INTERVIEW: Robert Scott

Robert Scott’s list of music projects over the years reads like a who’s who of alternative New Zealand music for the past 3 decades.

From his role as bass-player, song-writer and non-Kilgour in legendary New Zealand noisy jangle-pop pioneers The Clean and as singer, guitarist and songwriter for his equally enduring band The Bats, he also helmed the acclaimed Magick Heads, not to mention fronting a bewildering variety of other Flying Nun groups, while drawing and painting the cover art for many memorable Flying Nun album sleeves. Therefore it seems fitting that his latest solo alum, Ends Run Together, has found its way onto the new Flying Nun Records.

Tell us about your time playing bass in The Clean.

Its always been a learning experience I must say. It has been a blast, and putting down Bass lines under David's guitaring and Hamish's hitting is a lot of fun. I am still learning to sing and play at the same time though.

You went on to form the Bats in the early 80s. Tell us about that.

Well, The Clean stopped in late '82 and we had moved up to Christchurch earlier in the year. I already knew Paul, and was flatting with Kaye, so we all started playing together and it gelled pretty quickly. It was growing up as a band in public, we played as many gigs as we could to get our chops together. At the same time, I was learning to write songs on Guitar too so that was another learning experience.

Does Dunedin inspire you?

Yes I would say it does in many ways, I enjoy the surrounds especially as it reminds me of going into town as a kid from the Taieri. I love the hills and the harbour, the rugged coastline and the freshness, the old buildings and the grim faces.

What's been your favourite ever gig (to play)?

Wow, too many to choose from....Ice skating rink in Germany late 80's, Primavera Festival in Barcelona, The Isle of Lewis in Scotland..I think the earlier gigs are the ones I remember.

What's your favourite Flying Nun record of all time?

3D's - Swarthy Songs for for Swabs.

Your new album Ends Run Together comes out on September 20th on Flying Nun. How long did it take to make?

It was about 9 months as I worked on it every now and then when Dale [Cotton - producer and engineer] and myself had the spare time. It was good having breaks from it.

How does Ends Run Together compare to your previous largely instrumental album The Creeping Unknown?

It is quite different in a lot of ways, the first one was mainly a long edited jam recorded over one long night with another session at David Kilgour's to finish it off. Ends Run Together was very well planned and worked out - and with Dale at the controls its sounds pretty flash.

How do you envisage your sound changing in the future?

I will cross that bridge when I come to it, I will try something a bit different each time. I don't want to stagnate that's for sure.

If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?

See into the future, to see how many more tours and albums I have to do.

For more info check out Robert Scott on MySpace.