Exclusive: Short Stack discuss “less thrashy, more sexy” new album

12 August 2010

by Lars Brandle

Short Stack were the new black. This time around for their second record, the pop-punk phenomenon are going back - to older sounds and influences.

The trio have taken the orchestral route on their follow-up to their debut Stack is the New Black, due out in November, with a new single Planets serviced to radio this Friday.

The band members spoke exclusively with TMN about their newly-completed album, new sound and their not-so-new influences.

“We’re heavily influenced by Queen at the moment,” says frontman Shaun Diviney. “We’ve been having fun looking backward through music rather than going down the electro-pop route which everybody seems to be doing now.”

With British producer Lee Groves (Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp and most recently, Bertie Blackman's ARIA Award-winning album Secrets & Lies) on the mixing desk, the boys from Budgewoi have expanded their musical palate.

“We recorded strings on the album. To see an orchestra play something you’ve written is quite surreal,” notes Diviney. Drummer Bradie Webb chimes in, “It’s a lot more laid back. Less thrashy, more sexy. It’s very sexy.”

Planets, the first taste from the as-yet-unnamed album, will have “lots of layered vocals and guitar solos,” Diviney adds.

Short Stack enjoyed a blinding start to their career. Their debut Stack Is The New Black opened at #1 on the ARIA albums chart last August, a feat achieved without conventional marketing.

The trio were on hand at the Sydney Opera House last month to receive an ARIA No. 1 Chart Award, confirmation of their arrival in the big league. The album has since certified gold, and is now closing in on platinum status.

Despite the accolades and their 65,000-plus 'friends' on MySpace, the musicians are fully aware of the “haters” who pop-up online. “It’s all part of being in a band. You’ve got to have a thick skin,” explains bass player Andrew Clemmensen. “No matter what people are going to love you, people are going to hate you. It’s something you just have to learn to deal with.”

They plan to hit the road with a more “ambitious” show in 2011, and there’s talk of taking the show abroad. When asked if Short Stack could avoid the “difficult second album” syndrome which has plagued so many young bands, the response left little doubt. “Will it go to No. 1? Definitely,” comments Diviney. “We have very high hopes.” A live cut of Planets can be viewed on their Youtube channel.