Interview with The BordererS
by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Christian Lamitschka: Country Music has many new fans in Europe, who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who’se never seen or heard you before.
The BordererS: The BordererS are a very energetic, rootsy band. They’re originally from Scotland & Ireland but now live in Australia. You can’t help but dance to their music.
Christian Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were the highlights?
The BordererS: The last year was hard as we lost our son to suicide, and I’m in Scotland at the moment as my mum has just died, but professionally the highlights were performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Gympie Muster in Queensland, Australia.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your latest CD and how’s it doing?
The BordererS: The BordererS latest CD is called ” A Time For Change” and it’s our most successful CD to date. It also has a DVD to go along with it. The stand out tracks are Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and “Higher Ground” with Serena Ryder from Canada.
Christian Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD, is there a story behind it?
The BordererS: It’s called “A Time For Change” because it marked a musical change for the band. It sounds a bit like Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions and features lot’s of banjo and dixieland influences. It also had a political connotation, as it was time to get rid of Blair, Bussh and Howard in Australia.
Christian Lamitschka: Do you write the songs yourself and if not, how do you go about finding the songs for the your CD?
The BordererS: Yes, we write the songs ourself. We’re also just nearly finished another album with 14 new songs.
Christian Lamitschka: Please tell us about the songs on your album.
The BordererS: The songs on ” A Time for Change” were done live in our recording studio’s living room. We wanted a kinda rough and ready sound.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s the difference between your last CD and the current one?
The BordererS: The last CD was mostly done live in the studio whereas the new one is 9 months in the making at present. We probably still have another 2 months left to finish it.
Christian Lamitschka: Your current single is being played by radio. What do you thing is specail about this song that makes people what to hear it?
The BordererS: Everybody seems to love “Hallelujah” It’s a very special song.
Christian Lamitschka: What will your next single be?
The BordererS: We’re not sure yet.
Christian Lamitschka: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
The BordererS: My wife ( the singer ) likes to record the slower ballad type songs as we find it hard to get the energy for the fast ones in the studio.
Christian Lamitschka: You did a duet with … How did that happen to come about?
The BordererS: We did a duet with Serena Ryder from Canada. We met her a blues / rootsy festival in Western Australia. We asked her to come on stage with us and our daughter taught her the song 3 minutes before she came on. It was a great moment.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your favorite song among all the songs you’ve recorded and what’s the story behind it?
The BordererS: Our favourite song is called: “Will you love me when I’m fat, bald & ugly?” It’s not one of our own songs. We heard a a Scottish guy called Steve Boyd sing it at a gig in Australia and couldn’t get it out of our heads for a week. We asked if he’d send us a copy of the song and then started to perform it. The crowd loves it and it’s been used at loads of weddings.
Christian Lamitschka: How much creative control do you have over your music?
The BordererS:Â We have total creative control as we’re not signed to any major label. We have our own Record Company “Celtic Records”
Christian Lamitschka: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?
The BordererS: One of our fans moved from Melbourne to Paris because of one of our songs. The track is called “Jump Right In” and it’s about taking chances in your life. She wanted to speak better French so she went to work in a travel agency in Paris. She’s helped us find an apartment in Paris as we’ll be there from the 14th to the 18th July 2011.
Christian Lamitschka: Who do you look up musiccally and how deep do your musical roots run?
The BordererS: We like Brice Springsteen, Prince, Garth Brooks, Status Quo and Celine Dion. It’s quite a varied mix.
Christian Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s Country Music versus its roots and where do you see it going in the future?
The BordererS: We think that todays country music is vastly over produced. It doesn’t have the same edge to it. To us it sounds too glossy. We hope that it goes back to it’s roots.
Christian Lamitschka: In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between „traditional“ and „new“ country music?
The BordererS: Traditional is good whereas new country sounds a bit boring and bland.
Christian Lamitschka: If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?
The BordererS: I’d make the commercial radio stations play independent artists.
Christian Lamitschka: As an artist you have to do so many different things such as recording, touring, doing interviews etc. What do you like best, what’s your favorite activity?
The BordererS: I like doing interviews the best and also recording. My wife hates recording though. She loves live gigs.
Christian Lamitschka: Are you doing anything to take country music beyond it’s courrent borders or are you happy where it is?
The BordererS: The BordererS are performing in Scotland and at the Mirande Festival in France. This is France’s biggest country music festival. The BordererS like to add different flavours to their country music. We love mixing Zydeco with Celtic instruments.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s unique about you that differentiates you from other artists?
The BordererS: We wear kilts on stage. We always dress up whereas a lot of bands don’t.
Christian Lamitschka: What moments in your career stand out in your memory as highlights and achievements which you’re proud of?
The BordererS: Playing in front of 30,000 people in Federation Square on New Year’s Eve was a highlight. Also winning songwriting awards in the USA were good too.
Christian Lamitschka: What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?
The BordererS: A really entertaining and lively show. You’ll laugh, dance and clap till your hands hurt.
Christian Lamitschka: When you’re on tour, do you have time to play tourist?
The BordererS: Yes. We’re just about to roam around the South of France before we play at the Mirande Festival on July 13th.
Christian Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information about artists via the internet. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?
The BordererS: www.theborderers.com.au They will find biographies and song samples etc.
Christian Lamitschka: Tell us about the fan club and how people can join it.
The BordererS: If people look up the website then they can join the fan club www.theborderers.com.au
Christian Lamitschka: What’s the best compliment a fan has ever given you?
The BordererS: You look like Brad Pitt. Only joking. Women who’ve been affected y domestic violence have really commented on our song “Independent’s Day” It made them get out of bad relationships.
Christian Lamitschka:Â What message would you like to send your European fans?
The BordererS: We hope that you can come to see the BordererS at the Mirande Festival on July 13th and please come and say hello.