Q: Can you explain what makes you tick musically?
A: I think between the seven of us, influences and tastes are almost too wide to mention! Speaking personally though, I really love soul music, ranging from '70s artists like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder to current soul/hip-hop artists like D'Angelo, Steve Spacek etc.
Of course, tastes change every day so ask me again tomorrow and something altogether different could come out.
Q: How did you get started?
A: The band was started by me and Ariel White (our original drummer).
I'd played in Christchurch-based band Magnetic Funk with Ariel, so when we both moved to Wellington, (a change of scene for him, a move back home for me) he suggested starting a band again.
Paddy Bleakly (bass) and Ned Worboys (vocals) are close friends of mine; we'd played in bands throughout high school together and kind of knew when I got back to Wellington that we'd start something up again.
So with Ariel pushing things and Paddy and I already connecting musically, things started to flow.
The rest of the guys jumped on board as gigs started to get booked, and after a few line-up changes through 2007 we've had a consistent line-up ever since.
Q: How has that evolution of people changed your sound?
A: After a handful of jams we had some rough musical sketches, and a vague idea of how the band was sounding.
Ariel booked us a weekly residency at Sandwiches, here in Wellington.
It worked out as a perfect opportunity to jam with a whole bunch of different people.
Naturally, with a weekly show, people's availability fluctuated, so through inviting guests down and having people fill in the line-up naturally evolved to the seven of us in the band now.
Different members definitely changed the sound dramatically.
I think the reason we settled on our current permanent line-up is because everyone shares the same vision for the band and contributes equally to making that goal a reality.
Q: How busy are you guys?
A: Currently, the band is pretty busy gigging in Wellington, and finishing off the EP.
Members of our band play in, and are involved in, a whole bunch of musical projects from other funk bands to classical stuff to corporate jazz gigs and everything in between.
Three of us are students at the New Zealand School of Music, which keeps us busy as well.
Q: I understand you have been busy working on an EP [and will that be your first recording?] Are you happy with the results?
A: Yeah we're currently in the process of editing and overdubbing parts for our first EP.
So far, everyone's really happy with the results and looking forward to seeing/hearing the final product before the end of the year.
Q: Have you received any funding or help along the way?
A: So far the EP has been entirely self-funded and produced, although we are definitely on the lookout for some funding in the very near future.
It's an expensive process and there's a bunch more costs involved like mixing, mastering, cover art, physical CD pressing costs and so on.
Every little bit helps.
Q: Have you played in Queenstown before? Is this trip also a sightseeing expedition?
A: Harbour City Electric has never played Queenstown before so we're definitely looking forward to it.
We played Wanaka on our last summer tour.
It's always a pleasure getting down to Central Otago.
I've spent a lot of time down there over the years so any chance to get back down is a bonus.
This time round we may have a little time for sightseeing, but touring is always pretty flat out.
Last time we took a four-wheel-drive into Skippers Canyon, which was pretty amazing.
Harbour City Electric plays at the Dux de Lux in Christchurch tomorrow night. It also has a gig in Wanaka tonight, playing at the Local Bar.
