The Woods Themselves: Mama Said Knock You Out...
The Dwarf fired a few questionettes towards The Woods Themselves, surreal Sydney indie-60s pop gaggle about their sound, surviving in the dog-eat-smaller, poorer dog world of music and the release of their latest record, (C'Mon) Do The Beach Thing.
Your sound is really unique. How would you describe it to others?
Lyrics that’ll make you call the cops.
Each of you have vastly different musical backgrounds. How have you managed to combine each of these sounds into your releases?
With guitars.
How would you say "(C'mon) Do The Beach Thing" differs from previous releases?
The name is different as are the songs on the album.
Who produced the album? Was it Tony Dupe?
It was. It was Tony Dupe. And us; though we try not to make a big production of it.
How do you get inspiration for your songs? Do you write about other people's lives or your own?
I guess maybe other people’s lives and the way they affect ones own. Though that isn’t always so inspiring. It’s usually best to empty the mind. Tune in to the static from the neighbours. I tend to despise the self-importance of ‘reflective’ music.
What is the song writing process in the band? Do you guys all write songs together or is it done separately?
Usually we all wait for a chord that does not make us want to die, then for words I get my old man to talk about his looming death. My father has a twisted view of mortality. It makes you want to breathe a little deeper.
What else do you guys do on the side, outside of The Woods Themselves? Because I know Matt Toohey is also in El Mopa.
He is – but I’ve heard they are kicking him out because they want him to focus on his Kid Cornered stuff.
Joseph Leonard makes good music, but is a very bad man.
Founder are a great band that three of the guys play in, but they quit for 6 months everytime they play a lousy show. Tom Warren is the new guy. Noone has bothered to ask what he does outside The Woods. He is from Kiama Downs though and his dad owns a gun. His buddy ‘Egg’ lost the top of his index finger jumping a razor wire fence at the cricket last summer. True story.
What do you prefer: performing live or working in the recording studio?
Depends who’s driving. Performing live inevitably means someone will have to stay sober enough to get the gear home. The challenge live has always been to try and get as stacked-in as we do in the studio. And the challenge in the studio has always been to get as drunk as we do live. It’s a vicious circle that’s even angrier because it can’t hold it’s drink. Then again if we’re loaded enough it stops mattering where the fuck we are. Staying at home is always nice.
What bands would you say have influenced The Woods sound the most?
Gold bands are good. Silver if left unpolished has a certain manly elegance. The bands around the banded shrimp. Reluctantly I would say; Big Star and The Band. Most of all I’d say that the last ‘worst thing you’ve ever heard’ is always a really good reason to try and do better.
I imagine it cant be too easy being an independent band. How do you manage to get by?
Some of us sell weed.
What do you hope lies in the future for The Woods?
I hope no-one will feel that we’ve wasted our time.
The Woods Themselves '(C'Mon) Do The Beach Thing' is out now on Understandation through Inertia. The album will be launched Oct 11th @ The Stag in Leichhardt, Sydney.
