The Midnights formed in 2003 and steadily progressed from the Auckland scene to performing alongside well known kiwi bands and at local festivals Soundsplash and One Love Festival, sharing the line up with some heavyweight reggae legends such as The Wailers and UB40.

The Midnights formed in 2003 and steadily progressed from the Auckland scene to performing alongside well known kiwi bands and at local festivals Soundsplash and One Love Festival, sharing the line up with some heavyweight reggae legends such as The Wailers and UB40.

The Midnights have recently been touring around Aotearoa with their limited edition tour album, before releasing their long awaited debut long player self-titled ‘The Midnights’ later this year.

‘The Midnights’ incorporates smoky urban reggae, low-fi digital dub, raw and rhythmic ska and psychedelic soul influences. 

Dawn Nugent caught the band live at Leigh Sawmill Cafe during their recent tour where they delivered up a night of funky sounds in a friendly whanau atmosphere. Inspired by the show Dawn put some questions to Leo Horgan, the band’s singer/guitarist and interim manager, to find out more about what makes the band tick.

Your EP Hot Country was released in 2005 and your debut album is due to be released later this year, what were some of the challenges you faced in making this album?

Well, it's hard to record an album - generally we'd set up all of the instruments and then the engineer would hit 'rec' on his recording thing. After he hits 'rec' and you hear a 'live' sound (sort of buzzy) you know that you are recording and everything you do sound-wise will last FOREVER- that’s pretty challenging and things like spontaneity go completely out the window in exchange for standing very still and getting angry at little things.  Also all the money in our bank account kept disappearing.

Tell us about your new album?

Our album is a low-fi and non-linear reggae soul, blues and rock album.

How has your music & band progressed or changed since the E.P was released?

We added a couple of new members so we now have highly sought-after 3-part male harmonies (a la my favourite 60's doo-wop, soul and rock steady groups) and extra smoking lead guitar and percussion...  Musically our music-tree has simply grown more branches (but that’s what trees always do so we're not running inside like 'Dad there's another branch on the Midnights tree!!!' - because then Dad'll just take to it with a chainsaw to stop it growing over the neighbours yard because they're already pissed with us about the party on the weekend and Dad needs their permission to extend the driveway at some point..)

You’ve been touring with the new album how has this been received and what have been some of the highlights of the tour?

Well, after overcoming an evil curse early on (definitely placed on us by a Mangawhai shape shifting witch) we have gone from strength to strength on this tour.  It's important to know the little things that make a tour work- like how many beers are acceptable before a show and how long to do the bredadadadadadddddadaddaa bit at the end of the song before we all look at Berin on drums and he looks back like 'yep - now!' and we all do a final Bap! on our instruments- if you get it just right it makes the whole night worth it.

Crazy people are also a big highlight and can really cap off an evening if you give them a couple of drinks and pretend they're in the band.

You've played alongside many well known NZ bands as well as some legendary overseas artists, how easy or hard was it to make these connections and get yourself included in the line-up?

Depends on the band I guess... most local bands will play with you if they've heard of you or if you offer them sex with your bass player (ours is really good looking).  The overseas bands have 'been there- done that'  so you actually have to offer them worthwhile stuff like All-Blacks T-shirts, commemorative mugs or sex with your drummer (even better looking).

In the past you have had a manager & are now self-managed what are the advantages and disadvantages of self management?

The advantages are that you can steal your own money- this can be a drag when you're not making any money though so you have to top-up the management perk factor by doing other manager stuff like unnecessarily criticising the band for fun and leaving the show early to chase women who turn out to have boyfriends.  Disadvantages to managing, as any manager will tell you are limited to not having people come up to you after the show to say 'Hey Bro - really liked your managing tonight'.

With bands now able to promote themselves and their music via Myspace, Facebook, individual websites, itunes, Amplifier etc the plethora of music is now more easily accessible to everyone, do you think this has made it easier for the band to realize opportunities or made everyone a small fish in a big pond?

I have a feeling this internet thing is going to blow over- that’s why we're trying to corner the complimentary motel brochure scene and 'coffee news' market- that’s a small pond... with plenty of room for our fish.  Coffee news is so great - I love the trivia section.

How do you feel about the support of New Zealand TV and Radio in promoting bands such as The Midnights? Do you feel supported?

I'm tempted to complain about NZOA etc but that’s because they haven't given me any money yet... so I'll just say THANK GOD for their 'commercial imperative' charter which we can rely on to supply us with another smashing Boh Runga number or Dei Hamo's latest tribute to da club.  'Commercial appeal' can unfortunately be a slippery slope to mediocrity when it's diagnosed by people who wear suspiciously new Shihad tee-shirts and make groaning sounds when they get up/sit down.

Do you feel the youth of New Zealand are being exposed to conscious music or force fed mainstream generic music?

'Conscious' music generally refers to dub bands with bland moral postures in their lyrics - that kind of music is pretty mainstream in this country...  I have written a few songs in this vein (mostly for other people) and they quickly become too boring to play.       

I read you aim to tour overseas, why is that important to you and how do you anticipate that happening?

When I'm finished exposing myself to the youth of New Zealand the logical progression is obviously 'What other youth can I expose myself too?'.  Also other countries look really exciting and we could post short cellphone vids of us 'after a show' 'enjoying the nightlife' in 'L.A', shouting 'crazy' things and 'playing up' for the camera like ' hey friends who are in bands we totally made it overseas and its no big deal'

Do you have a favourite track off your album and if so why?

Yes, I do.  Because it's a really good song of course.

What artist or band is floating your boat musically at the moment?

James Carr (the forgotten soul legend), the Stone Roses, Wiz Khalifa, Daniel Johnston.

What’s next for The Midnights?

Music Videos - we need to make a few, a proper release later this year and possibly a low-key robbery of some kind.

Where can people buy the album?

They can't until later in the year - if you missed the shows, you missed your chance unless you can find someone who got the album and figure out how to burn music and I BET YOU CAN'T.

What’s your Big Idea for 2010 & 2011?

Be more adorable. 

Further information: Find more information on The Midnights Facebook page.