Interview || December Streets Chat Stay By Me With Us
A new direction in sound for the band is evident from the single, STAY BY ME. The band describes the song as an explosion of their continual exploration of music to create a sound that captures the high energy, fun, soul and the new added layer of depth to the music they love to create. It amplifies their new massive yet refined sound, with the rebound catchy DECEMBER STREETS melodies always present.
“Stay By Me is a song that tackles the story of a break up through the journey of being alone/lonely, finding comfort in various aspects of life that aren’t always the best roads to be wondering down, but which can also be fun.”
For Part 1 of the music video, the band asked Run Jump Fly Creations to come up with a concept for the video. The band then created an open music video shoot, where under the supervision and direction of Run Jump Fly, they opened the creative process to the public to get involved in shaping the direction of the music video. The only boundary was that it had to be shot on two escalators. The original concept evolved in this way, where so many people arrived on the evening of the shoot, dressed up in outfits and ready to show off their ideas and dance moves.
On the same evening of the shoot, two brilliant dancers from Kryptonite Dance Studio arrived with a dance routine on the escalators that made the band's jaw hit the floor. It was so powerful that the band decided it needed a video of its own, which is how STAY BY ME PART 2 came to life.
Although vastly different, the concepts for both videos in fact follow a similar narrative. In both videos Run Jump Fly Creations created a video for the band that would capture the high energy and fun vibe of the song, whilst containing a deeper, darker side to it.
CONTRAST BETWEEN PART 1 AND PART 2
The first video starts with the darker side where Tristan aimlessly wanders down the escalators, lost and lifeless, running into various obstacles along the way but not initially partaking in it. This relates to the lonely feeling after a break-up. Towards the end he starts to get involved and partake in the scenes, ending on a happy high note.
The second video starts off the other way around, playing on the typical love at first sight scenario. The two dancers spot each other on the escalators, then continually dance towards each other to stay close to each other, mesmerised by each other. This captures the high energy felt in the beginning of a love story. As the video progresses, they get tired and realise they can not stay together, as hard as they try because the escalators are continually pulling them apart.
“As hard as we try to stay together, life can keep pulling us apart if we let it. Run Jump Fly perfectly captured the meaning of the song in both videos.”
We Spoke To December Streets About Stay By Me
Hello Tristan a warm welcome to think In electronic! It’s a honor to be doing this interview with you..
1. Can you tell us a little more about each of you on a non-musical front? What do you do when you not making music?
DS: Sure, ill give it a shot. I (Tristan) am a designer running my own design agency called Run Jump Fly Creations, and also have a deep passion for travel and the smell of dust. Waldo is an engineer, also running his own company who has the inhuman ability of being in more than one place at a time. Corneil is a digital design producer, and is also the most loveable guy you will ever meet. Nico is an Architect with a passion for anything higher grade & ridiculous twitter jokes. Gideon is a Doctor (or on his way to becoming one) and likes sand.
2. Where does each of your passion for music stem from? Can you share with us some of your fondest musical memories from growing up?
My musical passion stems from an unhealthy dose of growing up next to a parrot that repeatedly sang the classic ‘Jan Pieterwiet’ song. So im told at least. On top of that, my passion grew exponentially when I was introduced to my fathers 60’s records. Also subjected to an unhealthy amount of repetition. My fondest memory was when I was able to buy my first sad excuse for a guitar (which I deeply cherished). I remember sitting on my bed, aimlessly strumming the out of tune stings for hours, marveling at the fact that it was possible to create music myself.
The other guys all grew up in musical incubators where I eventually met them later in my life, and asked them to join a band with me.
3. December streets. What’s the story behind the name and is December the bands favorite month?
It actually comes from the lonely, yet nostalgic & free feeling you get when you stare down an empty road in PTA when everyone has gone on holiday.
4. December Streets was started in 2009, how has the band evolved from the conception till now?
Immensely. We have all grown as individuals & musician, our music evolving & shaping with us. We have learned a great many things, some good and others bad, but ultimately we are where we are because we learned from our mistakes, and took guidance where it was given. We have evolved into a more mature, powerful sound.
5. Stay By Me for us is an amalgamation of dance meets rock. It’s upbeat and funky. What was the inspiration behind the track and how long did it take to produce the track?
The idea fro Stay By Me revolves around the aimless & meaningless encounters one comes across with a directionless heart. Although it can be translated as a typical love song too, but there is more to is than that. The sound is a product of years of experimenting with sounds that we have combined into our catchy songwriting.
6. Stay By Me has 2 videos, part 1 and part 2. What was the reason for making a two-part video?
Long story short, when we asked Run Jump Fly Creations to come up with an awesome concept they pitched two pretty great ideas to us!
The once concept involved opening the video shoot to the public for their creative input. On the evening, two brilliant dancers arrived and blew our minds with a dance routine on the escalators. It was so passionate & engaging that we needed to give them a whole new video to do their thing, which is how Stay By Me Pt.2 came to life
7. What was the main aim of each video and how was the concepts to the videos born?
Although vastly different, both concepts in fact follow a similar narrative. In both videos Run Jump Fly Creations created a video for us that would capture the high energy & fun vibe of the song, but also with a deeper, darker side to it. The first video starts with the darker side where Tristan aimlessly wanders down the escalators, lost & lifeless, running into various obstacles along the way but not initially partaking at all. This relates to the lonely feeling after a break up. Towards the end he starts to get involved and partake in the scenes, ending on a happy high note. The second video starts off the other way around, playing on the typical love at first sight scenario. The two dancers spot each other in the escalators, then continually dance towards each other to stay close to each other, mesmerized by each other. This captures the high energy felt in the beginning of a love story. As the video progresses, they get tired & realize they cannot stay together, as hard as they try because the escalators are continually pulling them apart. So it starts on a high, happy not, with a deeper ending. Playing on the fact sometimes as hard as we try to stay together, life can keep pulling us apart if we let it. Run Jump Fly perfectly captured the meaning of the song in both videos.
8. Stay By Me is an introduction to DS new style/sound of why the change in musical directions?
Rather than a change in sound, its an addition of depth & power to the already catchy , high energy vibe we already have. But in many ways yes, you can expect some big things on their way.
9. If you could select 3 electronic music producers to remix Stay By Me who would you select and why?
I would go with deadmau5, I have heard him remix & produce some songs with a funk element that shakes your whole body. I love Das Kapital, some incredible sounds being produced by that man, and Lastly but not least RAC. He is one of my biggest inspirations. Goldfish too, I absolutely love those guys.
10. Touring goes hand in hand with releasing music. What has been December Streets favorite gig to date?
Definitely Rocking the Daisies 2012, what a crowd! So much energy surging through 10 000 people is a feeling no one can describe when you stand on stage.
11. Who are some of DS musical hero’s who you guys look up to?
Foster the people, Gold Fish, The Kooks, RAC, Ben Howard, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Jack Johnson. A very wide variety of music I know haha.
12. So the band is made up of 1 doctor, 1 engineer, 1 architect, 1 designer and 1 programmer tell us who’s who?
Tris (vocals is all of them). Kidding, he is the designer, Waldo (Trumpet) is the engineer, Gideon (bass) is the Doctor, Nico (Guitar) is the architect, Corneil (Drums) is a hobo. He is also a digital producer
13. Lastly, what do we have to do to be DS band member for a day?
Just ask.
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