It’s been a slow but steady journey into the spotlight for Perth band Snowman, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
From the outset, Snowman’s story has been an interesting one. Four souls from each corner of the globe converged on the shores of the Indian Ocean in, of all places, Perth, Western Australia. Bonded by their passion for music, they are living proof that regardless of differences, places, spaces and time, creativity can (and will) flourish.
Strong believers that Perth’s isolation isn’t a burden, as many might think, but in fact an advantage, Snowman has had its share of drama too – the pinnacle being a split during the recording of their latest album The Horse, the Rat and the Swan. But they have come out on top.
I spoke with Joe recently about the bands progression into album number two, dark energy, dumb consumers, holiday romance and that near split of the band.
So first up, tell me how you feel about your new album.
I am happy that it's finished and released so that we can put it behind us.
My first impression of the album is that it was a lot darker than its predecessor. Was it a conscious decision to make such a drastic change?
At some stage after the release of the first album we discussed what we did and didn't want to do the next time around. Those ideas developed over the two years that followed. It turned out darker because of what was going through our collective head at the time.
In your bio, you talk about the album having a dark energy, an urgency. Where do these feelings come from creatively?
There were certain pressures that we placed upon ourselves during the writing of the album. Those pressures soon got the better of us and we became quite engulfed by this paranoid energy. We basically locked ourselves in the house and wrote this album and tried to avoid outside influence. This much internalising can fuck with one’s head. I suppose this may have oozed out into the songs.
I have also read a quote saying you think the consumer “is rather dumb these days”. Do you care to explain?
I would say that most people are complacent when it comes to hearing music or searching for music that [challenges] them. Sometimes I think it’s good to challenge the listener [and] let them do some thinking.
Tell me about your vocal arrangements. Forgive my ignorance, but sometimes it’s a bit hard to tell who is singing on the new album.
We have never really liked the idea of one vocalist. We like to have a variety of ways of delivering an idea. Let’s keep the mystery alive about who sings what [and] leave some questions unanswered.
You are all very multi-instrumental. So tell me a bit about those arrangements.
We will hear certain sounds in our heads for certain songs and we will try and match those sounds and replicate them with what ever instruments, whether we can play them or not. It's just a matter of translating an idea in your head into reality before is slips away forever.
As a Perth band, you have spoken about the hidden benefits of operating “outside the glare of the spotlight”. What do you make of bands who are shot straight into the spotlight on their first song, then follow it up with rubbish?
Perhaps they are thrust into the spotlight too soon; before they have developed an idea of what it is they want to create. We’ve had time to develop a strong sense of what it is we do. A code if you will. These codes should take years to develop, not months.
What has the response to your music been like in the eastern states, compared with Perth?
Better I would say. We have a long and tumultuous marriage with Perth, but a holiday romance with the eastern states. This analogy works on many levels.
Anything you would like to say about rumours Snowman’s existence is on the brink?
We split up and then reformed during the making of this album. It was not an easy album to make for several reasons. Our sanity was tested.
So your next move is to London later this year? What prompted this?
We need to throw ourselves into the deep end to see if we can swim. Break out of our comfort zones and put more pressure on ourselves to create something new.
More at
thesnowmanempire.com.