Push to Fire: Interview with Snowdroppers

Push to Fire Interview: Snowdroppers
by Meghan Player

A year in the life of a band can spell the end of some and the rise of others. Thankfully, in this case, Sydney misfits The Snowdroppers apply to the latter.
Enjoying the last year since we spoke, the band have relished in the rise in recognition, opportunity and the general nation wide acceptance within the music community. Having been fortunate enough to be included, not only on the 2011 lineup for the Big Day Out, but also traveling to the US for South By Southwest [SXSW] - the band, obviously have plenty of highlights from throughout the year.
Johnny Wishbone: It's probably having two months away from seeing these guys everyday! [laughs]
Pauly K: Yeah, Bluesfest was definitely a highlight. It's kind of one of the best gigs we've done.. ever.
Cougar: I enjoyed the Big Day Out.
JW: And you know what? I had a blast at Changing Lanes Festival actually!
C: So, I'd reckon festivals! [laughs]
JW: There's just too many to choose.
With their high energy, adrenalin fueled and engaging live sets, as well as a debut album that is still receiving praise - two years after it's release - the band would be right in feeling some pressure when it comes to maintain the standard they have been linked to. So, how does the band feel about this?
JW: Yeah, just in terms of the new stuff we're writing, there's always that sort of damocles hanging over your head, with the 'difficult second album'.
PK: You don't want to have waited all this time and then it be shit [laughs].
London: No, we've left it too long to do that.
JW: At the same time, you can't focus on that too much. You just have to keep striding forward as best we can. And me, personally, I'm sure the guys will agree to an extent, we're kind of happiest when we're progressing in one way, shape or form. As long as the ball's rolling. It's when you're standing still that things are going bad... We've been pretty lucky.
Having just released their new single, 'I've Been So Lonely Now Since You've Been Gone', the band sound like there is a breath of fresh of air in their tunes - which will extend into writing their upcoming album.
JW: We're writing for that at the moment. Being in America earlier in the year, I think, threw a spanner in the works. I think we would have liked something out a little bit sooner, but touring.. It's kind of hard to work out timing, in and around touring, especially with a band like us, where we can really only stand to make money on the road.
C: We make money?
JW/PK: Make our debts less. Work off that debt! [laughs]
JW: So, we kind of thought, at least it'd be good for everyone - the fans and us - to kind of give them a bit of a teaser of where we're at, and give us a chance to kind of get into the studio and get used to that again. At the same time get some stuff down for the new album before the end of the year. We were really excited to put in on vinyl too.
While the new single sounds like the band are stepping in a different direction from the sound that made them popular, there are still elements of the original sound, even if that includes one of the bands influences, The Hives.
PK: I don't think that song is going to be too indicative of the album. All our stuff isn't going to sound like The Hives [laughs]. That was the song we've been playing for a while, and we kept changing it over and over again. It ended up in so many different forms, I think at one point it was a...
JW: Surf rock song.
PK: Reggae. And then we were like 'Let's just record it so we stop fiddling around with it'. The other stuff we've got for the album, there's a fair bit of diversity on there.
JW: The first record was very much, some of it's influences, in terms of.. we had our fast songs, and we had our bluesy songs. [laughs] Where as this time round, we're kind of, hopefully, amalgamating that into a sound that's a little more us. Me, personally, I know Paul and the guys will probably have their own individual opinions, but I just wanted to make more of a rock and roll record.
With the talk of a new sound and direction for the band, the new album would be undoubtedly approached differently - writing wise. Something that the band is keen to take up.
PK: Yeah, we spent more time on this one [laughs]. Some of the songs on the first album were written in the space of minutes.
JW: Because we had to write them. Lot's of different bands have taken different approaches to songwriting, The Beatles even let Ringo..
C: Yes. And weren't they great songs? They were the best songs in my opinion. The best.
JW: Yeah, so I guess, time working on it and jamming it out. Although we're keen to get something out, at the end of the day, we want to put something out that we're proud of. So then, if everyone hates it, we can at least go 'We did alright by us!' [laughs].
Earlier in the year, the band were fortunate enough to be included on the 2011 showcase for SXSW - an experience the band are more than happy to share their thoughts on, especially in regards to other bands wanting to head over in 2012.
PK: For me, it wasn't what I was expecting. It was pretty fun and crazy, but not as fun and crazy as I had heard. Everyone that had been - bands that we'd talked to - had really talked it up, and we thought 'oh, it's going to amazing, and we're going to have so much fun!', and we did, but...
C: We went there with extremely high expectations, rather than keeping them low, and we could have been pleased [laughs]. It's very cutthroat. Trying to get that gig, to get that audience. There's certain gigs that are the 'go to' ones.
JW: We really weren't buying into that so much. We were just happy to play where we played, and if people enjoyed it, that's great. Personally, I think we had better shows when we went to New York and LA afterwards, just because the pressure was off a bit.
PK: [I would] definitely recommend it, but I wouldn't look at it as it's going to be your ticket to cracking music. It's more just, look at it as a holiday. A working holiday.
C: I think it's something that maybe you would do after doing other things in America, but not first up. It's very ambitious to want to go to SXSW and make it.
L: A lot of the gigs we played felt like early Sydney gigs.
JW: I must admit, it was refreshing in that regard. Going to the US was refreshing [especially when trying to write new material]. To see what worked on an audience who had never heard you before, and be the first band on, and really having to prove yourself. You really have to be hungry for it again. I found that part really refreshing.
Heading out on tour this week, the band are keen to, not only showcase their new material to their fans, but also glad to be hitting the road and heading to places they haven't toured to previously.
PK: I'm looking forward to going to Western Australia. Oh, and 'Wet n Wild'! We're going to make a stop off.
C: That's our Christmas present.
PK: To ourselves.
JW: I'm looking forward to the second show we're playing up in Katoomba with Gay Paris and The Rumjacks. I think that will be one of the tour highlights very early on. And yeah, Western Australia, which we've never played before, and getting down to Tasmania again.
And the new material?
JW: It's been nice [touring with new material]. I don't think we really care if the audience doesn't like it [laughs].
PK: The thing is, here's a tip for young bands - is you put your new songs at the end of the set, so everyone is drunk and they just don't care.
C: Or you sandwich them between some other songs that they may have liked before.
PK: It's the shit sandwich. That's what we call it.
So, after talks of new songs, the new tour and a foreseeable new album - what more could The Snowdroppers do to convince us to come along and see them?
JW: Because you'll have fun, or your money back....Not a guarantee [laughs].

Thanks to The Snowdroppers for taking the time to speak to Meghan. Find more info and music clips on the band's Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/snowdroppers

Push to Fire Interview: Snowdroppers by Meghan Player A year in the life of a band can spell the end of some and the rise of others. Thankfully, in this case, Sydney misfits The Snowdroppers apply to the latter. Enjoying the last year since we spoke, the band have relished in the rise in recognition, opportunity and the general nation wide acceptance within the music community. Having been fortunate enough to be included, not only on the 2011 lineup for the Big Day Out, but also traveling to the US for South By Southwest [SXSW] - the band, obviously have plenty of highlights from throughout the year. Johnny Wishbone: It's probably having two months away from seeing these guys everyday! [laughs] Pauly K: Yeah, Bluesfest was definitely a highlight. It's kind of one of the best gigs we've done.. ever. Cougar: I enjoyed the Big Day Out. JW: And you know what? I had a blast at Changing Lanes Festival actually! C: So, I'd reckon festivals! [laughs] JW: There's just too many to choose. With their high energy, adrenalin fueled and engaging live sets, as well as a debut album that is still receiving praise - two years after it's release - the band would be right in feeling some pressure when it comes to maintain the standard they have been linked to. So, how does the band feel about this? JW: Yeah, just in terms of the new stuff we're writing, there's always that sort of damocles hanging over your head, with the 'difficult second album'. PK: You don't want to have waited all this time and then it be shit [laughs]. London: No, we've left it too long to do that. JW: At the same time, you can't focus on that too much. You just have to keep striding forward as best we can. And me, personally, I'm sure the guys will agree to an extent, we're kind of happiest when we're progressing in one way, shape or form. As long as the ball's rolling. It's when you're standing still that things are going bad... We've been pretty lucky. Having just released their new single, 'I've Been So Lonely Now Since You've Been Gone', the band sound like there is a breath of fresh of air in their tunes - which will extend into writing their upcoming album. JW: We're writing for that at the moment. Being in America earlier in the year, I think, threw a spanner in the works. I think we would have liked something out a little bit sooner, but touring.. It's kind of hard to work out timing, in and around touring, especially with a band like us, where we can really only stand to make money on the road. C: We make money? JW/PK: Make our debts less. Work off that debt! [laughs] JW: So, we kind of thought, at least it'd be good for everyone - the fans and us - to kind of give them a bit of a teaser of where we're at, and give us a chance to kind of get into the studio and get used to that again. At the same time get some stuff down for the new album before the end of the year. We were really excited to put in on vinyl too. While the new single sounds like the band are stepping in a different direction from the sound that made them popular, there are still elements of the original sound, even if that includes one of the bands influences, The Hives. PK: I don't think that song is going to be too indicative of the album. All our stuff isn't going to sound like The Hives [laughs]. That was the song we've been playing for a while, and we kept changing it over and over again. It ended up in so many different forms, I think at one point it was a... JW: Surf rock song. PK: Reggae. And then we were like 'Let's just record it so we stop fiddling around with it'. The other stuff we've got for the album, there's a fair bit of diversity on there. JW: The first record was very much, some of it's influences, in terms of.. we had our fast songs, and we had our bluesy songs. [laughs] Where as this time round, we're kind of, hopefully, amalgamating that into a sound that's a little more us. Me, personally, I know Paul and the guys will probably have their own individual opinions, but I just wanted to make more of a rock and roll record. With the talk of a new sound and direction for the band, the new album would be undoubtedly approached differently - writing wise. Something that the band is keen to take up. PK: Yeah, we spent more time on this one [laughs]. Some of the songs on the first album were written in the space of minutes. JW: Because we had to write them. Lot's of different bands have taken different approaches to songwriting, The Beatles even let Ringo.. C: Yes. And weren't they great songs? They were the best songs in my opinion. The best. JW: Yeah, so I guess, time working on it and jamming it out. Although we're keen to get something out, at the end of the day, we want to put something out that we're proud of. So then, if everyone hates it, we can at least go 'We did alright by us!' [laughs]. Earlier in the year, the band were fortunate enough to be included on the 2011 showcase for SXSW - an experience the band are more than happy to share their thoughts on, especially in regards to other bands wanting to head over in 2012. PK: For me, it wasn't what I was expecting. It was pretty fun and crazy, but not as fun and crazy as I had heard. Everyone that had been - bands that we'd talked to - had really talked it up, and we thought 'oh, it's going to amazing, and we're going to have so much fun!', and we did, but... C: We went there with extremely high expectations, rather than keeping them low, and we could have been pleased [laughs]. It's very cutthroat. Trying to get that gig, to get that audience. There's certain gigs that are the 'go to' ones. JW: We really weren't buying into that so much. We were just happy to play where we played, and if people enjoyed it, that's great. Personally, I think we had better shows when we went to New York and LA afterwards, just because the pressure was off a bit. PK: [I would] definitely recommend it, but I wouldn't look at it as it's going to be your ticket to cracking music. It's more just, look at it as a holiday. A working holiday. C: I think it's something that maybe you would do after doing other things in America, but not first up. It's very ambitious to want to go to SXSW and make it. L: A lot of the gigs we played felt like early Sydney gigs. JW: I must admit, it was refreshing in that regard. Going to the US was refreshing [especially when trying to write new material]. To see what worked on an audience who had never heard you before, and be the first band on, and really having to prove yourself. You really have to be hungry for it again. I found that part really refreshing. Heading out on tour this week, the band are keen to, not only showcase their new material to their fans, but also glad to be hitting the road and heading to places they haven't toured to previously. PK: I'm looking forward to going to Western Australia. Oh, and 'Wet n Wild'! We're going to make a stop off. C: That's our Christmas present. PK: To ourselves. JW: I'm looking forward to the second show we're playing up in Katoomba with Gay Paris and The Rumjacks. I think that will be one of the tour highlights very early on. And yeah, Western Australia, which we've never played before, and getting down to Tasmania again. And the new material? JW: It's been nice [touring with new material]. I don't think we really care if the audience doesn't like it [laughs]. PK: The thing is, here's a tip for young bands - is you put your new songs at the end of the set, so everyone is drunk and they just don't care. C: Or you sandwich them between some other songs that they may have liked before. PK: It's the shit sandwich. That's what we call it. So, after talks of new songs, the new tour and a foreseeable new album - what more could The Snowdroppers do to convince us to come along and see them? JW: Because you'll have fun, or your money back....Not a guarantee [laughs].
Thanks to The Snowdroppers for taking the time to speak to Meghan. Find more info and music clips on the band's Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/snowdroppers