Fly My Pretties | Interview with Barnaby Weir

Hunt out your bag of money, use a bit of foresight and you may be lucky enough to get out and see a Fly My Pretties concert. Not so much a band as a remarkable collaborative project, Fly My Pretties combines soul, folk, dub, rock and reggae into a multidimensional live show.

The project began in 2004 when Barnaby Weir and the good folk at LOOP Recordings assembled a group of Wellington’s finest musicians to collaborate on songs written by Barnaby and other talented New Zealand artists, including Age Pryor and Samuel Flynn Scott.

The first concerts, held at Bats Theatre in Wellington, were widely acclaimed and the resulting album Live at Bats (recorded live by Lee Prebble) managed to capture some of the magic that audiences experienced. The project grew and was reborn in 2005 with The Return of Fly My Pretties. The distinctly nostalgic second series featured a stunning visual display made up of New Zealand Film Archive footage and a cast adorned in period costume, which delighted sold-out audiences around the country.

Now Fly My Pretties returns to dazzle us all for a third time with a grand new concept and more additions to the cast, which now numbers 16. Barnaby and his father Dick Weir have co-written the story behind Fly My Pretties and it is this narrative that the new shows follow. We caught up with Barnaby as he prepares to present the Fly My Pretties story to the nation.

How did the story of Fly My Pretties come about? Did it evolve from the previous shows or has it always been a tale you’d wanted to tell?

It came about because I really wanted to try something different in the way the show was presented. Having it in theatres with artwork and creative iconic visuals was where it got to on the last show. For this one I wanted to go the whole way and tell a story with the music. Who would be better to help me than my old man Dick Weir. He knows how to tell a good story. So we got working on it. I had the initial synopsis and we went from there. Of course if you have a story you kinda need great illustrations to go with it. Enter Kieran Rynhart.

What has it been like to see the story come to life in illustration?

It’s been truly amazing to see both the story illustrations and the music materialise. Kieran is a great artist. I know it’s been a lot of work for him and our animators Krafthaus Films.

Did you have a clear vision of how you wanted it to look before you went to Kieran?

Not really. I knew I wanted a hand drawn look. We saw his work and it made sense to call him up. We didn’t want it to be too cartoon like. It needs to be a bit timeless. He has achieved this I think.

Your Dad is part of this year’s Fly My Pretties show. Growing up, did his work influence your song writing?

Hmmm not really. But his work has influenced my imagination. Being allowed to sit in on him while he produced radio shows was pretty important to me making music. When I was 13 I ended up hiring his engineer for a three hour session to make a track. Wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t hanging out around old Broadcasting House in Wellington. So indirectly his work has influenced my direction. Of course before I was a professional musician I worked in radio. He he he.

He has said that you’d always wanted to work together – what’s it been like to finally do it?

Well so far it’s been really enjoyable. He’s very clever at storytelling. He’s made friends with all the cast and crew and we have delivered our first show in Christchurch. I never thought I’d be touring with my dad, kinda un-rock n roll.

Has the narrative element affected how songs were written and selected?

Yes it has. Firstly I invited all the musicians to be a part of the show, then I sent them the story and some pictures and a letter explaining how it would work. I also suggested some themes to start from, then the artists brought in their ideas and we went from there. Some are related directly to the story but most are related thematically. In this way the narrative has affected the music. In terms of selection, every track brought forward has made it in to the show. Depending on the feel and tone of the song, I have placed it where I think it best fits in the story.

You wrote most of the material for the first show, whilst the second was more of a group effort – how has the third been approached?

Fly My Pretties this year is very much a group effort/collaboration. The range of talent makes the show great. I don’t want to be the star of the show, there isn’t one star. The group makes it good. I actually have many more tracks I could have put in the show but by the time you hear my two new tracks and then five or six older ones, it’s not as if I’m hiding backstage by the rider.

What was the reaction from new Fly My Pretties artists when you asked them to be involved in the project? Did you have to convince anyone?!

The general reaction was really positive. Almost everyone said yes straight away. There were some who were too busy to do it. But I can’t change that so you move on and keep building the best cast you can think of. I reckon it’s a beauty.

Are there any collaborations in particular that have been exciting to see come together?

Yes. It’s really nice to see everyone get together and begin working out the songs and adding and subtracting players. Eva Prowse has a really cool track Lie Of The Land and it was a pleasure watching that come together. Also Rio’s track Down To The Sea has a real edge to it and it got going pretty quickly. It’s a mean bluesy groove.

As a more theatrical show, have there been new challenges that you may not be used to as a musician?

Yes. Always bigger and better ideas end up being harder to deliver. The main challenge has been making sure there is good flow through the story and the music. And providing enough dynamic and variety. It’s quite a technical show. Lots of cues and things to go wrong but I think we have got it sorted.

Are there any pre/post show rituals that you or others bring to the tour?

Well we’ve been having good warm ups… My Dad leads a good few exercises. Then I like a good old fashioned beer or two after and perhaps a boogie and a really late night.

Any plans to take Fly My Pretties overseas?

No plans to do so yet. I think it works fine right here and the drive to take it internationally is not that strong for me. Who could afford it? That’s what keeps it special too. But you never know, it’s not impossible.

[View with PicLens]

The story of Fly My Pretties will be available as an illustrated book later in 2009.
The concerts are being held in Auckland June 2nd – 13th. Most sessions are sold out already so look out for the CD / DVD release in a few months time.

For more information see:
http://www.myspace.com/fmpretties
http://www.loop.co.nz