Alastair Thomas answers a few questions.
Photo: Christelle Duvenhage
Good morning, Alastair (see what I did there?). How are things?
Aha! Hello. Things are good. How are things with you? How's Mum?
Shortstraw has been around for about five years and went through a lot of changes, especially concerning the assembly of the line-up. What role did this play in the evolution of the sound?
It's played a big role in developing the sound. We're writing songs as a unit now, as opposed to just developing songs together. With all of us creating together, there's a lot more influence going into each track, which results in a broader sound. I think.
Speaking of which – the band won an MK MVP spot last year, which led to the production of the video for “Waterworks”. What was that experience like and what effect did it have on the band’s reach?
The experience was rad. I got to direct a video with a decent budget, which was ... different. But we're all really proud of how it turned out and I think it effectively shows the other side to the band. In terms of reach, it didn't do nearly what we were hoping it would. It was the only video of the MVPs that didn't make it into the top 10 on MK and it never got playlisted on any radio stations. We're not upset or bitter about it – it was a great experience and we learnt a lot.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the vibe of “Waterworks”, as well as some of the other earlier tracks hanging around the web, differs quite a bit from the general feel of the new album. Good morning, sunshine is a lot more … cheerful, I guess, both in the lyrics and the excellent party quality to the tunes. What were the conscious decisions involved in this shift?
I don't think the last album was uncheerful. “Waterworks” is a sombre song, but the rest of the album is pretty upbeat. I think. It was never meant to be anything other than that. If anything, the last album was quite disjointed, considering the songs on it were written over four years. With the new album, everything was written within a year by the whole band. More people, more party! “Waterworks” was written as a ballad, though. It's a sad song. I feel all bands should have sad songs. “Cold Shoulder” is pretty much the “Waterworks” of the new album.
The first time I listened to the disc I got this weird combination feeling between the height of the party and the gleeful buzz of the following early morning. Looking at your booklet with the unusual breakfast images, was that part of the idea? Or at what point of the evening will the people decide it’s time to put on some Shortstraw?
Yip, that's exactly what the theme of the album is. It's both. They go hand in hand. You can't have an awesome night out without a shitty morning after. Life, hey.
The Indie scene in South Africa has grown in leaps and bounds in the recentish past. To what do you attribute this?
I just think the music is getting better. People like good music, and the indie scene used to be shit – like, I can't name an indie band from five years ago apart from Desmond and the Tutus! Now there are some really good indie bands in the country and people are starting to notice.
The downside of this development is that it becomes harder to stand out among the many other bands. Is this something you guys keep in mind in terms of how you approach new recordings, tours and the like?
This is true. We don't go out of our way, I don't think. We made a concerted effort to add some afro/kwela influence, but that's just because we think it sounds cool and brings the energy up. And that doesn't really make an indie band stand out at all! We like to have fun and don't take ourselves too seriously. I think that element of humour and nonchalance might help us stand out a bit.
A band that’s been around as long as you guys have obviously done quite a bit of touring … any strange anecdotes you’d like to share? What are the best and worst places you’ve visited as a band?
We're starting to get the hang of touring. We've done only four tours now. Best place to play is probably Grahamstown, because everyone is up for a party. Although Pretoria gives them a strong run for their money. Does Pretoria really count as touring though? I dunno.
What do the near and far future hold for Shortstraw?
Near future – shows, videos, festivals, hopefully some more radio airplay, some more tours. We want to maintain the momentum we've been gathering up until now. The far future – a grudge.
What is the meaning of life, according to Shortstraw?
Always wipe from front to back so you don't get a bladder infection.
Photo: Hanro Havenga
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