Fresh Talent: The Mint Chicks

Hailing from a suburb north of Auckland known as a sedate environment for retirees to go and fade away, hasn't meant The Mint Chicks have toned down their youthful exuberance.

Formed around the nucleus of brothers Kody (vocals) and Ruban Nielson (guitar), old Orewa College friends Michael Logie (bass) and Paul Roper (drums) were brought in after the majority of the songs that appear on their debut release the 'Octagon Octagon Octagon' EP had been recorded. The quartet had already played together in a host of bands before, and even competed in the Rockquest as the Phat Controllers.

The EP was recorded in Kody and Ruban's father's bedroom with Kody playing the bass and the drum parts. The six tracks include bNet number one's Post No Bills and the orgasmic Licking Letters. Michael and Paul appear on just two of the songs; Double Helix and a re-recording of The Son, the live version of which was a finalist for Best Unreleased Song at this year's bNet awards.

Finalists also in the Best New Act category at the bNets, The Mint Chicks turned in a typically blistering performance on the night, upstaging many of the more established acts.

Their reputation for ferocious live shows had already gained them a loyal live following and the interest of Festival Mushroom Records who earlier this year signed them to FMR subsidiary label Flying Nun.

The band had planned for 2003 to be a quiet year, slowly building their profile and following. Suddenly finding themselves the darlings of student radio, the most talked about act on the A&R circuit and the support act of choice has been a little daunting. The band have shied away from their profile and currently refuse to give interviews for fear of becoming over-exposed - kind of ironic when a so many other young bands would sacrifice their drummer for the press time afforded them.

Much has been made about singer Kody's wild style, as he throws himself around the stage. There have been numerous comparisons to Joy Divison and the late Ian Curtis, although The Mint Chicks frequently mention fellow Manchurians, The Buzzcocks as one of their influences and prefer references to pop/rock than post-punk.

More recently The Mint Chicks have toured Australia, where the EP was released on October the 30th, as the support for the White Stripes, and have been back on a PR junket to pick up on the interest shown over there.

They're currently recording material for an album to be released next year and will release a single in the coming months Blue Team Go, which was on a split 7" with The Whirlwind Heat when they were over here in October. If the band's rise continues on this trajectory, it won't be much longer before they head off for good.