Hey there, who are we speaking to and what do you do in Napier?
Nelson here, singer, guitarist and songwriter.
You’re launching your debut single, Shake! Shake! Shake! on Friday. How large a journey has the band ventured to get here, and what can people expect from the show?
Bass guitarist James Taylor and I have played together since primary school and gathered some talented musicians along the way, including keys player Nick Dalton-Bocquet and drummer Matty Lansdown. Last year we made it to the top four of the Melbourne Music Bank competition, and since we’ve been in the studio recording our new material. Now we are excited to put it out there and you can expect energetic, dance a long-able, catchy tunes with plenty of sass.
The band have known each other for quite some time – some of you have been friends since high school. How has your dynamic as a band evolved over time, and what drew you to each other creatively?
Our older sisters told James and I to be friends, but we quickly bonded over our dad’s record collections. Early on we covered AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Jet songs, and this progressed to writing our own songs and honing our style. We’ve been influenced by new band members and new music that have given us a more upbeat and contemporary sound.
Napier seems to connect with that classic rock‘n’roll energy – why do you think audiences resonate so well with that vibe, and what do you get from it yourself?
There was that vibe in the ‘60s that connected the audience with the band. It was fun, charismatic, and there was that forbidden element. Rock’n’roll meant sex, and we want to bring that sass back to the stage — just us, our instruments and the connection to the crowd.
Now that the single launch is almost here, what does the future hold for Napier? Are there exciting times ahead?
We have recorded an EP and have a whole bunch of new music coming out this year. Keep an eye out for tour details around the country.
