Interview with Giant Dwarf
Tell us about your latest release: the main concept; what fans should expect; what were/are your goals with it:
Well this self titled debut was an accumulation of songs we all wrote together over the past few years. We thought it was about time to record them so we could move on to the next batch. Our goal was to simply produce something that we would be proud enough of to show our friends. Fans of heavy, fuzzy music can expect 8 tracks of big drums, lots of guitar layers and harmonies, clean vocal melodies and the odd weird instrument like a sitar or didgeridoo occasionally blended in the back.
Did you have a specific sound in mind when you formed the band, or did that grow and evolve as you played together?
We knew it would be derived from that stoner/fuzz scene as our previous bands The Devil Rides Out, Wizard Sleeve and Loose Unit have all been staples of that scene locally for several years. We just wanted to push a few ideas a bit further and freestyle it a bit more at times.
How does your writing process normally work out?
Much like the birth of a baby, there will be love for a new riff. That love may evolve into something more long-term and engaging, and span off into adventurous directions and life will flourish for that song. Some riffs are loved at first, but neglected as time goes on…but adopted again into the system when the time is right. Sometimes it just gets rocky or divisive, and we divorce a song mid way into the relationship.. possibly to the detriment of other members claiming that could have been our next banger, but others saying lets just pull the plug, no point keeping it on life support any longer.
At present we are collating new guitar riffs and recordings, and sifting through old B-sides to see what can get re-worked into new and improved Dwarf tracks.
What are your ambitions and how far do you want to push your band?
Albums, touring and a growing reach and fan-base. We all work the day jobs or have the families but music is our release. We could jump on the red-eye flight out of Perth any moment for the right gig opportunity.
What are your influences/musical references and the impact those same influences had in your sound?
70’s and 90’s rock mainly, but also some proggy stoner metal. Anything from the desert scene. For fuzz and rhythm bands like Nebula, Dead Meadow, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. If we want to get heavy or proggy, Mastodon, Baroness, High on Fire and Elder. If we feel like getting weird some Zappa, Mr Bungle or King Gizzard will never go astray. We tried not to write the same song twice or repeat rhythm arrangements or structures between songs.
What’s next for you?
Scoping touring opportunities, more recording perhaps a single next. Vinyl release and launch probably due to demand.. may throw some extra content on. And of course write album #2 asap!