Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Zack Crack & Sick Prick
Zack Crack & Sick Prick – a side-project of two sidemen/bandplayers
Whenever we have time, we go to our little studio and exceptionally write and record music that we actually like, just for a change. Since we do everything ourselves and we are neither sound engineers nor visual artists, everything takes a little longer. But don’t worry, we will continue to produce, because we disregard, if not dislike, most social networks and don’t have time to deal with them. 🙂
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
ZC: I used to sing a Beatles song all the time—in my version, it went something like “Ilofftu yeah yeah yeah.” Well, I know that from my siblings. So it’s not necessarily my own memory. Other than that, yeah, I’ll probably never get the theme song from a radio show called “Kinderclub (Children’s Club)” out of my head.
SP: When I was a little kid, I wanted to buy “Hello Goodbye” by the Beatles, but I didn’t know the title of the song. I sang it for the salesperson, and then I accidentally went home with “Grocer Jack” by Keith West. And—I hadn’t even thought of that—my mom used to sing me a song to help me fall asleep.
ZC: Oh yeah, that’s right—it was the same for me, too.
SP: Huh? My mom sang to you, too?
ZC: Yes, oh my most esteemed colleague, in duet with my mother 🙂
SP: It’s funny that we didn’t meet for the first time until a quarter of a century later 🙂
How did your passion for creating music begin?
ZC: My two older brothers played in a band when they were teenagers, and I ended up doing the same.
SP: For me, it was the classic story—the usual thing back then, so to speak: I wanted to hit on girls 🙂
What’s the story behind your current music project?
It’s actually pretty simple: we kept running into each other while playing in various bands and projects, and that’s how we got to know each other better and better and realized that it would work really well if we did something together. That’s also how we met the two singers.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
ZC: Melodic pop with a few distorted electric guitars and electronic sounds. Or, for people whose musical tastes aren’t as broad as mine: there’s something to like and something to dislike in every song 🙂
SP: Well, let’s just say: modern pop, produced in a traditional way using today’s technology.
ZC: Spotify has put us in some kind of playlist featuring Madonna, Florence + The Machine, Goldfrapp, Marina, Róisín Murphy, Coco and the Lost, and Vive la Fête.
I can definitely get behind at least this small selection 🙂
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
ZC: I’ve always had a hard time writing lyrics—or maybe I just didn’t feel the need to for a long time. Then, when I heard “Around the World” by Daft Punk, I thought, “Well, I might as well give it a try anyway.” And lo and behold, I’ve actually written a line or two here and there since then. Fortunately, SP has always had an easier time writing lyrics.
SP: I couldn’t agree more 🙂 …and you don’t have to be able to do everything on your instrument that someone who thinks they know what they’re talking about expects to hear from you. Bringing the music in your head to life with the instruments you need to do so is sometimes difficult enough.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Logic Pro, a midi-keyboard, electric guitar, drums or electronic drums, and, of course, vocals.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
ZC: “Schalt mich an” by Soffie, for example, or Poppy Fusée and stuff like that. And I always enjoy listening to The Jezabels, Highasakite, Feist, Band Of Horses, M83, Zola Jesus, and the like. Is any of this even indie? Are we actually indie? You decide 🙂 We’re definitely independent, though 🙂
SP: I couldn’t agree more.
ZC: Oh, is it the same for you, too?
SP: Yeah, as if I were you and you were me.
ZC: Which one of us is actually which?
SP: Whatever—it’s not like anyone needs to know.
ZC: I couldn’t agree more.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
ZC: I don’t really have any personal experiences to speak of. It’s more what’s going on in the world that inspires me to write a piece every now and then.
SP: Yes, that and life.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
We’d love it if our songs turned out to be timeless and still listenable. But we wouldn’t mind if the “I’ll never drive an electric car”/ “nuclear power yes, but no waste storage in my backyard, and wind turbines ruin the landscape”/ “abortions should be banned even after rape” types ever duckduckgoed (or, if it absolutely has to be: googled) CFACT or the Heritage Foundation or ADF. Well, as if such people would listen to music like ours… But it also can’t hurt if people like you and me know where so-called alternative facts actually come from.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
SP: Listen to others, but be yourself.
ZC: Don’t push your way to the front, but stand your ground.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
We’ll take care of that once we’ve cobbled together about 1.5 hours of music 🙂
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
None. We’ve worked with plenty of other artists, both in the past and now.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
ZC: I use 7digital since years, or Bandcamp: https://zcspmusic.bandcamp.com
Well, I don’t really want to go around opening accounts everywhere just to check, but the song should be available on the usual platforms.
SP: Yes, for example, here, if it absolutely has to be: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jnHCyRWLSHKabSUCocBsW
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
SP: To reach a small but dedicated audience without having to spend 24/7 as a content creator making silly little social media videos.
ZC: Well, we’ll definitely shoot a few funny little videos, but only good ones—and only every now and then. And for now, in Swiss German. Some silly lines just work better in a certain language 🙂
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
About us? Whatever—but from us: more timeless songs that are just waiting to be discovered and then listened to more than once.
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