Carb On Carb Share Video 'Annual Leave' + Interview

Tāmaki Makaurau emo-punks Carb On Carb have revealed the latest in a superb run of videos drawn from their second studio album for ages, released to significant global acclaim almost exactly a year ago. Directed by Karin Yamasaki, the new clip sees the team of Nicole Gaffney and James Stuteley getting away from the exhausting 9 to 5 daily grind, playing their song in the midst of nature's splendour as well as a house party in waiting. You can catch the duo celebrating the release in style at Whammy Bar this Friday, supported by buds BEING., Ana Te Kōtiro, and the only live performance we're likely to see from newcomers Blush Juliet, featuring Gaffney and Stuteley as members, who dropped their shoegazey debut single 'Slide Into View' yesterday. We had a short chat via email with the pair before they jet away for their first ever tour of Japan, starting in Shibuya, Tokyo in mid-May – experience the video for 'Annual Leave', read their words below and catch them in Auckland while you can...

Carb On Carb
Friday 3rd May - Whammy Bar, Auckland w/ Being., Ana Te Kōtiro, Blush Juliet
Tickets available HERE via UTR

What themes are you exploring with 'Annual Leave' and how did your new video come together? You've had a really well-paced rollout of stylish videos, are there any more clips on the horizon?

There are sort of three main strands to the song - one stemming from a book i read of interviews with people in hospices where the most common regret was spending too much time working and not enough with family etc which really stuck with me, a second is questioning the value of alienating work - whether working not for any intrinsic value in the job, but always instrumental value (read: disposable income) is worth more than spending time with friends etc, and the last is us trying to reconcile our decisions not to do that with peers who do.

No more music videos on the horizon, back to focusing on writing music!

How did you both become involved with Blush Juliet? Will you be playing essentially two shows this Friday?

Archi Banal is a close friend of ours (an old friend of Nicole's from their high school band Moron Says What) - and asked us to help her play some songs she and Emannuel had written. We're just taking a back seat and doing what we're told, which is a pleasant change to be honest. Yeah haha opening and closing the show but it's really Archi and Emmanuel's thing, we're just the backing band.

NZ Music Month seems like an ideal time to take stock of what's happening in our community - what issues do you feel urgently need addressing in NZ music culture?

Though there has been a lot of attention about sexism, sexual assault and diversity lately, they still need urgent and continuing addressing so that a new safer space and inclusive culture can eventually become entrenched.

Moreover, having an all ages establishment like Palmerston North's The Stomach in every New Zealand city could help build these healthy communities while also being an incredible resource and inspiration for young NZ musicians.

What's the plan for your shows in Japan? Have you been there before? What's next on the touring front?

Never been there before. The plan is to enjoy ourselves, take it all in, make some new friends and find some new Japanese emo bands to get into! After that we're going to relax a bit, but pretty likely to jump the ditch again before the end of the year.