SunLive Competition

Maybe it’s because he has just woken up or maybe there was a lot of thought behind it, but The Check’s drummer Jacob Moore describes their new album ‘Deadly Summer Sway’ as a “waltz with someone – one of those dangerous summer romances”.

Okay, he admits, he is getting pretty lyrical for someone that just woke up at 1pm and confesses there was “a lot of bullshitting around” when it comes to finding the perfect album title, but if his take on it is anything to go by, The Checks will be my new summer album to thrash.

The Checks are taking a new direction with Deadly Summer Sway. Jacob says musically they are still “finding their stride; working out our new songs now they have been recorded”.

He says they are looking forward to bringing their new sound on their summer tour.

“It is not straight up rock. Fans of us in the past that have been drawn to the heavy music may be disappointed; it is not so straight up in your face.
“We wanted it to sound more melodic. This year, we were really set to get new music under our belts with something new.”

The Checks burst onto the scene back in 2005-2006 with a shot at Big Day Out and a debut LP ‘Hunting Whales’. Not ones to shoot low, the band has gone from strength to strength – New Zealand Music Awards, chart topping hits and not to mention touring with some of the biggest names in music including R.E.M, The Hives, Oasis, Jet, AC/DC and Muse in just a few years.

But like many musicians in New Zealand, The Checks have day jobs to pay the bills and university exams to study for. As someone who books bands and DJs for clubs for his job, Jacob says the feeling is quite surreal.

“When it comes to work and university, we just try and time it right around tours. It is a weird feeling, but something we are used to.
“When we played with R.E.M we went back to school the next day.

“It is the nature of being a band in New Zealand. I think it keeps you grounded, down to earth and makes sure your ego doesn’t run away. Ours have run away in the past with the hype and money thrown at us, but these days it is a different story. We make music for the love of it and who wants to hear it.”

The Checks are playing at Illuminati on December 2.

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Competition Results

Jessica Abbott

Doug Roy