Words by Hannah Powell.

Yo Vocal caught up with Wellington band Nic and Reuben. Talking to the two main men, we looked at their latest album, Garbage Records, and wholesome friendship.

‘PASS/TIME’. Released in late June and produced by Dunedin-based DIY label Garbage Records, Nic and Reuben’s latest album is one hell of a vibe. They said it started with a few songs they’d been working on from last year – however, both had been listening to heavier music pre-lockdown “that moulded those songs into something new”. Going back to the blueprint, “the album is the product [of that],” they say.

The album came together during lockdown. They say it was a “unique” time for them to be together at the same time, with Reuben working at a policy think tank, and Nic studying med at Wellington Hospital. As friends and flatmates, their days were spent with the intention: “just go gung-ho”. “[We had] some great days just hanging out and making music,” Nic reminisced. I asked them what their album was about. “Some big themes [and] good stories,” they say. They mention that although the members of the band work on things individually, it’s when they bring it together that things change, develop, and evolve. And the name? ‘PASS/TIME’ literally means to pass the time, they tell me, and it is similar in length and song structure to their first album ‘MIND/WAVE’.

Having met when they were 15 years old, friendship is what started it all. While both were going to two different high schools in Wellington, they met a few times through mutual friends. A few years later, while walking past the library at the University of Otago, Nic and Reuben bumped into each other. Chewing the fat and catching up, Nic asked, “do you make music by any chance?” “Oh, yeah, quite a bit actually,” Reuben replied. “We were on it like vomit after that,” Nic laughs.

Asking about their sound, “it’s whatever you want it to be,” Reuben replies. “We can describe it as indie-ish, rocky, a bit punky…but you know, there’ll be some jazz chords in there, and then we’ll throw in some hardcore effects”. Under the umbrella of indie fits best for now. With the other members of the band being Liam Doyle (producer, pianist and synch), Damin’ Jack Berry’ McCade (bass), and Reuben Scott (drums), Nic and Reuben is not only Nic and Reuben anymore.

With Garbage Records as their label, I asked for the inside on how Garbage works. “Friendship, really,” they admit. “It’s corny as hell, but…yeah,” they laugh. Nic and Reuben met the guys on Garbage through studying in Dunedin. With Damin as the CEO of the label, they bonded with him over music-making on the laptop. Reuben describes Garbage Records as “a group of people putting out things under this moniker”. It’s a pretty collaborative group of mates – they explain how they’ll go on tour with ten people and have six or seven acts for the one gig. Having gone on tour as a support act for Wax Mustang earlier in the year, they say “Wax Mustang fans are crazy but in the best way. It was a totally unique experience playing for them!”.

As for what’s next, they’re hoping for some future gigs and some stuff over summer. But after an album and their ‘Stuff’ music video (directed by Oscar Keys), they say “[we’re] just taking a bit of breather”. But do not be disappointed – keep your eyes peeled. “Me and Reuben just really like making music,” Nic says. “And there’s nothing else to it”.

There’ll be more from where that came from.

Follow their journey here

Nic and Reuben: an interview