Talking underwater - Rave Magazine interview

issue # 1044
August 16-22 2011  
http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/28487/30/

Emerging as a self-described adverse reaction to the indie-rock movement, THE SUBMARINERS have developed their own neo-garage, punk infusion and will be releasing their debut EP, Don’t Chase Her, on Saturday. JESS SAXTON talks to the band about shows, Brisbane’s musical underbelly and the making of a record.
JESS SAXTON: Why is neo-garage such an appealing style to The Submariners?
THE SUBMARINERS: We love the energy. I guess we started out as a straight-up garage band. Over time our music has evolved and refined itself while keeping its raw edge. Perhaps imagine Iggy Pop in a suit and you might get the idea.
JS: Most of your songs revolve around the turmoils of a fickle relationship, is there a story behind this?
TS: Of course, there is a story to everything but I don’t want to give too much away. Like the great Tom Waits once said, our songs are about our lives, but they are also about the lives of every individual who listens to them.
JS: At the launch of Don’t Chase Her we can expect art and projections to accompany the music. What type of visual entertainment will be in the mix?
TS: We have some cool stuff lined up. Anyone who saw the intense show that Pulp put on at Splendour will have some fond memories of pre-show animations. We’re also expecting a psych-spectacular from film artist Lief Gifford, and the boys from Old Growth Cola.
JS: How was it working with a producer? Was it difficult selecting who you wanted to record these songs with, or was Joshua Tuck a bit of a no-brainer?
TS: We’d never worked with a producer before this, in fact it never really crossed our minds; we were approached one night after a gig by Joshua Tuck. He loved our sound and said he saw a future in the band so he wanted to be part of it. Working with Josh was fantastic. He understood our vision perfectly, capturing a brilliant sound while still allowing us room to move.
JS: You launched into the Brisbane music scene playing in various underground venues, from basements to back alleys. What drew you to the Brisbane’s ‘musical underbelly’?
TS: The idea behind the name ‘The Submariners’ is all about delving below the surface. In Brisbane, for instance, there are all of these fantastic happenings and such a supportive energy that people just don’t see. Some of the best music will be under a bridge or in a car park. Flying beneath the radar gives us more artistic freedom.
JS: Where was your most frequented venue?
TS: You’ll always find us around the traps in Brisbane but our favourite venue is actually a clearing in the forest in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. We like to throw exclusive shows: tents, generator, fishing rods, booze, that sort of deal. Aside from that, Woodland is a cool place. We look forward to doing more shows there after our EP launch this weekend.
JS: I hear you are planning a trip to Europe later in the year to check out the music scenes in Berlin, Paris and London. What are you hoping to gain from the trip?
TS: We want to immerse ourselves into the culture of the cities themselves to get a taste of what has inspired such brilliant music in the past: Joy Division, The Birthday Party, even The Beatles … in fact all the bands we love so much owe thanks to the same area of the world. There must be something in the water over there.
THE SUBMARINERS will be launching their debut EP, DON’T CHASE HER, at their Three Headed Monster event at Woodland on Saturday Aug 20. They’ll be playing alongside Lunch Tapes and Old Growth Cola. Check out www.thesubmariners.bandcamp.com for a sample.