SHORTSTRAW Release Their Sophomore Album: GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE

Today sees the official release of the second album from Johannesburg-based afro-indie pop rock band, SHORTSTRAW. After opening for The Kooks this past weekend, and winner of the MK Award 2013 for Best Indie, SHORTSTRAW‘s new album is entitled GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE.

“It's named after the track and second single from the album with the same name. We figured it would be a fun theme for the album. The chorus of the song goes, ‘You're such a bitch in the morning!’ It's ironic. Hip.”

The band started pre-production for the album in December 2012. They took a couple of weeks off in a town called Verkykerskop, where they were allowed to make as much noise as they wanted to for as long as they wanted to and thus wrote the bulk of the album during that time. The album was recorded at High Seas Records in Rosebank, Johannesburg and the band spent two weeks in studio, and another two weeks mixing the album.

“We've done the album really quickly, which has prevented us from sitting on anything for too long. It’s often when you have too much time, that you suddenly create problems with songs. With this, we were just like, ‘Fuck yeah, that sounds rad! Track that shit! Done.’”

The album has predominantly been produced by Jacques ‘Jambo’ du Plessis and Marc de la Querra from High Seas Records. Darryl Torr also had some production input on the track called ‘Gimme My Fix’ and Teejay Terreblanche was involved with ‘Bikini Weather’. All the songs on this album are from the new 5-piece line-up of the band. The new members all added their own flavour and it has resulted in a more mature, well-rounded sound for SHORTSTRAW.

“We developed the new sound over the past year and a half and we wanted people to hear how we've progressed. We're really proud of it! In terms of inspiration for the songs, it's pretty much girls and partying. We pride ourselves on our live show, and we wanted that to come through on the album.”
Lyrically, the band is telling more stories with the new album. Each song has a catchy hook that you can sing and dance along to. Not that that wasn't the case with the first album - fans can just expect it to be easier with this one. The guitar parts are more intricate with Tom on lead guitar, there are more detailed keys with a full time keyboardist and their growth as musicians since their last offering, is evident.

GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE Track Listing:

1. Couch Potato
2. Gimme My Fix
3. Good Morning, Sunshine
4. Cold Shoulder
5. Bikini Weather
6. Mo Money (ft. Zubz)
7. lcbss
8. Say My Name
9. Boxing Day
10. Wedding Blues (ft. Shane Durrant)
11. Backbone
12. 127 Hours

GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE will be available at all their shows and also for download on Band Camp - make a donation and download the new album for absolutely FREE:
http://shortstraw.bandcamp.com/

Be sure to watch SHORTSTRAW’s latest music video for Bikini Weather here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQh8wezotC8

Be sure to catch SHORTSTRAW on their nationwide GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE Album Launch Tour:

25 April 2013 - Bohemia, Stellenbosch

26 April 2013 - Mercury Live, Cape Town

28 April 2013 - The Brass Bell, Kalk Bay

30 April 2013 - Surf Cafe, Plettenberg Bay

2 May 2013 - Barmuda, Port Alfred

3 May 2013 - Champs, Grahamstown

4 May 2013 - Live The Venue, Durban

10 May 2013 - Arcade Empire, Pretoria

11 May 2013 - Mystic Boer, Bloemfontein

31 May 2013 - Town Hall, Johannesburg


SHORTSTRAW Contact:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shortstrawband

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shortstrawband

BandCamp: http://shortstraw.bandcamp.com/

SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/shortstrawband

*Photos by Hanro Havenga.