BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD | INTERVIEW
Deep into a studio session for their debut album, Tom Rees – frontman of Cardiff’s Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard – took time out to speak to John-Paul Davies about missing out on SXSW 2020 and how making rock music is a friendly business in Wales.
How’s it going in the studio?
I’m very aware of the fact I’ve got to mix a whole album and I’ve got loads of work to do. But then I just booked in loads of work – extra work, with other people, because I’m like, “I’ve got to make money. I’ve got to live, I’ve got to have my life!” And now it’s all come to a point where I’m really stressing out and I’ve only got 20 days to mix the record. So I’m just trying to plough it in, do you know what I mean? But that’s hard to do when there’s peace protests going on the other side of the world and I’m here, fiddling over one slice of 3khz on this one particular guitar, having an existential crisis and thinking I’m something special.
So who are these other people you’ve been working with?
I’ve been producing for other artists in Cardiff. I’ve been working with a band called The Bug Club, who I did a release for recently, I’ve produced some of their work. And a band called Sisters O Sisters. They’re a new Cardiff band, they released their first single yesterday as well.
You’re producing other bands, and the Bubblewrap Collective label put out your early work, alongside Boy Azooga. Do you feel Buzzard is part of a wider scene or even a movement in Cardiff?
It’s been a little bit more difficult, with the pandemic and everything. But, certainly prior to the pandemic, there was a real feeling of a scene coming together, which didn’t really seem to exist – to my eyes, anyway – when I was in bands at 16-17. It kinda seemed like there was an edge of competitiveness to get out of Cardiff, to get to London and that sort of thing. It could have been my youthful exuberance, kinda making that story up, as well. But certainly, as I was starting this band, and getting into my mid-20s, it sort of felt like everyone was really banding together.
I think when we come out of the pandemic, on the other side of it, I think everyone will come back together again. There just hasn’t been a physical connection between people, in playing shows and things like that. But I certainly think there’s great music coming out of Cardiff and south Wales, more broadly. And I think it’s a good sign that even through the pandemic there’s been signs of a scene with people just releasing music and people being very affirming in their love for other people’s music, especially in south Wales.
You’ve just played the online-only version of the SXSW festival. How was that after missing out in 2020?
We did a live showcase, which was kind of like us avenging our cancellation of last year. I think we were only four or five days out, last year, from going to Texas, and the rug was suddenly pulled from underneath us. I cried. I cried hard. I’m a bit of a crier anyway, but we were on such a roll. And do you know what happens? Every time I have a conversation with our fans or representation in the States it’s, “man, if you could have got out to SXSW you’d have taken over the States by now.” I don’t need to hear that, you don’t need to tell me that! So hopefully we can do that next year. But it was nice that we could do it online and that we could just be a part of the lineup. SXSW is such an acclaimed name it’s nice to be involved, if that’s physically, or in a virtual capacity.
It is an acclaimed name, as is Glastonbury, which you played in 2019. But how much of a difference do they actually make to your progress? Or are they just good to have on the CV?
Absolutely. Glastonbury was a huge one. I think a lot of the time there’s a perception of how big your band is: where you play, and when you play it. But Glastonbury was one of those things that was so huge that it kinda works on both fronts – “oh my god, they’re playing Glastonbury, we’d better pay attention to them now!”
It’s kinda the same with SXSW. It contributes to people’s perception of you. It’s like an accolade, or an award to show how seriously you’re taken. Because I think that’s one of the hardest things as an artist or a musician. Most start from real humble beginnings, so a lot of the time you’re trying to prove your worth to others on the scene.
Speaking of the scene, again: where do you see Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard in the history and development of Welsh rock music?
That’s a very interesting question. I think there’s a phase going on which is really important in terms of the interpretation of what rock actually is – and what rock in Wales actually is and means for people. And my interpretation of that is kind of like a ‘friendly’ interpretation of rock. There’s something in a huge, central city like London that requires you to be so full of bravado and ego to get ahead.
I think that element of Welsh rock – everyone is helping each other out, collaborating, playing with one another – comes through in the sound and the music as well. Hopefully anyway! Or maybe I’m describing some kind of egalitarian dream that I’m having and nobody else has cottoned on, just yet.
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard will be releasing their debut album next year. Their latest single New Age Millennial Magic is out now on Communion.
words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES
