Single Focus: Smoke Stack Rhino

Answered by: Shane Andison

Single title? Taste

What’s the song about? The lyrics in Taste are about addiction, but the subject itself is open to interpretation (eg lost love, substance abuse).

How long did it take to write/record? In the end, a couple of months. We spent a long time tinkering with the structure, arrangement, tempo and key until it felt right. We were in the recording studio for five days.

Is this track from a forthcoming release/existing release? Taste will be released as a standalone single. We do have a limited-run hard copy edition of the single to sell at the single launch shows, but check out iTunes for a digital copy.

What was inspiring you during the song’s writing and recording? It’s ironic that the song’s called Taste and our guitarist, Ash, developed severe food poisoning during recording! So, “chunky” riffs were perhaps an inspiration? Crude jokes aside, bands like Arctic Monkeys, QOTSA, Black Keys.

We’ll like this song if we like... Soundgarden, QOTSA, Led Zeppelin, backwards satanic messages...

Do you play it differently live? We try to stick to what’s recorded, but with the various layers in the track there are certain compromises we make to be able to make it work live.

When and where is your launch/next gig? We’re launching Taste with a residency at Cherry Bar, Wednesdays in September. We’re playing with some great blues and rock bands and also have a few surprises up our sleeve.

Website link for more info? facebook.com/smokestackrhino