Interview: 4 Questions on '4EPs' - Sivle Talk, Sogg, U-No Juno, Vagina Dry

Recognising Ōtepoti Dunedin's noisy indie-rock heritage while valiantly forging onwards, 4EPs is a scene-defining collection spotlighting a new generation of southern artists. Out today on double vinyl LP and compact disc (featuring bonus tracks) from DUN Records, 4EPs assigns one side each to four new bodies of work — Sivle Talk's CRYBABY, Sogg's Freezer Thaw, U-No Juno's "you know", and a self-titled offering from Vagina Dry.

All four acts are uniting for release shows in Ōtepoti, Ōtautahi and Geraldine, starting tonight with an all-ages gig at Pioneer Hall. If you want listen to 4EPs in full, you'll have to head along to get a physical copy and / or visit good local record stores, as the collection isn't receiving a Spotify release (the EPs will eventually be out individually on Bandcamp).

Oscar Toy (The Laurel Canyon Sound) whipped up four pointed questions about 4EPs for each act to consider, plus snappy intros for all the artists involved. Scroll down for their perspectives and support this staunchly independent project by getting amongst...

Sivle Talk, Sogg, U-No Juno and Vagina Dry present
4EPs Release Celebration Shows

Friday 3rd July - Pioneer Hall, Dunedin (all-ages)
Saturday 4th July - The Crown, Dunedin
Friday 7th August - Geraldine Cinema, Geraldine (all-ages)
Saturday 8th August - Space Academy, Christchurch
Sunday 9th August - Space Academy, Christchurch (2pm, all-ages)

Tickets on sale HERE via UTR (ticket & double vinyl LP option available)

Sivle Talk - CRYBABY

Epic and dramatic gothic dance punk a go-go. 

What kind of energy is your band contributing to 4EPs?

Unbridled Gen Z angst.
Cathartic songs to comfort the outcasts.
Rage for the systematic injustices we’re forced to watch.

What do you feel binds all the artists together on 4EPs?

We’re from the same place.
We make loud guitar music.
We’re dedicated to our community.
We’re dedicated to our art.
I don’t believe that music is a hobby for any of us; we’re in it for the long haul.

What do you think about this style of physical focused, no Spotify rollout?

Thirty years ago, all you needed to be able to listen to a CD was a CD player. Today, all you need to be able to listen to a CD is a CD player.
Thirty years from now, all you will need to be able to listen to a CD is a CD player.
CDs are an extremely common form of media, so it is not hard to get access to a CD player. CDs are not region locked, so you can listen to them anywhere in the world.
CDs remain just as accessible now as they were in the past and will be in the future.
Can you say the same about any streaming service? All of them are continuously price gouging and restricting features as time goes on. How accessible will Spotify be in five years? Will Spotify even exist in thirty years?
Fortunately, it seems that consumers are finally realising that music streaming services aren’t all that convenient.
They’re expensive, they lock quality of life features beyond further paywall tiers, they’re absolutely bloated with AI (even the “good ones” with AI tagging), they shoehorn in weird features, their search engines suck, Spotify’s user interface is absolutely atrocious, and as mentioned above — there is no certainty in how long you actually have access to the music you’re paying for.
So why not spend that Spotify premium charge on a new CD or a Bandcamp release every month instead? Bandcamp has a super straight forward streaming app that actually works (for now, at least) and that way you’re still supporting the artist.
If you want to still have loads of music but can’t afford to buy everything you want; buy the independently released records and pirate everything that’s owned by a corporate label.

Do you believe in civic pride?

“Civic pride” means different things to different people. I wear the fact that I’m from Ōtepoti as a badge of honour; not because I love the city, but in spite of it.
Am I proud of my hometown? No.
Too many awful people are in charge of the decision-making bodies in this city, the alcoholism is excessive and upsetting, third spaces are eroding, our incredible nature and coastal landscapes are slowly being eaten by the mining industry, there are no career opportunities post-university AND there’s almost nothing to do here for fun. Why would I be proud of that?
BUT! Am I proud of my community? Yes.
I live amongst and work with the kindest and most talented people in the world, who are all doing what they can to make things better. I mean, it’s mindblowing that this project is getting the reception it has, let alone the fact that it even exists - coming from a city where the arts get almost zero attention or funding.
This kind of thing made in this kind of place is only ever possible as the extreme labour of love it is, and I’m very lucky to be a part of it! :)

Sogg - Freezer Thaw

Total noise chaos merchants flying the flag for Rock and Roll. 

What kind of energy is your band contributing to 4EPs?

Scare your nan kind of energy.

What do you feel binds all the artists together on 4EPs?

Probably that were all relatively easy to work and that we're all kind of a representation of our corner of the Ōtepoti music scene.

What do you think about this style of physical focused, no Spotify rollout?

It's great! Spotify and streaming services in general don't really care about musicians. We'll probably make more money off of a single CD sale than we would make in an entire year of off streaming so it's almost a no brainer. You also look cooler with records than with a Spotify premium subscription.

Do you believe in civic pride?

Music scene, yes! Council, no.

U-No Juno - "you know"

Sparkly-shiny shoegaze alt-rockers in the vein of North Island bands like Dropper, Ringlets, et al. 

What kind of energy is your band contributing to 4EPs?

The melodic side of the record. Songs with choruses and a feel-good energy.

What do you feel binds all the artists together on 4EPs?

All the artists on 4EPs focus on different genres creating a diverse sound. Although the genres largely differ, there is a sense of local influence within everyone’s music. We share a lot of music; and influence each other.

What do you think about this style of physical focused, no Spotify rollout?

It’s important to focus a release to a physical format. Music has become so accessible nowadays through major corporations that give nothing to artists. Providing a release people can actually own and hold is such an important factor to supporting smaller artists.

Do you believe in civic pride?

Civic pride is essential for building pathways for artists, especially for smaller city’s within Aotearoa. Ōtepoti holds history within its venues and music scene which creates influence we choose to draw from. Having a community that will support each other is a great source of civic pride.

Vagina Dry - self-titled

Maximum buzzsaw guitars over prodigious punk backing. 

What kind of energy is your band contributing to 4EPs?

Screamy, riot grrrly energy, like cherry on a hardcore cupcake.

What do you feel binds all the artists together on 4EPs?

All of our passion for music and art. We all have a vision for what message we want to get across with our music.

What do you think about this style of physical focused, no Spotify rollout?

It forces people offline and back into their community. Supporting local artists, record stores and people.

Do you believe in civic pride?

I think what makes me proud in a place is the people. If you have kind, creatives who are willing to get out of their comfort zone and create something, and active supporters, any place can become great. Just so happens to be Ōtepoti.