Autozamm - A Is For Autozamm

"I approached Bernie asking him if he wanted to fund one single because I knew him from other ventures. After hearing the demos and singles he offered us a full deal for an album. It was a big risk on his part because we'd only been together for three months," says Mikey.

Griffen explains why he considered considered signing Autozamm was a risk worth taking.

"I really liked Mikey's attitude. We had a relationship from the first Canvas [Mikey and Ben's previous band] single and he put into place every bit of advice I gave him. He changed the sound, the songs were already good, and found the personnel who could carry it out and turned them into a band. Then I asked them to play as often as they could so they could get the songs tested on the road and ready for recording. They went into pre-production with Dave Holmes and then into the studio to do the work. Immediately it started to work at radio and people started getting interested in their songs. Over the following 18 months we had three songs that did well at radio and the rest is, as they say, history."

Mikey's persistence, hard work and tendency to get what he wants certainly works in Autozamm's favour. According to Nick, Mikey has a knack for going from musician to musician, eventually convincing those he is after to be in the band even if it means stealing them from other bands. It was only about five months ago that Nick fully committed to Autozamm, and drummerJacob, who was also in Nick's previous band Jones, has come on board.

Deciding that Wellington wasn't the place to be to further their musical career, the band up and left in April, moving to Auckland where their record label, producer, studio (Kog), manager Paul Marshall and an increasing number of friends are based.

"It's where the industry seems to be. Prior to moving up we had to travel for eight hours to just do an interview. Now we're here we can just go up the road," says Nick.

Living in Wellington and recording in Auckland might also offer a valid explanation as to why they've been recording 'As For Now' since December 2003. When they started recording they found they had an excess of songs so released the 'Shades of Brown' EP mid 2004.

"We did the EP to get rid of the songs that didn't involve Nick in the singing and writing process. When the album finally comes out it is an all of us project," says Mikey.

'Shades of Brown' proved popular with 1000 sales. However the sound of the EP pales in comparison to 'As For Now' which provides the proof Autozamm are capable of producing more than just catchy rock singles.

Two songs from the EP that have made the album are re-recorded versions of You Don't Know Me and Day to Day. In the remainder of the album they've stripped back the clutter and let Nick show what he is capable of vocally while still maintaining their ability to rock. And they're not afraid to explore. The funky blusey number Ways To Run is something you'd expect whilst sipping martinis in a piano bar (Ben actually trades in his bass for the piano in this track), and inSettle Down it is evident Nick and Mikey have spent time working on their harmonies.

"The singles are singles and that's what they sound like. The rest of the album is more dynamic. We're not afraid to take it down to just guitar and vocals rather than just being balls to the floor rock'n'roll," says Mikey.

Having the album mastered by Howie Weinberg (Nirvana,Smashing Pumpkins, Muse) of Masterdisc in New York can't have done the sound any harm either. The hook up came through Dave Rhodes who recorded Autozamm's album. He had been working on the Gramsci album, which was also mastered by Weinberg, and suggested Autozamm do the same.

They were "stoked" with the opportunity as Weinberg has mastered a number of their favourite albums. The band are keen to take this album overseas and believe that having an international name on it will help. Autozamm already have a deal in the pipeline with Native in the UK and hope to get there to tour by the end of the year.

After playing in excess of 100 gigs over the last year the band aren't strangers to hard work and are looking forward to finally getting to tour their album after it comes out on July 14.

And how do they see album sales going?

"Oh you know, triple platinum," laughs Nick. "As many as we can. If we work our arses off on tour like we did last year and if we play to an older crowd as well as a younger crowd then I think the album sales can be quite steady. As long as we work bloody hard."

Sounds like a reasonable formula for success.

www.autozamm.com