THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Nick Weaver of Deep Sea Arcade

The young Australian band Deep Sea Arcade barely make a wrong move on their debut album Outlands when it comes to channeling classic pop from a couple of generations before them. (see review here)

Just indie enough to be off the mainframe but also full of hooks and choruses to pull in the casual passerby, Outlands is a polished, mature debut which is, best of, fun, interesting and diverse.

Drawing a line between Beatles harmonies, shoegaze, Oasis and indie.rock, it's an impressive -- and very British-sounding -- accomplishment.

So with this one in their pocket we thought it timely to ask the band's bassist and songwriter (alongside Nic McKenzie of course), Nick Weaver to answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire. 

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

My parents bought Sgt Peppers on CD for a car trip to the snow when I was a little kid. I remember being completely fascinated with A Day In The Life.

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

I was listening to East 17 a lot at one stage.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

There is really no way to compare any of these people to each other. I’m just gonna give it to the ones with the bigger lips. Jagger, Ramones, Gaga, Jay-Z.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Earth and environmental sciences. It’s the only thing I was truly passionate about in high school.

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

She Brings The Sunlight – Richard Hawley: This is a beautifuly slow, swampy, shoegazy jam with a great song hidden in it.

Monkberry Moon Delight – Paul & Linda McCartney: Even though the lyrics are absolute nonsense this is one of those songs that reminds you how much music there is out there that you haven’t heard. I’m not sure how it took me so long to discover this album [Ram] but it’s a killer.

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

Not really no. I do have a 7” that we made a few years ago for a single called Keep On Walking. We moronically lost an entire box of them after a gig so I guess I have one of the only ones.

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

I try not to read too many of these. I like to make music the thing I do in real life and then read to escape somewhere else. I did get through the unfortunately titled “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by Sam Cutler. He tour managed the Stones and The Grateful Dead for years and has some good stories and an interesting take on the whole Altamont thing.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

East 17. They’ve been touring for real. I’d play tablas.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

The Big Lebowski, Alien, Looking For Nick Weaver.

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

Last vinyl was All Things Must Pass by George Harrison. I’m a bit hooked one that Wah Wah song.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

The Fleetwood Mac “Pious Bird Of Good Omen” album cover.

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

Spongebob

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

In the Carribean making three albums.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

Because we took our sweet time to make everything sound just the way we thought it should whilst infuriating everyone around us.

Also because it’s our only album ever.