D4 frontman reveals new band

BY JULE SCHERER

When garage rockers The D4 called it quits in May 2006, singer/guitarist Dion Palmer - who, these days goes under the name Dion Lunadon - felt it was time for a change.

So he left New Zealand and moved to the United States. He now calls New York City home and is about to release the debut album of his new band, True Lovers.

"I wanted to be in the middle of something bigger, logistically and metaphorically,'' he tells NZPA.

New York was relatively close to Europe and there was the whole US to tour.

The D4 always wanted to play more shows overseas, but to do so, faced huge expenses, he says.

"The city's got such a great vibe and energy, anyone who comes here can feel this energy and there is a niche for whatever you want to do,'' he says about his new home town.

Although he sometimes misses New Zealand's slower pace of life, he hasn't regretted his decision to start over as a small fish in New York's big pond; something he had to adjust to after fronting garage-rock whiz-kids The D4 for eight years, selling more than 100,000 albums worldwide and playing major festivals in the UK, Europe and Japan.

With his new band True Lovers he's just about to make his mark.

"I could probably bitch and moan about it but I would still be where I am.

"I think you just have to get it into your head that you have to sort of start again.

"It doesn't bother me, it's exciting in fact, to do something new and it's a challenge,'' he says.

The True Lovers formed in the middle of last year (eds: 2008) and comprise two-fifths New Zealanders and three-fifths New Yorkers. The other New Zealander in the mix is Ben Maitland of Boxcar Guitar fame, who also played with Bic Runga and Tim Guy.

The two musicians had crossed paths many times in Auckland and when they found out that both were planning a move to the States in 2006, they decided to form a band.

After a stint in Los Angeles, Lunadon settled in New York, where he and Maitland recruited some local talent to complete the True Lovers.

The musician says his new band sparks the same raw energy as The D4, but was ''more groove orientated and sexually charged, but less in a male testosterone way and a little bit more mature''. 

While creating something new, influenced by his love for obscure late 60s soul music, he retained what he appreciated about The D4.

The True Lovers recorded their debut album earlier this year.

"I was struggling at the beginning how I wanted my record to sound like, because I was listening to a lot of music and it just sounded all the same to me", he says.

His goal was to avoid producing just another record that would sound like everything else and he was aiming at an organic, raw live sound instead.

"We rehearsed quite a lot before we went in and recorded, so we were a well-oiled machine and we just laid it all down in two weeks.

"I really believe it has its own sound and I am really proud of it. It is organic sounding and it doesn't sound like everything out there.''

The first single Death Threat gives a good foretaste of what's to expect of the band. The song is fast, energetic and shows Lunadon's slightly dirty off-beat humour.

After playing live as much as possible in New York, picking up a little tour with US band Jet in the States and having a couple of gigs planned at the US west coast early next year, Lunadon is excited to finally play on home turf.

The True Lovers will be playing the Big Day Out and two shows in Auckland and Wellington.

"I'm just looking forward to playing back home, but I'm not too concerned about what people say.

"Of course I want people to like it, but being in a band is really just about pleasing yourself first of all and when you truly please yourself then other people will see that and will get into it as well.

"I'd say come with no expectations, it's always best,'' he says.

But if his show is just a bit like The D4's then it's safe to say, that the stage will be on fire.

The self-titled album will be released in March. Those who want to get their hands onto it before can buy a vinyl version at the band's shows before the Big Day Out.

Tour Dates:

13 January - Wellington - San Francisco Bath House /w The Veils

14 January - Auckland - Kings Arms /w The Veils

15 January - Big Day Out - Mt Smart Stadium

- NZPA