Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions about 13th Floor Video Sessions. It’s fabulous to see New Zealand music on Rialto Channel - every night!
Firstly - tell us a little about the 13th Floor. Why did you start the 13th Floor website, and how did the Video Sessions evolve out of it?
The 13th Floor began about 5 years ago. I had been writing for various magazines previously, but the changes in the music industry meant that there was no longer much paid work for a music journalist, so I decided that if I was going to continue writing, I’d do it for my own outlet. The Video Sessions started about two years ago. A professional still photographer friend of mine, Tony Nyberg, wanted to get into video work. He suggested having bands come up to my studio/living room and he would shoot and edit the sessions. This worked surprisingly well and after several sessions Tony felt he was trained sufficiently as a video editor. By that time bands were approaching me to have them record Video Sessions so I found another music fan with several video cameras, Dennis Thorpe, and he and I have been making them ever since, with me taking over the editing duties (My real job is as a video editor at Sky TV).
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions about 13th Floor Video Sessions. It’s fabulous to see New Zealand music on Rialto Channel - every night!
Firstly - tell us a little about the 13th Floor. Why did you start the 13th Floor website, and how did the Video Sessions evolve out of it?
The 13th Floor began about 5 years ago. I had been writing for various magazines previously, but the changes in the music industry meant that there was no longer much paid work for a music journalist, so I decided that if I was going to continue writing, I’d do it for my own outlet. The Video Sessions started about two years ago. A professional still photographer friend of mine, Tony Nyberg, wanted to get into video work. He suggested having bands come up to my studio/living room and he would shoot and edit the sessions. This worked surprisingly well and after several sessions Tony felt he was trained sufficiently as a video editor. By that time bands were approaching me to have them record Video Sessions so I found another music fan with several video cameras, Dennis Thorpe, and he and I have been making them ever since, with me taking over the editing duties (My real job is as a video editor at Sky TV).
What struck me first when listening to the performances was the amazing clarity of the recordings. When it comes to performing on camera I know musicians are sometimes concerned about how their music will end up sounding - how did you record the sessions?
In most cases with just one stereo microphone! That’s how they used to do it back in the 1950s and it still works. Occasionally we get bigger bands…recently Mice On Stilts had 7 bandmembers playing and singing…and then we use a combination of the stereo room mic and the output from my friend John Baker’s vintage 1969 Sure PA and Gunn monitors. It’s a bit unorthodox, but it works.
Who can we expect to see on Rialto Channel over the coming month?
We’ve got a wide range of Kiwi artists from some of the greats…Dave Dobbyn, Anika Moa, Trinity Roots, Don McGlashan…to young up and coming bands like New Gum Sarn, Ha The Unclear and Greenfog…and a lot of excellent singer-songwriters such as Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding, Tami Neilson and Will Wood.
It’s great to see such a diverse range of musicians represented on 13th Floor - does this reflect your own taste on music?
Absolutely! Anyone who knows me knows I love punk, funk, doo-wop, alt country, metal…everything except for uninspired music.
I’d like to think Kiwis in general are embracing a broader range of artists these days - do you think that’s the case?
Sure. They especially seem to love country music these days. Check out Aly Cook, Jackie Bristow, Tami Neilson and Jody Direen…it’s a movement!
Who has popped in to the 13th Floor Video Sessions recently and blown you away?
Most recently it was Mice On Stilts…they sounded like a cross between Pink Floyd and Radiohead…it was epic! Also Jackie Bristow has proven to be an incredible songwriter. Her tune, Fallen Youth, with lyrics from a World War 1 soldier’s letter, is one of the best songs I’ve heard in years.
And, the question everyone asks at the beginning of May - does NZ music need NZ Music Month? What’s your take on it?
Well, of course, every month should be NZ Music Month, but I still think its important to focus on our homegrown talent…they need all the help they can get when competing against international acts who have a lot more money and power behind them. I’d like to see a quota installed for local airplay like they do in Canada. Its done pretty well for them…they’ve produced Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Rush and, er, Justin Beiber among many others, so I think it would work here.
Thanks again for your time Marty, much appreciated.