- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: NEW ZEALAND ROCK-HIP HOP BAND STERIOGRAM
- Date: 17th November 2004
- Summary: LONDON, UK (NOVEMBER 8, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOCALIST TYSON KENNEDY SAYING 'I think, yeah, I think it's a huge part of what we've got to do, is to show people that we're not a pop band, we're not a one-hit wonder or whatever, and the best way that we can think of is just being the best that we can be live - that's the biggest thing that we're
- Embargoed: 2nd December 2004 12:00
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- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVAARGR32IP5FR2Q5FLOLYUB74S
- Story Text: From relative obscurity in Auckland, New Zealand, to landing a deal with Capitol Records, the rock-hiphop group Steriogram thought that things couldn't get any better.
Until they received a call from French video/feature director extraordinaire Michel Gondry. As guitarist Tim Youngson explains: 'First of all the label said we had to do a video so they gave us a whole bunch of reels of different directors and Gondry (Michel) wasn't in that - I mean we'd always loved his videos, we'd seen the White Stripes one, and Radiohead, Foofighters, our favourite bands he's done - but he wasn't one that we had to choose from. His receptionist I think it was, was playing the track and showed it to him and he loved it, and he actually approached the record label and wanted to do the video. So we'd sorted through a bunch of reels and we didn't really like any of them, but we chose the best that we could, and then he came on board and said, 'look we want to do your video'. We said 'yep, you go for it, run with the idea, we'll do whatever you want'.
Gondry said he was captured by Steriogram's fresh, energised sound immediately: 'I heard the song and it reminded me of when I was in a band, the guitar... it's very childish and kind of stubborn and I like that. I went to see them in concert and they were really energetic, very sharp, very childlike in a good way, in a playful way'.
The resulting video to 'Walkie Talkie Man' is as strong as Gondry's previous efforts. An award-winning promo director, he recently came to audience's attention for directing the movie 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. Confirmation, as if any were needed, that this group of young Aucklanders are set for a fine future.
Steriogram began life at school. Playing everyday at 75 different high schools across New Zealand, to between 300-1000 children, determined to build up a fan base. Now on the way to cracking the UK and US, the band's vocalist Tyson Kennedy says that live performance is still what it is all about. 'I think it's a huge part of what we've got to do, is to show people that we're not a pop band, we're not a one-hit wonder or whatever, and the best way that we can think of is just being the best that we can be live - that's the biggest thing that we're into is touring and playing night adter night, years and years like we've done, really have a great show. And I think it takes time as well, I don't think we can expect to be - to have a whole lot of credibility straight away - after being on the radio you know, it may take a few albums, it's all about us working hard and being innovative with our music.' It's also about connecting with an audience. Steriogram are addicted to the internet and are constantly communicating with their fans via e-mail. They love making music and they love the conversation it generates.
'Walkie Talkie Man' will be released in the US at the end of the month. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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