Posted on May 26, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

There’s a light in the gladeyes

I don’t know if Auckland gots his own bad town blues, but like many other New Zeland places I’m sture it’s capable to provide us some good indie rock for sure? Wanna a proof? Check out “The Gladeyes“, the alternative folk pop band being to buisy playing summer tuned from their room and replying mail messages fo fan, but not enough to have a little chat with us SleepWalKers. Let’s dive into their soft and intimate world.

Mark Zonda: The Gladeyes. Nice name! How did you picked it?

Gwen: There is a famous TV clip in New Zealand where a local TV presenter was interviewing Courtney Love, and he kept making a joke that she was giving him the gladeye.  When he replayed the interview on his show he kept pausing it in places where he thought she was giving him the gladeye.  We are sure she wasn’t because she’s Courtney Love but that’s what made it funny.

Mark Zonda: I also remember Cuortney and Madonna having a fight for having dressed the same way. If the VJ didn’t stop them, who should have won?

Jade: It was a verbal fight…easily Courtney, if it was physical….probably Courtney as well cos she’d fight dirty, even though Madge has got way better muscles, she wouldn’t be a street fighter like Courtney.

Mark Zonda:  It’s hard to be indie in New Zeland?

Gwen: No, not really – there is a big Indie scene in New Zealand, especially in Auckland where we are based.  There is also a long history of bands recording their music independently with the likes of the Flying Nun label in the 80s etc.

Mark Zonda: Bad Town Blues suddently puts you in the mood of a peaceful autumn sunny day. It gives depth to the space surrounding you. Is it because of my headphone or there’s something more?

Thank you, we are glad you like it.  We have recently re-recorded a slower version which we hope will have the same kind of depth.  Instrumentally, it has more layers than the last version and we also invited our friends from the Wildwood Lights to sing backing vocals on it which we think gives it a good energy.

Mark Zonda: Who writes the songs and in which scenario they get born?

Jade: We both  write the songs in a combination of ways.  Sometimes one person will write a chord structure and then someone else will write the lyrics.  And sometimes we sit down and jam all the parts out together.  It is quite a collaborative process really.

Mark Zonda: How did you stumbled on Cloudberry? Was it suddently love? Can you give us more informations on Lil’ Chief Records?

Gwen: We didn’t stumble on Cloudberry records, they got in touch with us!  It was a nice chance to release a few songs and it meant our music could reach a more international audience, which is nice.  Lil Chief Records is a small New Zealand based label set up by Scott Mannion,of the Tokey Tones, and Jonathan Bree , of the Brunettes, originally to release their own records.  They now have quite a number of mainly NZ bands on their roster.

Mark Zonda: Jonathan Bree! Didn’t know that! I adore the Brunettes! Who are your favourite New Zeland bands right now?

Jade: The Mint Chicks, Coco Solid, the Renderers, Jeff Burch, Mr Hayday, Fake Purr, Street Chant, Die! Die! Die!, Golden Axe. We will be releasing our debut album on their label this year.  So stay tuned!

The Gladeyrs – “Shyness will get you nowhere”

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