THE CHINASKIS – interview

Introduce your band, and describe your latest release:

We’re The Chinaskis, a power-pop band based out of Dallas, TX. Our latest release is the album “Songs for the Scunnered”, twelve lyrics about drinking, heartbreak, anger and politics set to some of the sweetest music you’ll hear this year.

What’s the hardest part about being a band in this day and age?

It’s a challenge but I love connecting with the virtual audience, it’s so much easier to get your stuff out these days – you can get your music to thousands of folks through the social and digital channels, and that’s really inspiring… but it’s a slog for sure, you have to keep feeding the beast with content (even when there’s none or you don’t have time to make it), but that’s a nice headache to have! I’m lucky not to be doing this for a living. But for those who are, it’s still disgraceful how little artists are compensated by streaming platforms and how often they’re promised “exposure” in return for their hard work. Ever tried to pay your landlord or utility company in “exposure”?

When did you realise that your project had the potential to be much more than just a fun idea?

I’ve been writing songs since I was in my teens, and playing live since 2001 – I got to a point where I really wanted to do my songwriting justice and record what I felt were the strongest tunes, leave a legacy, all that good stuff. So getting the album together and investing so much time in it really made me step it up a notch.

Tell us about your latest release, why should we check it out?

We’re the perfect boozy mix of hummable melodies, beautiful harmonies, lovely-sounding songs… with pissed-off, acerbic lyrics. For me the best music creates a real dissonance – you get sucked in by the sugary songs, but a few lines in you realized that there’s a seriously bitter Scottish guy singing over them. People respond really well to that – especially here in the USA, where there aren’t many Scottish-fronted bands on the scene… and our live shows are a riot, we take the music very seriously but the between-song banter and audience interaction make it more like cabaret than a gig sometimes. If people aren’t leaving humming the songs and with a smile on their face then we’re doing something wrong!

How would you describe your sound to an unfamiliar reader?
I like to loosely describe us as “bittersweet power-pop”: loud guitars, an emphasis on melody and harmony, and inspiration from decades of pop, rock and alternative music. My favourite artists have always combined sad or angry lyrics with beautiful, poppy arrangements (think the Smiths, Warren Zevon, Teenage Fanclub, Big Star), and we try to combine big harmony-laden pop arrangements with the sound of a bitter-sounding Scotsman singing over them.

What do you want listeners to take away from listening to your band?
As a songwriter it’s all about “earworm” – writing a hook or lyric that burrows into the listener’s brain and provokes an emotional reaction. I’d love our listeners to remember our songs, and the lovely juxtaposition of these beautiful-sounding arrangements with the darker lyrics.

Where would you really like to tour that you haven’t done so yet, and why?
I moved to the US in 2017 and have been playing in Dallas since then – it would be great to play some iconic venues like the Troubadour in Los Angeles, or Tipitina’s in New Orleans – anywhere that would have us!

How would you say that the sound of your band has progressed over the years?
The Scottish version of the Chinaskis was started in 2010, and back then it was more of a power trio – a lot heavier, definitely more of my hard rock and metal influences coming through… but since then it’s become a lot more about the songs, the harmonies and finding that same impact and heaviness through the lyrics and arrangements rather than just big riffs.

How excited are you for 2025, and what can fans expect from you?

We’ve had a bit of a hiatus for writing and because of work commitments, and we’re currently looking to recruit a new bass player, but are planning on some big shows towards the end of the year with a bit of luck. For me it’s all about taking the music to the next level – live and on record. We’re all huge music fans and just want to make timeless, exciting music that celebrates the decades of artists that have all influenced us