Crow Questions: DEPECHE CHOAD

Updated: Sep 18, 2019

One of the most fun nights you can have in Aberdeen is at a Depeche Choad gig, from the energetic upbeat sing along choruses to the downright bizarre but engaging avant punk pop; there is something for everyone at a choad show.....

Who are you, what do you play and where are you from?

Stew: I'm Stewart. Lead singer and keyboard player. I also sometimes play guitar, melodica and hit some samples pads. I'm from Spearfish, South Dakota.

Dunc: Duncan. I am the main lead vocalist and drummer. I am from Aberdeenshire.

Camie: Camie/Bass/Aberdeen.

Dream Magic: Dream Magic, formerly known as Choady Rhodes. I play guitar and hail from Aberdeen or Hull, East Yorkshire depending on who I am talking to.

What sort of music do you make?

Dunc: Girth Rock.

Camie: Girth Rock.

Stew: Have a listen for yourself to find out! Our new album is out now on Spotify, Bandcamp...all those sites. We've also got veedeos on YouTubes.

DM: Girth rock/punk rock/Bosnian folk/noisy pop.

What are your influences?

Dunc: Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Stiff Little Fingers, Fountains of Wayne, Chuck Prophet, Warren Zevon, Eels, Fugazi, Mulligan and O’Hare.

DM: Personally a mix of 80s/early 90s American alt-rock/punk, late 70s post-punk, 60s garage punk and surf. And doom metal.

Stew: Dan Deacon, David Lee Roth, Steven Tyler, Fred Durst. I pretty much like all genres of music. I've been listening to a lot of glitch and breakcore stuff recently. Check out SpongeBob Squarewave and Venetian Snares.

Camie: Nirvana, New Order, Clash, Talking Heads.

What is the song writing process like for you?

DM: Amazing!

Dunc: It varies. Sometimes it starts with a melody in my head which may become a guitar line, keyboard part, bass line or vocal hook. Sometimes it starts with a concept about what we’d like to write about and some lyrics. Often it begins with something that comes out of jamming together. We record a rough idea into someone’s phone and all go and think about what else it could be. There’s no set process but it seems to come easy to the four of us to work it all out together. Sometimes there’s a competition to see who can come up with the best new bit to fit into an idea we already have.

Camie: I think of any baselines that might be worth using/thinking of any baselines that will suit a melody Stew/Dunc come up with or to go along with a riff Kirk went with.

Stew: Song writing is the best part about being in a band. I wish I could quit my job, jam and play music in our practice space for the rest of my life.

Do you have anything new in the works?

DM: Yes.

Dunc: Our next album is written so we’ll probably start recording it towards the end of 2019/beginning of 2020. There are multiple new ideas for songs every week. If you’re willing to write a song about anything you’ll never be stuck for content.

Camie: We are a conveyor belt of new ideas, We have material for a new album or maybe even two.

Stew: We've got a new song about a bass playing refugee in the pipeline which is fun to play.

Was there any record labels you loved or still do?

Dunc: I’ve always liked the ethos of Dischord records and a lot of the stuff they put out. Now there is no money in music anyway but at the time they were standing up for the artist and the listeners against the exploitative record industry. I listen to a lot of American music and Yep Rock are a label who have a lot of artists that I like on their roster.

Stew: Fit Like Records. Ice Cream for Crow.

Camie: Certainly anything Sub Pop. I'll always have a soft spot for them.

DM: Too many! Sub Pop, Rough Trade, Tamla Motown, SST, Dischord, Finders Keepers, Chemikal Underground, Castle Face, Pressure Sounds. Earache spring to mind.

What would your dream gig be? Venue/city/lineup?

Stew: I love playing any gigs - it's a dream to be involved with any show. If anyone booking gigs likes our music get in touch!

Dunc: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Camie: CBGBs when it was not a tacky tourist attraction. With Fugazi, Talking Heads, New Order. To match us, maybe playing with Frank Zappa and Butthole Surfers.

DM: Free at the Dee or the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. Or Plough Lane when AFC Wimbledon move there.

Any local venues or bands you would recommend ?

Stew: So many good local bands - Min Diesel, Before Stories, Seas, Starry, Karma for Vandals, Casper Heyzeus, Ramona, Tryptamines, Lord Leper, Broken Rivers, Bad Sex, Deadloss Superstar...sorry if I've missed anyone.

Dunc: Seas, Starry blow my mind every time I see them. Min Diesel’s forthcoming album is sounding brilliant.

Camie: The New Min diesel album for sure. Agree with Seas Starry and obviously Casper Heyzeus. There is a few venues but none to really recommend. Go visit them all. Cellar and Krakatoa, throw in Musical Vision as well.

DM: Aside from the ones already mentioned, I really like Death Watch and Kitchen Cynics. In terms of venues I've enjoyed playing Lemon Tree too.

Any up coming gigs?

DM: 27th Sep with Damn Teeth & Casper Heyzeus at The Wig, 25th October at Krakatoa in with Velveteen Riot & Ramona.