‘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 are punk party band DARTZ, who are part of Kennys Vanity Twenty First at San Fran tomorrow.
Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
We’re DARTZ, a band from Wellington, NZ. The Music is punk, party vibes- calling DARTZ a NZ punk band is probably the best way to describe us since our love of NZ music is a common DARTZ theme. Our singer Danz came up with the name last year and we started soon after that – once he thought of DARTZ, band formation was inevitable and he quickly got the other boys on board. I wish we’d met earlier, we could have been Smokefree Rockquest winners.
What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
We released our debut EP No Matter Whatz in August last year. It’s a five track masterpiece in which DARTZ band together to deliver bangers about the ups and downs of being young in Wellington. 40 Riddiford St, Sit This One Out, 4AM, Elastic, Setting with the Sun. Learn the lyrics and come to see DARTZ live, show us what ya got. New songs only once you all learn these ones off by heart.
Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
1. The DARTZ Website
2. The DARTZ Instagram, – we follow back no matter whatz
3. The DARTZ Facebook page
4. The DARTZ Youtube or DARTZ Spotify
What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
These days its bands like The Chats and Dune Rats that influence us, but back in the childhood of DARTZ, Yugioh Music to Duel By was the number one CD we all owned and jammed to. So many iconic songs, Yugioh No Matter What helped to inspire the DARTZ Instagram followback policy and EP name. Second on the list is an NZ music classic, Natures Best Volume 1. So many classic NZ rock bands and NZ music artists of all genres, it’s daft punk isn’t more represented but we all still love it. We have nothing but love for Kiwiana, art like NZ music is an important part of our lives.
Third and maybe our favourite album, the eponymous debut album by Monte Video and the Casettes. Other NZ musicians we know love it too, its just one of those albums that bands like. Chats always come back to this when we’re discussing the best NZ music of all time.
Which other Wellington musician (s) would you most like to work with?
This is a tough one, when it comes to live music Wellington is the place to be. Clark Mathews is the only answer I have, he’s incredibly talented and I think he has the potential to be the greatest NZ musician in history. Give Clark Mathews all the Vodafone NZ music awards now I say. Clark Mathews is God.
Whatís your favourite Wellington venue to play in?
DARTZ loves every venue for live music Wellington has to offer – Valhalla, Moon, San Fran are all sick for seeing live NZ music. Meow is another one that we know other bands like, The Chats opening slot at Meow was our first show back in Feb so it has a special place in our heart.
In your songwriting or composing (or the band’s songwriting) how do the compositions and songs take shape?
DARTZ writes songs like a passionate teenage hookup in the Wellington Central library. Quick, fiery, forbidden, and guided by statistics, as hands brush wildly over the Dewey decimal system sign for 311. Is that a librarian watching? No, it’s just your future self, nodding approvingly. They know what you’re doing. Go hard, younger you. And watch out for carpet burns in that statistics aisle.
Where/when is your next gig?
Last year we took DARTZ NZ wide on the No Matter Whatz tour, and supported The Chats with our friends Shaun’s B’day. They’re a nu-metal five-piece with our friend William Frederick Durst on vocals, go search up their song Break Stuff now on Spotify. Our next show is on the Local Talent stage at Homegrown 2021. We’re open to playing more shows between now and then if anyone wants to satisfy their dire need for DARTZ.