These Go to 11: interviewing California Snow Story

It has been a while since our last interview, but we are coming back big! Ladies and gents, it's our pleasure to have David Skirving, the man behind the great (and happily reactivated) California Snow Story answering our questionnaire. No time to waste, These Go to 11!

David Skirving, California Snow Story

Finally, we're heading back to California

Hailing from Glasgow, David Skirving formed California Snow Story after leaving our beloved Camera Obscura in 2001. Heavily influenced by Sarah Records (just check his answers below) the first release of his new, dreamy indie pop project, was the EP 'One Good Summer', out in 2002 by Shelflife, a year later appearing on the unmissable label's compilation 'You're Still Young At Heart'. On 2006, after a hiatus of three years, Skirving returned to action with a full band including Sandra Belda Martínez (Superété) on vocals, Madoka Fukushima on keyboards and Alan Skirving on drums. During a year the group worked on their first length, 'Close to the Ocean' released by Letterbox Records in 2007. The band vanished again, but out of the blue, David announced last year on social networks a new album was on the works (with exciting collaborators as my dear Mel Whittle from Hermit Crabs or Lupe from Amor de Días). Now we know the LP it's called 'Some other places' that will be out this May via Rallye Label and Shelflife and, judging by its first tune available, the gorgeous 'Motorway' the wait was worth it. But in the meantime, here we go!

The synth ballad of the 80s

1.First record that you bought (be honest)

Ultravox's 'Vienna' and Joe Dolce's 'Shaddap You Face'. Can’t remember which was first but they are both classics.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

New Order ('Technique' era), Roddy Frame (playing 'High Land Hard Rain'). Honestly!

Simple Minds, did you forget about them?

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

Simple Minds.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

Maybe some Sarah Records 7” singles like 'Crush the Flowers' by The Wake and 'Paris'/'Last September’s Farewell Kiss' by Northern Picture Library.

5.Favorite lyrics (not yours)
I was listening to Prefab Sprout last week and I’ve always liked 'Life’s not complete till your heart’s missed a beat' combined with the missed beat in the music. Clever!

Bobby Wratten, our hiding hero

6.Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Not sure I want to meet any more musicians but I’ve been lucky to talk online to three different artists from Sarah Records (Bobby Wratten, Caesar and Mary Wyer). They were very friendly and unassuming people and I’m sure I would enjoy meeting them. That label seemed to attract nice people – musicians and fans.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
When I was young I loved the 'Psychocandy' cover by The Jesus and Mary Chain. It seemed really strange when I first saw it and I didn’t understand it but it was striking and fitted the music. I saw where they nicked it from later but that’s art!

'Kokoro',  solitude's standing

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Books. I’d recommend ‘Kokoro’ by Natsume Soseki.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
Maybe ‘You’ll Go Places’ and ‘Outliers’ from the new album.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
That things don’t have to be crap and that you don’t have to go along with what’s in fashion. When I first heard ‘indie’ music it seemed like a door to a secret world where things were better.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Ready to release the third album (it usually takes a while).
                                                                     

 Zillion thanks David!