‘The Eighth Note’ is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians.
A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician/band and their music.
Up next is Shannen from Fruit Juice Parade, whose new Wgtn/PN band Sports Dreams have just released their debut E.P.
Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
My name is Shannen Petersen, I’m the singer and guitarist in Sports Dreams.
What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
We just released our first EP, also called Sports Dreams, and two singles from it called Drive and Sports Dreams. We reeeeeally seem to like our name. We’re also working on a few more songs that we’ll end up playing later in the year, but no plans for more releases just at the moment.
Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify!
What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
Oh this is a hard one!! I listened to a lot of Taylor Swift when I was first learning to play guitar, so her album Fearless has to be pretty up there. Another one – one of my friends used to be in a band called Man in Rug and they released their EP in my first year of high school, at that point I’d heard nothing like it in my life and thought it was the best thing ever! So Man in Rug by Man in Rug definitely gets a mention. The last one would have to be Lush by Snail Mail, I think it’s beautiful and heartfelt and is everything I ever want to achieve in an album.
Which other Wellington musician (s) would you most like to work with?
I’ve been really enjoying the new Secret Knives album, as well as the new Mermaidens one. I always love seeing Linen play too, so I’d be super happy to work with any of them!
What’s your favourite Wellington venue to play in?
I love playing at San Fran! We recently played there with Hans Pucket on their New Zealand tour, it was the most fun. The big stage is always a good time.
In your songwriting or composing (or the band’s songwriting) how do the compositions and songs take shape?
I generally start by writing a guitar line, or editing some words together into vague song-form. I write a lot in the notes on my phone and find it easier to pull verses and lines together from that than to think of them on the spot at a practice! Then Fraser, my bandmate, and I get together for a practice and he adds synth lines, drums, pretty swirly things to the song.
Where/when is your next gig?
We’re playing in Auckland on the 23rd of November with Carb on Carb, at Whammy Backroom, and we’ve got one more show in the works for Wellington before then! [Zinefest midparty: Unsanitary Napkin, sports dreams, Hybrid Rose].