MNZ Interview: Cross Section S03 / E07 – Static

Aiming to dissect the cross section between the creative process and the industry side, Cross Section is an exciting interview series hosted by Shannon Coulomb.

Kirikiriroa band Static started in 2015 while the members were still in high school. They began by playing covers at local shows and quickly moved into writing original music. Over the years, the band has played countless gigs across Aotearoa, released the Pulling The Trigger EP and singles like He Lied To Me and Get A Job while staying active with regular rehearsals. In 2023, they completed their first national tour with support from the NZ Music Commission. This past Saturday, they marked their 10-year anniversary with a show at Last Place in Hamilton, bringing together friends, family, and fans to celebrate a decade of making music together. With more plans in the works, Static continues to look ahead. We spoke before they celebrated their 10th anniversary.

What does Static’s creative process look like these days? Has it evolved much since those early high school days back in 2015?
Most of the time we screw around and find out. To elaborate on that, one of us will bring an idea up and we’ll all throw ourselves into it to create a full song. When we started off writing our own music it took a while to come up with anything whole, but since then we have improved our workflow and now we can solidify the basis of something new in the space of a band practice. Our creativity and style has also changed over time and we’ve found ourselves becoming more experimental with our ideas. Something that hasn’t changed since we first started in 2015 is the consistency of our band practices – around 2–3 practices a week. This has allowed us to stay tight both musically and as friends.

Do you apply the same creative mindset to other aspects of being a band – for example, how you approach promotion, social media, or organising gigs like your 10-year show?
When it comes to promoting and organising gigs, we still try to have fun and be creative. On social media, there’s a balance of trying to stay current while also not losing ourselves or burning out. There’s a boring side to running a business too (the admin stuff), but balance is important for us to stay motivated in that aspect as well.

Is your songwriting approach pretty locked in by now, or does it still shift depending on the song or release?
It’s always been the same process of the boys coming up with the music and Sinaea (our singer and lyricist) either diving into her poems and finding something that aligns with the feeling of the song, or more frequently, by listening and writing whatever lyrics the music brings forward. This very reactive approach to songwriting helps give space for each individual member to bring their own ideas to the group and build on them together. It’s a process we really enjoy and one we’re always excited to revisit and develop – it brings out the best parts of ourselves.

Over the years, what qualities have you come to admire most in other bands or artists you’ve shared stages with?
We’ve always admired other bands’ stylistic choices. We really respect those that show authenticity, creativity, and humility. How a band performs live has always been something we appreciate – if they can bring out this intense energy from the audience through their presence, that shows a lot.

If you could team up with any other NZ act for a dream collaboration, who would it be – and why?
As Hamilton locals, Devilskin is a massive inspiration for us, so they’d easily be our number one dream collaboration. We reckon we could have some mind-blowing duets together! We’d also love to play alongside Alien Weaponry if we got the opportunity – their take on metal incorporating Te Reo Māori and cultural imagery has been hugely influential for the NZ music scene and seems to have prompted a boost in hardcore creativity over the last decade.

With Static turning 10, how do you balance focusing on the moment (like this show at Last Place) with thinking about the next chapter? Is there a wider plan in the works?
We have to take time to stay in the moment and release new music while also building our brand and looking toward the future. We all have different strengths within the band, so applying the best parts of ourselves is really important and helps us stay productive. The band is also fortunate to have opportunities offered to us from other muso friends, so it’s not always a matter of us looking. There’s a rough plan in the works for the coming years that we’re working toward.

Where have you found the most success when it comes to reaching local fans? Has any of that translated to international listeners?
Live shows have always been the best way for us to reach a local audience. The past couple of years we’ve really prioritised playing more shows around Aotearoa, not just in our hometown, Kirikiriroa (as much as we love playing in the Tron – hometown shows always go hard!). Since we haven’t played any shows overseas yet, we don’t have much of an international audience, but hopefully that will change as we keep playing together. Given the opportunity, we would jump right at it!

Have any NZ resources like Muzic.NZ, MMF Aotearoa, or APRA/AMCOS played a meaningful role in your journey so far?
As a band, we’ve registered with APRA and were very fortunate to get funding from the NZ Music Commission for our first tour in 2023. Making the most of these online resources has been a great way of building local connections. We hope to utilise these resources even more as we grow our career in the industry.

Have any of these tools or communities helped you better shape how Static presents itself online – or cracked open new opportunities?
The people behind the scenes – sound techs, photographers, and event organisers – are the backbone of the gigs we play, so we are extremely appreciative of all their support in making events run smoothly and preserving those memories online. The relationships we’ve built within the NZ music community have opened so many doors for us, each one leading to more opportunities. We’re stoked to be growing alongside all the other artists (not just musicians) involved in this industry.

Lastly, are there any resources or bits of advice you’d recommend to up-and-coming NZ bands learning to navigate both the music and the business?
Get yourself out there! Don’t be afraid to challenge your boundaries. Invest in yourself – whether it’s lessons or trying something new (and probably scary), find a way to grow your art. Sometimes this can be a long-term investment, but if it’s where your heart is, it’s always worth it. Stay humble, be honest, be genuine, and stay true to you.

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Shannon Coulomb is the Head of Music at Birkenhead College (Auckland) and Curriculum Specialist for music education at AUT University. He is also a member of Experimental rock band Impostor Syndrome.

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