Who Are SML?

Rip It Up, Issue 216, 1 August 1995, Page 10

Who Are SML?

The ‘review of John Russell' letter in last month’s RipltUp was perhaps a tad personal in its attack strategy, but it raised some good points and had a ring of truth about it. Face it, Murray, RipltUp, with all its self congratulatory ‘Wildside acts rock!’ back-slapping, is beginning to emit the cynical smell of music biz corruptness, and a lot of people North and South are picking up the scent of putrefaction. Now, Shihad and HLAH are both good bands, but it is obvious that every time one of their members fart, we will no doubt receive a glossy centrespread photo of the action in the next month’s RipltUp. My case point being the SML article: a whole page and massive colour photo of an unrecognisable member of a band that are ‘on hold’, to promote a single of, quote, ‘low-fi, experimental, impromptu sounding jams... nothing we would have missed’ (as reviewed in the same issue). A load of shite, in other words. Now, Shihad and HLAH are doing pretty well touring the world and everything. You’d think they might have had the decency to tell you, Murray, er, that is Wildside, to spend the money releasing some new, deserving band, of which there are dozens in need of recording deals, and with fresh ideas to add to the New Zealand scene. If you look at it from this perspective, the idea of these personalities hogging even more press space for a side project really stinks! How much space was given to Superette in comparison to SML? Here is a band that actually exists, is playing, and features an important New Zealand songwriter’s first venture outside of a classic New Zealand band; but because it’s not your label’s records that will be sold by covering it, Superette are relegated to the bottom of the page. This is typical of your editorial approach to Flying Nun bands and artists. They will never make the cover or gain substantial representation, because they represent the opposition for Wildside in terms of the commercial market-place. Turn to the SML article and read between the lines of the second column: We fucked around on a four track and Murray smelt some cash in it, and next thing ya know, we got all of page 26 to ourselves! It’s easy, with the right connections, for ‘new’ bands, right guys? Where is your dignity, you arrogant fucks? How many Wildside acts have been on the cover of RipltUp in the last year? Come on, Murray, I dare you to admit it: when it comes to coverage in your mag, it’s a one horse race. Please reply. David X, Christchurch. Editor replies: I try and reflect what's happening on the local scene- and what artists will sell our magazine. Major decisions, like who’s on the cover, I discuss with the staff. SML are newsworthy because of their August album release, Is That It?, their link with Shihad and HLAH, their national student radio play and their Wellington gigs. Even though Superette only had an EP out, I considered them a suitable story. The band SML supplied RipltUp with the colour photo at no cost, and I considered it very cool (as did the designer) and appropriate for use in the colour section. A bonus for RipltUp was that the story was exclusive, as the band was inaccessible on tour in Europe. As Wildside recordings often get far better reviews in other publications around New Zealand than in RipltUp, our writers obviously try to be independent and fair.

My dual roles are well known but it should also be recognised that as the New Zealand music and media communities are so small, most people involved also have vested interests or bias. Friendship can affect objectivity as much as ownership, and a fanatic love of a genre of music is more mind-fucking than both. I suspect your view just echoes the rising tide of parochial thinking that makes any one scene around New Zealand knock bands from another region.

After 18 years, I am still the RipltUp staff member interested in covering the widest range of local bands possible. That's why my name appeared under two very different stories in the July issue — Jay Clarkson and Glen Moffatt.