Interview with Ayisha Jaffer of SKUX

I N T E R V I E W
Ayisha Jaffer of SKUX
By Arpie Shirehorse

Auckland garage punks SKUX are just one of four neat bands playing this coming Saturday, 19th November at Nivara Lounge. HUP caught up with singer/songwriter and Milwaukee native Ayisha Jaffer ahead of the show!

You’re coming to Hamilton! Have you played here before at all, in any other bands? No I have not! Although some of the other guys might have come through. We’re looking forward to it!

What was the catalyst for starting Skux? I’d been in a band in New York called I Eat Paint and just before I left the USA, Universal mentioned signing us. That was a dream of mine but I was not ready for it then. Since, I have worked on other people’s careers and had forgotten about my own. All this time I have been urged by previous fans and friends to get into the studio so on a 1-week break in New York, I was shoved into a studio to make something already! And hence came The Two Sides of She.
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What is your writing process typically? Initially I started the project in a studio with Dan Walker from the Death Set and wrote three songs. From there I’ve now got this epic band full of the guys from Trust Punks, Kip McGrath (now Polyester - Ed), and Surf City who culminate my band and we all have been writing songs together, just jamming them out and have created some tizzies for the set.

What does 2017 hold in store for Skux? We are currently working on an EP and then playing all the shows. We have a festival lined up, kind of the new Chrono type show called A Gathering in the Forrest that we are playing in Feb and a few other summer festivals under wraps. I’d also like to get us overseas in the US + Europe doing some road warrior summer tours for the other hemisphere.

What’s your favourite song to play live? Personally, I love “Waiting for the Bathroom” because I think everyone can relate to how frustrating it is and I get to scream a lot. Just wait, you’ll know which one I’m talking about.

Any current favourite NZ bands? Loveeeeee Kane Strang (yussss! – Ed) and I just saw this band called The Magic Factory that as explained to me is The Raw Nerves doubled and they were super fun live! I was wooed at least.

Which member of Skux is…
- the sportiest?! We are not a very sporty group… Tim’s great at the sport of guitar & his tolerance of getting marshmallows thrown at him.
- the best cook?! Definitely our bass player Paul who has a double life where he part owns and runs a bistro in an epic surf town. He makes the best fried chicken sandwiches of ever.
- most likely to get arrested (what for?) ?! Maybe Mikey – silent but clever

If you had the opportunity to curate a show anywhere in the world with any three bands, dead or alive, and there was only one thing to drink…who/where/what are we quaffing?! David Bowie, Blondie, Santigold (all idols + bands I’ve never seen live), drinking Sazerac (because absinthe & being classic), at Jim Henson’s Studio because there is no-where more fun! ​​