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Antipodean electro superstars Sneaky Sound System have been carefully honing their art since 2001 and took Australia by storm in 2006 when their single, 'I Love It', stayed in the charts for a massive 70 weeks. Record companies had initially told co-founders Angus MacDonald and Daimon Downey that they weren't likely to go very far, so they set up on their own Whack Records, and have now sold hundreds of thousands of albums and singles. With Connie Mitchell's amazing vocals, the group have put themselves in position for world domination. Support slots with the likes of Robbie Williams, Jamiroquai and Scissor Sisters have put them at the top of their game, and high profile fans such as Kylie and Jake Shears certainly haven't hurt them. New single 'UFO' is out this week, and the band are touring the UK in November, before heading back home to play across Australia in January. We spoke to producer and songwriter Black Angus, aka Angus McDonald.
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Q1 How did you start out making music?
In a dodgy band at school. The first song we attempted was 'Shout' by Tears For Fears and then 'Town Called Malice' by The Jam. Everything sounded so shit we decided to make up our own song, which we thought sounded marvellous. Of course it wasn't marvellous at all, but at least it was a start.
Q2 What inspired your latest single?
A late night documentary about UFOs on the Discovery Channel. When I turned the TV off I started singing "I saw a UFO but nobody believes me", picked up my guitar and the riff and chords just fell out. Next day I played it to Connie and she wrote the verses and presto, there it was - delivered fresh from out of space. I wish every song was that easy.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It's different every time but often a musical idea pops into my head and the little orchestra in my brain gets to work on it and when I get home I test it out in the guitar. Sometimes I might have a vocal idea, sometimes not. Then I demo it up in the studio with Donnie Sloan, our bass player and co-producer and play it to Connie. We usually put down a couple of melody/vocal ideas, one hers, one mine, and then we pick the best bits. Then the lyrics follow. I'm more of a chorus guy and Connie is more verses, but, like I said, it's different every time.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
The list is ridiculously long, wide and deep. In one corner is glorious stadium pop, in the other is deep minimal techno, in the other corner is party mayhem and in the last corner is anything with a hint of melancholic beauty. It all goes in a big pot and something else comes out.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Absolutely nothing, I'd be more interested in what they thought.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest single/album, and for the future?
Straight to number one and then world domination, of course.
published october 2008
