New Zealand Punks Die! Die! Die! Set to Slay the Stage at Yue Space, Sep 8

They may be called Die! Die! Die! (DDD), but their music is as hard-hitting and invigorating as a defribulator sending pulses through your system, reviving you from whatever humdrum monotony you’re living through. Yes, this trio of Kiwi punks are voracious and visceral onstage, and you’ll leave feeling reassured that authentic punk is alive and well. Below, frontman Michael Prain tells us about the most ridiculous reaction to their band name, how they've survived years of infighting, and why New Zealand's music scene is thriving. 

What was the most memorable part of your gig/visit to Beijing last year?
Playing Yugong Yishan last year in Beijing was an awesome show. The best shows always have a few ingredients that make them memorable, one of which is playing with other bands who are on the same wavelength. Birdstriking are such a band for us and the show being presented by Nevin Domer from Maybe Mars really made it feel we were welcomed into a really cool scene happening in Beijing.

Tell us about your upcoming album, Charm Offensive.
I think as people we have chilled out about what our expectations are and with this, a feeling of creativity has been reborn. It’s an LP about getting back to the center of things. Rory has been a big influence with this shift – both producing and playing bass, he has added an energy that permeates through Charm. Offensive. We have always drawn on influences from everyday life. The world’s a messed up place sometimes and this record is a pretty good document of us trying to express some of those feelings.

Speaking of messiness, has DDD been functioning more smoothly as a band as of late? It sounded like things were quite strained between the members of your band after you finished your preceding album, Harmony.
We definitely have been functioning more smoothly. Personally, it took me many years of making the same mistakes again and again to change a few things up which has made making records, playing shows way more chill. The creative process of making a record is one of the most exciting and fun things we do as a band. I suppose it’s about bringing individual ideas together and making something as a collective that everyone is part of creating. Seeing a record through from the initial ideas to a complete work can be an all-absorbing experience, and general life stuff with each band member can make some people in the band take on extra work and carry the record to fruition themselves. It always worked out, though, as the records got made, so c'est la vie.

On a lighter note, what has been the funniest reaction to your band name?
There have been many, but one stands out. At a show in a city called Stoke-on-Trent in the UK, we had just made T-shirts with Paul McCartney’s face on them with Die! Die! Die! printed above. Let’s just say our taste and opinion were not shared by some of the audience who were obviously loyal Macca fans. They proceeded to throw their drinks and a few spit balls at us. Still very happy with that T-shirt design, though.

How did you come up with that name in the first place?
We wanted to have the most obnoxious and confronting band name we could think of, and Die! Die! Die! represented the vibe well.

Tell us about the music scene in New Zealand as of late – what are the advantages and disadvantages for a band like yours?
The NZ music scene is great at the moment. Being from such a small and isolated country can create an interesting little melting pot of music. Bands like Opposite Sex and Kane Strang from Dunedin are doing cool stuff. The Pleasure Magenta from Auckland, (folk singer) Nadia Reid, (gothic singer songwriter) Aldous Harding and a band named Tiny Ruins are all amazing as well. I don’t really see any disadvantages to being from and creating music in NZ.

Die! Die! Die! will perform at Yue Space on September 8 alongside opener Birdstriking. Tickets are RMB 60 advance or RMB 80 on the door.

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Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle

Photos: Bad Health Records, Noisey