The New Zealand trio Die! Die! Die! are no strangers to most Aussies, especially those of the punk rock persuasion. The Dunedin punks are seemingly always in town playing fast and frantic gigs to packed out, sweaty rooms.
The band have just recently released their fifth studio album, S W I M, a title which comes from the internet acronym ‘someone who isn’t me’, this record is as described by lead-singer/guitarist, Andrew Wilson, as “an album about surviving… which is very positive”.
Produced by Chris Townend (Portishead, D12, Violent Femmes) with additional production assistance from Rory Atwell (Yuck, Palma Violets, The Vaccines) S W I M was conceived while the trio toured their unique brand of abrasive, noise-punk to sweaty clubs, across Europe, and of course Australia and New Zealand.
Following on from the debut signing of Bo Ningen (Japan/UK), local party starters and champions of live rock ‘n roll Black Night Crash have released the album on their new Black Night Crash Records label. To celebrate the release of S W I M, the band’s Andrew Wilson has given us a track by track run down on behind the making of their new LP.
S W I M
“This song was not going to make the album. It was the last tune we received from Chris when he was doing the final mixes on his own as we ran out of time together. This is a song about getting that first amazing buzz off anything mind altering that basically fucks you up in the end. I like the line in the last verse ” Mr messenger enough negative” because it came to me in a dream. I was lying on my back and this doctor or dentist just repeating that line at me. Pretty weird I thought.”
Out of Mind
“In this song Chris Townend (Producer) made us change the chorus because we had this awfully weird circus jingle sounding thing in the song before. He made me listen to the bassline on repeat till he was happy with the guitar playing. Out of the three days tracking in The Lab about half a day was spent working on this song.
I then had the worst lyrics and vocals written for this song which was also rejected by everyone. I ended up writing the lyrics to this song at 8am lying in my bed, not being able to sleep after hanging out with a dude all night who had just got out of jail for murder. After that, the song came together quite clearly. I really like this one. I like the ‘Clockwork Orange’ weird middle bridge part which probably has ruined its chance of radio play!”
Crystal
“Another song which the lyrics came to me in a dream in particular the chorus. I like the lyrics in this song. Take what you want from it.”
Best
“This song like S W I M was not going to make the album but I think Chris did such a cool mix on it. I love Rory Attwells backing vocals as well”.
Get Hit
“We wrote this song super quickly on Lightship 95 (Rory Atwell’s Studio, London) when we were demoing the album with Rory. He had to finish a mix for Male bonding quickly so we just had a jam. I remember Mikey our drummer wanted to sit on the internet and not jam for the hour we had off. But I made him, we wrote this song and it fell together so quickly and perfectly. I sort of wish I had added more than one guitar chord to the verse so it is maybe too minimal!
The lyrics “I used to have, have these dreams of smashing you in the face with a brick. But i realized what did it fix it just helped make me look sick.” Is about how you can get manipulated by people and situations into acting exactly how they want you too or something like that. Best not to give people like that the satisfaction of seeing you fuck up. Never ever throw the first punch etc etc.”
Don’t Try
‘This is a song about Baby Boomers and Buddhism.’
Angel
“This song is about a person in my life who I regard as my Angel. It’s also about getting revenge on someone who took advantage of them when they were vulnerable. But it ends with the fact what goes around comes around. Which is nice to know how the world has a great way of doing that.
I really love Michael Logies bass line in this song.’
She’s Clear
“One of the first songs we wrote with Michael Logie, again I think his bass playing is incredible.
Another song which deals with problem drinking and if you don’t make a change you will always get the same shit you always have got. Broken relationships which never can be fixed even if you change yourself and how over thinking it is completely pointless. Shit there is quite a lot in this song. Heavy bro.”
Trigger
“This is a song about mental illness, not letting the fuckers get you down and using your weaknesses as strengths etc.”
Jealousy
“Sometimes things just should end. That’s all I have to say on this one. This song I think sounds Australian.”
Sister
“This song is about being nice to your Mothers and Sisters.”
Mirror
“I really loved the sparse demo version of this song. This album version is really lush and dense but I like how it adds a completely different vibe to the album. Our friend Manu thought the demo could have been a “hit” I am glad we ruined all chances of that. I think Rory Attwells backing vocal melody he wrote for the chorus, it really made this song.”
S W I M is out now via Black Night Crash Records/ MGM
