Q+A: BARB
Lawrence Arabia, Liam Finn, Connan Mockasin, Seamus Ebbs and Eliza-Jane Barnes recently got together to record an album under the name BARB. The result is a self-titled album (out August 6) that grabs some of the most interesting aspects of each solo artists work. The Corner reached out to drummer Seamus Ebbs to answer a few questions for us regarding how the band came together, how they collaborate and when we can expect a tour. Check what he had to say below.
Firstly walk me through how this all came about. Had any of you worked together before?
Seamus: [It started] years ago in London. I was there in Connan’s band and there had been the odd occasion were I was the drummer for Lawrence Arabia, which I always enjoyed. Liam had a studio set up for recording so we went there and had an ultimate musical blow-out. We vowed to do it again and then years later that is what happened. It did come to me out of the blue though; Connan mentioned that this was happening and [asked me] would I like to be a part of it.
Where did the ideas stem from? Was it collaborative from the beginning or was it a matter of someone having an idea and then the rest of you trying to expand on that?
Essentially the songs all stem from jamming, or at least that is how we warmed up. Jamming commences once it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing headphones anymore. When you’re in it deep, one just has to be honest to play however they feel. From there a good orchestration of emotion can be steered and shaped easily into a song.
A spark could come from anywhere and if a good one doesn’t go by unnoticed and is quickly enforced and then another picks up on it, until everyone is partaking, the spark is then a bonfire. Sometimes everyone notices together at once and the spark just blows up, but I think the sparks that eventuate into full songs are the ones slowly nurtured thoughtfully. From there the bonfire gets filed away with all the others for later. This process works well for a while but at some point there needs to be a change of tactic and someone introduces a somewhat pre-worked idea. This worked well for us. A very satisfying success was something James bought in right at the end. [It was] pretty much fully composed; we all just played it over a few times and that was that. Put a stamp on it. I was left proud from how easy it worked.
How did the recording process go down? With some of you overseas did you have to record parts separately and send them over or was it recorded when you were all back in New Zealand?
Everything was recorded at Roundhead studios back home in Auckland. [There's] no reason why recording couldn’t be done like that – with everyone sending their bit – but I think a big part is to all get together. I personally prefer the more traditional workings of a band and the loudness of everyone in the same room.
Everyone sending their very own parts privately would have some great benefits though. The process for us was a series of phases moved along by the time restraint. The first is the jamming phase and loading up workable ideas, the bonfires. Once there is definitely enough and people are tiring of that, a different phase is engaged. A phase which is deceptively a lot of fopping about. EJ (Eliza-Jane) and I played a lot of dice, but there is in fact a lot of listening and sorting, discovering what is needed, trying things. But above all having a good time – that is a prerequisite for the whole thing actually and if you’re not [having fun] then you should make yourself scarce.
The next phase is more ruthless and practical. Leaving behind perhaps favorite ideas which have ceased to be helpful and honing the more complete accessible songs, and picturing the final line-up. Jobs need to be done and the big stick comes out. It is just a matter of regurgitating what has been played with. Then it is just the final touches which I have even less to do with; mastering and the like. Ultimately, it’s a very enjoyable and satisfying thing to do and leads to the best thing of all – playing live.
It seems like an odd time to be exploring working together as a band when you’ve all had success lately through solo outings. Why now?
It’s just as odd as any other time I guess. Musicians are forever teaming up with others and forming bands. It’s addictive. For me this is my one outing, perhaps for the others a welcome variation. Barb should become something dependable and constant to spring off into ones solo outings. And you can do a lot in a year.
Of course we want to see a tour. When can we expect that to happen?
Yes, you should look forward to that but sorry I don’t know when exactly. Sometime in the near future when the weather is hot.
