ANGUS MacDonald of Sneaky Sounds System indulges Yassays.com with stories of chance encounters and show tunes quickly that flipped into hit singles.
Listen to Sneaky Sound System - Somebody In Kansas City Loves Me
Two men approach a pretty lady sitting with a guitar at a park in Sydney. An informal sing along commenced turning into a invitation to a studio. Three hours later, a hit was recored and a bond determined. Three weeks later the trio recorded the longest charted single in the history of the ARIA charts. “I played her I Love It and then she sang it, we just thought whoa- you are good” explains songwriter and producer MacDonald.
Their chance encounter reads more like a plot for B grade movie than the bio for Australian pop music royalty, Sneaky Sound System. “She’s a pretty friendly and whacky character and I guess we were feeling a bit friendly that day. She also had a really hot friend with her- which helped.” said MacDonald. If it were not for extroverts taking a chance our airwaves would be notably vacant of any feel good pop music.
In their short history together they have managed to create an infallible pop formula. Mixing a catchy chorus with 80’s inspired upbeat tempos and hauntingly recognizable vocals lead Sneaky Sound System to international success, double platinum status and an ever growing cult following.
The self titled debut album was completed a series of staggered attempts. Until Connie Mitchell came along, the duo (Angus MacDonald and Daimon Downey, MC) were recording without a lead singer. Mitchell was originally part of a band called heavy rock band named Primary “When we listened to songs that she had done [previously], it was not what we were looking for. When she sang with our stuff which was not like anything she had done before it was this came very easily to us. It was an instant fit. It just worked.”
Three years later, Mitchell’s voice has become the signature sound of SSS - much to fans glee and the dismay of some critics. Reviews of 2 have often noted an apparent lack of artistic progression. “I’d hate for people to think that they are exactly same [Sneaky Sound System and 2]. It was a goal to create a sound. Ultimately down the track if people think that something sounds like a Sneaky track that’s a bit of a triumph. Sometimes people take their references a little too far. We just try to draw from us.”
The first single of their sophomore album, Kansas City,debuted at number 11 on the ARIA club chart in June and has already started to dominate summer radio programming. It’s not about the dreary town in the US, but actually stems from a off the cuff comment about a vintage shirt. “Connie came to dinner in a big oversized t-shirt and it had ‘Somebody in Kansas City Loves Me’. I started singing it as a show tune and thought it was funny. So we got together and wrote the lyrics and it was born.” Contrary to internet rumours, Connie has not fallen in love with a mysterious man in central USA.
Although their touring schedule is packed, it won’t be long until a new release. SSS is on a roll and have no interest stepping off this ride of Australian pop royalty.
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