Q&A: Mini Simmons
What’s the ideal outcome out of a surfing trip through Mexico? For Mini Simmons, it was being told by a Mexican Palm Reader (nicknamed, Mini Simmons) - that they’d be famous, and so - a band is born.
You guys have just finished a pretty hefty run of cool festivals, like Nest Fest in Hawkes Bay, Rhythm & Vines in Gisborne, as well as a couple of rad little shows scattered throughout! Do you have any stand-out cool stories to share with us from any of these shows? The Festivals were great. Everyone’s happy and lubricated. We had nowhere to be the next day except another Festival. Someone drunk Zak’s piss. It’s not that cool but it’s pretty far out. He was lying beside Zak who was pissing in the vines and he stuck out an empty beer can and drunk it all.
You guys mentioned in your interview with Bailey Nelson, that you’d be blessing us with an album in March, is this still on track? Tell us about why we should be excited for it? We’ve pushed it out a little bit to allow for another single. May 17th is Album Release Date. We’re just mixing the last few tracks and Mastering as we go. We’re in no huge rush but we have a lot coming up between now and July. Music Video shortly for ‘Kids Off Broadway’, Third Single in March, Album Release and a NZ/Oz Tour. Excited for rock n roll I think. It’s 60s/70s, riffs, sex and slink. Nobody is doing it anymore. It’s our own sound though and it’s in your face.
Now that you guys aren’t surfing beaches in Mexico, where do you find inspiration for your new material? Just things that we do really. Probably the same as most people. Walk down the street see a rich person. Live fast too often and get dropped by your girlfriend. Watch Politicians on Television. Some of it is dribble, but makes for a good song.
Your sound, and clothing, remind me a lot of the London Indie scene at the moment, especially a band called Creatures, what musicians inspire you guys to be how you wanna be? That’s our first comparison to an Indie band or scene…we’ll take it. I just googled them. Can see where you’re coming from with the get-ups. Swinging London, Haight-Ashbury San Francisco. Very Flamboyant. We spread the flamboyance a bit thicker now. We stopped resisting. Fever, uncontrolled energy and chaos. That’s inspiring. If you’re good enough people wet themselves. Remember when great bands made people do that?
You guys have some of the most infectious live energy i’ve ever seen, and it’s mesmerising watching you all perform - do you guys have any pre-show rituals to get yourself all warmed up and ready to be your best self onstage? There are a couple of rituals. Usually we have a bottle of Jack on stage. We bring it in the Maracas case. Sometimes some vitamins and salts. Before a big show we get in a huddle and profess our love for one another. Really nice. And we finish by singing ‘Hava Nagila’ a traditional Israeli folk song.
If you guys could put together a show, alongside three other current New Zealand musicians, who would they be? BOAB – It’s The Lab Studio engineers blues band. Best band in NZ! Neil Finn – Great songwriter and hangs out with Mike Campbell. RIP Tom Petty. Arthur Abez – Cool band
What’s your favourite thing about the music scene? Lots of talented bands coming out of the woodwork at the moment. Also some great new festivals and shows are being thrown around the country which has breathed some life into the scene
And what’s one thing you’d love to see improve? More venues. And smaller band lineups for gigs. Two is the magic number. 3 is ok. 4 in one night is heavy. Just our opinion though. Sorry that’s 2 answers.
Lastly, convince our readers to come catch you at your next show in 3 words. Drinks on Yoni
Quick Fire
The one song I wish I wrote is… Zak: ‘The End’ - The Doors Jesse: ‘Midnight Rambler’ - The Rolling Stones Yoni: ‘Wild Horses’ - The Rolling Stones Brad: ‘I Can’t Think About it Now’ - Dawes (Brad)
Three things I can’t live without are… Jack, Music, Ocean
If I could only play music in one genre for the rest of my life it would be… Blues
Three adjectives that describe my life are… Black Magic Women (Plural). They’re not all adjectives though.
If I held a world record it would be for… Do you get to choose or is this meant to be what we’re good at?
My first memory of loving music is… Zak: Hendrix, Johnny B. Goode Live at Berkeley Community Centre 1970 on dad’s record player Brad: Crowded House, Better Be Home soon. Singing 4 part harmonies with my family as a child Jesse: BB King & Clapton, Riding With The King Yoni: Bob Dylan, Blown’ In The Wind on the radio driving to school with Mum
The song of mine that I am the most proud of is… Jesse: Fowler Street Brad: Sunflower Fields
My favourite venue I’ve ever played is… Black Barn Amphitheatre, Hawkesbay (Nest Fest 2019)
The ideal environment for me to create music in is… Brads place in Whangamata
If I could have any two bands open for me they would be… Rolling Stones (with Mick Taylor), Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac
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Interview by Mandie Hailwood
