Chills in the air
With age comes wisdom and reflection, and for Kiwi band The Chills, they have a music legacy to be proud of.
The band is touring in support of its sixth album, Snow Bound, and will bring their distinctive sound to Manawatu¯ tomorrow.
Lead singer and songwriter Martin Phillipps, 55, said the new album was from the perspective of someone who has had ‘‘a lifetime of experience’’ to draw on.
When the Dunedin band started in 1980, there was a ‘‘big musical outburst in Dunedin’’, Phillipps said.
It was soon dubbed ‘‘The Dunedin Sound’’, and The Chills were at its forefront.
Phillipps said not many bands were recognised for their own sound, which hasmade The Chills special.
The band was trying to establish themselves in an era when FM radio was not keen to play New Zealand music.
‘‘Even when we had singles in the top 10, they would substitute it for something else,’’ Phillipps said.
The Chills not only gained a following in New Zealand but also internationally, leading the way for other Kiwi bands.
Phillipps said back when they started, people were more into following the charts, whereas now they’re more prepared to search out the music they’re drawn to.
‘‘I think the main reason we survived now is because we didn’t really care about what was popular but making music with real substance.’’
For Snow Bound, they wanted to tour not only in the big cities but also the provincial centres.
‘‘So many international acts will only play main centres.
‘‘You just get a much better, genuine response when they know you’ve made the effort.’’
The Chills perform at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North tomorrow night.