Gareth Thomas Isn’t Done: Goodshirt Frontman On How Indie Pop Is Architecture & Less Is More

I caught up with Gareth Thomas at his rustic home in the bush complete with a small studio and a cat that inspired his album cover. He gained recognition as a songwriter and musician in Goodshirt; forming in 2000 they were known for catchy lo-fi indie-pop tunes you feel you already know. Goodshirt had plenty of success, yet years after their last album, Gareth finds he’s not done and he released his new album ‘Bits’ in time for Halloween after years of development. He handed me the fresh vinyl disc. The lo-fi cover art hints of the Lego 1×1 piece; the perfect pixel. Lego makes for a great architectural play space and features throughout his studio. 

Gareth invites me to scan his perfectly pixelated Lego QR code. 

Lead single ‘Lilly Knows Electricity’ sticks in your head while references span multiple music genres. Keep listening to tracks like ‘Wake Up’ and you know there are more singles to come. The tracks reflect personal experiences through life stages. ‘Wake Up’ originated seven years ago to encourage his then partner to overcome depression and create music. She loved the song and it helped. A “positive song about depression” he calls it. ‘Lilly Knows Electricity’ by contrast came together quickly after watching Mermaidens at the AUM festival. “I wrote a song about the show, it got me inspired again.” It was a very external stimulus to get him back to music, yet he soon discovered that another of the Mermaidens lyric was inspired by ‘Sophie’ from Goodshirt days. 

The studio is small, just the way he likes it. 

He approaches pop music with a focus on big melody with proven structure. “The goal [is] a familiar surprise” he puts with eloquence. It is no surprise his influences are famous for their singability. “I grew up on the Beatles and Split Enz, and I’d like a big fat melody, a big chorus.” His ideas collect over time, but there is no hurry, “If it sticks around, that’s a really good test.” He plays experiments with a composition to find its core, “If a song can survive different versions, you know it’s worth persevering with”. He applies Paul McCartney’s ukulele test: “You’ve got to be able to play it on ukulele. [If it sounds good] then it’s durable and flexible”.

“I keep drawing parallels between music and architecture. Like with architecture, a good design, you’ve got to be able to sketch on the back of an envelope.” For Gareth, songwriting relies on stripping away excess elements: “Songwriting is just reducing everything down.” Reductionism is a recurring tenet with Gareth: when he talks and when he writes, it is unhurried, uncomplicated, direct and approachable, yet not lacking in sophistication, much like Lego.

The cat’s color scheme provided the palette for the album. 

To support the release of his new Album, he is on tour across New Zealand with upcoming shows in Christchurch, Auckland and more. These days Gareth performs primarily as a two-piece alongside synth player Heather Bolton of Vox Venus. He is also scheduled to perform at the AUM Festival on New Year’s Day, the very event where he found inspiration as an audience member.

You can find ‘Bits’ everywhere online.