Sure we’ve heard about you before, but we think it’s time for Tone Deaf to get to know you a little better. Slip in to something comfortable while we put on some music, pour us a couple of drinks and turn the lights down low.
Who are you and what do you do in your act?
Sarah Chadwick, I sing and play guitar.
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
The Carpenters’ Carpenters, cause I loved it straight away. My mum loved Van Morrison, stole a bit of that. She liked The Beatles too, and Sade, I liked that one a lot. My dad is older, he liked Tony Bennet, didn’t really get much off him. My folks aren’t real ‘music-y’ people, y know? I think in reality the last CD I stole off my mum was the Bridget Jones Diary soundtrack, and that George Michael album with ‘Fast Love’ on it. That song is cool.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
My iPod is fakked, so I don’t listen to it at all. But on me boy’s one, ‘Daddy Cool’ has been going strong, and The Fugs. I love Brandy too, he’s got that.
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‘Home taping is killing the music business was the catch-cry of the record industry in the 1970s, but it managed to survive until now. What do you think is the difference between mates taping copies of friend’s records back in the 80s and 90s and file sharing now?
I don’t know that there is a difference is there, do ya mean ethically? I guess nowadays is easier than dubbing tapes. One of my first tapes ever was a dubbed cassette of Ace of Base’s album that David Burton made me when I was about eight. People miss out more on albums as an entirety these days too I s’pose. I have no opinion really, its just one of those things. Some people probably think they won’t get rich off music now because of it, but that’s probably good.
You must answer this question honestly or we steal your rider. What was the first gig you went to? Where was it and what was the venue?
I think it was Pearl Jam in Auckland at that big stadium there. I remember liking the experience, but not being too into the band themselves. I remember it smelt like weed and that it was a real clear night with lots o’ stars. I remember getting drunk on the way home and listening to OK Computer.
What’s your favourite site to download music from and do you ever pay for it? Can we find any of your releases there?
I don’t really do this. But you can get our stuff off Bandcamp :)
What artist made you want to pick up an instrument and/or sing?
Hmm dunno, when I was younger I wanted to be a writer, then kinda just started doing music ‘cause friends wanted to do a band. I guess I’ve always been into music, and art stuff, and writing, and because music was fun and social and I enjoyed it, I kept going rather than starting ‘cause I desperately wanted to. Even though there have been times when I have desperately wanted to. I’ve been mad on Cat Power, and on Elliott Smith, on Daniel Johnston, on lots of things really but none of them especially made me want to sing or play, just made me enjoy them as their own thing…I dunno. I learnt piano for years and years when I was young, I liked that, I liked people hearing me and thinking I was good, and I liked playing with ‘feeling’.
Have you ever been arrested?
No. But I have seen ‘cops’ and it looks upsetting.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
No. A wine or two? Usually I just have a wee think, so it comes out clearly. Oh, I love a Red Bull or two! For real, I would love to be sponsored by Red Bull, I would endorse the shit out of it.
What’s been your most outrageous rider request?
We’re not really an outrageous rider band … it’s hard enough to get wine instead of beer. When we did one of our first gigs in Auckland when we were like, 22 or something, I remember driving up from Wellington, and Sam talking to the girl on the phone who was organising the gig. She asked us what beer we wanted to drink, and we yelled out for bottles of Johnnie Walker, and she said to Sam, “Tell ’em they’re not the Rolling Stones yet”. I think she jinxed us.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
Shit, I dunno…. Matt Kennedy from Kitchen’s Floor, cause he’s scary. Marc Regueiro-McKelvie from Teeth and Tongue cause he’s awesome. Julia McFarlane from The Twerps ‘cause I used to play with her and I haven’t for ages and she’s rad and talented as shit. She’s technically from NZ though.
Right, let’s get really intimate. Tell us what releases you have that we can listen to with the lights down low, or even better, where we can see you play in person next.
Uhh, this one, Piles of Lies? It’s ambient. We got loads of gigs coming up in late August/September, looking forward to it!!!!!!
