A Chat with Still Shaking (27.10.21)
For approximately one decade, the foursome Still Shaking has kept us shaking with their unique, genre-defying sound. Once described by a reviewer as having songs that “…sound like they could’ve been part of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 soundtrack”, you can imagine Still Shaking to be forceful but fun. We speak with the Norwegian punk band about their new album Relax Friends, musical inspiration and early memories.
OSR: How did Still Shaking come about?
Still Shaking: The band originally formed in 2011. Mats and Lasse had just quit their former band because they wanted to play more melodic, catchy and more like the music they actually grew up listening to like NOFX, Hot Water Music, The Flatliners, etc.
Mats knew Simen through his first band and mutual friends and he wanted to join the band! Stian and Simen knew each other from a previous band and Stian joined about a year later. It’s been us four ever since.
OSR: What is the backstory to your new album Relax Friends?
Still Shaking: The backstory is that this album is just about life in general. About the ups and downs. A lot of the songs have been written and rewritten over the last couple of years, so some of the lyrics are from life experiences from years ago and some are from recent experiences.
OSR: What was the recording and writing process like?
Still Shaking: In doing some early pre-production/demos of songs at Stian’s place, we decided that we were going to try and record DI of all the guitars ourselves. After recording the drums in Tune Park Studio, we started recording guitars and bass. There was a bit of learning while doing, but after a while, we were decently happy with the result and went to 777 Studio to re-amp the tracks with our friend and producer Esteban Munoz. Turns out we should’ve edited the drums a bit more than we originally did and we had some not very audible noise on some of our DI tracks. The noise became very apparent when re-amping through big tube heads. So, late at night, Esteban and Stian agreed that we needed to edit the drums and record all the guitars again.
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Still Shaking: Just going to see live shows. The last 4-5 years (pre-Covid) we’ve attended The Fest In Florida. Travelling there and getting to see all our favourite bands is a huge inspiration to us. When we come back home, we all just want to write songs and play shows.
OSR: Which is your favourite track on Relax Friends?
Mats: ‘DKWTGOA’
Stian: ‘Panic Jerks’
OSR: What about your least favourite track?
Still Shaking: They’re all bangers.
OSR: Describe your sound using one sentence.
Still Shaking: Fast, melodic pop-punk.
OSR: What makes you unique?
Still Shaking: We’re four people who all draw inspiration from different places and write songs together.
OSR: What is your earliest memory?
Still Shaking: First memory of Still Shaking that comes to mind is Mats and Lasse deciding to start a new band. The same day they sat down and wrote Shaking’s first song ‘Cut You Out’.
OSR: Do you have any future plans for Still Shaking?
Still Shaking: Hopefully, play a bunch of shows not that things are opening up again. We have some friends who are also releasing albums, so probably a tour around Norway next year.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Still Shaking: Follow us on IG and hopefully, we’ll come play somewhere near you in the future!
Thanks to Still Shaking for speaking with us. For more from Still Shaking check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
