This interview was originally published in Perdeby on 20 May 2013.
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| PHOTO: Christelle Duvenage |
Just over a year ago, quirky indie-kwela quipsters
Shortstraw were the little-known band that was playing the opening slot
on a bill, only really known for their spoof song that pays a hilarious
homage to actor Keanu Reeves and for dropping the deplorable f-bomb in
the chorus of “LYSAGFY”.
Fast-forward a bit and the picture looks quite different.
First they nabbed the coveted award for best indie band at this year’s
MK Awards after going head to head with local genre heavyweights like
The Plastics and Ashtray Electric. Then they opened for Brighton rockers
The Kooks, a night that turned out to be an icy battle of the elements
under a bridge in downtown Jo’burg, easily the perfect setting to mark
this pinnacle in their careers.
Most recently, and perhaps most importantly, Shortstraw have released their follow-up album, Good Morning, Sunshine. Not unlike their debut album, You’re Underfed, I’m Wonderful,
it presents a collection of boogie-inducing beats that make any crowd
jive joyously as they sing along to the bodacious hooks and choruses.
What they have done differently is up the afro-influence
ante by making the distinctive skiffle-like beat that characterises
kwela music prominent throughout the album.
“We’ve made a concerted effort to take an influence for this new one,
which was the kind of afro vibe, and that strung together some of the
songs that weren’t necessarily influenced by that,” says frontman
Alastair Thomas.
Good Morning, Sunshine was written
collaboratively by the whole band, a process lead guitarist Tom
Revington also credits in giving the album its dance sensibility. “Songs
would start and finish in the band room,” he explains.
“If all five of
us are contributing to a song, there’s a good chance it’s going to be
loud,” bassist Russel Grant adds.
By December last year, Shortstraw had about half the
tracks for their second offering. To write the remainder, they went to
Verkykerskop in the Free State, which allowed them the time to focus
solely on making music.
“It was about getting out of Johannesburg, which
I think was very important because otherwise we would have been quite
distracted,” says Russel of the reasons behind their platteland getaway.
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| PHOTO: Christelle Duvenage |
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PHOTO: Christelle Duvenage |
“We would have been together [on tour] regardless, but it
was nice to be in a creative space with creative people,” says
Alastair.
But did the Shortstraw boys feel pressure to get the
writing of the album done in a mere week?
“We knew we wanted to organise
this whole tour and have the album ready, so we kind of worked
backwards from that deadline,” says synth and keyboard player Gad de
Combes. Without that pressure, he says, it all came easily.
There was a great moment during that week in
Verkykerskop, says Tom, when the band was narrowing down the tracks for
the album.
“I remember looking at the list and thinking, we’ve got a
good selection. It’s not like we’re struggling to fill up an album.
We’re struggling to choose which ones to put in, which is cool. It’s a
good space to be in,” he explains.
For Russel, the great moment was during the week that Good Morning, Sunshine had
to be ready and everyone in the band was ecstatic with the final
product.
“I think if we had problems, we would’ve delayed things and
really made a point to change it, but it just worked out that we were
all happy at the right time,” he says.
While Good Morning, Sunshine still offers the
witty lyrics that characterise Shortstraw’s sound, some of the tracks on
the album suggest that the band has grown into a more mature sense of
humour.
“We’ve been writing songs for quite a while now. I think it’s
just a natural progression,” says Alastair.
“The more you do anything
...”
“... the more refined it gets,” says Russel, completing his sentence.
Gad wants to clear something up. “Look, there are still things that make us laugh on the new album...”
“But it’s not as much toilet humour,” says Alastair, his bandmates laughing.
Another thing they all agree on is that the process of
creating their second album has brought Shortstraw closer together
something evident as they complete each other’s sentences.
“I spend more
time with these guys than I do with anyone else,” explains Alastair.
Says Russel: “I spend three, four times a week with them when I’m not working, so these dudes become your ...”
“... bros,” says Alastair.
“Your besties,” agrees Russel, provoking yet another explosion of laughter.
Read my review of Shortstraw's album, Good Morning Sunshine, here.
