It’s refreshing in 2015 to come across a band with little to no web presence. The Trendees have a Bandcamp page, but besides their scrappy pop about the only information gleaned is that they are from Oamaru, New Zealand, one of them is named Eden, and they don’t mind lounging on Citroens.The tracks on their latest album We Are Sonic Art bring to mind the art punk of Swell Maps, Half Japanese, and Syd Barrett. They sound rough, amateur—like they're falling apart while thrasing around in a tin can. They also sound brilliant! We sent Matt Plunkett and Eden Bradfield some questions to find out more.Noisey: Where do the Trendees hang out in Oamaru?
Matt Plunkett: We like lounges. Unless we go out, in which case we enjoy walking on the street or talking in an animated fashion inside moving cars.You have a distinct style. I’m reminded of Jad Fair, Kitchen's Floor, and the sound of panic attacks. Who are your musical heroes?
Matt: I had to look up Kitchen's Floor—they sound really good. Yes Half Japanese. Well thankfully I only play guitar on a couple of songs but that bit on the Greatest Hits about how to play has been kind of a starter guide for me and helped a lot. Now I actually just want to be able to be in time more and play scintillating lead breaks. We have many of the usual inspirations- early rock 'n' roll: The Raincoats, free jazz, Hank Williams, Flipper, indifference, Nina Simone, Don Drummond, Wallace Stevens, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, Stax, Roy Orbison, Baster, Esquivel, NY Dolls, Ann Peebles, Kim Deal etc. In NZ we like people like Terminals, 3Ds, Pumice, Crude and Kraus. We are music lovers. We love the excitement of music.Eden Bradfield: Robert Quine, Cecil Taylor, Lydia Davis, Gidon Kremer, Bo Didley, Kool Keith, Nicki Minaj, Glenn Gould, Jonathan Richman, Kendrick Lamar, New York Do Wop, Leonard Cohen/Phil Spector fuckfest - 'Death of a Ladies Man'. Neil Young's attitude to feedback. Neil Young's car. Grace Jones. Kate Bush. Mark E Smith. Rei Kawakubo.Matt:My own. It was unsuccessful and depressing. I remember the desperation I felt as the night wore on and people drifted away politely. It made me want to give up parties.Eden:There was some good hummus at the party, though. Matt made some good guacamole.I also like the sonic energy of “Motorcycle (Makes Loud Noise).” Do any of you ride motorcycles?
Matt: No but Austen apparently used to do something on a Suzuki. I am scared of them—they seem very dangerous and despite the tough look I am not keen on being completely covered in leather. This was written about a very noisy motorcycle, which flares up sporadically across the road from my house and then trying to empathize with the perspective of being the kind of person who would tinker all dayI noticed that the winner of last year’s Oamaru Battle of the Band’s got the opportunity to open for New Zealand pop sensation Moorhouse. Was this a big enough incentive?
Matt: Certainly. Although I do not count myself as a Moorhouse fan I would be overjoyed to play any kind of gig. So far no one has cared.
Eden: I think one band entered so it was a battle of the band.
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Matt Plunkett: We like lounges. Unless we go out, in which case we enjoy walking on the street or talking in an animated fashion inside moving cars.You have a distinct style. I’m reminded of Jad Fair, Kitchen's Floor, and the sound of panic attacks. Who are your musical heroes?
Matt: I had to look up Kitchen's Floor—they sound really good. Yes Half Japanese. Well thankfully I only play guitar on a couple of songs but that bit on the Greatest Hits about how to play has been kind of a starter guide for me and helped a lot. Now I actually just want to be able to be in time more and play scintillating lead breaks. We have many of the usual inspirations- early rock 'n' roll: The Raincoats, free jazz, Hank Williams, Flipper, indifference, Nina Simone, Don Drummond, Wallace Stevens, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, Stax, Roy Orbison, Baster, Esquivel, NY Dolls, Ann Peebles, Kim Deal etc. In NZ we like people like Terminals, 3Ds, Pumice, Crude and Kraus. We are music lovers. We love the excitement of music.Eden Bradfield: Robert Quine, Cecil Taylor, Lydia Davis, Gidon Kremer, Bo Didley, Kool Keith, Nicki Minaj, Glenn Gould, Jonathan Richman, Kendrick Lamar, New York Do Wop, Leonard Cohen/Phil Spector fuckfest - 'Death of a Ladies Man'. Neil Young's attitude to feedback. Neil Young's car. Grace Jones. Kate Bush. Mark E Smith. Rei Kawakubo.
I really like “Boring Party.” Was that written about a particular party?
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Matt: No but Austen apparently used to do something on a Suzuki. I am scared of them—they seem very dangerous and despite the tough look I am not keen on being completely covered in leather. This was written about a very noisy motorcycle, which flares up sporadically across the road from my house and then trying to empathize with the perspective of being the kind of person who would tinker all dayI noticed that the winner of last year’s Oamaru Battle of the Band’s got the opportunity to open for New Zealand pop sensation Moorhouse. Was this a big enough incentive?
Matt: Certainly. Although I do not count myself as a Moorhouse fan I would be overjoyed to play any kind of gig. So far no one has cared.
Eden: I think one band entered so it was a battle of the band.
“We Are Sonic Art” is available now through The Trendees’ Bandcamp page.