Cityscape Christmas 2019

JUSTIN MACLAREN,
AUTOMATIC 80s
Synth pop tribute band
Automatic 80s will keep
the vibe going in The
Edge Public Village. We
talk to vocalist Justin
Maclaren.
You’re obviously all big fans of
‘80s music – what’s the
attraction? This is the music of our
youth so it therefore holds
significant nostalgic importance for
us personally. Secondly, this is the
decade when many musicians
departed from guitar-driven music
and started experimenting with
synthesizers, many with a lack of
knowledge of how to play
keyboards. This produced an era
punctuated with huge pop hits
featuring simple but memorable
synth riffs that we find very
enjoyable to play, and audiences
love to dance and sing along to
these ‘80s anthems. You recreate
that whole time with your lighting
and backdrops – what’s the trick
there? Throughout the history of
this band, which originally formed
in Christchurch in 1985 as Amez
Amez, we have always maintained
a high production level including
costuming, in the belief that this is
not simply a covers band going
about their business but rather a
show. The way the performance
looks is every bit as important as
the musicianship in contributing to
the success we have experienced.
Any of the new wave of synth pop
bands that you really like? Yes
– Friendly Fires, Mesh, Wolfsheim,
Ladytron and MGMT, although
these would be considered
underground. Not really a fan of
the current wave of commercial
pop. Any new Kiwi artists that
have caught your attention? The
Naked and Famous. Tell us about
your first gig together? The
original lineup of this band used to
drive around Ōtautahi Christchurch
during the mid 1980s looking for
parties. We would have all the band
gear in a van and just set up and
play, uninvited. Sometimes to a
great reception, on other occasions
not so much. It was always fun
though. Do you have a pre- and/or
post-show ritual? We usually have
a little singalong out the back,
jump around in order to warm up
physically, and wish each other the
best for the performance. This
includes the production team and
management, who are of course a
critical part of what we do as a
team and what we have achieved.
Who are your musical heroes?
Depeche Mode, Muse, Fleetwood
Mac, The Comsat Angels, Talk Talk,
INXS, OMD, The Fixx. Outside of
the Automatic 80s you have your
own musical careers – what’s
been going on for each of you
there? Automatic 80s bassist Clint
Harris is part of The Feelers’ lineup
and a member of Opshop. He
continues to perform with both
these bands and has a summer
tour coming up with The Feelers.
Opshop will be supporting John
Farnham in late November, which
Clint is very excited about.
Automatic 80s drummer Jayden
Lee is part of Auckland’s successful
indie band Alae, who have recently
signed a deal with LA record label
Anti-Gravity Records. Automatic
80s vocalists and songwriters Pearl
Runga and Justin Maclaren, along
with Auckland musician and
composer Simon Finnel, will
perform for the first time as The
Broken. Automatic 80s guitarist
Ryan Wood is a sought-after
session player and continually
performs as guitarist and bassist
with a variety of bands around
Auckland’s busy venues.
automatic80s.co.nz
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36 CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ Christmas 19