12 October 2022 - 0 Comments

New Plymouth band Skank Bandit are releasing a new song on October 14th. Their new track, Am I The Master?, explores themes of doubt, self-belief and self-control. With the release of the track, the band is promoting awareness of the risks of drink driving and challenging people to take responsibility for their actions and choices in life.

To further promote positive choices and the message of the track, the band teamed up with local New Plymouth legend David Macnamara and his car ‘Groovy Kermit’. David is well known around New Plymouth for blasting heavy bass music from his sparkling green Toyota Starlet. David’s mission is to provide party goers sober rides home after a night on the town. He also cruises the street creating a positive and upbeat vibe making passerbys smile and break out into random dancing.

The inspiration behind David’s positive community service is tinged with sadness. David lost his father to drink driving when he was only six years old. This life changing event inspires David everyday to help people get home safely to be with their families.

Skank Bandit’s singer, Wes James, also experienced a life changing event from drink driving. In 2007, driving to Wellington, Wes was hit by a drunk driver in a 100kmh head on crash. The drunk driver died in the crash. Wes miraculously walked out of hospital 5 days later.

“Earlier in the year, when I saw the Sevensharp episode about David and his kaupapa, I was completely blown away,” says James. “It was so inspiring to see a young guy uplifting the community and spreading such a positive message of hope and awareness”.

Wes told the rest of Skank bandit about David and Groovy Kermit, the band all agreed that David’s community work, attitude and high vibes aligned perfectly with the track, Am I The Master?.

“The music video all came together naturally” says guitarist Tecwyn King. “The day we shot the video, it was the middle of winter but sunny and 20 degrees! It really helped to capture the positive and upbeat elements of the song”.

Skank Bandit piled into the tiny starlet capturing some of Taranaki’s best features including Taranaki maunga itself and different aspects of the Onuku Taipari/back beach coastline.

“It’s a small car” drummer Jarrod Hooper says with a cheeky grin. He further adds “For this song, we want people to feel uplifted and hopeful, they can be the master of their choices and life”.

The track was recorded at Rhythm Ace Studios in Oākura by Sam Johnson. “Sam really has created a home away from home with his unique and cozy studio” says James. The band’s smiles show a joint and positive consensus. “Rhythm Ace has rapidly propelled the Taranaki music scene forward, giving us and many other bands quality recordings that can sonically compete with anything else around the world” says Drummer Jarrod.

The track was then mixed and mastered by former Taranaki resident Aidan Courtnell. Aidan now lives and works in Auckland running his own studio and record label Scallywag Records. Bass player Matt Flower echoes the band’s sentiment of how great it’s been to work with Scally Wag Records. “Aidan really polished the tracks, echoing the sound and vibes we are creating with our new material” says Flower.

To celebrate the new song and music video Skank Bandit have a couple special events booked.

On October 19th the band and David travel to Massey University in Palmerston North to provide a lunchtime concert at the campus. David will blast a short set of heavy bass from his tricked out stereo in Groovy Kermit. He’ll then give a short talk about his life journey, the consequences of drink driving and the community service that he does with Groovy Kermit. After that Skank Bandit will perform their new track and a selection of other original and upbeat tunes.

Skank Bandit’s next live gig is on Saturday November 19, Skank Bandit is playing at the Treehouse in New Plymouth to celebrate the bar's 25th Birthday.

Am I The Master? Will be available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms from October 14th. The music video will be available on the Skank Bandit  YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Next: Mo Etc. releases new single + video 'Underwater'

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