hovercraft Chat With Us About Their Brand New Album “Shaken Not Stirred” & More
Intro:
For today’s interview we have the group hovercraft currently comprising of Ron Nasty & Golly God. A lot the band’s music originates from back in 90’s, but is now being restored for fresh new ears to enjoy. Their album “Shaken Not Stirred” is a 9-track project that does a great job showcasing the group’s talent. In short, hovercraft has embarked on a mission to combine elements of old & new into a beautiful fusion this generation of music listeners. Before reading our brief conversation, make sure you check out this new project below.
Me: What was the creative process like while making this new record? How'd you get inspired while making this new record??
Ron: The creative process has been nothing short of magical. Gol did the majority of the legwork and has created an amazing piece of art. I’ve pitched in when required, offering my ears, opinion, and constructive (I hope) criticism. Pepper’s genius is the inspiration - it always was. What more would we need?
Gol: The aim was always to reproduce the original Hovercraft sound, full of raw, live punk energy. We started off using only the lyrics, which Ron transcribed from audio preserved from thirty years ago. We put them into Suno AI along with some music style tags. What we got back was 99% dross, but every now and again, you'd hear one and think it's pretty good, and even close to the original song. The game-changer was being able to upload our own audio tracks. Effectively, we now have cover versions of our songs in different styles. We're a Hovercraft tribute band!
Awesome! Additionally, how would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before? Has it evolved over time?
Ron: In the early days (back in the mid-90s), we were a loud, aggressive, rhythm and blues band. We’d been described in some quarters as “gunslinger rock” and “cataclysmic rock ‘n’ roll”. I guess I’d have described the music as having swagger, attitude, and honesty. We weren’t afraid to be confrontational with our sound. The album, Shaken Not Stirred, is a much more refined version of that. It retains the same swagger, attitude, and honesty but delivers it in a smoother and more harmonious way. It’s a warm hug rather than an assault on your senses.
Gol: Our sound is evolving backward. Imagine Shirley Bassey singing Oasis's "Don't Look Back In Anger", or Alicia Keys playing Bob Dylan's "Masters Of War". We're moving forward to the past.
Nice! And from there, what does the title mean for the both of you, and why did you choose it?
Gol: I originally called this one "Souled Out," which isn't very original, but described the sound and the fact that we decided to create versions of the songs that we thought would be more accessible to a wider audience than the drunken speed thrash blues we used to inflict on listeners when we were young and fresh. Ron told me this story about Pepper being into James Bond, which I never knew. It captures his sophisticated songwriting, the wit and dark humor in his lyrics, and the hidden depths behind the charming presentation.
Ron: We wanted the title to be evocative. It needed to tell a personal story about the band and its history, as well as emphasize the sophistication of the new album. Shaken Not Stirred seemed to fit the bill.
For this new album, what was the most challenging part of the creation process?
Ron: From my perspective, it was ensuring the songs retained the vitality, groove, and human spirit of the original tracks. I think Gol’s done that and we’ve ended up with beautiful, melodic, and soulful soundscapes.
Gol: Yeah, we wanted to create songs that retained the essence of the originals. The hardest part was knowing these songs inside out as raw punk rock songs, then trusting the process enough to let them become something completely different. There were moments I worried we were erasing what made them special rather than revealing it.
And what does your life look like for you outside of music? Any specific hobbies or interests that fans may not expect?
Ron: Outside of performing, writing, and listening to music, my time is mainly spent being a dad and gardening. You can’t get much more rock ‘n’ roll than that!
Gol: I'm also mainly a dad. It is very much like being a rock star, albeit with fewer adoring young fans. Less of a musician, more of a butler and taxi driver.
Was there a specific moment when you realized music was your calling? Or was it more of a natural progression?
Ron: The first time I heard the needle drop on one of my dad’s 45s. I can still hear the static and the sound of rock ‘n’ roll fill the room.
Gol: I wanted to play music from a young age. My teachers always discouraged me. They told me I was tone deaf and sang flat! Later, when I was practicing my Jimi Hendrix "Machine Gun" impersonation with my amp turned all the way up to 11, the local bank phoned to ask me to turn it down. That's when I knew I must be doing it right.
That’s exciting! And with that being said, are there any other upcoming releases or plans that you're comfortable sharing with the readers?
Ron: There will be future releases. Two more albums are in the pipeline. We aim to get the whole Hovercraft catalog out there.
Gol: I've got a box full of old four-track recording tapes to digitize, so I'm hoping there are some more lost songs in there we can resuscitate and share in some form. Ultimately, we'd like to recreate our original band sound and find Pepper!
And finally, in your own words, why should a new listener check out this new EP today?
Ron: Pepper's songs deserve to be heard. We're hoping anyone who saw Hovercraft play in the mid-90s, or who knew Pepper more recently, will reach out. We hope he will hear his songs and get in touch.
Gol: Everyone who listens and shares helps us get closer to finding our missing friend.
