A Q&A with The Chinaskis
Bittersweet Anglo-American power-pop…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
Our album Songs for the Scunnered – “scunnered” is a Scottish slang word meaning “p*ssed off, world-weary, tired”. It felt like an appropriate tongue-in-cheek way to describe the music, to be honest. I like to loosely describe us as “bittersweet power-pop”: loud guitars, an emphasis on melody and harmony, and inspiration from decades of pop, rock and alternative music. My favourite artists have always combined sad or angry lyrics with beautiful, poppy arrangements (think The Smiths, Warren Zevon, Teenage Fanclub, Big Star), and we try to combine big harmony-laden pop arrangements with the sound of a bitter-sounding Scotsman singing over them.
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
I started the album with a Scottish version of the band back in 2016 – then in 2017 I moved to the USA to live and work in Dallas, TX. The album was on hold while I got situated and built up a musical network in my new hometown, and it was 2022 when I finally got the thing finished with the help of John Dufilho, who’s an amazing songwriter, producer and performer based here in Dallas. It was definitely worth the wait though – to hear my songs sounding so big and radio-friendly is still such a buzz over a year after the album came out.
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it? If you produced it yourselves what do enjoy most about producing your own material?
Engineering and editing was done by the bassist from the Scottish version of the band, Neil Thomas. Neil’s an absolute polymath – he’s an incredible arranger, writer and performer in his own right with his alternative metal band Caustic Waves – but after I moved to the USA he spent weeks working on the tracks as a surprise for me, which still makes me tear up a bit when I think about it. After Neil had done all the grunt work, John came in and mixed it, and the songs really started to shine.
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
As a songwriter, it’s all about “earworm” – writing a hook or lyric that burrows into the listener’s brain and provokes an emotional reaction. I’d love our listeners to remember our songs and the lovely juxtaposition of these beautiful-sounding arrangements with the angry and seemingly miserable Glaswegian singing over them!
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
It’s a cliché to say this, but for me, the guitar is just a divining rod to the songs that are floating out there in the ether. I’ll grab a guitar on a break from work and just start bashing out chords and melody, add some nonsensical lyrics (that I’ll then rewrite) – and if I’m lucky, I’ll have picked up a good song in the process. Once the song is written I typically hear the arrangement in my head, so a big fun part of the recording process is trying to get that sound in my head down in a mix!
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Music is a huge part of my life. From the moment I wake up to when I’m working, driving, or at the gym, I’m always listening to something. I’m constantly on the lookout for new sounds that inspire me or give me a fresh perspective on songwriting. Some of the artists who have had the biggest impact on me include R.E.M., The Replacements, Bob Mould, Neil Young, CSNY, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, St. Vincent, Biffy Clyro, The Smiths, Bob Dylan, Rocket from the Crypt, and Joni Mitchell.
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
Being in the USA, there’s so many great places I’d like to play. The Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, the Wiltern in Los Angeles, the Troubadour… that would be great. And I’d tour wherever our music is big – I love travelling and connecting with people who enjoy the music.
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
Check out ‘Bought and Sold’ – it’s our big radio-friendly song and still gets played on local radio a lot.
What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
I have a pretty good day job, I’m in my forties – so for me it’s about playing to good crowds, getting the music out there and hoping the songs have some emotional resonance with people. Let’s face it, none of us are in it for the money!
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Elvis accent* “THANGYOUVERYMUCCHHH!”
For more info about The Chinaskis visit thechinaskis.com
