Musician / song writer Shayne Carter and conductor Hamish McKeitch visiting RNZ Concert on release of the album REforms. Photo: RNZ
Shayne Carter has been at the forefront of New Zealand rock and roll for over 40 years.
From his high school band Bored Games, to Straightjacket Fits, to Dimmer.
But something else has been happening to Carter's music over the past decade - he's gone a little bit classical.
This month, Carter released his first album with a symphony orchestra, REforms.
It's a collection of mostly previously recorded songs, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Carter joined RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump along with the orchestra's conductor for the recording sessions, Hamish McKeich.
Carter says a lot of credit for the album should go to Tane Upjohn Beatson, who did the orchestration.
He says one of the challenges of transforming music written for a band to an orchestra, is resisting the temptation to over-orchestrate.
Carter says Beatson has done a "great job" avoiding too many "frilly bits" - except for one or two things he's "snuck in".
Carter has also avoided any amplified sound for the album, except his own voice - with one exception - the "rude" electric guitar on the track from his days with the band Dimmer, Crystalator.
Is this the beginning of more pieces for orchestra?
Carter's not so sure, perhaps his next project will involve returning to his punk roots, although he does regard Beethoven as one of the original punk rockers.
More importantly for Carter, great music doesn't belong to any one genre - "it's all vibration" - if it moves the listener, it's doing its job.
REforms is available on Carter's own record label, Crystalator Records.
Shayne has his new band... Photo: Supplied / North & South
