Falter Newsletter Interview

What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?

I’d have to say a show that stands out in my mind was New Years’ in Nelson with Shihad. Sweet crowd and Shihad themselves were amazing, good times all round.

What is your favourite NZ venue?

Dux de Lux (Christchurch) Personally I’m a fan of the smaller gigs, a better chance to really interact with the audience and coming home for an intimate sweaty gathering is always a treat!

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

Dictaphone Blues & Motocade. Both hardworking and genuine musicians who write music with depth and integrity. Amen

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

Oh man so many.. most I’d rather leave on tour but one that comes to mind (which is more an on tour than on stage moment) is on tour with 48May, we were all crashing on some randoms lounge floor somewhere in Napier from memory. A few beverages had been consumed over the course of the night and eventually we all bunked up for the night. About 4am in the morning it was pitch black as I awoke to some feet shuffling.. the sound of a zip being undone and I heard our bass player saying "man.. what are you doing.. bro stop!" next thing you know there’s the sound of water on a blow up mattress… only it wasn’t water… turns out one of the crew members was sleep walking and thought he had made it to the toilet… if our bass player had have woken a second later he probably wouldn’t be the same person he is today..

How did you come up with the band name Falter?

To be honest when we started out as a band we were in the mindset that a band name is just a brand, a name that people use to identify you. So as a result the band name was something we didn’t discuss in length or take too much time to find meaning behind. In saying that I do like the idea of having a band name that truly represents what the band stands for. But really when you think about it..smashing pumpkins, foo fighters??…

How do you describe your music?

Our music is catchy, melodic and memorable. We try to bridge the gap between pop and alternative mainly because we all have a love for both genres but it’s fair to say it probably leans more towards pop.. but live we’ll bring a rock show no doubt.

What can we expect to see from Falter over the next year?

We’ve just released our debut album ‘As Far As I Can Get From Here’ so we’re going to be busy playing shows, sharing more music with as many people as possible and hopefully introducing more and more new recruits! We’re also planning on doing some travelling overseas with shows in the pipeline for Australia and America.

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Decide what it is you want to achieve as a musician from the beginning and always set goals to make this happen (be prepared for things to go pear shaped along the way!). Expect a journey of high’s and lows that come with this industry and be firm in what you stand for and believe in. In saying that you also need the ability to be adaptable! Above all make sure your playing music for the right reasons and that you’re always seeking new inspiration to better yourself as an artist and keep it all the more enjoyable!