Saxophonist Scott Towers, aka Chopper Reeds, gives us the skinny on Fat Freddy’s Drop and their latest release ahead of their headlining show in Christchurch on Waitangi Day.

Your latest album, Special Edition Part 1, has dropped – tell us how it came together? It’s a pretty even mix of road-tested numbers that have been honed over the last 18 months on tour and studio workouts that came from jam sessions. We've always wanted to do an audacious large-scale release and a two-parter seemed the right way to go.

Can fans expect to see a Part 2 drop in 2020? Either late 2020 or early to mid 2021. Or perhaps some other time. Heck, we don't know either, but it will happen.

How did you come up with the name Fat Freddy’s Drop? The long-whispered mythology about the band name is correct – a long hazy weekend of music-making, some recreational drugs and counter-culture cartoons all combined.

You’re quite a large band – is it difficult to get all seven members in the same place at the same time? No. We've got a good understanding amongst the group of how best to work, and that means intense sessions in the studio to write, record or rehearse and then a complete break from it all. All it takes is a few emails and a car ride/flight and we're into it.

How did Fat Freddy’s form?  It was a loose collective of musicians who jammed together in various guises in Wellington in the mid to late ‘90s and then things got more serious and the lineup solidified. The last change to it was 12 or 13 years ago.

Can you tell us about your first gig? Well, my first gig with Fat Freddy’s Drop was in London at the Fabric nightclub. None of the OG horn players made the trip over so I got called in to cover. It was nerve-racking but also incredibly fun.

You've performed together now for over 15 years – what keeps the chemistry alive? It's actually the performing – finding new ways to present a song. And listening to each other. On any given gig at least a couple of the band happen to be in blinding form – that's pretty cool to witness up close. That and the audiences we have – they are uniformly amazing all over the world.

You seem to be always chasing summer, spending plenty of time in Europe when the colder weather sets in here – how is tour life? Hard, boring, exhausting, exhilarating, luxurious, lonely, thrilling, educational, emotional – it's just what we do.

You’ve performed the world over. Where has been your favourite city to perform? I love playing in Lisbon – amazing city and great fans.

How do you think your Kiwi roots have influenced your music and career? It's hard to say whether the band could even exist if we weren't based here. I think the sound we get is unique because we are isolated from the stringent musical rules of some established 'scenes' overseas. But yeah, we all live here so an NZ perspective is definitely in there somewhere.

Fat Freddy's is now a whanau with partners and children – any rising talent coming through the ranks? All of them are awesome in their own right. That said, Hopepa's son, Benny Salvador, is a great up-and-coming house and techno DJ.

What are your thoughts on the New Zealand music scene? It's full of amazing talent that people need to support. Having a thriving local arts scene can only do good things for the wider community. This year's Music Awards finalists and winners were a pretty good start – jump in, people, try it out!

Who do you dream of doing a collab with? Unfortunately Prince has died, so D'Angelo? Badu? Kaytranada? BadBadNotGood? Khruangbin? That list is endless...

What’s your go-to spot in Christchurch? Penny Lane Records.

Do you have a pre- and/or post-show ritual? I try to listen to the other bands before the show – that's always inspiring. And after, a cooooooold beer.

What’s on the cards for Fat Freddy’s in 2020? More of everything – this year was kinda quiet (recording aside). So more gigs, more writing and recording, more touring and more holidays.

Fat Freddy’s Drop, Hagley Park, February 6, 2020
fatfreddysdrop.com