What’s your name and the name of your band?
“Tom Lee-Richards, Catch Release.”
What do you reckon people will say you sound like?
“We experiment with some unusual textures in our music, combining soul and folk influenced melodies with edgier jazz chords and some classical instrumentation. There’s a focus on playful and nostalgic lyrics made even more dreamlike as they float around French horn and clarinet melodies. Others might say ‘dolphins getting it on’.”
W hat has been your favourite gig you have played to date?
“Definitely at 303 in Northcote a few months back when we played with the wonderful Richard Jeffrey and Frankie Andrew. It was the first time we went for a bigger, grander sound, and were giving away limited copies of some of the songs to appear on the upcoming album. I loved changing things up onstage: dropping from really big to really small within the songs. We were playing with some talented guys too.”
W hat inspires or has influenced your music the most?
“Childhood, family, New Zealand’s musical spin on the world. Some big ideals. That’s just me, but there are multiple nationalities in the band with their own backgrounds and things that they dig.”
If you weren’t playing music you would be …?
“Waiting to play music. Nah, probably more in touch with important practical and down-to-earth concerns of the day, rather than off in a dreamland.”
What do you hope to achieve with your music ?
‘I want people to be off in a dreamland. I want people to listen to the music in their car when they pull over on the side of the road to make out, or perhaps put up a tent. I want to add to people’s belief in climbing trees.”
Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it?
“Download from catchrelease.bandcamp.com.”
Why should ev eryone come and see your band?
“We will have you smiling. You might not even need a kebab… though let me know if you’re getting one.”
Anything else to add?
“myspace.com/catchreleaseband.”
