In case you did not know, Satellite 79 are an exciting original rock band consisting of Kevin Botha, Alec Leicher, Robin Finch & Adrian Booysen. They recently released a brand new track entitled “Autumn”.
I recently had a chat to Kevin Botha via email about the band, their new track and few other things, this is what he had to say.
1.Why the name Satellite 79?
“We were trying to do a kind of Surfpunk/Surfrock thing when we started in 2014 and I liked the idea of the early 60s s Surfrock obsession with space travel and the space race, hence the Satellite. And the 79 came from the fact that 1979 was the year I started working at (WEA) Warner Records, my introduction to the music industry, and it was also just an awesome year for music.”
2. Who came up with the idea for the new single “Autumn”?
“I was driving through the streets of Parktown North last Autumn and I kept seeing all these brown and yellow leaves falling everywhere, and when I got home the pool was covered in a carpet of leaves.”
“Then it hit me that it was only early May and I thought, Autumn’s coming early this year. I quickly went into my studio and wrote the verses and at the next practice I played it to the band and we finished the song together that night.”
3. What is the most satisfying thing about performing live?
“Watching the audience react to our original material as enthusiastically as they do to the covers.”
4. Tell us a secret about all of the band members that only close friends know?
Alec builds incredible guitars. He could be a professional Luthier if he wanted.
Adrian’s first band was a thrash metal band. Robin was in my wife’s class at school. I was once David Lee Roth’s booze lackey. (true story)
5. What music inspires you? Who are your top favourite bands locally and Int?
“Musical inspirations? I could write a book. If I was forced to limit it to a manageable number: In rock and punk and country; Springsteen, Both Elvises – Costello and Presley, Bob Dylan and The Band, Patti Smith, Jason Isbell, Jonathan Richman, Arctic Monkeys, CCR and The Clash.”
“In Soul and Reggae – Sam Cooke, Gladys Knight, Ben E King, Amy Winehouse, The Drifters, Otis Redding, Bob Marley, Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Madness, The Beat, The Police and The Interrupters.”
“My all time songwriting gods are Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and Carole King and Jerry Goffin. Locally: Mango Groove (obviously), The Asylum Kids, Abdullah Ibrahim, The Sunshines, Bright Blue and Martin Rocka and The Sick Shop.”
6. What is your take on AI music? Do you think you can write a better song than Robot GPT?
“I am inclined to think there is much too much fuss about AI at the moment, but yes, at the risk of sounding arrogant, we already write better songs than AI.”
“I ve read AI generated poetry, heard AI songs, read AI short stories and, while AI can produce something in all these fields that reads and sounds respectable, in all honesty they sound like something produced either by a computer with ideas above its station, or a slightly precocious Matric student.”
“What all the AI stuff lacks is what can only be called ‘soul’. And if that sounds vague and fluffy, try this; listen to the AI generated Nick Cave song, then listen to an actual Nick Cave song, and tell me I’m wrong.”
7. Describe each Satellite 79 band member for us individually highlighting certain quirks?
“I’ll tell you this: we all went to the same school. Twenty years apart. Completely coincidentally. No planning involved. Adrian, our drummer and the youngest, thinks that practice times are a suggestion rather than a rule. (Millenials, or maybe just drummers).”
“Robin, who played in cover bands for many years is finally coming round to my view that when we do other people’s songs we should do ‘versions’ rather than covers. Also, for someone who never really used to do original material, Robin is fast becoming a formidable songwriter as well as a great singer and guitarist.”
“Alec, who has been my bandmate and songwriting partner since 2004 has battled personal adversity and challenges with his usual courage and fortitude, and remains one of my favourite songwriters and chordmasters of all time. Me, I’m still just writing and playing bass, waiting for the next Special Star.”
8. When can we expect the next single or EP from Satellite 79?
“Two more singles coming this year as well as an album, probably in August/September. Also early next year, in a weird and surprising twist, a reggae and ska album called Night Of The Zombie Surfer. ( I’m not kidding) Stay tuned…”
I would like to thank Kevin and Satellite 79 for this interview and I wish them all of the best with their future musical endeavors.
Watch this space for updates in the Music category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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