Broken Heartbreakers newsletter interview

The Broken Heartbreakers are a folk-pop group based in Auckland. The group is based around the song-writing nucleus of John Guy Howell and Rachel Bailey.

What is your greatest achievement?

The new ‘Broken Heartbreakers’ album is our greatest achievement so far. We spent a lot of time on getting it to the point where we could listen to the CD from start to finish with no desire to push the fast forward button or have any “shit I wish I had done this or that” moments. We love it. Unreservedly.

What do you think could be done to make NZ music even better?

Venues need to remember that bands get people into their pubs drinking their beer. I’m often surprised by the shoddy treatment bands get when they play certain places. Also, I worry that some of the young bands coming through now are so intent on “making it” that they are in danger of losing that certain indefinable quality that has made New Zealand music special in the first place ie: People making music in isolation purely for the love of it.

Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Impossible to say at the moment! Just trying to get to the point where making music is a bigger part of life and the boring day jobs etc are significantly less!

What is the best thing about making music?

Seeing the life cycle of a song up close. You write a song you think might be good – you run it past your quality control crew…mates, boyfriend, girlfriend etc…if it passes muster you introduce it to the band- maybe it works and you try it out live- if that’s OK you might record it..maybe then you hear it when you’re pushing your shopping trolley around Foodtown…nestled between Wings and Rod Stewart…or maybe not.

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

Make your own scene. Don’t wait to be invited to someone else’s party. The “profile” bands I admire locally (The Mint Chicks, The Datsuns etc) have just got on with it and disregarded any expectations about how “things should be done”. Play music because you love it. The rest is all just Spinal Tap.