The Auckland Band not Defined by Just One Genre: An Interview with Golden Surfer Boys, Park Rd
Angus and Tom from Park Rd at their first Christchurch show, August 2021. All photos taken by me on the Sony A6000.
Surfer Boy Paradise. That is most likely the song you think of when I mention the name Park Rd. Having hit over a million streams on Spotify with this song alone, these five Auckland surf-rockers are hitting the right notes with audiences throughout New Zealand and Australia, making their name known with their pumped up performances and on-stage confidence.
The band consists of Tom Chamberlain on vocals, Leo Crawshaw-Bond on guitar, Carlos Martin on bass, Te Kapua Pene (TK) on drums and Angus Hampton-Carr on lead guitar.
I recently had the opportunity to have a sit down on Zoom with Tom, Leo and Angus for a chat about new music, what is unique about them and what Park Rd represents.
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Hello! How are you guys?
Tom & Leo: Hello!
Tom: Good thanks, how are you going?
Yeah, not bad! How's your lockdown been?
Leo: As good as it can be… Boring.
So you guys are in separate bubbles I’m guessing?
Angus: Yup.
Oh that sucks, so does that affect creating new music or anything like that?
Leo: Yeah, for sure. I would actually enjoy lockdown if we were altogether, I'd say. We'd just make music everyday. Me and Tom have done a bit, but it's just not the same without the full crew.
Yourself and Tom have Nat from There’s a Tuesday living with you, don’t you? That would be pretty fun.
Tom: Yeah, lots of fun. We actually have a whole bunch of musicians living in our flat. Leo is kind of like the house producer. People have been doing writing sessions and stuff. Kept us going through lockdowns.
It’s pretty crazy, you guys were here in Christchurch the week before lockdown - we didn’t know what was coming the next week, eh? I do want to say thanks to you guys for taking the time to chat with me, I really appreciate it a lot! I love your music, it’s brilliant. So, Coastline came out on the 27th August.
Tom & Leo: Yup.
Tom, Leo and Carlos tearing up the house at Loons, Lyttelton!
What was the inspiration behind Coastline?
Tom: It was kind of about the initial stages of meeting someone where everything is intense, all the emotions and stuff and also knowing that it’s probably not going to last or work out, but you’re still really enjoying your time with that person and having that feeling of a crush - kind of… Crush feelings.
That’s awesome and I think that most people can relate to that as well.
Tom: It’s kind of about a particular, I guess, time where we drove to the coastline, so it’s pretty cool how all the different lyrics [come together]. I have an image in my head of that trip.
I love the fact that it has so much meaning behind it. It has been a real hit with everybody!
Leo: Thank you!
Have you got any new music coming out?
Leo: Yeah, so we’ve got a new EP coming out. We’ve been delayed a bit with the recording because of the whole lockdown thing, but I think we’ve got a single on the way next month. Hopefully.
Am I allowed to ask about that new single?
Leo: Sure! Maybe a little bit.
Are we allowed to know the title?
Tom: I feel like it’s fine. It’s called [insert new song title here - sorry readers, the title hasn’t been made public yet, so you’ll have to wait and see!] It’s kind of on a similar vibe to Coastline, the meaning, but even earlier stages. Summery. Angus has an incredible guitar solo at the end of the song.
Angus: Oh, thank you, Tom!
Was that one of the songs that you played at the Christchurch show?
Leo: Yes it was.
Speaking of your first Christchurch show, how did you guys find it down here? How did you find the crowd and the vibes?
Leo: It was mean, it was good. Switching it up.
Angus: We’ve only played like a couple of shows out of Auckland I think before.
Do you have anywhere you want to play after lockdown?
Tom: I think we definitely want to play Wellington which we didn’t get to do because of the lockdown. We’re definitely keen to do our own tour in New Zealand, playing in smaller venues.
That’s pretty achievable! We’re lucky we have some good venues throughout the country. So, you guys met in High School?
Leo: Yeah, we all went to the same High School. Tom kind of forced us all to [become a band] to be honest!
Angus: Yeah, Tom would always want to do these music notes and so, I think I’d been doing those with him for quite a while. We started pretty early on, we would’ve been 14 or 15, around the first ones. There were a few different faces who came in and out and then, I remember we wanted to do a gig at the Glen Eden Bowling Club and I can’t remember why… I think to just make some money. Tom and Leo had been doing some stuff together that year, I wasn’t really living in Auckland, but I came back up and we started playing and just jamming together, putting some songs together. Surfer Boy Paradise was one of the first ones we’d made. TK started at school somewhere around that time as well and he played drums, so he was drumming for us. One day after school, we were practicing and we didn’t have a bass player and I think Carlos just happened to be in the room and it was like “oh! Carlos, you play bass, don’t you?” and he was like “well, yeah” and we were like, “do you want to jam with us?” and Carlos was like “oh yeah, I’ll just tell my Mum” and then we had a bit of a jam with Carlos on the bass.
Leo: Hasn’t seen his Mum since.
It was like it was meant to be. You were meant to meet and the rest is history!
Angus: Yeah, more or less. We’ve just kept going since then. Decided to do Rockquest the next year. We were sort of 50/50 on doing it from what I remember, but super glad we did obviously. I think a lot of us gaining traction is thanks to that.
That’s a really big thing for young Kiwi artists, Smokefree Rockquest. A lot of people get to present themselves and showcase what they’ve got from that.
Leo: We’re super lucky to have that here.
Angus: 100% and I think all the people that you meet, obviously, who you guys are living with, would that have even happened if we didn’t do Smokefree Rockquest?
Leo: For sure.
Where did the name Park Rd come from? Was it from anything in particular or was it a random name you guys thought of?
Tom: We first started band practices at a place on Park Rd [in Auckland]. We had to come up with a name for the band -
Leo: Yeah, because we had a single coming out.
Tom: We had to choose our Spotify artist name and stuff like that and so, the deadline kind of made us come up with one and then… Yeah! We weren’t even sure on it at the time, but it was the best option that we thought of.
Angus: We played around with different names, thankfully I can’t remember those, they weren’t that great.
Leo: None of them were very good.
It’s such a cool name!
Tom: Oh, thank you! It’s definitely grown on me.
TK smashing the drums!
Kind of on the same topic, if you had to change your name from Park Rd to something else now, what would you change it to?
Tom: Oh, I think I know! We discovered that if you turn Park Rd backwards, it becomes Dr Krap. [Everyone erupts into laughter at this point]
Oh my God, I love that!
Tom: That would be a pretty good name. Maybe that will be our underground name if we release some slightly different music.
Leo: Yeah, we'd have to change up the genre as well, I reckon.
What would you change it to though, with Dr Krap?
Leo: We’ve had a little side project brewing, me, Angus and Carlos over the years. A little darker version.
Angus: It’s kind of, sort of a bit of punk, I guess… a little bit of… I don’t know, like all of the metal sub-genres, but it's sort of some of that stuff, mixed with some punk stuff.
Tom: Sometimes we play different kinds of music… For a while, we would experiment with a whole bunch of different genres and we kind of have Punk Rd and Dark Rd. Those were the types of music we were playing, but we've never used it. Yet. It's there if we need it.
Absolutely. You never know what you’ll want to be doing in a years’ time. You'll be like “yeah! Let’s do this genre” and those names will come in handy.
I read that you guys didn’t always want to pursue music? How did that come about? I know we talked about how you met in High School and it all came together, but how did you guys know you wanted to do that?
Leo: I don’t think I ever did want to do that. I just didn’t really know it was a thing till I did it. I feel like after I started, I just… kind of knew it was what I wanted to do.
Tom: Leo used to tell me that he was going to be a professional footballer.
Leo: I definitely dropped the sport.
Oh! Why did you drop it?
Leo: I’m not sure, actually. I feel like music and sport don’t really cross.
Angus: I found it's a bit stressful, honestly. People take it real seriously.
Leo: I found it hurts as well, like, getting beaten up on the field. I prefer being in a safe room with my headphones on, you know? Just jamming out.
That’s a lot nicer. Speaking of the genre thing, are there any other genres you'd like to branch into, obviously other than what we spoke about before?
Angus: I think genres have always been a difficult thing. For us to even say what sort of genre we play because a lot of the songs, particularly the unreleased stuff, some of the songs are quite different from each other, definitely. In my own time, I play all sorts of stuff. I play in a metal band as well, doing like, thrash metal and then other times, I play classic rock and fusion and all that stuff. I’m never sure. What I play is just a mixture of all of that.
Leo: I feel like we all kind of do that. [Do our] own kind of things and when we come together, it just makes something.
Tom: I really like pop music and then Leo has kind of got a bit more kind of like… what would you say?
Leo: I don’t know, I listen to a lot of music.
Tom: A bit more of indie, hip-hop and then Carlos really loves the funk. Angus and Carlos are the funky duo.
Angus: Oh yeah, I love funk albums. The stuff I listen to is all like, 70s and 80s rock and funk.
Leo: There is a song on our EP that is a bit different to most of our other stuff.
Tom: There is a song with Leo singing in it. That will be good for some variety.
It's cool, because Tom you’re primarily the vocalist for Park Rd. I think it's great when bands change things up. It makes such a unique sound.
How about… What's your favourite show you’ve ever played, if you’ve got a favourite?
Leo: The Tuning Fork. Last show at the Tuning Fork. The Control release show. It was pretty mean, pretty awesome to sell that out. Crazy.
Angus: I reckon for me, either that one or when we played at RnV!
Have you guys got any other Summer festivals lined up?
Leo: Yeah, so we're playing Le Currents in December.
That’s exciting!
Tom: We might have a show in Tauranga. It was going to be with Lime Cordiale, an Australian band, but if they don’t make it, it might just be with [two band names - again, sorry readers!], which will be fun either way. Hopefully we'll be able to play whole bunch of festivals as well over summer. Still to come!
Have you got any dreams festivals you'd want to play in NZ or outside of NZ?
Leo: I think it would be pretty cool to go to Aussie and and play Splendour in the Grass. That's a big dream festival for me!
Tom: Yeah, I think a lot of our fans on Spotify are actually from Australia, so it would be really cool to branch out and see what the live scene is like and play a whole bunch of shows there.
Leo: Yeah, it would be cool.
Bit of a random one. If you could be in any movie, what would you be in?
Tom: Maybe like a band kind of movie. I feel like that's where I'd fit in, maybe. [To Leo] What about you? Do you want to be a male lead in a rom-com? I reckon I could see you doing that!
Angus: That’s a tough question!
Tom: John Wick?
Angus: The reality of being in a lot of those movies is quite terrifying.
Leo: Yeah, I reckon.
Angus: That’s what makes it hard to choose.
Leo: Yeah, maybe a nice one.
Angus: Yeah, like um… What's that like, Winnie the Pooh movie that came out?
Christopher Robin? [Not even sure if this is the one he was thinking of or if it's called that!]
Angus: It's a real good movie!
Leo: I’d be pretty keen to be in The Incredibles.
Tom: I reckon Carlos would be quite good at doing a voice over. He's got the impressions.
Leo: Secret talent.
Tom: Maybe like, Scooby-Doo. He could voice over one of them.
How good would that be, though? Carlos being voice over for Scooby-Doo, that would be epic! What about TK? What do you guys think he'd be in?
Tom: I could see him going down the rom-com line.
I don’t know if this is going to be a tricky question, but just thought I'd throw it out there… What does Park Rd represent?
Tom: For me, when I feel most connected to what Park Rd means is when we are at a gig or something and I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but, like… Giving out lots of love to the audience and light. I feel like people can feel the love from our music. That would be one of the biggest meanings for me.
Angus: Basically, what I'd say is that Park Rd has always been about having a good time. That's the main thing, it's the sort of feeling whenever we play a show and so, it's my favourite thing about it. That's what makes it special.
You do definitely share that love and make it feel special. I thoroughly enjoyed your set with There's a Tuesday just before lockdown, that was just so cool.
Tom: Definitely keen to play in Christchurch again!
You also played with Dolphin Friendly in December last year at the Tuning Fork, how was that?
Tom: That was good fun. Yeah, they’re all really awesome guys and it was fun having a boogie to their music as well.
Angus: Yeah, I really like Dolphin Friendly's stuff.
They’re quite good, very energetic. A lot like you guys are on stage!
Tom: Yeah, that was a really fun gig. It was nice having that opening slot, warming up for the crowd. Any chance to play to people, really.
I was actually in Auckland for that gig and just wanted to say that seeing you back then and seeing you almost two months ago, your confidence on stage has gone from mid-range to quite high-range. It's gotten huge and I was blown away to see that with you guys, it was amazing!
Tom: Oh, thank you so much!
Do you have any plans to collaborate with your mates, There's a Tuesday by any chance?
Tom: I think we have talked about it. I reckon it would be cool.
Leo: Yeah, for sure. I mean, we have done some jams at home, so, you know… Nat was actually with us when we wrote the chorus for Golden. I'd say for sure.
That would be such an epic collaboration. I think that would go down so well.
Tom: Yeah, maybe we should ask them if we can get a song on the next EP or something. That would be really cool.
What is the most unique thing about each one of you?
Leo: I have red hair.
Yay! Same!
Angus: Yeah. Tom is really tall.
Tom: Yeah, I am! I'm over 2 metres. I think I'm 2 metres.
What’s that in feet?
Tom: 6 foot 7.
Leo: Can you fit through that door?
Tom: I think it just fits me perfectly, but most doors I don’t fit under.
Leo: I’d say that's probably not even the most unique thing about you. Tom's got a lot.
Tom: I guess… I have a part time job blowing soap bubbles at events. It's a pretty good job to have! Everyone is normally pretty happy about it. We opened for The Butlers in Galatos in Auckland and earlier in the day, I'd just been doing bubbles, so I had all my bubble gear with me, so I ended up actually doing some giant bubbles as they played one of their songs in the background on stage. That was the first time music has met bubbles.
How did it go?!
Tom: I think it was pretty good. I didn’t quite see it from the front.
Leo: It was pretty mean, I reckon.
Angus: Yeah, it was pretty awesome!
Tom: Might have to do it again. Next time Leo sings, just bring out the bubbles. Maybe I can get someone else to do it for us, as well.
You must have a whole crew or friends who come out and you can be like “yo, blow some bubbles for us, please!”
Leo: It’s not as easy as it looks, it's a bit of an art. They're big.
Tom: It’s a bit of a process making the mixture and doing all the special ingredients.
So, it's not your standard bubble mix then? You can’t put water with dishwasher liquid, like we used to do as kids?
Tom: No. It is kind of that…
Leo: But a bit more. Don’t let the secrets out!
Tom: Yeah, we did a little bubble machine at our Control release at the Tuning Fork gig, that was quite cool. We might have to upscale that in the future. Maybe a massive bubble machine going on throughout the show.
You would just make everybody’s days so much brighter by doing that! This next question, you can answer this in band form or in personal form, however you want to… What has been the most mind blowing thing that has ever happened to you?
Tom: Hitting a million streams on one of our songs on Spotify is pretty mind blowing for me. It's kind of hard to comprehend that! That was pretty awesome.
Leo: For sure.
Tom: When we were starting out, we were like “imagine hitting a million streams on a song” it's pretty cool to think about that.
Is there any chance that we will ever see a Park Rd album? [Well, hear]
Leo: Yes.
Angus: So, yeah. Definitely! At some stage.
Leo: Pretty soon, I think.
Tom: Yeah, we've written an EP, we just need to finish it and release it and then maybe an album afterwards.
Leo: You never know.
Tom: We will see where it goes. I think the plan was to release a few EPs and rather than making an album at the start, do something more widely received, I guess. I think money and stuff like that is always a factor.
Is there anything else you'd like to add to the interview?
Tom: Thank you for having us.
Thank you guys for being here, it's been awesome!
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Go ahead and have a listen and follow Park Rd at all of the below links and keep an ear out for their next single -
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Hey! I currently have capacity for interviews/features/reviews of New Zealand musicians and music on Welcome to the Gig. Please feel free to DM me on Instagram or email me to discuss. At this stage, I don’t have availability to cover international artists, keep an eye on the socials as this could change!