Before the gents from Perth’s Split Seconds head out on the road for a national tour promoting their latest single “Top Floor”, we caught up with them to have a quick chat and find out a little bit more about them, here’s what we discovered:
How did the band meet?
Mostly at various pubs around Perth. We’d all been playing in bands for a while, were sick of waiting around and eventually made a mutual decision that we’d like to play in a pretty good one. Still waiting…
How would you describe your sound?
I’d say it’s a grab bag of everything that we listened to growing up and into adulthood. So the best parts of late 90’s British music, the best American bands like Spoon and The Walkmen, and the Australian band you couldn’t escape if your parents knew what they were doing. Bands like The Go Betweens and The Triffids.
Who are you favourite local bands at the moment?
I really like The Warning Birds. I think they’ve got a big future. Hayley Beth is really great – such an underrated performer.
What’s the story behind your latest single Top Floor?
It’s a song I wrote about a couple I encountered while I was riding the bus around in London. They were getting pretty sexy on the top floor of one of those double decker busses and I thought to myself … what a waste. I mean, you’re driving down one of the most amazing streets on the planet (Oxford Street). Pay attention. So I wrote a song.
How do you approach the songwriting aspect of your work, and would you say the return to Australia has changed the way you write at all?
Yeah for sure. When I was away I wrote a lot of songs on my own, not thinking about playing them with a band or anything of that nature. On return and with the growth of the band I’ve found myself definitely writing with other musicians in mind. I still write on my own, but now I can hear a room of dudes playing along in my head.
You’ve recently toured with the likes of The Panics and Jebediah, how’s that been?
So great. Those two bands especially were massive for us as we grew up. I remember taking a bunch of friends out to see The Panics when I was about 18, at the Swan Basement in Fremantle. I also remember buying Slighty Oddway when I was like… 15 and just thrashing the shit out of it on my Discman. To be able to share stages with those two bands, and to call them friends is a total dream come true for us.
What does your impending debut album have in store for us?
Ten songs about expectation.
You’re about to head out on tour with Underlights to launch the single; what do audiences have in store for them?
We’re going to bust out a cover maybe? We’ve been working on our live show a lot. Trying to bring the audience with us a lot more. Literally. We’re hiring a bus.
And you’re playing a hometown show at The Bakery in June, anything special planned for that show?
I think my Mum is going to come? She’s pretty special.
_________
Split Seconds and Underlights the Second Light Tour
With Special GuestsThursday May 10
Melbourne – Northcote Social Club
Saturday May 12
Ballarat – Karova Lounge
Friday May 18
Brisbane – X&Y Bar
Saturday May 19
Sunshine Coast – Sol Bar
Thursday May 24
Sydney – Good God Small Bar
Friday May 25
Sydney – The Beresford Hotel
Friday June 1*
Perth – The Bakery
*Underlights not appearing
———-
