More good things from Melbourne appear on the Quietus this afternoon courtesy of the first video from NEW WAR. The group have their debut single ‘Ghostwalking’ out via Gossip guitarist Nathan Howdeshell’s Fast Weapons label this September. It’s a 12" only with no digital, so you best get pre-ordering or listening to the video / stream of the track on our YouTube channel below. You can expect to be reading much more about New War over the next few months as we predict many wonderful things for their dubbed-out thoughtful and intelligent rhythms over the next year or so. We asked New War vocalist Chris Pugmire a few questions about ‘Ghostwalking’ and the video.
Can you tell us a little about your new single?
Chris Pugmire: It was one of those songs that just materialized, we started playing it and there it was. It was a lot shorter before we recorded it though. One of us said ‘let’s stretch it out’ and that’s the take we used, the first time we’d ever done it like that. Is that boring? OK, it was like getting the ten commandments but a monkey struck us with lightning.
How did the connection with Fast Weapons come about?
CP: Nathan’s an old friend. He and our old bandmate Hannah [Blilie, drummer with Gossip and formerly a member of Seattle-based Shoplifting with Chris Pugmire and Melissa Lock] asked us to open for The Gossip. They hadn’t heard us so it was very kind of them, he really loved it and wanted to work together. Pretty romantic actually, he’s quite the gentleman charmer.
My Disco, HTRK, now New War: Why does Melbourne make you all so good?
CP: Melbourne has a very rich musical history that Australians are probably sick of & the rest of the world hasn’t completely cottoned onto. It’s quite fertile, lots of fantastic artists just kind of getting on with it. I was quite lucky to move here & stumble on some great players. Also, we refuse to write shit songs, ha. ‘Ghostwalking’ is just the beginning, you heard it here first.
How did you make the video/what was the inspiration?
CP: Well, our first inspiration was to make something not flash, but individual enough to set its own mood. Like the old Super 8 clips from Laughing Clowns & Venom P Stinger. Oh, and Sonic Youth’s ‘Shadow of a Doubt’, probably my all time favorite video. That was shot on VHS? Our second inspiration was to make the best possible video for the least possible cost. Let’s leave it at that, ha.
