Pull Down The Sun Newsletter Interview

Boasting an international standard of modern metal, New Zealand’s Pull Down The Sun have set many an audience alight with their glorious imagery that holds true to sheer riff obedience, making motions from heavy and erratic to dark and moody, through to light and uplifting with minimal effort. We spoke to frontman Koert, and he had this to say:

How did you become involved in music?

I guess it was a general love and curiosity for music growing up that helped me gravitate towards an instrument, which then led to writing and composing. 

What NZ bands and musicians would you like to tour with, and why?

We have been so lucky to have already toured and played shows with so many of our favourite Aotearoa bands (Claemus, Elidi, Coridian, Come To Dolly, Crooked Royals, Seas of Conflict, Omeka, Blindfolded and Led to the Woods, Kora etc.). So more of the same!

Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?

I can only speak for myself, but I’m most proud of our track Inoi. I’d had bits and pieces of riffs for years before we tracked it, and it all came together really beautifully for the album. Vocally, it was one of the last tracks recorded and it wound up being the heaviest and most dynamic.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?

That there’s a little bit of something for everyone. There’s heavy & soft, loud & quiet, fast & slow and ugly & beautiful.

What can we expect to see from you in the next year?

At the moment we are hard at work writing and demoing new material for a follow up to Of Valleys and Mountains. We have an Australian tour mapped out as well as plans to head to other countries throughout the year. Very exciting stuff!

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

It’s hard to name names with questions like this because I love so many of the bands in the scene and always want to hear more and see more. But.. I can’t wait to hear some new Come to Dolly. Those guys are an amazing band and even better humans.

Who are your favourite NZ bands and musicians?

Claemus, Elidi, Coridian, Come To Dolly, Crooked Royals, Seas of Conflict, Omeka, Blindfolded and Led to the Woods, Achilles Complex, New Way Home, City of Souls etc.

And that’s just a few..

What local albums have you been listening to recently?

I’ll religiously listen to all of the list of bands above but the two albums that I always end up coming back to are Desire by Come to Dolly and Mirrors by New Way Home.

What is your favourite NZ venue, and why?

I’ve got three..

Valhalla (Wellington) – we’ve always got time to play Valhalla. It’s run by Ben who is an absolute legend and the sound crew and staff there are the best.

Ding Dong Lounge (Auckland) – another staple venue to play within our scene. Such a supportive and inclusive vibe with amazing staff & crew.

A Rolling Stone (Christchurch) – Gretchen and Mike (the owners) are lovely people and they always take care of us.

Have you got any tips for dealing with nerves before a gig?

I have a massive fear of public speaking but I personally don’t get too nervous about the playing side of things, it’s more the speaking in between. I guess the best advice would be to plan and practice your set to the point of not needing to say much in between songs.

How do you balance your music with other obligations; family, job etc?

I think I can speak for all of us in PDtS when I say that the balance is due to all the support we have around us. From our amazing wives and partners, our children, our families and our workplaces. Without their help, we wouldn’t be doing anything near what we are doing.

Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?

One of the main inspirations for us is where we are from (Whanganui). It could come from the sound of birds in the morning or even a view of the Awa from our back doorstep. We are very lucky to be from somewhere so beautiful.

What is the one thing you want NZ to know about Pull Down the Sun?

If anything at this stage, it would again be that we are excitedly working on new material for our follow up to Of Valleys and Mountains. We really can’t wait for you all to hear this stuff!

What has been your most memorable show to date?

I wouldn’t put a pin in a single show, but more a series of shows. The Aotearoa Prog Alliance Tour was a great experience. Being able to tour the county and play with so many amazing bands and friends was out of this world.

What can you never leave home without?

I would probably say a music source. Either my phone to listen to music or CDs for the car.

How did you come up with the name Pull Down the Sun?

The name came from the story of Maui and how he slowed down the sun. It was originally a song title for a track I had written for my previous band and when they didn’t want to use it, I created a side project which has now morphed into PDtS.

What rumour would you like to start about Pull Down the Sun?

That we need a bassist haha!

Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

Don’t be afraid to get out and play anywhere & everywhere and play as many shows as you can. It will build your creativity and your profile the fastest.

And lastly, be kind and surround yourself with kind people. Everything else will flow.

Check out Pull Down The Sun on Muzic.net.nz