Super Wild Horses Interview
December 22, 2010 Leave a comment
Aussie girl-duo Super Wild Horses are still galloping into the indie scene with their debut full length, Fifteen. The album contains super cool garage licks that has a solid pop sensibility rooted in simplicity and feedback. Outsider Music Press is super stoked that Hayley and Amy took some time out of their day to talk about their formation, inspirations, and what to put on the perfect mix tape (all while astounding us with their Australian slang!).
How did Super Wild Horses form?
HAYLEY: Amy and I had been living in different cities for a few years and then finally started hang out again when I moved over to Melbourne. The band formation was totally unintentional … we got together one arvo to drink beer and make some tunes up and then things rolled on quickly from there, when Amy’s boyfriend booked us a show and refused to let us get out of it. We had about 6 songs at that stage – one was a New Kids on The Block cover.
What made you decide on the name?
AMY: We were briefly called Sexretary (when we never really thought we’d end up playing gigs) but quickly realized that name was rubbish…the name Super Wild Horses came from a set of pictures we saw in an old 70′s television graphics book.
Who have been your musical heroes?
AMY: Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Sonny Rollins, The Velvet Underground, Smog
Hayley: The Cure, Tina Turner, The Shangri Las, Tom Waits, The Lemonheads, Scott Walker, Nina Simone…..
Who recorded “Fifteen”?
AMY: Mikey Young recorded it for us in a beautiful country house in rural Victoria. He came down with an 8-track and a few mics and it was a pretty simple process. He was great to record with as he seemed to be happy with capturing us as we sounded in there, so there wasn’t a lot of stuffing around with sound etc
What inspires your music?
AMY: All kinds of things. We both listen to a lot of different styles of music so I guess it all filters through at some point or another and I think we’re both drawn to simple songwriting that captures the essence of an idea without it having to be cloaked in big orchestration or fancy arrangements. Going to see live bands is a great inspiration as you’re right there with the band in that moment – and if it hits you right and you’re feeling the song it can lead to a flood of ideas or a feeling you capture and take home with you that then becomes a seed of its own.
What sorts of tours have you done? Future tour plans?
AMY: We toured the states in September which was a blast (and we hope to go back there again next year). Played the great Goner Fest and did a bunch of shows around the country with some awesome bands.
HAYLEY: We’ve got some tour dates coming up with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion which we’re stoked about. We’re playing the Big Day out in Melbourne and also a January show with one of our favourite US bands Thee Oh Sees. Summer’s gonna rule.
What other Aussie bands are awesome? Past? Present?
AMY: There are really so many great Aussie bands – PAST: The Go Betweens, X, The Church, The Scientists, The Saints, Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts, Radio Birdman, The Birthday Party, Roland S Howard – all bands everyone would know and love… and at the moment there are bands like ZOND, Deaf Wish, The Twerps, Boomgates, UV Race, Circle Pit, The Ancients, Panel of Judges, Lost Animal, Straight Arrows, Dead Farmers, The Darling Downs…could go on and on really…
HAYLEY: Yeah where do you begin? There’s so many awesome bands from our own backyard that deserve to be rediscovered and dug up. Some other oldies I love would be The Moffs…and if we’re ncluding NZ in the mix I’d have to say The Moles, Verlaines, The Clean, The Bats ….so many. One of my favourite local releases this year is from Scott + Charlene’s Wedding.
What are your survival must haves for tour? (outfits, music, foods, etc)
AMY: When we were in the States Mexican was the all-out winner for food, but veggies became really important and we had a couple of home cooked meals that made us feel human again. You end up having a lot of late and boozy nights on the road, so anything that remedied the feeling of absolute unhealthiness was a lifesaver. I couldn’t like without cotton tips either. For some reason loud music makes my ears feel dirty!
HAYLEY: A little tape recorder to record song ideas, gaffa tape to fix my busted shoes, lucky horse shoe necklace, herbal throat spray and ear plugs to combat against Amy’s mad snoring.
What is your favorite album of 2010?
AMY: I actually forgot this album came out this year when we did a top 10 list recently, but I think the Roland S Howard record “Pop Crimes” was amazing. Royal Baths “Litanies” is a cracker too and Hayley and I were blown away by this band when we saw them in San Francisco.
HAYLEY: Loved the Eddy Current Suppression record, Scott and Charlene’s Wedding is Oz as (as mentioned before) and also really dug a release by an American dude that plays under the name White Fence. This record was like uncovering a hidden gem from your dad’s dusty record collection.
If you were to make a mix tape what would be the top 5 songs you would put on it?
AMY:
Karen Dalton “Something On Your Mind”
Outkast “B.O.B”
Ray Charles “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying”
X “I Don’t Wanna Go Out”
New Season “I Get My Kicks At Home”
HAYLEY:
“Standing By the Window” Tactics
“Another Day in the Sun” The Moffs
“Dance this Mess around” B52′s
“Getting Back into You” Silver Jews
“I’m On Fire” Bruce Springsteen
What’s next for Super Wild Horses?
AMY: We just recorded a few songs which will be going on a a couple of 7′s in the new year, working on a new record, and hopefully some more touring.
