Sshh matter. That’s not death via oversimplification – that’s just the best way to describe the effect of their wide-ranging, infectious sound, one that takes in elements of blues, garage rock, electro and so much more. In an era in which the empire of rock seems to be fading, its heroes receding into distant memory, Sshh are a kind of last guard, producing danceable tunes that bang harder than a screen door in a storm.
We spoke to the duo, Zak Starkey and Sshh Liguz, about music-making, good (and bad) gigs, and their future.
The BRAG: When you first started working together as Sshh, did you immediately know it was going to work out, or did you initially have some creative trepidation?
Sshh: The first time we made music together there was definitely a spark of something special. It was raw and raucous and raunchy and real. We knew we were onto a good thing. It took a few leaps of faith but we got there. There’s always going to be creative differences – we’ve both got strong opinions and sometimes they clash. But that’s the electric beauty of it all.
What is the best song you’ve ever written together?
All of them! [Laughs.] Different songs are special for different reasons so it’s impossible to say what the ‘best’ one is. ‘Rising Tide’ is great because it’s kind of an oxymoron. It’s a love song that was born from an argument. It’s got passion from both ends of the spectrum.
How do you tend to write music? Do you do it together, or do you each work on separate parts?
Each song is different. We don’t have a rigid way which we work. We just let it happen. Sometimes it works when there’s a certain theme or idea we want to explore. Other times it’s just an organic flow that happens in the blink of an eye.
When you’re making music, do you think a lot about your influences, or do you try to go in fresh?
Both! There’s always going to be an element of your influences in everything you do. That’s just a given. But we try to approach each new creation from a new perspective. We try to move forward. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But that’s a risk we’re willing to take.
You like to collaborate with special guests – how do you go about choosing who you are going to work with?
We’ve been lucky enough to work with some pretty heavy hitters. But the thing is, they have to be right for the project we’re working on at the time. We need to all vibe off each other and the music we’re making. You can’t force chemistry.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played? What’s the worst?
The best gigs are when you connect with the audience. When we supported Primal Scream in Perth recently was really great. The energy of the audience was awesome. People were losing their shit and so were we! It was a great laugh.
The worst gigs are when it’s stiff and uncomfortable and the audience doesn’t manage to transcend that initial awkwardness. Although luckily, those don’t happen too often.
How do you warm up before a show? Do you have to fight off stage fright?
We have to fight each other! There can be a certain level of tension between us leading up to a show that sometimes carries on to the stage. But it’s cathartic for us to get the frustrations of every day life musically beaten out of each other.
‘Rising Tide’ is due out through BMG on Friday March 2.
