Star Kendrick talks about Geowulf
Interview conduct on February 27, 2018
by Dan LockeGeowulf
Toma Banjanin
Daniel Locke – Originally from Australia, you have both individually lived between Berlin, London & Gothenburg for the last six years. How did you get together? Tell me about the development of the band.
Star Kendrick,- We’ve been old friends for years and years. I (Star) was living in Gothenburg studying and then Berlin six months later and would visit London a lot on weekends. We’d write on weekends for fun. Put some songs on Triple J Unearthed just to see what happened and then yeah…. now we’re here!
How did you pick your name?
A pseudo reference to Beowulf a Scandinavian story. I was just obsessed with everything Swedish back then.
Tell me about your backgrounds?
Toma is half Cypriot and half Serbian. I’m half kiwi and Australian (so I guess really Irish, English or Scottish?) We been family friends for over 12 years. Toma is also with my sister. And we all live together. Pretty fun. Have just adopted a cat too called Jimmy. Total sweetheart.
Tell me how you started writing your first song together?
I’ve been writing half-job demos for about five years but didn’t think there was anything in them to warrant anything more. Toma liked them, he knows how to produce and is a brilliant writer so voila! We made them something. We wrote “Get You” first. It was done in a day in London.
Let’s talk about when you found out that “Saltwater” raked in 8 million streams on Spotify. Where were you and how did it feel?
I think when it reached 1 million it was pretty strange. You go, “Ahuh okay this is being received well, that’s so cool!” Anything after that is outrageous.
How did you pick Duncan Mills to produce your album?
Toma had met him at a party years before and thought he was a legend. When we got a list of producers to work with we said YES PLEASE!
Duncan is a producer, mixer, programmer, engineer and songwriter whose credits span from Spector, Peace, The Vaccines, Jake Bugg to Erol Alkan and James Murphy. Most recently he has been recording with new bands like you and Bad Sounds. Duncan was nominated for Breakthrough Producer Of The Year at the Music Producers Guild Awards in 2014. Any of these bands your favorite and why?
Geowulf
Yeah big fans of most of these bands!
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
Bob Marley, Meredith Brooks, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Gospel Music, Bob Dylan, CCR, Crowded House, Dire Straits etc. etc. etc.
Who influences you and why?
The above and also anything that is rad. Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Lemon Twigs, Fleet Foxes, Explosions in the Sky, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Mazzy Star etc etc. etc.
Where did you record your album and why?
Strong rooms cause Duncan is there.
Who designed your cover?
Joe Mortimer designed it and Tex Bishop took the photo.
How did you get signed to the label?
Geowulf
We had a freak experience where I randomly organized our first gig at a random venue in London to just do a stripped back version of our songs. We had a label rep there.
What instruments do each of you play?
Toma can play a lot of everything. I can play guitar and keys but I am not no master like Toma.
Any guilty pleasures your fans would be surprise you listen to?
Celine Dion
What is on your phone for music now?
Raveena, Ariel Pink, Cub Sport, Darkside, Cloud Control
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