‘New EP’ is where a band or artist answers some questions about their latest release. Up next is Shaun, Vocalist & Guitarist from This Silent Divide, who have just dropped their debut EP ‘Tall Stories’.
When/where was the new EP recorded? Who produced/engineered the EP? How did the tracks come together in the studio, or at home?
Toby Lloyd from Tiny Triumph Recordings produced, engineered and mixed the four songs. We recorded the Tall Stories EP at Surgery Studios in Newtown and at Toby’s studio in Johnsonville, across a total of 4 days in June. It was mastered in Auckland by Chris Chetland from Kog Studios. In the six months leading up to recording in pre-production, we really benefited from independent guidance and advice from Toby about which of our dozen or so songs were the strongest and what to focus on refining within each of them. It was about bringing them to life even more and setting us up for the best possible performance in the studio. I’d totally recommend that any band looking to record seeks out Toby. He’s hugely knowledgeable from a technical standpoint, super supportive, encouraging and brings great ideas to the process too. We’ve been on a fun journey together and it’s helped us further develop our songwriting and performance approach as a band. We’re delighted with the recordings.
Did the shorter format of an EP give you the option to experiment in any way with your sound or with different forms of song-writing?
The four songs featured on the EP showcase the breadth of our sound, from the wall-of-distorted-guitars, high energy tracks, to the more reflective and melodic tunes. During pre-production we evolved each track and recording allowed us to bring in some more textures, with vocal harmonies, some acoustic guitar, extra guitars and percussion etc to really dial up the dynamics of the songs, on top of the usual two guitar, bass, drums, and vocals arsenal.
Was there any specific gear you used to capture that?
We basically utilised all the same gear we use live and know well. Our main focus was on delivering energetic performances with passion that really serve the songs and engage the listener.
Is there a particular track or theme that the EP was formed around?
‘Tall Stories’ is a collection of songs inspired by people we’ve crossed paths with. It features relatable tales of love, coming back from a dark place of isolation, and people who want to control and shut others down.
Where do you see the EPs place in growing an audience online? Do you see it as a progression towards an album or a separate entity?
The upcoming single releases, music videos and the EP are a pathway to getting our music out to a wider audience to enjoy. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the recording experience, so I’m sure there will be more recording to come in future.
Which digital platforms is it available on?
It’s on all the usual music streaming platforms – Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube etc. The CD is also available to buy at Bandcamp.
Are you doing any gigs or promotion for its release?
We’re preparing for a 5-date North Island Tour to mark the release of our Tall Stories EP. In Wellington we have Holloway and Voodoo Bloo (also a single release for them) joining us for the show, so it should be a great celebration and evening out for welly music fans.
Tall Stories EP release tour shows:
Napier – Cabana – Fri 12 Nov
Palmerston North – Snails – Sat 13 Nov
Auckland – Ding Dong Lounge – Fri 26 Nov
Hamilton – Nivara Lounge – Sat 27 Nov
This Silent Divide, Voodoo Bloo, Holloway – Wellington – Newtown Sports Bar – Fri 3 Dec