Urbantramper Newsletter Interview

What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?

January 2009, the Soundshell, Wellington Botanic Gardens.

Friday night in the sun with a couple of thousand people in a good mood. Glorious.

What is your favourite NZ venue?

When venues show you love it makes your job so much easier. A good night can become great when you’re made to feel welcome. We can’t choose just one.

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

There are heaps of New Zealand bands we love and we wish them all the best.

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

We’ve successfully blocked them all out.

How did you come up with the band name Urbantramper?

One of the band members took magic mushrooms and walked around Wellington. The name ‘urbantramper’ was written in the ripples of the concrete footpath.

How do you describe your music?

Future folk.

Future – because we are in a state of becoming and our music is an aural representation of unrealised dreams.

Folk – because we write simple songs that everyone can play and sing along to.

What can we expect to see from Urbantramper over the next year?

We will be playing sporadically around the country and are to release a ‘workers’ EP in March/April 2009. A concept album about working.

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Listen to Jeffrey Lewis’ ‘Don’t Let the Record Label Take You Out to Lunch’.

Be nice to other bands, venue owners, bar staff, everyone…

Listen to the lyrics of Syd Barrett’s song ‘Waving my arms in the air’.

Friends, family and your health are important too.