Miles McDougall, a multi-talented musician from New Zealand, happened to be playing a couple of shows at 2011’s CMJ in New York. Luckily enough our editor-in-chief Larry Heath was there to sit down and have a bit of a chat with the man about his electro-pop, solo project Pikachunes. The interview played out as an interesting look at a New Zealand artist’s quest to bring his music into the U.S market – check out the transcript below:

Is this your first time in New York?

Yep! I’ve been here about six weeks so far. It’s a lot different from New Zealand – in a very good way I think, I fell in love in New York within a couple of days. It’s a nice, refreshing change from Auckland.

What kind of archetypical American experiences have you had so far?

I just love the food over here! It’s crazy cheap and there’s just food everywhere – anything you want anytime of the day you can get. I’d like to say the people are great – most of the people are great, some people are not so great [laughs].

It’s very cool though, especially coming over with a New Zealand accent, it’s very easy to spark up a conversation with someone over here. As soon as they hear an accent they are all over you, like who are you? That’s a crazy accent [laughs].

So we are here at CMJ and this will be your first CMJ show today. For people who don’t know you well, what can we expect from your live show?

Well it’s just me up on stage – it’s a solo project. So I have to keep people very involved with the set so I do a lot of moving around and dancing to my own music. It’s all dance music so I really like to get the crowd involved – that’s pretty important.

I understand that you’ve released a limited edition white vinyl. What was the decision to do that?

It was definitely all about aesthetics. The album itself, when it first came out in New Zealand, had a different colour all together. [Princess] Chelsea and I – for which I play drums and bass guitar – both decided to release our first albums in the U.S when we came other about a month ago. We both changed our covers for the U.S market, to be more appropriate to what’s kind of cool right now. I think white vinyl is pretty suave! I don’t know many things that have been released on white vinyl, perhaps it’ll become a trend!

Now you mentioned that you play quite a few instruments. Which did you learn first?

Hm, I’m going to say it was piano, because my parents always kind of had a piano in their house. So I’d say the first instrument I ever really had a fiddle on was that but I also always wanted to be a drummer and as soon as I could reach the peddles then I started drumming, ever since I was about 10. I always said to my mum that I wanted to shave my head, be in a rock band, and play drums.

What propagated that kind of desire?

I’m not too sure; it’s always just kind of been a thought that’s always been there since I could remember. I was probably just a violent kid who wanted to hit stuff [laughs].

So now what’s next for you – what’s happening for the rest of the year?

I’m shooting a video while I’m over here for a single that’s been out in New Zealand for a while. Um, I’m also going to Tahiti for a few shows when I first get back to New Zealand, then doing a New Zealand tour, and then releasing the second album. That’s pretty much the rest of my year!

Have you completed recording of the second album?

Yep it’s pretty much all done. I’ve recorded two versions of it so now I’m just picking the songs which will be on it.

Has it been done by yourself or have you worked with others on it?

It’s all myself – I like to run the show so any kudos or criticisms are all directed at me, I kind of like being in control of everything.

I play in a band where I have no creative input in the song-writing side of things, like obviously I put my individual flair into playing drums and guitar. But yeah, it’s nice to also have a project where it’s just solely me.

Well fair enough. It must be odd that you’ve already recorded a second album but we’re still talking about the first one.

Yeah, well it’s just coming over here and all. The first album has already been out for pretty much a year in New Zealand, so it’s been out there for a long time. This is kind of just us pushing to try and get into the U.S market with the album so I’ve got to start playing my old tunes again.

Have you had much movement in Australia?

I don’t think so, I’m not sure, but I’m planning on moving to Australia for six months next year – probably around March. I’m going to base myself out of Melbourne but just kind of want to be touring Australia for six months and just pushing the music.

Well, we look forward to hopefully seeing you over there! Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

Check out Pikachunes enjoyable self-titled LP here.