Samuel Flynn Scott Covers Aldous Harding's 'Imagining My Man' For NZ Music Month

Samuel Flynn Scott of The Phoenix Foundation has revealed a sparkling solo rendition of Aldous Harding's resplendent 2017 tune 'Imagining My Man', the latest in a video series of covers of iconic local songs, released under lockdown conditions for NZ Music Month. The Phoenix Foundation's Buffalo turns 10 this year and they're celebrating with a jam-packed reissue release, featuring seven long forgotten tracks from the album's recording sessions. Buffalo 10 Year Anniversary Edition is out this June, and by the sounds of unearthed new singles 'One Million Rainbows' (first heard in Taika Waititi's Boy), 'Danzig Bro' and today's 'Anything Everything Done' (listen below), the reissue will be a classic within a classic. UTR assistant editor Annabel Kean flicked the Auckland-based songwriter a few prying questions about his lockdown life, and reflecting on Buffalo ten years down the track. Experience Scott's new video directed by Caroline Bay and scroll downwards to discover what he's been up to... 

Annabel Kean: 'Danzig Bro' is a beautiful song (as an aside - sorry about the myth busting - I googled shoot the freak, then thought about the banana stand in Arrested Development and fell down a rabbit hole). How did the seven unreleased tracks crop up? Had you totally forgotten about them?

Sam Scott: I loved the UTR investigation into my nonsensical improvised ramblings. Yeah I’d pretty much forgotten about those tracks until a few weeks ago when our manager was suggesting we put out some live stuff from that time. We just had the tunes laying around in our iTunes folders. They are mostly rough bounces, probably taken home on burnt CDs on a Friday evening after a week of Buffalo recording. 'Wave Machine' and 'Easter' we’d properly mixed and always intended to release in some form.

How do you feel now about Buffalo, ten years down the track?

I haven’t listened to the actual album in years. I think we are hoping to do an online listening party, so that will be very interesting for my ears. It always seemed one of our more consistent and “of a piece” LPs.

What have you been up to in lockdown? Could you give us one thing you'd recommend doing, and one thing you wouldn't recommend doing?

I don’t recommend making drastic changes to your facial hair that’s for sure. I’ve been recording a bit, sending tracks back and forth. That’s been good. I’ve probably gotten more satisfaction from just thoroughly tidying and reorganising my studio though to be honest. I’ve been cooking things I’ve never tried before and I think that’s been the case for a lot of people. If I can recommend anything it’s try something new and embrace your failures.

Who would be in your dream NZ music bubble?

Well I’m a pretty terrible drummer so it would be nice to have Chris O’Connor to come stay. Dave Dobbyn is the most amazing positive force to hang with so he’s in. I’ve been listening to a lot of Tiny Ruins so maybe Hollie could come too and she could play her Olympic Girls Solo album live for us in front of the fire every night. The whole family would like that and I’ll pay her in sour dough. Pretty terrible deal for Hollie so maybe I can just keep listening to it on Spotify.

'Buffalo 10 Year Anniversary Edition' is out on Friday 5th June via Universal Music New Zealand.