Throughout NZ Music Month we’ll be hearing stories from young musicians about the local songs they love the most. Today, Heavy talk about songs from Caroles, Lioneyes, Brain Slaves, Space Creeps and Shocking Pinks.
Heavy. Photo: Unknown
After forming last year to play at Chronophonium, Auckland-based stoner-rap duo Heavy (Liam Dargaville and Reem Nabhani) recently dropped their debut album Lock In.
They’ve since played at Splore and Laneway, as well as some recent dates around the country in support of their full-length, taking their collection of “dirty raps and funny wordplay over heavy beats and a lot of bass” on the road.
These are their top five New Zealand songs.
Caroles – ‘Big Mac Quesadilla’
Reem: This is one of my favourite songs to hear live. I can’t help but feel like I should be wearing a leather jacket, have long greasy hair, and be head banging blazed as fuck.
I first heard it like last year or something at Whammy Bar. That bass got me - the first few seconds with the guitar and then it kicks in. Goddamn!
There is so much enthusiasm, and it makes me roar with rage (in a good way). I want to make people feel like that with my music.
Lioneyes – ‘Firewood’
Reem: I just love this song so much. It gives me shivers, and I lose my mind when Katie fucks with those drums and it’s all just an explosion of crazy shit. I have loved Lioneyes for a few years now, and when I first heard them I instantly had a girl crush on Katie. Everytime they play I get really excited to hear this song because Ben is really good at storytelling, and I can picture what he is saying. It's beautiful and intense.
Liam: I would’ve chose ‘Firewood’ too if Reem hadn’t. When Ben comes in for the chorus I get major chills. If Jeff Buckley and Julian Casablancas had a child together it would’ve been Ben Locke.
The Coshercot Honeys aka Brain Slaves – ‘We’re All Lions’
Liam: This track is fucking timeless. I was obsessed with it as a teen and I still am. The North Shore can be a pretty bleak place to grow up, but bands like these would always put on all ages shows so your Shore cabin-fever wouldn’t go untreated for too long. Their newer tracks as Brain Slaves killed too.
Space Creeps – ‘Harpoon’
Liam: Space Creeps were the perfect remedy to counter the post Brain Slaves blues. This track, in particular, hits all the right spots. If you’re into Portishead, stumbling across the hauntingly beautiful works of Jack Smylie is a real treat. I’m not sure what he’s doing these days but the last few songs I heard of his under the name Weird Fear were pretty damn chill.
Shocking Pinks – ‘Double Vision Version’
Liam: I’d heard a track here and there but only really caught on to Shocking Pinks recently at A Low Hum House. When this track dropped I was transported. The song itself is beautifully simple but the bass and drums are held down so tightly that it almost numbs and hypnotizes you for the entire 10 or so minutes that it lasts. I still haven’t been able to find this track online or in any record stores though I feel like a recording will never come close to how I felt when I heard it live.