‘New Album’ is where a band or artist answers some questions about their latest release. Up next is Eb & Sparrow, who have just released new album ‘Seeing Things’.

When/where was the new album recorded?
In January 2017 we stayed for twelve nights in Ahiaruhe, which is a really special place for us now, its east of Carterton in the Wairarapa. We drove all over the place and planned it out so we all stayed on site, having 6 rooms really helped, in this 1870’s house, surrounded by land, quite stunning on all accounts. We beg, borrowed and bought everything studio-wise, and I’d just checked before hand to make sure there was good power, the option to ‘dampen’ rooms etc. Send is so weird for the outside world to understand in a recording process, its really important to be totally shut off from external noises and complications. We did lose 2 x days to a noisy crop-duster on our previous record, so we scoped out the local farmers plans before recording!

Who produced/engineered the album? How did the tracks come together in the studio, or at home?
Brett Stanton who we had used on Sun/Son came over especially from Melbourne to record and we did the mixing between NZ & Australia, in the end it was easier to finish it off by me flying there and just sitting in a beautiful ABC radio production suite for 2 full days to finish it. As a band we’d practiced for about 3 months previous to work out styles and songs, but at least half are road-tested, the other hand are pretty fresh.

How did the songwriting happen? Are there any overall themes within the songs/album?
I write really privately, its not something shared until they are closer to completion, then I take them to the band and we play them a couple of times around in amongst our normal songs, and over time they stick or they don’t. Death seems to be a theme (tragic aye) but you know, death can be so many things, like death of a former life plan, or a person, or feelings, there’s also just the ‘noticing’ of life, that’s pretty much my favourite thing to do as a photographer and songwriter, just noticing life, and somehow it comes out through music. Really the full band find a way of bringing that sentiment to light.

Were you going for a different sound/approach on this album?
Yes, we didn’t really think about it until later, but there are no acoustic guitars on the record, I really fell in love with a telecaster and couple of different amps, and the whole point was to get a lot more space in the sound, but create the same weight to the songs. Its pretty important to everyone in the band to keep growing, otherwise we’d just stagnate. We all love a wide variety of music and bringing a production element really helped think about it differently, and also being aware not to lose the humanity behind the songs, because that’s the connector.

Was there any specific gear you used to capture that?
Awesome old mics, a couple of beauty old amps, a new Supra amp, and playing around with a heck of a lot of pedals between 4 people on guitars. Our drummer Justin brings a different element too, as he joined us permanently about 1.5 years ago, it was really important to make a record with him, creating a sound together.

Is there a particular single/track that you feel captures the essence of the album?
That’s a really tricky question, its a pretty diverse album, ranging from indie-ballads to old vintage soul. Probably Mt Vic is my most favourite, it’s quite different than the others.

Is there a physical copy available? If not which digital platforms is it available on?
Its all being released on 23 March, available on CD and thanks to Slow Boat Records it’s on vinyl as well, available in all record stores in NZ. You can also pre-order on iTunes and eventually I’ll update the other online platforms. [Spotify here]. Of course your local library can buy one for you to take out, that’s where I listened to the most music in my whole life, a brilliant option I always think. We’ll also have everything with us at shows, including special merchandise.

Are you working on a video/videos for any of the songs?
We’ve released “To The West” as a single last year, and this week we released “Working” and here’s to a fingers crossed for a third on its way! A visual representation for music is so important these days, and as I love visuals its kind of an extension of the music we make, an added bonus really on all front, however nothing beats a live show.