Jetsetting around the world and with a new album on the way, The Scare have come to call the road their second home. YourGigs talks to bassist Wade Keighran about the ups and downs of success.
yourGigs (yG): Daniel Johns produced your latest album. What was it like working with him?
Wade Keighran (WK): We've been really blessed to be surrounded by really cool creative people since we first started recording. I think he is a pretty fantastic producer, I think he's probably a better producer than a songwriter ... ultimately [he] is the most positive passionate person when it comes to music. I can't sing his praises enough.
yG: So you prefer Daniel as a producer rather than a musician?
WK: Yeah. I mean I hope he really explores it, 'cause even when we were writing the songs, he would come in and would listen to what was going on so he could have a finger on the pulse of what was going on in the studio. He has such a positive energy. I've never seen the guy in a bad mood. You know, when we started writing the album he was going through a lot of personal turmoil and he had a job to do, and he did it. He's one of our best friends now.
yG: You are giving away your single 'No Money' for free for a limited time. What was the inspiration behind that move?
WK: Well we were just sick of trying to market things and sell things, like if I had it my way I would give the whole album away, you know? I'd rather 100,000 people hear it and not have to pay for it than nobody hear it because they have to pay for it. Unfortunately we are in that era where not a lot of records are being sold, but a lot are being downloaded. So I am happy for people to hear it. And also you know I think it would have been really hypocritical of us to ask people to spend lots of money on a song that's about people having no money. [Laughs].
yG: Talking about your debut album, you guys have said in past interviews that you wanted to write a record that wasn't easily categorised. Did you try and do that again this time around or were you going for something a little different?
WK: Well, I think we sort of surprised ourselves which is really fun and really fantastic. I didn't see us going in the direction that we ended going in. You know this record is really loud and raucous and fun and positive, and we were in such a negative place when we finished the tours for Chivalry ... but we are all totally over the moon with the album.
yG: What was it about your situation that was so negative after your first album?
WK: I think we were just burnt out. I think the beast was in control of us; it was really driving us into the ground, but now we are in control of the beast and it's a really extraordinary place to be.
yG: You've toured with some really big name acts such as Silverchair and Gallows, what was the most useful thing that you learnt from being on the road with them?
WK: Well touring with Silverchair, they are so ultra professional and they are still pushing for more. Seeing them makes us want to push ourselves further and further until we get to their level.
yG: Do you hold true to the saying "work hard, play hard" then?
WK: Well I don't drink anymore. I quit drinking before we started the album, but yeah we'll still meet you in the playground. [Laughs].
yG: You guys are playing the Essential Festival, what can fans expect to see from your performance there?
WK: Yeah, there will be some rock'n'roll behaviour. I think that whole festival is great. I am really excited, it's going to be fun. That's the one thing that seems to be missing from rock'n'roll these days, is fun. You know we made the mistake of taking ourselves too seriously early on, so now we are out for some fun.
yG: So do you prefer playing festival dates then?
WK: Yeah for sure, because you find yourself playing to other peoples' audiences, which is challenging and fun; I just love playing regardless. I love playing street festivals like that. Its more for us, it's always dark. [Laughs].
yG: You guys are constantly travelling between England and Australia. Is England your second home?
WK: Absolutely. Well I guess the road is our second home also, but it's also really good to come back to places like this - to come back home. Yeah, it's like a really good, fun working holiday.
Alex Hahn
|
|