Interview: Miss June Reports In From New York!

We here at 13th Floor were thrilled when we heard that Auckland band Miss June had been signed to a label and was touring overseas.

With their new album due out September 6th and concerts in Wellington and Auckland at the beginning of August, The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda thought this would be a good time to give the band a call and see how everything was going.

Marty spoke to lead singer Annabel Liddell as she was cruising the streets of New York on her way to a gig, before heading out to LA.

You can listen to the conversation here:

Or, you can read a transcription of the interview here:

MD: So How’s it been going?

AL: Oh man, it’s been a dream. It’s been a very tired, exhausting fun dream.

MD: You’ve been in Australia, you’ve been over in the UK and now you’re in the States, right?

AL: Yeah, we’re going to LA tomorrow so the show tonight, I think its going to be show number 23.

MD: So do the folks in New York know who you are? Or are you just kind of taking them by surprise?

AL: A little bit of both. There’s definitely like friends coming. But our label is also based here so there are people from the label and booking agents and stuff who know us. But then with the general crowds, it just been a new crowd every show. It’s been really cool.

MD: Aare you getting a chance to cruise around the city as well?

AL: You know, not so much. I cruised around a lot in London because I used to live there and know it so well. The boys really relaxed in London and now I’m the one chilling out and the boys are going out quite a bit.

MD: So what’s going on to the band? You guys are signed to what labels and what’s going on?

AL: We’ve just signed to French Kiss in New York, which is a subsidiary of Sony. And we’re with The Orchard in Australia and the UK. And Sony in New Zealand.

MD: How did that come along? Did they come to you? Or were you guys reaching out to labels for months, or what?

AL: No, it’s kind of just all happened. We played Big Sound in Brisbane…in Australia and the guys in The Orchard came and saw us play that and then one of our friends in Auckland, we sent them a couple of our singles because he was kind of helping manage us a little bit. And then he was, “Oh, I got some buddies in New York who would love this, send it to them.” And they were like, “We want this, we want to sign them.” And then, conveniently, they were a subsidiary of Sony and so is The Orchard. So, they reached out to the Orchard and said, “Have you seen these guys?” And The Orchard said, “Yes, we want to sign them as well.” So, it was really strangely perfect.

MD: Well it seems to be working out. I saw you guys were featured in Rolling Stone a couple of weeks ago.

AL: Were we?

MD: Yeah, when your video came out. I would very excited about it.

AL: Really? Are you sure? You’re sure you’re not talking about The New York Times? Was it actually The Rolling Stone?

MD: I’m pretty sure. I’ll double check when I get off the phone, but I’m pretty sure that’s where I saw it. I was like, “Whoa! These guys are hoppin’ man!”

Note: It was Consequence Of Sound. Click here to see the feature.  

AL: Oh man, I haven’t even seen it. You know what they say, “Never Google yourself!”

MD: I hear you. So how’s the rest of the band holding up?

AL: Oh, they’re doing good. We’re all pretty much on the same level in terms of tiredness and yeah, tired grumpiness, but nah, we’re pretty happy.

MD: And so, recording wise, what is the plan? Have you got tracks that you’ve already done? Or are you writing songs? How do things stand there?

AL: The album is finished and it’s set to release on September 6th.

MD: Excellent. How’s it sounding?

AL: It’s sounding pretty cool. We’re excited to release it. I mean, it’s like my child.

MD: Where did you record it?

AL: So, we recorded it at The Lab in Auckland with Tom Healey.

MD: Cool. Right down the street from here.

AL: And then it mastered by a guy called Dave Gardener over in LA, at Infrasonic Sound.

MD: Right. And song-wise – is it mostly stuff that we know from your live shows? Is there new things on there? What’s the deal?

AL: Um, it’s a combination. Our live show as it made up now as we’re currently touring, it’s made up of a lot of stuff off the album. But our live set, yes, it’s mostly comprised of music from the album. Plus, a couple from the Matriarchy EP. But there’s eleven songs on the album, so there’s a lot on there that people have never heard.

MD: Now you’re playing here in August, right?

AL: Yeah, we are. We’re coming back to do some shows.

MD: The Whammy Bar, I believe. That will be very cool. Is it different playing in front of foreign audiences? Do you have to do anything different or do you just kind of letting it loose?

AL: Nah. We always just do us.

MD: Have you met any other bands, any interesting people while you’re driving around?

AL: Yeah. When we were in Australia we were touring with Ruby Fields, who is a fantastic Australian band. And we became very good friends with them, which was awesome. And here, we’ve played with lots of great bands. We played with a band called Pom Pom Squad on Monday and they were really cool.

MD: That’s a good name.

AL: Yeah.

MD: And what about in London? Anything exciting happen over there?

AL: Yeah. London was really cool. It’s been so long I don’t remember where we played in London. We played Old Blue Last and we played in Brixton and then we played Bushstock Festival. Yeah, London was cool. The bands we played with in London were sort of… we didn’t talk to them as much, I don’t feel. Probably because we had flown 25 hours to get to London and we were just exhausted.

MD: Fair enough. And how does it feel like having, like a machine around you, working for you. I know up until now you’ve been everything on your own. And now you have this team of people arranging things for you. Is it cool?

AL: Yeah, that’s exactly right. And it does feel like a machine. There’s so many people. People popping in every day. It’s like, “Hi! I want to help you with this…” and it’s just like – Omigosh! It does take some getting used to.

MD: So what are you looking forward to in LA?

AL: I’m looking forward to the two days we have off!

MD: Very good.

AL: And then I’m looking forward to playing School Night on a Monday, which should be really cool.

MD: So when do you make it back to New Zealand?

AL: I have family in New York, so I’m staying on in New York until end of July. I’m coming back to play those shows in August. And then were back for August to play some shows. And then we’re heading off on tour again in September.

MD: Man! That’s when the album’s out, right? September?

AL: Yep.

MD: You doing a vinyl release as well.

AL: Yesss!

MD: Good, excellent! Well, we expect to see you up at The 13th Floor sometime between now and then.

AL: Yeah! I’d love to come back. I love when people talk to us about that, about that live session.

MD: That video is awesome!

AL: Yeah! So good.

MD: Alrighty… thanks for taking the time to talk to me. It sounds like you guys are having a good time. And very busy. So, get some rest in LA and have fun in New York tonight. I wish I was there.

AL: Nice talking to you, Marty.