Rhythmstick Records

15/09/2023

My latest column.

OPINION: Chris Thompson’s musical life was ‘pretty amazing for a kid from Hamilton New Zealand’, he says.

11/06/2022

Summer Honey.

The album was basically complete when I found myself in the company of filmmaker Costa Botes (Forgotten Silver, Lord of the Rings documentary). He’d come up from Wellington to film my cows but was increasingly turning the camera was on me, which is how we all ended up in the studio, Costa wanted some footage of of us making music. We set ourselves a challenge to write and record something in two hours, which we did. It was named after the jar of honey sitting in Zed’s kitchen (thank you Leanne Knox). Our foray into EDM is no folly, Zed’s a lecturer at the School of Audio Engineering and EDM is one of his subjects.... plus we both like a good groove. I played bass, usually Zed's area, and did it in a couple of passes and when I was done Zed looked me squarely in the eye and said "tinny bastard." He wasn't wrong. When making up music my go to technique is to place my fingers wherever on the fretboard and see where it leads me, this time it led me home.

https://brookesjohnstone.bandcamp.com/track/summer-honey

from the album When Summer Falls, Break Down The Walls

05/06/2022

When Summer Falls, Break Down The Walls.

We had our own idea of what the albums ‘big’ song would be but when we asked people what which song they liked the most no one mentioned it. Favourites included Catbus, California California, Summer Honey and Take A Deep Breath but it was Girl With Silver Eyes that won the day. I remember nothing about the creation of this track except the struggle I had with the lyric and as it often is with these matters, it set me against it. Later when we started compiling the album we agreed on every song except this one. Zed had faith in it, I didn’t. Turns out he was right.

https://brookesjohnstone.bandcamp.com/track/girl-with-silver-eyes

from the album When Summer Falls, Break Down The Walls

29/05/2022

When Summer Falls Break Down The Walls.

Our new album has been out and about for 3 weeks now and the comments have been rolling in. Among the songs that have sparked interest is Catbus.



Catbus came to me on the bus as I headed home from Zed's studio. It was late and I was in a fugue state. The view from the window took on a fantastical shade and the song just suddenly appeared. I whipped out the phone and sang it into the microphone while tapping out the beat on my thigh.

Back in the studio I played it to Zed who quickly sorted it out. He found the chords, added a post-chorus and refined the verse. I don't actually remember much else about the session, we were both in the ‘zone’ and only lifted our heads to refill our glasses. The whole process took 5 hours and as for the song……. the healing potential of imagination, Miyazaki style.

https://brookesjohnstone.bandcamp.com/track/catbus?fbclid=IwAR0Z70C3-6lKhrzdbHX45ZcY9k5XcWYXyhpI4sl1yMB-oENxPIVCGOowIbU

from the album When Summer Falls, Break Down The Walls

05/05/2022

Todays the day! Our new album is out and available to download and stream on Bandcamp. As for the music..... it's pop styles with an emphasis on the groove. It also has a summer theme, which is odd considering Zed and I are not really outdoor sun loving beach going types 😅. All that said, we have worked hard on this collection of songs and are really happy with the results.
https://brookesjohnstone.bandcamp.com/album/when-summer-falls-break-down-the-walls

10 track album

30/04/2022

Hi Everyone, It's been a long absence but that's life, sometimes it catches up on you and before you know it two years have gone by and you have posted nothing to your official social media! But we have been busy, super busy..... there's a feature film on it's way (July NZIFF), a herd of cows, a new job for Zed....... oh and this. Hmmmmm, wonder what it could be?