‘New Album’ is where a band or artist answers some questions about their latest release. Up next is Caroline Easther, a local Music legend who held down the drum kit for the likes of The Chills, The Verlaines, Beat Rhythm Fashion, Hobnail and Barry Saunders for a good many years.

When/where was the new album recorded?
The album, Lucky, was recorded in two places – the drum tracks, bass tracks and some guitar tracks at Mike Gibson’s studio and all the overdubs with David Long at his studio on Owhiro Bay Road over the next 9 years!

Who produced/engineered the album? How did the tracks come together in the studio, or at home?
The initial demos I recorded at home then used as a backing track to play with on any tracks I drummed on. Much of the arranging was done in my head before we headed in to do overdubs, but David Long was a wonderful source of sound and ideas.

How did the songwriting happen? Are there any overall themes within the songs/album?
I write about everyday small things that strike me as interesting or funny or moving, and I write about the things and people I love.

Were you going for a different sound/approach on this album?
I was going for the sound I knew David Long could achieve. Organic, honest, spacious, and sometimes a little weird in an integrative sort of way. Is there such a word as integrative?

Was there any specific gear you used to capture that?
Not really – David Long writes music for films so has a wonderful library of sounds and gear at his fingertips but I wanted a good, strong, pure, guitar driven overall sound..a trio of recorders makes an appearance, there is some pedal steel, some banjo, some uke, some melotron and some good melodies to hang everything on.

Is there a particular single/track that you feel captures the essence of the album?
The tracks really are quite different. ‘I Believe You Tonight’ and ‘Find Me’ perhaps – the (almost) instrumental Goodbye Little Boy is one a bit out of the box. Jaguar Boy sounds a bit country with very un-country lyrics.

Is there a physical copy available? If not which digital platforms is it available on?
CDs are available from me at carolineasther@gmail.com or from Bandcamp.

Are you working on a video/videos for any of the songs?
Yes, a video. It will feature horses!