Skipping Girl Vinegar (23/05/2011)
Hot off the release of their sophomore album Keep Calm, Carry The Monkey, Skipping Girl Vinegar spoke with The 59th Sound, sharing how the album came to be, tour plans and the 'Postal Revolution,' a unique and personal way of keeping in touch with fans.
I recall about a year ago, receiving an email from Skipping Girl Vinegar appealing for ‘Hobo Philanthropists’ to donate funds in order for you to record your next album. Now that it’s out, have you had time to reflect upon the difficulties in getting it made?
Making our debut album, Sift the Noise didn't come easy, but because we were a new band, we didn't have the pressure to tour and promote while we wrote and recorded. Creating a follow up album in the wake of the first brought extra pressure, both on limited time and limited money. But nothing of value ever comes easy and we could not be happier with what we came up with on Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey.
What kind of response did you get from your fans when you made the appeal?
A deeply humbling response. Hobo Philanthropy was based on the idea that philanthropy (giving money to help artists create art) is not exclusively for the rich, but for those who are passionate about the arts. People were invited to give $100 (or more if they wanted) to help us make the album. In exchange, they would receive a copy of the album, a handmade wooden 'SGV Hobo Philanthropist' badge and their name on the album's 'Hall of Fame' page. A lot of people dug deep and we raised over $22,000 from our Hobo Philanthropy initiative. The album would not have been possible without their support and belief and we hope they're as proud of the record as we are.
Was there ever a time when you thought the album might not get made and did this ever make you re-think signing with an independent label?
So many people showed belief and support for SGV during the release of Sift the Noise that we knew we had to make a follow up album. There was no question that Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey was going to get made, but there were times we couldn't see how. Staying indie forced us to think creatively and find fresh approaches. Our drummer, Chris Helm, keeps saying that there's no such thing as an independent band - and once again, we found our way forward through the belief and support of others.
SGV are so proactive and personal with all your fans, from your ‘Postal Revolution’ to your intimate live shows. How do you plan to keep it all up as your popularity and fan base grows?
Anyone who saw our first ever single release, One Chance will know the level of ' physical art detail' that SGV put into everything that we create. Now that we're writing letters to so many converted Postal Revolutionaries (sign up at www.skippinggirlvinegar.com/postalrev if you're missing out), we'll keep it up by sacrificing more sleep - or exploiting more monkeys to do the work for us.
SGV’s album artwork is notoriously beautiful and Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey is no exception. Do you think that bands need to invest more in beautiful album design in order to encourage people to keep buying CD’s?
We believe people need to slow down and enjoy everyday experiences more deeply. Making a CD with layered artwork that seduces the listener further into the album is completely deliberate. We want you to take time to listen and then listen again. That's not likely to happen with a download. We'd love to see more bands designing art-based covers that unravel and compliment their music- slow us all down a little more and let the album art become a window to the music that lays within.
What is the meaning behind the album title?
It is inspired from the World War 2 posters "Keep Calm Carry On" that were pasted all over England to keep the citizens calm during the bomb attacks. We knew we wanted to stretch ourselves past what we knew and make an album that was better than our debut- all without losing sight of what's most important to us. Doing that forced us to re-focus when pressures threatened to overwhelm. The question is…what's your monkey?
This album was inspired by some very sad personal experiences, how do you think your fans will respond to the albums darker sound?
When you scratch beneath the surface, everyone's struggling with something. SGV have always tried to create something authentic. Sift the Noise was filled with songs of hope in troubled times and Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey continues that theme which really is the ongoing ups and downs of life.
Finally, for anyone who has never seen a SGV show, can you let us in on what lovely props and delicious baked goods your crowd should expect this tour?
Our keyboard player and resident Iron Chef, Amanthi, is already cooking it up in the kitchen getting ready for the tour. She's already given audiences cookies, fudge, cakes, brownies, blondies - Mark gets confused and calls them all 'slice'. Come on down to a show and see what's new on her menu - and check out Frankie mag's feature on Amanthi's cooking (and vintage apron collection) in the coming months. For our live set design, we're working with Neil Thomas a Melbourne artist with a bird theme and we’re also going to be breathing new life into discarded objects. We look forward to sharing it all with you at one of our shows around Australia.
Read our review of Keep Calm Carry The Monkey here!
www.skippinggirlvinegar.com/shows
Kirsty Visman
I recall about a year ago, receiving an email from Skipping Girl Vinegar appealing for ‘Hobo Philanthropists’ to donate funds in order for you to record your next album. Now that it’s out, have you had time to reflect upon the difficulties in getting it made?
Making our debut album, Sift the Noise didn't come easy, but because we were a new band, we didn't have the pressure to tour and promote while we wrote and recorded. Creating a follow up album in the wake of the first brought extra pressure, both on limited time and limited money. But nothing of value ever comes easy and we could not be happier with what we came up with on Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey.
What kind of response did you get from your fans when you made the appeal?
A deeply humbling response. Hobo Philanthropy was based on the idea that philanthropy (giving money to help artists create art) is not exclusively for the rich, but for those who are passionate about the arts. People were invited to give $100 (or more if they wanted) to help us make the album. In exchange, they would receive a copy of the album, a handmade wooden 'SGV Hobo Philanthropist' badge and their name on the album's 'Hall of Fame' page. A lot of people dug deep and we raised over $22,000 from our Hobo Philanthropy initiative. The album would not have been possible without their support and belief and we hope they're as proud of the record as we are.
Was there ever a time when you thought the album might not get made and did this ever make you re-think signing with an independent label?
So many people showed belief and support for SGV during the release of Sift the Noise that we knew we had to make a follow up album. There was no question that Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey was going to get made, but there were times we couldn't see how. Staying indie forced us to think creatively and find fresh approaches. Our drummer, Chris Helm, keeps saying that there's no such thing as an independent band - and once again, we found our way forward through the belief and support of others.
SGV are so proactive and personal with all your fans, from your ‘Postal Revolution’ to your intimate live shows. How do you plan to keep it all up as your popularity and fan base grows?
Anyone who saw our first ever single release, One Chance will know the level of ' physical art detail' that SGV put into everything that we create. Now that we're writing letters to so many converted Postal Revolutionaries (sign up at www.skippinggirlvinegar.com/postalrev if you're missing out), we'll keep it up by sacrificing more sleep - or exploiting more monkeys to do the work for us.
SGV’s album artwork is notoriously beautiful and Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey is no exception. Do you think that bands need to invest more in beautiful album design in order to encourage people to keep buying CD’s?
We believe people need to slow down and enjoy everyday experiences more deeply. Making a CD with layered artwork that seduces the listener further into the album is completely deliberate. We want you to take time to listen and then listen again. That's not likely to happen with a download. We'd love to see more bands designing art-based covers that unravel and compliment their music- slow us all down a little more and let the album art become a window to the music that lays within.
What is the meaning behind the album title?
It is inspired from the World War 2 posters "Keep Calm Carry On" that were pasted all over England to keep the citizens calm during the bomb attacks. We knew we wanted to stretch ourselves past what we knew and make an album that was better than our debut- all without losing sight of what's most important to us. Doing that forced us to re-focus when pressures threatened to overwhelm. The question is…what's your monkey?
This album was inspired by some very sad personal experiences, how do you think your fans will respond to the albums darker sound?
When you scratch beneath the surface, everyone's struggling with something. SGV have always tried to create something authentic. Sift the Noise was filled with songs of hope in troubled times and Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey continues that theme which really is the ongoing ups and downs of life.
Finally, for anyone who has never seen a SGV show, can you let us in on what lovely props and delicious baked goods your crowd should expect this tour?
Our keyboard player and resident Iron Chef, Amanthi, is already cooking it up in the kitchen getting ready for the tour. She's already given audiences cookies, fudge, cakes, brownies, blondies - Mark gets confused and calls them all 'slice'. Come on down to a show and see what's new on her menu - and check out Frankie mag's feature on Amanthi's cooking (and vintage apron collection) in the coming months. For our live set design, we're working with Neil Thomas a Melbourne artist with a bird theme and we’re also going to be breathing new life into discarded objects. We look forward to sharing it all with you at one of our shows around Australia.
Read our review of Keep Calm Carry The Monkey here!
www.skippinggirlvinegar.com/shows
Kirsty Visman