Music > Interviews

Ziggarettes - Funeral

01/03/24

From Voodoo Daddys and The Merchants House, to The Brickmakers and the Waterfront, our fine city will never be short of an abundance of incredible grassroot venues, providing a platform for aspiring musicians to take to the stage for the first time! 

This January, after touring our fine city last year and establishing an amazing presence in the heart of our local music scene, local cowboy dream- pop band, Ziggarettes, released their debut single, ‘Runaway’! 

But this release was only the beginning of an exciting year for James, Herbie, Tommy and Jake, as today, the band have released their second single, ‘Funeral’, continuing to provide us with powerful and personal lyrics, blended with their unique indie and dreampop sound! 

Last week, I caught up with James and Herbie to find out they were feeling ahead of the release of their new single, the power music holds to them, what drives their creative process, as well as their plans for the year ahead! 
 
When did your journey as a band begin?

 
During a shift at HMV we decided we wanted to form a band. Then a few months later we played our first gig at The Bicycle Shop. 
 
How would you describe your music? 

Cowboy dream-pop is the term we made up for it. Think artists like Slowdive, The 1975, Mac Demarco and Radiohead all in one. 
 
What messages do you aim to leave your listeners with?

 
Our lyrics are very vulnerable and personal and I think creating a song people can see themselves in is a strong part of our song writing. Connecting with people while also expressing ourselves is what we want to do with our music. 
 
What motivates you to create music?

 
(Herbie) For me it has always come naturally as a form of expressing my emotions even if it’s in creating ambient music with no lyrics just to express an abstract feeling or thought, it also comes from a place of curiosity of experimenting with new genres and combining them to create something new. 
 
 (James) I only started learning guitar a year and a half ago so it’s all pretty new to me. I learn songs I like and chords I think are nice and make something new out of them. I have always looked for an artistic way to express myself and music is the one that has stuck with me and the one I have had the most fun doing. Connecting with people through what I make and meeting new creative people is my main motivation. 

 
What power does music hold? 

Either all the power in the world or no power, depends on who’s listening. One song can mean so much so somebody but nothing to someone else. 
 
 How are you feeling ahead of the release of your new single, ‘Funeral’? 

(H) I’m feeling excited as it is a song I produced but didn’t conceptualise lyrically for the first time in my music “career” (if you can call it that) the way James and I merged into one being to create this sense of pathos was just a really fun experience and validating for myself.  
 
(J) This is a big one for me just because of the context of the song. It’s about my dad who passed when I was younger and I hope anyone else who has gone through the experience of losing someone, whether it’s a death, a breakup or a lost friendship, can listen to this song and know they aren’t alone in their experience. 
 
 Describe your creative process

 
(H) My process in writing and recording comes from months of hard work creating tens of songs and hating them all, which results in a burn out that lasts about a month then I decide to make a tune for fun and ends up being the best thing I’ve ever made  
 
(J) I usually find like 2 chords I think are nice and repeat them over and over again for months until I can think of something to sing over it. I will usually just get a demo from Herbie and listen to it for ages, find a melody, write some lyrics and go from there. 
 
What has been key to your success as a band? 

(H) James’ marketing skills! 
 
 (J) Herbie being good at making music! 
 
How important do you believe it is to support for the local music scene?

 
The most important - it is such a self sustaining eco system where everyone puts in their part to create something beautiful 
 
What advice would you give to any aspiring musicians? 

Just do it - release a song even if its bad, play gigs even if you’re not technically good, art is about self expression and I think people forget that in pursuit of perfection. 
 
 What plans have you got for 2024? 

New music, lots of shows, headline Glastonbury! 

 
To keep up to date with the work (and amazing music!) of ‘Ziggarettes’, then you can head to their Instagram (@ziggarettes)!