• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • 5 DOUBLE-U’S
    • MASTHEAD
    • DISTRIBUTION
    • ADVERTISE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

COLD FRONT COMING IN: MARTIN PHILLIPPS OF THE CHILLS

Written by TIM BUGBEE Posted February 18, 2019 Filed Under: DigThis, Interviews, MUSIC

© Gabrielle Devereux

 

Few regions can boast an outsized influence on the greater musical culture more so than New Zealand, tucked away at the bottom of the earth thousands of miles from anywhere else. With Flying Nun (and lesser known labels such as Propeller, Ripper, South Indies and Xpressway), the country of three million became an insanely fertile incubator for all sorts of strains of rock music, and Martin Phillipps was arguably at the center of it all. The creative force behind countless expertly crafted pop songs (hello, Exhibit A!), Phillips had successfully reached pockets of the European and American markets before it unraveled in the mid-90s. But the muse never leaves gifted songwriters, and he’s sprung back in surprisingly strong form with two records since 2015 that can stand shoulder to shoulder with his past work, including last year’s Snow Bound.   Phillipps hasn’t played Boston since the Sunburnt tour of 1996, but he’s back in town this week at the Middle East this Wednesday– do not sleep on this! I had a chance to send some questions to him, so let’s see what he’s been up to.

 

It’s been a long time since you’ve played Boston… what sort of reaction do you think you’ll get?
MP: The level of enthusiasm about our return to the States has been extraordinary and I’m sure the Boston audience will be as thrilled with our performance of old and new material as the other cities we have been playing to recently. We will be playing just a little more of the older material in the U.S. because some people there have been waiting for decades to hear it live but our older fans everywhere else assure us that the new songs sit beautifully alongside the classics and simply sound just like The Chills – in fine form!

 

During the period you struggled with health problems, did you continue to write and stockpile songs? Or is phase two, from 2013 onward, all material that’s been written as you went?
Even during my darkest years I never stopped coming up with ideas for songs but it was very disheartening to know there was no outlet for them at the time. I drew on a mixture of some of that material mixed with newer ideas for the ‘Silver Bullets’ album in 2015 and then last year’s ‘Snow Bound’ contained a much higher percentage of brand new songs – although there were still the odd riffs here and there which possibly originated as long ago as a quarter of a century.

 

What made you decide to re-record “Pink Frost” for the b side of the comeback 7”? And keeping with that song, it’s one of the all-time greats about someone dying, something that some of your Kiwi contemporaries have also managed. Thinking in particular about “Starless Road” by Alastair Galbraith, and “Randolph’s Going Home” by Shayne Carter and Peter Jefferies. What are some of your favorite songs based on this depressing subject?
Most of our older material continues to subtly change over the years and when we temporarily added a “Krautrock” intro to ‘Pink Frost’ it seemed a good time to capture a new version – not to replace the original 1982 one but simply to document the song’s growth. It was recorded in Thailand (at the same time as ‘Pyramid/When The Poor Can Reach The Moon’) and it made sense to release it as the B-Side to the original single version of ‘Molten Gold’ on vinyl only. It is also now, finally, being released digitally as a B-Side with our new single release, ‘Deep Belief’.

‘Randolph’s Going Home’ is a beautiful song and an amazingly heartfelt reaction to a personal tragedy. Another of my favourite songs dealing with death (or whatever) would be Big Star’s ‘Holocaust’.

 

As a musician who is inextricably linked to Flying Nun, does it seem strange not to have any of your later records released on the label? How’s your relationship with Fire? And what sort of input did you have on the Captured Tracks reissue of Kaleidoscope Days, in terms of selecting that particular record for reissue as well as the additional six songs not on the original CD? Will we ever seen the long-rumored re-recorded of Brave Words (aka Braver Words)?
Flying Nun still handle our releases in New Zealand so we are in constant contact with them but they are aware of their limitations in promoting us internationally so it has been wonderful getting involved with Fire Records. Discussions with Flying Nun are always taking place about the best use of our back-catalogue and the release of ‘Spoken Bravely: The Re-Mixed Album’ (or whatever it’s going to be called) is closer to reality now than ever before. I am always consulted as to what forms these releases will take.

 

The new record, Snow Bound, sounds much fuller, with keyboard textures and a really broad sound. Is that a function of your band, the recording engineer, a conscious choice on your part or a bit of all? What’s been inspiring you in terms of song-writing lately? Has that process changed much over the years for you? what’s the biggest difference for you now, in this stage as compared to your earlier days?
The band and I and the producer and their team all work together to try to capture the best performances need to create an album and this does not always mean trying to replicate the live experience which is a very different thing. My song-writing process has changed in that I am much more selective of which of my material should be recorded as I do not wish to add anything but quality songs with a worthwhile message to the enormous amount of music being produced these days. Although I am by no means as tuned in to what is going on musically as I was in my twenties the artists which inspire me today are those brave enough to explore new territories and create wonderful surprises.

TIM BUGBEE
More from author
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: BLUE ÖYSTER CULT @ CHESHIRE FAIRGROUNDS
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: BAT FOR LASHES @ THE SINCLAIR
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: MODERN NATURE, OLDEN YOLK, CARINAE @ THE LILYPAD
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: WEEN @ HOUSE OF BLUES

Filed Under: DigThis, Interviews, MUSIC Tagged With: Flying Nun, Martin Phillipps, New Zealand, preview, The Chills, The Middle East

WHAT’S NEW

SOMERVILLE MAYOR CURTATONE DROPS BOMBSHELL AHEAD OF MIDTERM ADDRESS

SOMERVILLE MAYOR CURTATONE DROPS BOMBSHELL AHEAD OF MIDTERM ADDRESS

CAMPBELL UNVEILS PLAN FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY

CAMPBELL UNVEILS PLAN FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY

SPECIAL FEATURE: THE CRUEL AND USUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN MASS PRISONS

SPECIAL FEATURE: THE CRUEL AND USUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN MASS PRISONS

INBOX: GROUP CALLS FOR BIDEN TO ABOLISH POLICE MILITARIZATION PROGRAM

INBOX: GROUP CALLS FOR BIDEN TO ABOLISH POLICE MILITARIZATION PROGRAM

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE CITY AND STATE TO FINALLY SUPPORT MINORITY BUSINESS?

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE CITY AND STATE TO FINALLY SUPPORT MINORITY BUSINESS?

HOMEWORK FOR BEACON HILL’S COVID EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

HOMEWORK FOR BEACON HILL’S COVID EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE MASS STATE POLICE: TROOPER WILSON’S WAR by CHRIS FARAONE
  • DOES THE FORMER BPD COMMISSIONER EVEN LIVE IN BOSTON? by ZACK HUFFMAN
  • [UPDATE: WE GOT IT!] WHERE IS THE CONTRACT FOR MASSACHUSETTS’ VACCINE APPOINTMENT SOFTWARE? by POLINA WHITEHOUSE
  • BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY GRADS FIGHT FOR REPRESENTATION IN ALUMNI GROUP by CHRIS FARAONE
  • MASS KEEPS TRYING TO BUILD A NEW WOMEN’S PRISON OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC VIEW by DAN ATKINSON

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 1.9 – 11/26/20

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

Footer

digbos

Our interview with Avi Loeb, author of “Extrater Our interview with Avi Loeb, author of “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.” https://buff.ly/2O3nlUd #interview #book #alien #technology #astronomy #controversy #debate #science #Boston #Massachusetts
LGBTQ+ prisoners in Mass stand up to a violent sys LGBTQ+ prisoners in Mass stand up to a violent system that targets and dehumanizes vulnerable populations. https://digboston.com/special-feature-the-cruel-and-usual-violence-against-lgbtq-people-in-mass-prisons/ #prison #prisoner #humanrights #LGBT #politics #Massachusetts
Nominations now open! Vote for your favorite busin Nominations now open! Vote for your favorite businesses today. 

Are you a business? Are you the best at what you do? Encourage your fans to cast their votes! DM us to get our social media materials to promote your business and ensure your win. #bostontops #digboston
Bill sponsors, #Framingham mayor, and MA district Bill sponsors, #Framingham mayor, and MA district attorney will explain the Work & Family Mobility Act at a press conference. https://digboston.com/driving-families-forward-coalition-aims-to-help-undocumented-attain-drivers-licenses/ #politics #undocumented #immigration #driving #license #Massachusetts
Today at 4pm, cast your votes! #digboston Today at 4pm, cast your votes! #digboston
At a virtual summit, leaders sought to educate and At a virtual summit, leaders sought to educate and engage on the need for change. https://digboston.com/officials-advocates-speak-to-immigration-reform-and-economic-recovery/ #immigration #reform #economy #politics #Massachusetts
When it comes to special packaging and limited edi When it comes to special packaging and limited editions, Jack’s Abby and subsidiary Springdale out in Framingham are top players. https://digboston.com/video-unboxing-springdale-beers-limited-edition-neipa-music-box-set/ #beer #fun
Industrial Arts Brewing in NY’s Hudson Valley is Industrial Arts Brewing in NY’s Hudson Valley is well worth the look out of state ... https://digboston.com/video-pocket-wrench-by-industrial-arts-brewing-is-a-super-satisfying-session/ #beer #fun
Some who are civilly committed for #addiction in M Some who are civilly committed for #addiction in Mass face abusive #prison conditions. Still, some families say it’s better than the alternative https://digboston.com/the-commitments-addiction-treatment-behind-bars-in-massachusetts/ #treatment #Massachusetts
“Then this thing happened. I decided to pivot. I “Then this thing happened. I decided to pivot. It was probably my best shot at attracting some national attention to #Nebraska.” https://digboston.com/interview-with-rural-rebellion-author-ross-benes/ #interview #book #politics #USA #MAGA
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]