We recently caught up with William Borrie about his solo project Deathdream. The now Dunedin based shoe-gazer released his second EP Night Terror earlier in the year and has a “sister EP” currently in the works. He enlightens us on 90s emo, Dunedin life and his favourite NZ music....
Hello, hello – how’s it going?
Hey man. Pretty good, pretty good.
You’re Dunedin based correct? How’s everything going down there?
Yeah, I moved down here for uni start of this year. It's a nice place. Just emerged out of winter a few weeks ago, so the weather is a lot more bearable.
How are you finding the Dunedin community at the moment? Better or worse than it has been in recent years?
Everyone down here seems to be really genuine and down-to-earth in their nature, which I think is a bit different to the North Island (not to be disrespectful of most of the people up there, who are very nice), but then again I might not have been around here long enough yet. I'm not too sure if it's better or worse. I used to live here when I was younger, and from what I can recall it hasn't changed much and people say it never changes, so I guess it's the same as it ever was, which is a nice aspect in the community.
So it’s just you who makes up Deathdream – do you perform live with a band or how does that go?
Deathdream is a one-man-band at the moment, well, it's not even really a band because I haven't done anything live with it as yet. Sometime in the future I will scout out a decent rhythm section and have a crack at the live arena, but don't expect anything too soon.
Why do it solo?
I was in a couple bands before I started writing solo, but when you're in a band you have to make compromises on what you want to sound like etc., which isn't a bad thing, it is what makes a band a band, I just decided to do my own thing really.
What other bands/projects have you been involved in?
Body 125 and recently Trampoline Dreamers with James Stuteley (Capsul/Body 125/Mammal Airlines/he's basically an all round rock god).
How would you describe the Deathdream sound?
I really don't like talking about myself, but if I had to catagorize it I would say it draws influence from Bailterspace, Dead C, Slowdive, Bethany Curve, anything with loads of dark ambient undertones to it.
What are you listening to at the moment?
A few months ago I discovered 90's emo music, so it's all I've been listening to i.e. Cap'n Jazz, Boys Life, Mineral, American Football etc. Really amazing stuff.
What is your writing/recording process?
I usually come up with a few chords for a song and maybe a couple of lines of vocals (if that). Then I record that and make up everything else around it. I think it usually takes me about 3, maybe 4, or so hours to record/write each song, but it varies. I might write a chord progression, forget about it for a couple of months, then come back to it, but yeah most of it is spur of the moment.
Your Dream Collaboration?
Myself on guitar, Alister Parker (Bailterspace/Gordons) playing some chords, and then Lachlan and Michael of Die! Die! Die! doing what they do. Would be epic.
Earlier this year you released the Night Terror EP – tell us about that…
It was my first serious attempt at having my own sound and mixing and mastering, or trying to, the best I possibly could. I'm still pretty happy with it. I managed to persuade a guy in Brazil to put it up on his shoegaze blog, which is well known in the right internet circles, and as a result, I seemed to get a lot attention. I must admit I felt the afterglow when I had over 40 plays on myspace in one day.
Any releases coming in the near future?
In the process of making a new release, possibly a sister EP to Night Terror. I've got two tracks done so far, just need to find the time to do more.
So far you’ve put everything out for free download through Papaiti – how’d you hook up with those guys?
Papaiti is the brain child of my friend Giles Thompson. James helps him out as well, doing bootlegs and stuff. I went to school with them, so it sort of happened from there.
Are you continuing with the whole free thing, or are you looking at a physical release?
I will probably always do the free release for a few reasons: I hardly buy music anymore because I can't afford to, so I wouldn't really expect that people buy my own, and even if I did sell my music exclusively, people would just download it anyway (I know I would), plus the aspect of it being free allows for a lot more distribution over the internet, blogs or whatever. I did talk to Giles a little while ago about possibly making a physical version of the next release for those die hard fans, but its not a concrete plan at the moment.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learnt musically in the last year?
Just the other day I learnt this new tuning, so now I can easily rip off American Football.
What’s the best concert you have ever been to?
Probably Die! Die! Die! on their Promises, Promises tour at the Eye of Night in Wanganui. 40-50 people crammed into a small room. I was deaf for two days afterward.
Best or most memorable gig you have played?
In Body 125 at the San Fran w/ Goat Calls (awesome band)
If you could share the stage with anyone (band or person) who would it be?
Bailterspace
Most underrated band at the moment?
Coate from Christchurch. I've only heard one of their songs, but they're amazing.
The future holds…?
More music and studylink payments.
The state of music in NZ is….
In a really good way. Loads of up-and-coming bands. See them before they're famous.
Matt Williamson
